POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: MC on August 28, 2006, 02:50:00 am
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Hey
I tested positive on July 31st.My lymph nodes under my jaw and one on the side of my neck are still swollen.Does anyone have experience with this and do you think the swelling Will go down? Whats the nature of them? Will they swell, go down, swell? Just wondering? Its not that bad, but its often in my mind......................thanks
MC
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I had some of this too before meds and during for the first few months on meds. But finally they did return to normal. I also had night sweats the same time but they stopped too. If you're on meds, you should get better over a 4 - 6 months time. Also, I was on bactrim while my cd4 was recovering to above 200, and I wondered if the sweats and node thing may have been from the bactrim. Never found out but if you're on meds, you should get better. It just takes time.
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They will go down. This is a common symtom we all go through. Do what your DR says, you will be fine! Patience will come in handy.
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They will do down but never entirely disappear in some chaps. Unfortunately it seems that in some people swollen lymph nodes is a chronic symptom and I could be one of those. I was infected November 2005 and after 9 months my lymph nodes in the neck are still visibly swollen, (but did get down a bit. Some days they get really big especially if I have a cold or gastric flu). However many say that with meds things would get better.
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Hi MC,
You should have those glands looked at by your doctor. Usually, if hiv is causing glands to swell, it isn't just one or two isolated areas, it's most of them. You may have some sort of localised low-grade infection you're unaware of, so please get them checked out asap.
Ann
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Hi MC
I agree with Ann. Are you on treatment already? Do you know your numbers? Better see a doc about them if they don't go away.
Coen
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I started meds a few days ago and my lymph nodes in my armpits have reduced. One of them has almost disappeared. Anyway, my Dr. checks the in every appointment.
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About a week after I started HAART about a year ago, I developed MAC as part of Immune Reconstitution Syndrome and the MAC settled in the lymph nodes in my right neck. For several months, it looked like I had golf balls under my chin and on the side of my neck. Then, after about 6 months or so, the nodes started bursting through the skin and discharging daily. Finally after about a year, I am left with pretty ugly scar tissue under my chin and on the side of my neck. I am off all the MAC meds except for Biaxin which I will probably be on for some years to come and my dermotologist prescribed Biafine cream to help dimish the scar tissue somewhat. So far, the cream is doing quite a bit of good. My ID doctor told me to give the healing process at least until February before we consider plastic surgery.
That's my story with swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Good luck with your situation.
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This is obviously a pretty common symptom of HIV+ people, but I found little literature on it. My nodes remained swollen on and off my whole first year of infection...oddly, mainly on my left side. My doc just said it was normal. Nonetheless, I started HAART a week ago and the swelling has already significantly diminished.
It seems in some they go down w/o meds. And in most they go away with meds.
take care,
brian
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Hey guys
Thanks for all the responces. My nurse said that it was normal and that they would go down. i have not started on any meds as of yet and have my 2nd appointment with the Dr. on the 12th of Sept. the LN on my left neck has gone down a bit and the ones under my jaw are also ok. my BF says im paranoid a bit................ah well ill keep it updated for myself and let you know.............
many thanks
MC
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MC,
When I was infected the glands behind my ears, in my neck, and on the back of my head were swollen for at least 6 months. I don't think, if I remember right, they were completely normal until after starting meds.
brother joe
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I experienced enlarged lymph nodes too. Actually, I noticed the first one almost exactly a year ago. It was in the back of my neck just below the hair line. I went to a doctor and she said I had a scalp infection and gave me an antibiotic. Then a couple of months after that I had a cough and went to another doctor who said the lymph node was nothign to worry about and she gave me antibiotics for bronchittis. Then, suddenly lots of lymph nodes swelled up in my neck. About a month later I had swollen lymph nodes in my groin. That was when my regulare doctor said "I'm concerned, we have some sort of problem here." And that was when she tested me for HIV (among other things) and the HIV test came back positive. My lymph nodes stayed noticeabley swollen until a couple of months after starting meds. Most of them have returned to a normal size now, although I can still feel them if I check. So yes, it is a very common thing and in many cases I've been told they reduce in size although they may never go back to a totally non-enlarged state.
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Hello MC,
Lymph nodes are glands that play an important part in your body's defense against infection. They produce lymph, which travels throughout your body in the lymph system, and filters impurities from the body.
When you have the chance you can review the rest of this material on this website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003097.htm (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003097.htm).
I hope this is some help to you. Have the BEST Day.