Swollen Glands

[blake16]

So I hate to add to the continual paranoid posts, but I have a question. Within the past six months, I've had swollen glands off and on. The first time I noticed them, about a week and a half went by, they got worse, so I went to a doctor and was prescribed Penicillin for Strep (which I'm prone to get). It went away. But about two months later, I got swollen glands again, which persisted, so I went back and was prescribed the same (but without a throat swab). It went away, but then about a week after going off of medication, came back. I haven't gone to a doctor yet.

I've been with two guys in that six month span, had unprotected oral sex with each of them, but never ejaculating. Both are clean as far as they and I know. But of course my mind is getting the better of me.

I realize the obvious answer is to get tested regardless, but I'm not near an available clinic for a couple weeks, and just need someone to ease my mind. As far as I know the chances of me having transmitted HIV are extremely rare, and the ONE symptom I have could mean many things. I haven't had a fever, night sweats, weight loss, or anything else that could point to "the one".

I suppose my question is more about strep. Has anyone else had chronic strep like this? Does something like chronic strep even exist? Or maybe its something else. Ugh, I gotta work on my worrying.

 

[loperamide]

Swollen glands can mean many things. Do you have, or spend time around cats?

 

[blake16]

Nope. I grew up with a cat though and have never had this problem. I'm being a freak about this, I realize. I really am a hypochondriac. I guess my biggest thing right now is buying that someone can get sick this often with the same thing and NOT have some kind of immune disorder. I guess the fact is, I had swollen glands, was prescribed penicillin, and it worked. So that means it would have most likely been strep. Can you "treat" early symptoms of HIV infection in the same way?

 

[KaraBulut]

It sounds like you're talking about lymph nodes? There are several different chains of lymph nodes- which ones are swollen?

 

[blake16]

These are like, directly underneath my jaw hinge. They aren't really tender or red, but it hurts to swallow and is just generally uncomfortable.

 

[blake16]

The other thing, and I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway: The glands becoming swollen as a symptom of HIV has to do with an increased white blood cell count to the lymph nodes, yes? It doesn't have to do with getting a cold, or strep.

I ask this, because I'm an actor, and recently had a kissing scene with a partner. Soon after, she started to develop a sore throat (irresponsible of me, I realize), so presumably she caught whatever it is I caught (assuming it isn't, in fact, HIV).

 

[Horschallen]

Mono????????

 

[freefall]

HIV is correlated with low white blood cell counts and does not readily infect people via kissing (except you have a wound in your oral cavity and so did she). Seems to me you have a persistent and/or recurrent Strepto infection, which may already be resistant towards penicillin. High chance too you get yourself mumps, though it usually resolves quick. But also there is high chance the swollen glands are benign. Go get checked to be precise, anyway.

Do you feel other symptoms but the enlarging glands?

 

[Nomenclature]

The symptoms of mono can sometimes be identical to HIV infection.

How old are you? Mono is common in high school and college kids.

Mono is also known as "the kissing disease". The fact that you infected another girl after kissing her means that you shouldn't rule out getting tested for mono, as well as STDs.


(and she should get tested, of course)

 

[blake16]

There are no other symptoms other than the enlarged glands, maybe some fatigue (but probably just caused by the lack of sleep because of my damn throat hurting!). I've heard of people that are, or become strep carriers, and when they get a cold, the symptoms manifest themselves like strep. Anyways, I'll give it a couple more days and see if it gets better. I think regardless I'll see a doctor and get it checked out, but I don't think I'm going to worry too much about an HIV test right off the bat. I just automatically jump to the worst case scenario, but realistically know that the chances of me having HIV with my sexual experiences is minute.

 

[KaraBulut]

These are like, directly underneath my jaw hinge. They aren't really tender or red, but it hurts to swallow and is just generally uncomfortable.

The other thing, and I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway: The glands becoming swollen as a symptom of HIV has to do with an increased white blood cell count to the lymph nodes, yes? It doesn't have to do with getting a cold, or strep.

I ask this, because I'm an actor, and recently had a kissing scene with a partner. Soon after, she started to develop a sore throat (irresponsible of me, I realize), so presumably she caught whatever it is I caught (assuming it isn't, in fact, HIV).

In the old days, swollen lymph nodes (called lymphadenopathy) were part of the diagnostic criteria for HIV. But we're talking lymph nodes everywhere- as in all over the body. And in many cases, the lymph nodes were so large that they could be seen through the skin.

So, backing up a little bit...

Lymph nodes are filters and they are part of a second circulatory system in your body called the lymphatic system. The nodes catch foreign stuff that is draining on its way to the heart. So, for example there are lymph nodes in your groin that filter lymph drainage from your legs and pelvis. There are some in your underarm that filter drainage from your arms and chest.

If something that is being filtered through the lymph system is seen as foreign to the body- like infection or cancer- this triggers an immune response in the node. It enlarges and gets inflammed and is often tender to the touch.

The ones that you are talking about are called the post-auricular nodes and the cervical nodes. They drain the salivary gland, the ear and the sinuses on that side of the face. So, chances are if you are seeing repeated enlargement of nodes in that area, there's something going on in the area that drains into that node.

You might want to try a stronger antibiotic and perhaps a sinus/head CT if this has been going on for a while. If another round of a stronger antibiotic doesn't clear it up, then consider a trip to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.

In contrast, occasionally patients show up with tender and enlarged nodes everywhere- groin, underarms, neck, chest, etc. This is usually a sign of a very serious viral infection like mononucleosis. We don't really see many HIV patients with enlarged lymph nodes all over the body because his is a symptom of very late stage HIV disease.

 

[AverageJoe]

If you're getting chronic infections, maybe you should consider the health of your immune system in general. Are you doing anything that might weaken it and lead to more infections?

Do/are you?
Living a very stressful/anxious lifestyle?
Take a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids?
Not get enough sleep?
Spend a lot of time in cold environments?
Live or work with others prone to sickness?
Not get enough vitamins/minerals?

If you're beating up your poor immune system, you're much more likely to get repeated infections. Or, something else might be at work.

Finally, you need to understand that HIV/AIDS symptoms often develop late in the course of the disease. Don't assume you or a partner is clean just because you don't have symptoms. Get tested.

 

[blake16]

Thanks guys! I will get it checked out regardless, but everything you've said has eased my mind. I think the bigger problem here is hypochondria. Honestly, I had a dream last night where all my friends were suddenly dying of lymphoma. So...just an example of how my mind works.

Average Joe, you've described most of my daily activity. I recently changed cities, to a damper, cooler environment, and also changed jobs, to a higher pace, higher stakes environment. It's not shocking to me that I've developed some kind of throat virus, considering all that you pointed out.

Thanks again for your help, its always a comfort to know there are people here to listen, no matter how outlandish the problem may seem.

 

[Nomenclature]

Thanks guys! I will get it checked out regardless, but everything you've said has eased my mind. I think the bigger problem here is hypochondria.

I agree. You shouldn't be scaring yourself over what it could be.

Keep us updated after you get checked out. I'm wishing you the best.

 

[future_retro]

Why don't you just get tested for HIV so you can stop worrying about it? All sexually active gay men should get tested once every 6 months or so anyway. I will say though, that if it's only unprotected oral sex youv'e had, your risk of HIV is very low. Unprotected anal + the symptoms you describe would be a different story...