With all do respect, my lymph nodes are very sore and swollen.

Question

I will know soon as I am have had blood drawn for PCR test.   It has been 28 days since my exposure by performing oral m2m sex and allowing some ejaculate in my mouth.  I would not be near as concerned after reading all the responses and reading many other reputable websites (i.e. the body.org).  But my lymph nodes in my neck and below my jaw began hurting on day 8,  The large ones at the base of my jaw are very tender to the touch, the skin is warm,  Other areas of my neck where lymph nodes are located are very painful to touch and the skin burns.   Responses have mentioned the many other possbile causes, but I don't have a cat, and I haven't ever, ever had symptoms like this before in my life.   I am an educated man and the logical terrifying conclusion is I have HIV.    I am very skeptical about the statistics spouted about the low risk of oral sex.   I hope against hope that I will not be reporting to you very soon that you were all wrong as much as I want to believe you.   This is pure torture.   It's like I played Russian roulette and have to wait for weeks to find out if  the chamber was loaded!   Can any of you give me a reasonable alternative explanation based on the facts?

LIZZIE LOU · Answer

There is no debate (among experts) about the HIV risks associated with oral sex.  The risk is so low that almost nobody who cares for HIV infected patients has ever had a patient believed to have been infected that way.  Among experts, it's a semantic issue about using terms like "no risk" and "very low risk".  There is no difference between my or Dr. Hook's use of "low risk" and other experts' "no risk". 
DR. HANSFIELD 

"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex.  Please educate yourself about the real risks.  If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. "   DR HANSFIELD 

"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..."   DR HOOK 

"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK 

in the public HIV Prevention forum of MedHelp, TEAK and the other moderators maintain that oral sex in all forms is a zero risk activity. Would you agree with this assessment?   
I TOTALLY AGREE / DR GARCIA 

kindly move on...this is not a hiv concern.

terrifiedinpdx · Answer

Mr. Teak:

 Please see Dr. Handsfield's responses to a question entitled 'RNA TESTING' from 'ncc34' beginning on 1/10 thru 1/29.   I had forgotten that Dr. Handsfield is affilliated with the Seattle-King County clinic and said: " .... At the Seattle-King County STD clinic, we routinely do pooled HIV RNA testing for gay men, but for no other group." 

And check out their website:  

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/publications/infograms/RNAtesting.

As I have said I hope you and Dr's Hook and Handsfield are right regarding the risk level and I will be very happy to post negative results for all tests when I receive them.   I'm wondering now what your responses will be should it turn out I am in fact HIV positive.

Teak · Answer

Wrong.....

terrifiedinpdx · Answer

I'm sure you mean well.   With what is going on with me, a negative PCR-RNA test would be worth the $, and a false positive wouldn't make me feel much worse than I do right now.  Some people (i.e. King County, WA health dept are using this test routinely now.   And I believe Dr. Handsfield has commented on a North Carolina facility using the same test and I believe he or Dr. Hook,or both have stated this test would be conclusive after 28 day window.

Teak · Answer

You didn't state PCR-RNA test. PCR-RNA are supplemental tests and must be followed up with an antibody test a the proper timeline. Waste of money.

terrifiedinpdx · Answer

PCR RNA .   Are you saying this is not a diagnostic test?   Even the doc's Handsfield and Hook, don't say that?  Do they?

Teak · Answer

PCR-DNA tests are not diagnostic tests.

terrifiedinpdx · Answer

I guess you are referring to the antibody test I took 18 days after the exposure? I do hope you are right about the 'no risk' exposure. I promise to provide results of the PCR test when I receive it, either way.