HIV Symptoms Horribly scared please help

[emt85]

Dear Dr. I posted a question recently on this forum where you said i was low risk for HIV but I believe you may have misread. I had a condom break during vaginal sex with an unknown woman. Since then i have tested negative for everything except herpes and HIV

My symptoms are as follows
Confirmed (by a MD) swollen lymph nodes in the neck and groin
Approx 3 weeks after the event i had a sinus infection that took a while to clear even on antibiotics
About 3 days ago I went to the Dr. due to the lymph nodes. He said i had slight weezes and an upper respitory infection. put me on zithromax
I have had pain in the tip of my penis since the event that comes and goes.

My questions are
is having a condom break during vaginal sex really low risk?

I know you are overwhelmed by lymph node questions but I just cant ignore the fact that at 6 weeks after the event now i have a swollen lymph nodes. I have gone to 3 different places looking for testing and none of them will offer it until 3 months. I am extremely nervous to the point that it is starting to disrupt my life. how at risk am i really for an infection?

also planned parenthood told me that HIV/Aids does not show symptoms for up to 10 years. from what i have read online this just does not seem true at all.  
please answer my questions thank you

[Rich UK]

All I can say is that I've had a swollen lymph gland in my neck for four weeks now and candidiasis (confirmed) on my tongue - I was so certain it was hiv (see my threads 'am I right to push for a test here? and 'a message of support for the site'). I tested for everything at 11 weeks, more at 12 weeks and, since I've just been referred to a clinic that specialises in conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, anaemia, etc, they've just re-tested with my consent for Hep a, b, c, hiv and syphilis at 95 days since exposure. All negative, no hiv, its actually glandular fever! Hang in there - I am sure you'll be o.k. Rich.

[bigdaddy1992]

Hi, As everyone has responded it is extremely unlikely that your problems are due to HIV. I dont know where you live but if you live in the uk i would like to offer you some advice. If you want to be tested for HIV and if you live in the uk DO NOT ask your gp to test you for hiv go to a GUM clinic and be tested,the reason being that if you go to your gp it is on record and he may be required to tell insurance companies etc that you have been tested ( which will hammer the premiums up.) at a GUM clinic it is confidential and nobody knows not even your gp is told. In fact on my test they told me never to tell my GP that i have been tested. Hope this helps you.

[oxyone]

hello,
Its been about 14 days since i received oral sex from a prostitude and i also tried to finger her but wasn't able to but felt something slightly wet with my finger. Yesterday i woke up feeling really tired, i almost felt i was gonna get the flu or something. All day i was slugglish with a headache and stomach ache. I didn't take my temperature but this morinig i did and it was 99.1. WHat im trying to say is how severe should the HIV ARS symptoms be. Right now i actually feel pretty good besides the fact that i have a case of diahrea. Also today i got my HIV and STD results that i had done at 8 days after my situation. But im going to get a 6 week test. I apreaciate everyone listening, please provide any input. My post was Oral sex with a prostitude on 10/5/05.

[ryn21]

I am not a doctor, but I will try and help you out based on my knowledge.  One lymph node swollen means nothing; the same goes if all were swollen.  The test is the only indicator.  One swollen node does not suggest HIV as HIV usually causes generalized swelling of all nodes throughout the body.  Most lymph node swelling has to do with an infection or a variety of viruses, more common than HIV.  Zithromax is one hell of an antibiotic, and im sure that if an infection is the culprit, the z-pack killed it off.  If your GP thought that there was something to be concerned about, im sure he would recommend testing.  To add, lymph node swelling does not go down over night.  It can sometimes take weeks for the swelling to subside.  There are a number of causes for swelling, much more common than HIV.  To my knowledge, ARS usually doesn

[csal]

Ryn,  I've seen you post some pretty good information. I have a question for you and others in the lymph node arena.  I have one swollen lymph node(close to the size of a walnut)on the left side of the neck just under the jaw.  I did go to the doctor as it was bothering my throat and ear.  I was prescribed zithromax the "z" pack, and am at day 4 of the pills, without any reduction.  Just curious if this could be a symptom of ARS, or as you mentioned does ARS USUALLY cause universal (all over the body) swelling of the lymph nodes?  My exposure was on 9/25, too early for reliable HIV testing, and I have had significant anxiety since.  I originally posted under "Staggeringly Low Transmission rate..." and have been on the site since, reading just about every post.  Just curious.  Thanks

[ryn21]

Testing can be done at any time at a local health clinic if you live in the US.