I think your doctor is on the right track. This is not HIV. The thing to do is to follow the lymph nodes, if they are indeed swollen and to stop repeatedly examining them as this is may well prolong any resolution. EWH
Are you poking your lymph nodes and checking all the time if they are swollen? If you are then you have to stop doing that.
Thank you for the response...very helpful!
I called my family doctor today to ask him about my lymph nodes still being enlarged for 3 months and he said to wait 3 months more to see what happens.
Could mono cause lymph nodes in the supraclavicular and armpits to be enlarged for over 4-5 months ? You said that once they swell it could take awhile to return to normal, but 4-5 months?
And as a side note all my nodes are not exceptionally large, but are still abnormal - maybe approx. 1-2 cm.
Your concerns about HIV are unfounded. Your exposures are low risk, your partners do not have HIV and HIV is not transmitted by masturbation. To elaborate a bit in relationship to your specific questions:
1. There are many other illnesses which can cause lymph node swelling and once nodes swell they may take a long time to resolve. Swollen lymph nodes are a non-specific response to any number of stimuli including infections due to bacteria and viruses, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease. Of all persons with swollen lymph nodes only a tiny proportion of them have HIV. Among the most common places for lymph node swelling to be present are the neck and arm pits, thus, if your do have swollen nodes at these locations it may not be pathological at all. If you are concerned about swollen lymph nodes, the proper place to get evaluated is with a good internal medicine physician.
2. Mono tests are rather non-specific and may occasionally be positive in persons who do not have mono. In addition, mono is a spectrum of disease. I suppose HIV could cause false positive mono tests but in your situation I would not be concerned. You have no reason to think you have HIV.
3. HIV false negatives are extraordinarily rare and your partners, as heterosexual women are at low risk for HIV.
You really have no reason to worry about HIV. I do note however that you do not mention your own HIV tests. If you have not had one, you should for the peace of mind that I hope it will give you. Hope this helps. EWH