Lymphnodes/ HIV / Anxiety

[Newyok_1985]

Hey there guys, Great site and many awesome people!

LEt me just cut to the chase.  Last time i tested was back in August 2011.  I have been in a great relationship with my BF (im male) since March 2012.  I did have sex, protected analy with two other guys before I started dating my current BF.

After a couple months, me and my bf had sex without a condom for a total of 5 minutes, beofre deciding that it was a bad idea even though we have been dating for quiet some time.

I know I had low risk with the other 2 guys I was with prior to my BF, but I still worried about thi slip up with my bf.  This was alsmost a year ago this happened.  Right now all of sudden for the past few months my HIV scare came in when I felt pain in what I think its my lymphnode on the left and right breast area in my chest.  This happened from time to time, but i thought nothing of it. 

Then it started to radiate up towars my collarbone through the side of my breast. I cannot feel any lumps, but its tender when i touch the area.  Are there Lymphnodes on the chest area near the breast up to the collarbone?  This pain happens, about every two- three weeks and its been going on for about 6 months.  I also just discover a small pea size hard little bump on the back toward the bottom of my neck where it meets my back.  Also had a sore throat, but now its gone.  I know we are suppose to rule out symptoms, but i'm not sure if anything of this pain when I press on me side chest near my breast are indication of swollen lymphs or that pea size bump that appeared on my lower part of my neck ?

Any insight? I'm also a huge hychondriac, so please let me know if anyone dealt with this???

[Jeff G]

Its no use guessing what is causing a symptom and the only way to know if you have HIV is to test, symptoms are the same for many other conditions .

You had a risk and you will need to test 6 weeks past any possible exposure and again at 3 months to confirm it .

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.


To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.


Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.


Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.


If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.


Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.


Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

[Ann]

Newyok,

If you and your boyfriend are monogamous, why don't you test together so you don't have to worry about condoms? (Provided of course you both test negative for hiv and all other STIs as well - and provided you really are monogamous.) You both should have complete STI panels, including but not limited to hiv testing.

As this "slip-up" with your boyfriend happened almost a year ago, you can test now for a conclusive result. If this was also his last "slip-up", then you can both get conclusive results now.

I really do recommend you both get tested, for peace of mind if nothing else. Untreated hiv is deadly. (And so is syphilis, btw. Syphilis often goes unnoticed as chancres are painless and there are often no other symptoms - and syphilis is MUCH more easily transmitted than hiv.)

Good luck - I hope you test together and I hope you both get negative results for all STIs.

Ann

[Newyok_1985]

Thank you Ann and Jeff.  I will most likely go and get tested today..  Just want a little piece of mind.  Are my symptoms realted to HIV? Its been almost a full year since the "slip up", so just wondering if there is any correlation with what i'm feeling? 

I spent countless days and hours on the net finding out information, (i know thats very bad to do), but I just cant seem to find any type of comfort as I keep thinking i have HIV. 

[Jeff G]

Thank you Ann and Jeff.  I will most likely go and get tested today..  Just want a little piece of mind.  Are my symptoms realted to HIV? Its been almost a full year since the "slip up", so just wondering if there is any correlation with what i'm feeling? 

I spent countless days and hours on the net finding out information, (i know thats very bad to do), but I just cant seem to find any type of comfort as I keep thinking i have HIV. 

Your symptoms are not specific to HIV so there is no use discussing them . Go test today and you can put this behind you . Please save your last free post to come back with the good news that you tested HIV negative .