Hi everyone, Ive posted on this site before, I am unbelievably scared Ive got HIV, the only thing that makes me so sure is the enlarged lymph nodes in my neck, I can also feel pea sized (maybe smaller) nodes in my armpits. The nodes are absolutely painless and pretty hard, it started with a sore throat and pain from the right side if I poked my neck, then suddenly the nodes appeared and have been there for almost 6 weeks. Doctor intially gave me anti biotics for the inflammed throat, I was sent for CBC 2 weeks ago, results came back normal for anemia, protein levels and infections, also went to the dentist for possoble mouth infections but nothing was found. Now Im just fearing the worst, Ive eliminated everything apart from HIV, and Im only left with that last test which I will take in November. There are 4 nodes in my neck which are the size of beans and pretty hard also painless. The nodes being painless and hard is what scares me the most, because I have heard all HIV related nodes are painless. I just dont understand any of it because my risk was very low (unprotected receptive oral from a sex worker) but then again I remember the teeth on the sex worker was pretty rotten which scares me very much too. Has any one experienced these painless nodes before?? And have you tested negative, please give me some hope, right now I feel totally devastated. Thank you

Okay, I mean this in the nicest possible way...

*Shakes you and slaps you across the face*

For the love of God, DON'T go by any of the symptoms you read about on here. Enlarged lymph nodes? That could be down to ANYTHING. It's just too vague for you to get so stressed out over. As you said yourself, what you did was very low risk, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I recently tested HIV- and I'd completely convinced myself that I had it too. I'm sure you'll be fine! Just try to calm down and live with it as best you can until you get tested in November.

Take it easy.

Your receptive oral risk (if with bad teeth) (although I don't know what that has to do with anything) encounter is low risk for HIV. It doesn't mean, however, that you are not at risk for other STDs. So, get a full STD panel including HIV.

By the way, go back to your doctor, explain your fears, show him/her the enlarged lymph nodes and find out for sure. Otherwise, you are simply going to drive yourself crazy. chris

I also had very enlarged lymph nodes in the back of my throat my ENT doctor told me. yet i got tested and was negative. they were all over the back of my throat, as my doctor said i was probably fighting some virus or bacterial infection. so i do agree with others, stay calm until your next test. you are very low risk. you could just have a cold! good luck, be calm and relax. :)