Question
Responses to an enlarged lymph node and depression on ART?
11 June 2026. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Living with HIV long-term, Newly diagnosed.
Hello, I live in Türkiye and I was diagnosed with HIV in December 2019 when I was 25. I used dolutegravir (Tivicay) and TDF/FTC (Hivent) until 2024. It was a healthy period, but during this time, I had numerous unprotected sexual encounters, and after that, a lymph node in my right groin swelled.
It was a complicated process. The doctor who followed me for 4 years said it wasn’t serious, that I wouldn’t die, and that surgery wasn’t necessary. After that doctor left the hospital, a new doctor didn’t listen to me and said I needed surgery. They gave me Bictarv. They neglected me and used me like a guinea pig. I had surgery, and they only said it was an infection.
I’ve been taking medication regularly for about 6.5 years, but I’m constantly getting sick. Especially after the surgery, my CD4 count is 800, which is a good value, and no HIV RNA was detected.
I take 50 mg of Selectra and I’m in a very deep depression.
I applied Dolgit to my upper left thigh and I’m experiencing a burning sensation.
Answer
Hi there
Thanks for your email and for letting us post an anonymised version online.
Firstly I am sorry that you have not been feeling well recently. Although I can comment in general, you situation is very specific and unusual so most of the reply relies on you speaking with your doctor again.
You also asked several questions so I will answer these one at a time.
Lymph node
Did your doctors biopsy the lymph node before removing it? Or even afterwards? If yes, did they find the cause of the infection? Without this info it is difficult to comment further though. I don’t think this would have been linked to having sex, but the biopsy results would help.
Changing treatment
Changing to Biktarvy wouldn’t normally cause any problems. Actually most doctors and guidelines would see Biktary as being a better option because it involves only one small pill a day. Otherwise, the drugs in Biktarvy are very similar to Tivicay + Hivent.
CD4 and viral load and current health
You are right that your CD4 count and viral load are really good results. They show that HIV isn’t likely to be causing any current health problems. Whatever ongoing symptoms you have now are likely due to other things, but without details this is something to go through with your doctor for what might be causing them.
I am sorry I can’t comment on reactions to Dolgit (ibuprofen) but any reactions should be shown to a doctor or pharmacist. Any skin reactions need to be seen by a person rather than giving information online.
Your comment about depression though sounds like the most important reason you are having a difficult time. Is your doctor monitoring the effect of the antidepressant you are taking – sertraline (Selectra)? Are you also able to access counselling to talk about the effect of your recent health and the issues behind the depression?
Perhaps more importantly, your were diagnosed when very young and I wondered how much support you have from other people living with HIV and your family and friends. Like many countries, it might be very difficult to be open about your HIV status and without support the stress can make life difficult. I know it sounded like the time on your first treatment went well though, so this is just a guess. I thought that maybe the lymph node and worry about having a more active social life maybe brought up unresolved issues relating to being HIV positive.
I am sorry not to have a simple answer to your questions but neither HIV nor HIV meds are likely to be why you are not feeling so well at the moment.
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