In Feb.’18, I was given a checkup that found my AST/ALT liver enzymes were very high. A follow-up was scheduled a month later. I had just started high intensity workouts. I have read that this can cause a transient increase in liver enzymes. I stopped workouts pending new tests. Just before the new tests, I had a 24-hour attack of diarrhea/stomach pain. New tests showed liver enzymes were normal (also everything else), and Hep A/B/C neg. The same day, I felt a twinge in my right armpit.
The next day (Apr.’18), I was given a Tdap vaccine in my left arm. 4 days later, my lymph nodes in my right armpit, starting where I felt the twinge, and down the back of the arm felt inflamed and painful. This spread to the left armpit. For 2 weeks, I felt feverish but my temp. was always normal—the most abnormal was 96.6°F. I then felt fullness in my neck. Since then, for nearly five months, I feel intermittent fullness or dull aches in my neck/collarbone/behind my ears/armpits, and occasionally malaise, but no fever. My inguinal lymph nodes have always felt normal.
I have had sex with men and women. With men, only a few times, and always protected. Oral not, but never to ejaculation. In Dec., I started seeing a woman who was tested recently. She was my only partner until my symptoms. My last unprotected oral with a man was in Oct/Nov.’17, sex a few months earlier. I never had a rash, or flu-like illness. I know the only way to know is to get tested. But does this sound like it could be HIV?

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll be glad to comment.  Each of the things you describe has a very good alternative explanation- i.e. high intensity exercise and LFT abnormalities, regional lymph node swelling following g DTAP, etc.  Nothing that you mention suggest a specific need to test for HIV.  On the other hand, it sounds like you have had a number of different sexual partners and you do not mention testing for STIs other than hepatitis. Thus, let me suggest that it might be good for you to go for a sexual health check which includes screening for STIs.  This is not an accusation but simply acknowledgement that you have had other partners in the past, that many STIs can occur without symptoms, and that while it is unlikely that you are infected, knowing this based on negative tests will provide a measure of confidence and reassurance.  We routinely recommend this for new relationships and suggest that such testing should include testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia and sometimes, depending on the test performed, tests for trichamonas using  a urine test.  Testing for HIV and syphilis, while far, far less likely can be easily added with a blood test.  We specifically recommend against blood tests for herpes unless you or a partner has a history of the infection as they have relatively frequent false positive test results and can be misleading. In the US confidential testing can be obtained for little cost at health departments.

I hope this comment is helpful.  EWH

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Hi Dr. Hook,

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Hello Dr. Hook, 

Thanks for your feedback.  I understand and agree with you- it is always nice when we know what testing that we recommend or that clients seek turn out.  It adds to our experience and knowledge.  Before I close this thread, I was wondering if you spoke with your own doctor regarding the symptoms you mentioned or the fact that they were not due to HIV was sufficient to allow you to move forward without concern.  EWH
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Glad to help. My GP ran a battery of blood tests, and all came back normal, which discounted lymphoma, and other infections. She also ran thyroid tests which came back normal. She referred me to an ear, nose and throat specialist because of the tightness and fullness in my neck. She also suggested that it may be psychosomatic, though I had symptoms before I had any sort of preoccupation or anxiety. I can't say I'm wholly satisfied, though the exclusion of worst case scenarios was a big relief.

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