Extreme HIV Anxiety Over Submandibular Gland

[Worried7134]

I have been having extreme anxiety because of a swollen submandibular gland after a low risk exposure. It is definitely swollen (not my imagination) and goes up and down throughout the day, sometimes it's slightly painful.  I've had 2 courses of different antibiotics with no change.  All I can do is cry and scour the internet trying to find some information.  I've read on reputable sites that submandibular swelling is a common symptom of acute HIV infection.  I've read studies that HIV affects submandibular function most of the time.  I can't find much other information on causes - other than blockage or infection. I think an infection is unlikely in my case since antibiotics aren't working.  And from what I understand a blockage/dysfunction can be caused by HIV, among other things. It just seems too coincidental that I would get this 3 weeks after exposure and that it would still be persisting (2 months since I first realized it, 3 months since the exposure).

My exposure included manual sex with semen making contact with a cut on my hand, and licking of genitals with possible precum getting in my mouth.  I've been told on here many times that this is no/low risk exposure.  But I can't stop thinking that maybe he had blood in his mouth when we were kissing or something, anything.  Maybe I'm someone who contracts HIV in an unconventional way.  I just can't stop thinking about this submandibular gland and how common it is for HIV to affect it.

I know a test would be conclusive at this point, but I am terrified to get tested. I am pretty young and this was only the second person I'd ever done anything sexual with. What I want most in life is to get married, but I know as a woman it would be unlikely for that to ever happen if I had HIV.

I know that I'll be told I have anxiety and that I should seek help for it.  But I have.  I've talked to counselor about this many times, but it doesn't alleviate my worrying.  It doesn't change the things I have read on the internet.  I can't find other explanations for this swollen submandibular gland and that is the only thing that would make me feel better other than a negative test.

[joggen]

You feel more anxious because you are unsure of your status. A test will tell you that you're negative. There is no logical reason not to test if you've tried everything else including therapy.

[Worried7134]

From what I have read about a white tongue, it does seem like it could be due to a lot of thing (or nothing) and I am not that worried about it.  I just can't find much information on what could be causing my submandibular enlargement. Like I said, antibiotics aren't working, so it doesn't seem like an infection.  I could believe that anxiety or tension in my neck might exacerbate it, but I can't really find any medical info saying so.

I just don't know what to do. I'm afraid to date anyone or move on with my life. If I found out I had HIV though, I know the anxiety would be even worse.

[joggen]

If that's the case there is still no reason to believe that HIV would have anything to do with it.

White tongue has nothing to do with HIV. I have a white tongue and I don't have HIV.

You should have told your doctor about your HIV concerns, he would have tested you to relieve your anxiety.

[Worried7134]

I should also note that I did talk to a doctor about my symptoms (not mentioning HIV worries) and that's where I learned that a submandibular gland is different from a lymph node.

[Worried7134]

Thank you so much for your response. It does help alleviate some of my anxiety when things are broken down like that. I've just had some out-of-the-ordinary health problems ever since my exposure and it's been so, so scary. From my understanding the submandibular gland is different from a lymph node in that it produces saliva for your mouth and in HIV+ people, it doesn't function correctly, and there are different levels of certain things present there.

If you don't mind, I'd like to ask one more question. I made the mistake of looking and my tongue in the mirror and, of course, it is white. Do you think this combined with my other symptoms is cause for concern?  Could you explain what else could possibly cause this?

I really do appreciate your responses and those of everyone who's answered me on MedHelp.

[joggen]

The reason that you are in this state, and that you are here now, posting in this forum, all boils down to this: the internet, While the internet is helpful for solving all sorts of problems, it has proven thousands of times on HIV internet forums that the internet as a solution to a health problems are notoriously unreliable, You have obviously been severely mislead by what you have read on the internet, and it fueling your anxiety like JET FUEL, because you're reading incorrect and misleading information.

I've scanned the replies that you received in your other threads, and one thing that hasn't been pointed out is the general science of lymph nodes. A submandibular gland (node) is going to drain tissues local to the area, like the neck or mouth. If there is a local infection, it the white blood cells that respond to the infection will reach the node and cause other white blood cells to replicate. As Dr. Hook told you, the local infection could be something as simple as tooth or gum disease.

With respect to HIV, because HIV is a systemic illness, lymph node swelling in response to HIV occurs BODYWIDE, not locally. Your submandibular lymph node almost certainly indicates some local immune process occurring the mouth or jaw, and absolutely has nothing to do with HIV.

That's as much as this thread is going to address your symptoms. If it continues to bother you, see a doctor or your dentist and tell them your concerns about HIV. I'm sure they will tell you the same thing I've told you, and it will be more assuring coming from them than from some anonymous internet poster.