Can a swollen gland behind the ear be related to stress?If it's HIV would it be just one or more?
I've got one behind my right ear since last week (little and mostly without pain) and I'm soooo scared...it's to early to get tested but with this fear I dunno if I can live this way till that day!
If anybody here knows about swollen glands and their characteristics please post a message.
THANK YOU and cross your fingers for me!

Tommy,

Leave the gland alone. Stress can cause your body to react in all kinds of ways. All you need to do is start pressing around where your nodes are and they will become enlarged. Now, what was your possible exposure and when is the 13 week mark for you?

saltysam

Agree with saltysam....if you werent touching your gland, you would not even know it is there. Glands tend to swell when rubbed, and although we dont notice they are ALWAYS up and down as our body fights the thousands of invading particles we are exposed to every day.

It is true...HIV tends to swell glands, but most of the time they are obviouslynoticeable by a knowledgeable doctor, even without feeling them. I had a hard time during 4 months because I thought i had swollen glands, and my doc told me that they were not swollen...so imagine that..

All I can say is, leave your glands alone, if you feel neck pain or armpit pain, lie down, drink a lot of water, and try to relax...Stress does make you feel pain although most definitely WILL NOT swell your glands in of itself.

Listen to me...
YOUR SWOLLEN GLAND IS ABSOLUTELY NOT BECAUSE OF HIV INFECTION. As those gland generally cause swelling in the neck, armpit and groin area. Plus nobody (except a very rare exception) get HIV from oral sex...Got it...??

Hi guys I'm the guy who posted this message...
thank you for writing me back, know you all say
it's not hiv and I do wanna believe you but this
little ball(gland) behind my ear doesn't go away and
it's a week and 1/2 now...I never had anything like
that before and I so scared. I should probably see
a doctor but I can't afford one because I'm not american (international student in NY),I have an insurance but then they'll bill it to my home country address and I don't want my family to find it out!
In one month and half I'll get tested(3months) but I
don't know if the stress will kill me before:-(
I hope this swallen gland is nothing and I'll be able to get back to my life and smile again.
Thank you all for your support
I'll let you know the result if it's positive
bye

I hav one on the back of my neck too. I did more then have oral sex and I am telling you that I am HIV free, Tested 1 1/2 years post possible infection. It may be a benign cyst, Im sure your fine!!! Very VEry VERY rare you got HIV from oral sex, I think their are like 2 cases ever documented! trust me you are not the 3rd

Nothing will convince you until you see a neg result. Even then you will probably still be having symptoms. I'm not suggesting you are crazy, but most of these will be psychological. I've been there!!! Even if you are positive you don't have to feel like everything is going to end. You can still lead the same life you are in now. All you have to do is take care of yourself. You said you don't want to be tested right now cause it would go on your insurance and be billed back home, well I don't believe they are aloud to put specifics in billing. They have to use CPT Codes. Otherwise, it would be invading your privacy. Anyway, why don't you look into free clinics in your area. They will test you if you go to them. I know this is a rough time, but try to hang in there and don't be so sad.