[Question #7785] Dr. please help
53 months ago
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Dear Dr.
I am sorry to be back with question again, please help me. I am having extreme anxiety and depression since my previous questions. I know that all my previous questions were anxiety driven and probably this one too. I have not had any sexual activity past 2-3 years and never used needles. I have swollen lymph nodes which are not going away, and last week, they were pulsing light pain which come and go during the day which lasted 7-10 days again as it was 2 month back when I asked my first question. And they seems to be multiplied and become larger on my neck. 4-5 days before it, I had cold yogurt drink from a fridge right after I woke up, and next day in the morning I had a bit pain on my throat which went away after 10-30 min by my voice was remain deep. And now I have red spot on my forehead 1/3 in long and 1/4 in wide which looks like a scratch but it is not, and it started to disappearing now 3 day it is almost unnoticeable. Is aforementioned something to worry?
About one month back I have ordered beet soup it was on a plastic dish like soda cup, and when I was holding it I noticed red line of liquid on my hand which came from a lip of a cup, not sure if this is blood or something else, but it had bright dark red color like tomato pasta, but a lip of a cup was sharp, though soup itself was orange-reddish. Also I have stepped on a big splash of blood, it was cold outside, and probably it was frozen. Sir, are these also something to worry?
And last questions to ask are any blood-borne infections are transmitted through surfaces, food, smoking and cloth. Like if to get personal hygiene items and products from store like toothbrush, shampoo that was touched by several other people or cloth that were fitted, or drinking coffee from a paper cup that is touched by someone. And food if to frequently bite gums or crack on lip when it is extremely cold outside, so they are wounded.
Thank you very much
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
53 months ago
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Welcome back to our forum. On this occasion I happened to pick up your question rather than Dr. Handsfield. In preparing to reply to your current questions however I reviewed your interactions with Dr. Handsfield two months ago and agree with all that he said. I also believe that careful reading of his earlier replies would provide many of the answers you seek.
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Swollen lymph nodes are a non-specific process. Lymph nodes may swell locally in response to a localized process or be more widespread and generalized as a result of a general illness. Most swollen lymph nodes are not due to HIV or other blood-borne STI ‘s despite the fact that they appear prominently when one performs a search on the Internet regarding lymph node swelling. Much lymph node swelling is asymptomatic and becomes apparent only by noticing the swellings that a person can feel. The vast majority of chronic lymph node swelling represents benign processes which require no intervention. When a lymph nodes are tender they suggest an ongoing inflammatory process. The list of possible causes of lymph node swelling includes a long large variety of viral infections, bacterial infections, auto immune diseases, and even cancer. Given the history that you provided in this and earlier posts it would be extraordinary for your lymph nodes to represent HIV. If you have apparent lymph node swelling in your neck this should be evaluated by a train to physician. The spot/scratch on your forehead should not concern you.
As Dr. Handsfield indicated, HIV and other blood-borne infections are never acquired through ingestion of contaminated food, drink or using contaminated eating implements.. The events that you describe are nothing to worry about and do not warrant further evaluation or testing.
I hope this information is helpful to you. I believe you are overly concerned about the risk for HIV. EWH
53 months ago
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Dear Dr. Hook
Thanks for your reply. I actually did go to a doctor two month ago, ultrasound examination, doctor found them reactive, and doctor convinced that it is not something to worry. Thing that is making me anxious is that they have sort of pulsing light pain which come and go all over the body, especially on neck, same was two month back. Probably I am overreacting.
Sir, when you said extraordinary is that something to worry?
Are paper cuts, or small scratches or cuts from everyday items like door handles, pen, etc. also safe?
Yes, too much concerns about everything red, surfaces, door handles, mirrors, etc.
Thanks
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
53 months ago
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I suspect your doctor expected the swelling to resolve. The fact that it has not, and continues to concern you, warrants a return visit to the same physician (who has a baseline for comparison). You may or may not be over reaching but the answer to your questions, other than to reassure you that this is not HIV, is not come to come from an on-line interchange.
I said extraordinary to reassure you that you hand nothing to worry about.
Correct, paper cuts, scrapes and abrasions are nothing to worry about. EWH
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53 months ago
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Dr.,
My last question just to clarify if I correctly understood. Please forgive my persistence, English is not my native tongue, when you said "other than to reassure you that this is not HIV" this means that you have reassured that this is not HIV?
Thanks
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
53 months ago
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Correct. I am confident that this is not HIV. EWH---