Sore left armpit... Alert: Female issues!

[jlm0211]

Hello everyone,
I have been going through an HIV fear for close to the past three months. To make a long story short I had what I think was the flu at the beginning if February which most everyone in my house caught.
Since then I have had on and off neck pain, which I think may be my lymph nodes and on and off sore throat. My doctor had checked and he says my throat is fine and so are my lymph nodes. Now for the past 3-4 days I have a dull ache in my left armpit and what I think may be a yeast infection. I looked in the mirror and I don't see any enlarged bumps nor can I feel any. I called my obgyn yesterday and they called in Diflucan for the yeast infection and to come in to the office if it doesn't resolve itself in a few days. I took a 10 say round of cipro antibiotic from February 1st to the 11th. Could a yeast infection been caused by taking antibiotics 1 and half weeks after I finished? Can the lymph node in my armpit ache without being swollen or inflamed? Can this be HIV related? I am very afraid of having contracted this through several french kissed over the course if several minutes (no sex involved). I know that logically the chances are low and several people here, doctors and therapists have said the same. However these new symptoms are making me think otherwise. Of course if you google things like this HIV comes up. So now I am extra scared.

Thanks for everyone's patience in hearing my rantings and ravings. I still have 7 days until I can test and this board has helped me keep my sanity.

[mollyfin]

I wouldn't put anything past antibiotics.  Yeast infections can also occur from things like sensitivity to soap or your period, or wearing pants that are too tight. 

As for the lymph node, I don't know, but it's possible that you just have a muscle pain in your underarm from sleeping or leaning on that arm.  Last time I had a lymph node hurt and get bigger, a quick inspection of my body turned up an infected wound that I'm 99.9% sure was the cause - drained it a few times on my own and things went back to normal.  No HIV involved.  My mom regularly gets lymph node infections for whatever reason - she doesn't have HIV either. 

It's also just not possible to get HIV the way you described. 

[oceanlover]

My reply is a little gross, but I remember reading a Dr's response to being worried about contracting HIV through kissing: he said "you would essentially have to drink a bucket full the infected person's saliva in order for there to be a chance of it transmitting to you." I know...pretty gross image, but I hope it eases your worries! Maybe the arm pit soreness is from shaving? Every now and then I will aggravate a hair follicle and it will be sore for a few days. Also, yeast infections have many benign causes....I am a chronic sufferer! I absolutely think antibiotics could be the culprit. Yeast could have been over active for a while before you notice symptoms. Breathe! You don't have HIV :)

[jlm0211]

Thank you .. I hope and pray you are right. On top of that I am on the 5th day of my period. So this has been a tough few days!

[andiemarie]

The pain under your arm could be from your period because the same thing happens to me, usually along with breast pain. It sucks, but it generally goes away when or a few days after my period finishes.

And the yeast infection could absolutely be from the antibiotic. Cipro is good for that.

[jlm0211]

Ok now I feel like I'm going crazy.. Now I have pain in the back of my right knee shooting down to my right foot including my foot.
Is this something I should be concerned about?

[sixpack]

1. you don't have HIV.   respectfully only a HA person would jump to that conclusion.   Respectfully, again, it ridiculous to think you could.... now had you consumed that bucket of saliva..... 

2. what are you doing for your catastrophic thinking?  what is working? what isn't?  what are you willing to do?  Anything?

bottom line engaging in the same reactive habits are only going to keep you chasing yourself around the anxiety tree.   We must adopt the proactive mindsets and habits in order to get better.

as I mentioned to someone else here today.....  what you decide to do about your disorder is not going to impact anyone but YOU and your family and friends.  All we can do is tell you that your thinking is off the mark and offer suggestions on how to deal with your disorder.  While dealing with the disorder is harder than asking for reassurance from family/friends/docs/med testing/online forums, addressing the disorder is what will get you to your healing path and a happier life.

[jlm0211]

Thank you for your responses. I know it sounds ridiculous. In trying the best I can to keep myself sane and user control. This morning I woke up feeling optimistic and thinking that this is the best I have felt in a long time. Then I started having the back pain. I looked it up and knew bursitis came up which then leads to risk factors of HIV. Then I felt all the blood rush from my body and here I am.
I know it's frustrating to read this and trust me it frustrates me too. I know other people would have kissed someone and HIV never would have never even crossed their minds. As a matter of fact it really ticks me off that I am like this. Therapy is helping me little by little understand that besides the guilt I have ALOT of underlying unresolved issues that I have to deal with that have ultimately brought me to where I am now. Until I get to the point where I deal with them all I am here feeling like I am losing my mind. You have no idea how much this board helps. Thank you all that are here sharing their own experiences and listening to mine.