symptoms vs TESTS

Sexual health
1

Hey All, 

I hope you are doing and im writing here to hear your opinion which means alot to me btw. 

Its been few days im dealing with this tinder swollen gland, right under my left ear, it gets worse and gets even more swollen when i eat or speak. while im laying down its not a big deal. 

I started having joint pains ( just knees ) from last year and my ankles twist very easily which makes playing football very hard for me and my left ankle feels weak. i went to doctors and they did full blood test and they said there was not much but a little rais in CK of my blood. though its been few days im having swollen gland but the test was taken in November, 7 months ago. i was worried about more serious problems such as HIV and have been tested up to 9 months from last sexual activity i had which was protected however still i went and tested for HIV numerous time mostly 4th generation tests to rule it out completely and always tests came back negative. however im still feeling tired, having dry mouth and now swollen gland, I dont know whats wrong. i had following symptoms: 

3 months after possible exp: cold and flu for 3 weeks, 

5 months: cold sore ( used to get them before too ) 

6 months: joint and muscle pain ( had it last year and it was due to Vitamin D def ) 

7 months: Dry mouth 

8 months: two mouth ulcers 

9 months: swollen gland in the left side only, only swollen gland so far in my body, 

TESTS: 

4 weeks, rapid tests, neg,

8 weeks, GP send blood to lab, NEG ( most probablt 4th gen )

7 months, selftest kit, rapid and DUO all neg

8 months, DUO again negative

9 months, 3rd Gen, neg

all tests except the 9th months were taken in london and in trustworthy places. i would appreciated if you could provide me with some info. im lost 

 

2

Hi,

Could you explain more clearly whether the single presumed lymph node on the left side under your ear has been there for a few days , as you imply initially , or for nine months as it appears mid-list of symptoms. Also , do you currently have any skin problems on the scalp (even sunburn), sore throat, cold sores etc at the same time ,ie now that you are experiencing the swollen lymph node?

3

hey, 

well no no symptoms stuck with me the whole nine months, this swollen node or gland not sure which one is it, but mine is right under my left ear, behind the jaw line starts. when i eat it gets worse and i started having it in past 4 days. 

since last week i started having these rashes on my chest, nothing serious or nothing too much, i went to a dermatologist and she said its when based of  hair inflame and bacteria get there. i always had rash on my scalp but mostly after shower, its been few months i have this weird itch behind my neck where hairline finishes. sometimes it itches sometimes it doesnt, same dermetologist looked at it and found nothing and said maybe its anxiety or same problem like other area. nothing to worry about. every hiv specalist i talked to ruled out hiv as a cause completely and said your tests did not leave any doubts but im confused. 

4

few things come to mind... given that you believe the mass (gland or node) swells and hurts when you eat, it could be associated with inflammation of your salivary glands. there are three large ones in the neck and if you get a stone or an infection in one called sialolithiasis, the regional glands may act up as well as the salivary gland itself.

another thing is the shin of the scalp and face "drains" into the neck nodes, as does the throat, so that if you have infected eczema,psoriasis,a sunburn, scalp lice, a tick bite, even regular bug bites on the head any nodes/glands around the neck may swell as they deal with toxins/foreign substances. may need to see that MD again if node does not go away. hope this helps

5

thank you very much man, really appreciate your reply, what do you think of hiv as a cause? 

 

6

If you have been tested nine months since your last sexual activity, combined with a presentation that does not really sound suspicious for HIV, I would think your safe..