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Gonorrhea gone. Swollen Lymph Nodes Remain and other symptoms. Concerned about HIV.
I am a male, 2 months ago I had unprotected vaginal sex and caught gonorrhea . I had 2 swollen lymph nodes that appeared right away 2 other swollen lymph nodes that appeared a few weeks later, both pairs in the pelvic region. They still remain swollen today and at times I have very minor twinges of pain in that area mostly after 8-12 hours of standing or physical labor. I was treated and cured of that infection.
A little over a month after exposure I began to become congested and 2 additional lymph nodes in my neck swoll up. I have since been on two different rounds of antibiotics and various decongestants but have been unable to clear my sinuses. Although now almost finished with my 2nd round of antibiotics the congestion seems to be improving. My neck lymph nodes remain slightly enlarged but are much smaller than when my congestion was at its peak. About 2 weeks ago I began to develop a white film on my tongue and shortly after, an extremely unbearably dry mouth. I have been given Nystatin anti fungal mouth wash and I have finished about half of it with no improvement on the tongue. I discontinued use of sudafed yesterday and my dry mouth seems to be improving but the white film remains. I was retested for hiv at 7 weeks 5 days and it came back negative.
Having read your posts I know that the likelyhood of the test being wrong is very low. The only thing that makes me doubt the results is my abnormally white and dry tongue, and my unchanging enlarged pelvic lymph nodes. the white film does not come off with abrasion. I am very nervous about this.
Could you tell me if hairy leukoplakia is a initial sign of hiv infection or if that is typically something that shows up after one has been infected for a long period of time?
Also can you tell me if the behavior of my pelvic lymph nodes is characteristic of hiv or just a lingering remainder of my gono infection?
A little over a month after exposure I began to become congested and 2 additional lymph nodes in my neck swoll up. I have since been on two different rounds of antibiotics and various decongestants but have been unable to clear my sinuses. Although now almost finished with my 2nd round of antibiotics the congestion seems to be improving. My neck lymph nodes remain slightly enlarged but are much smaller than when my congestion was at its peak. About 2 weeks ago I began to develop a white film on my tongue and shortly after, an extremely unbearably dry mouth. I have been given Nystatin anti fungal mouth wash and I have finished about half of it with no improvement on the tongue. I discontinued use of sudafed yesterday and my dry mouth seems to be improving but the white film remains. I was retested for hiv at 7 weeks 5 days and it came back negative.
Having read your posts I know that the likelyhood of the test being wrong is very low. The only thing that makes me doubt the results is my abnormally white and dry tongue, and my unchanging enlarged pelvic lymph nodes. the white film does not come off with abrasion. I am very nervous about this.
Could you tell me if hairy leukoplakia is a initial sign of hiv infection or if that is typically something that shows up after one has been infected for a long period of time?
Also can you tell me if the behavior of my pelvic lymph nodes is characteristic of hiv or just a lingering remainder of my gono infection?
Thank you Dr. I realized I posted in the wrong forum after having already paid and was unable to change it. I apoligize for the mistake. But thank you so much for your timely response. You guys are doing a great thing.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You have posted on the wrong site. Questions about HIV belong on the HIV prevention site. I will do my best to answer your questions with this reply but, if you have additional questions or follow-up regarding HIV they must be on the HIV Prevention site. Sorry
You do not have HIV. I say that with confidence. Even before we talk about your test results, please realize that the chance that you got HIV from a single exposure is miniscule. If your exposure was in North America, less than 1 in 1000 women who are not IV drug users have HIV and the chances of getting HIV form a single exposure is 1 infection per 1000 exposures. Thus, even before you consider your test results, your risk of HIV was about 1 in a million (less than your risk of getting hit by lightening). Since the exposure you were tested at 7 weeks following exposure. This too indicates with near certainly that you do not have HIV. The vast majority of person who acquire HIV now have positive tests within 4-6 weeks (this did not used to be the case, the tests have gotten better) and neither I nor any expert that I have spoken with has seen a person acquired HIV in the past 2 years who did not have a positive test within 6-8 weeks of exposure.
Your dry mouth and white film is more likely to be due to the decongestants you've been taking (particularly the sudafed) than it is to be hair leukoplakia.
As for your lymph nodes, there are many other illnesses which can cause lymph node swelling. 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. In addition, swollen lymph nodes such as the ones you have noted in your groin can persist long after the infection has resolved. I would urge you not to worry. If you are concerned about swollen lymph nodes, the proper place to get evaluated is with a good internal medicine physician.
Hope this helps. Take care. EWH
You do not have HIV. I say that with confidence. Even before we talk about your test results, please realize that the chance that you got HIV from a single exposure is miniscule. If your exposure was in North America, less than 1 in 1000 women who are not IV drug users have HIV and the chances of getting HIV form a single exposure is 1 infection per 1000 exposures. Thus, even before you consider your test results, your risk of HIV was about 1 in a million (less than your risk of getting hit by lightening). Since the exposure you were tested at 7 weeks following exposure. This too indicates with near certainly that you do not have HIV. The vast majority of person who acquire HIV now have positive tests within 4-6 weeks (this did not used to be the case, the tests have gotten better) and neither I nor any expert that I have spoken with has seen a person acquired HIV in the past 2 years who did not have a positive test within 6-8 weeks of exposure.
Your dry mouth and white film is more likely to be due to the decongestants you've been taking (particularly the sudafed) than it is to be hair leukoplakia.
As for your lymph nodes, there are many other illnesses which can cause lymph node swelling. 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. In addition, swollen lymph nodes such as the ones you have noted in your groin can persist long after the infection has resolved. I would urge you not to worry. If you are concerned about swollen lymph nodes, the proper place to get evaluated is with a good internal medicine physician.
Hope this helps. Take care. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
