Aa
Post PEP
Hello Doctors,
I hope you are well. I had a potential exposure with a transexual in Thailand, HIV status unknown. I requested a condom be worn which I seen go on. She/he licked my anus and then inserted. For some reason I am worried that as she was licking my anus she could have taken the condom off. I sought PEP and I am now over 4 weeks post PEP. I tested at 4, 6, and just recently at 8 weeks post exposure all negative (individual antibody and antigen tests). My Doctor here (in Thailand), and infectuous diseases, HIV/AIDS specialist is incredibly confident I am HIV negative to the point where she thinks I don’t need to test anymore but has agreed to do an antibody in January.
I haven’t had any symptoms really! I had a mild sore throat, dry mouth and white tongue but was diagnosed as not HIV, plus a co-worker who I had been spending a lot of time complained of a soar throat about 3 days prior to its onset. Anxiety has been very high and I have been getting pretty upset. I have had a lot of discomfort in my neck starting at 4 weeks. Its not even consistent i.e. not always in the same place and at time more uncomfortable than others. I can feel a non muscular discomfort in the region where my throat meets my chest. Kind of feels similar to having just cried a lot. My ears have felt 'full' like being on an airplane for a while.
Could you give me your general opinion/thoughts on my potential exposure please?
I also have a couple of specific questions:
1) Would you say my 3 months antibody test is more of a formality in light of my test results to date?
2) Have any of your patients ever experienced my neck aches? My doctor thinks it is related to stress/anxiety? However compared to a few weeks previous I am very calm and the discomfort remains.
3) Hep B surface ag & ab (8week); Syphilis VDRL at (4weeks); Urine test (no uretha swab, 4weeks) ALL NEGATIVE. Are these conclusive? Any other tests that I need?
Thanks guys
I hope you are well. I had a potential exposure with a transexual in Thailand, HIV status unknown. I requested a condom be worn which I seen go on. She/he licked my anus and then inserted. For some reason I am worried that as she was licking my anus she could have taken the condom off. I sought PEP and I am now over 4 weeks post PEP. I tested at 4, 6, and just recently at 8 weeks post exposure all negative (individual antibody and antigen tests). My Doctor here (in Thailand), and infectuous diseases, HIV/AIDS specialist is incredibly confident I am HIV negative to the point where she thinks I don’t need to test anymore but has agreed to do an antibody in January.
I haven’t had any symptoms really! I had a mild sore throat, dry mouth and white tongue but was diagnosed as not HIV, plus a co-worker who I had been spending a lot of time complained of a soar throat about 3 days prior to its onset. Anxiety has been very high and I have been getting pretty upset. I have had a lot of discomfort in my neck starting at 4 weeks. Its not even consistent i.e. not always in the same place and at time more uncomfortable than others. I can feel a non muscular discomfort in the region where my throat meets my chest. Kind of feels similar to having just cried a lot. My ears have felt 'full' like being on an airplane for a while.
Could you give me your general opinion/thoughts on my potential exposure please?
I also have a couple of specific questions:
1) Would you say my 3 months antibody test is more of a formality in light of my test results to date?
2) Have any of your patients ever experienced my neck aches? My doctor thinks it is related to stress/anxiety? However compared to a few weeks previous I am very calm and the discomfort remains.
3) Hep B surface ag & ab (8week); Syphilis VDRL at (4weeks); Urine test (no uretha swab, 4weeks) ALL NEGATIVE. Are these conclusive? Any other tests that I need?
Thanks guys
Hello Dr's
Could you please answer my second post. I have paid for this service so I think it is fair to be upset at the fact I haven't had a reply for a week.
Thank you,
Jack
Could you please answer my second post. I have paid for this service so I think it is fair to be upset at the fact I haven't had a reply for a week.
Thank you,
Jack
Dr Jose,
I assume you must be pretty busy at the moment but I'd really appreciate if you answer my post as soon as you get a chance. Thanks
Jack
I assume you must be pretty busy at the moment but I'd really appreciate if you answer my post as soon as you get a chance. Thanks
Jack
Thank you for the quick response Dr José. Can I just add a bit more as the word limit prevented me from doing so in the previous post.
1) In the unlikely event the condom was taken off ( I mean who would do such a thing :/) or fell off (if this could happen?) would you say my results can still be considered conclusive. It was very brief, certainly less than 30 seconds (probably more like 15) with no ejaculation. Genuine need for further testing?
2) My PEP was only combivir! I have read this might not be effective without a 3rd drug. Does this make my results even more reassuring as it would have worked and I would have acquired the virus if exposed?
3) My Dr referred to the HIV testing equipment being highly accurate as it was the ‘new generation’. Obviously not 4th gen though as they didn’t offer the DUO. Would you envisage they are using the 3rd gen ab and ag and that they are accurate (the ab test sheet said CORBAS 6000 I take it that’s a make/model? On appearances the hospital is very smart, modern and expensive according to the locals if that helps.
4) If your opinion on question 1) hasn’t changed am I ok to have unprotected sex with my gf when I return to the UK in a few weeks? (Yes I know poor judgement on my behalf; drunkenly decided to fulfil an unsatisfied curiosity :[…never again! And not the same ‘never again’ after a heavy drinking session..literally never again!)
5) My penis was sucked until I cum with out a condom. Is the urine only test still conclusive? Any of the none standard stds I need to worry about?
Thanks again,
Jack
1) In the unlikely event the condom was taken off ( I mean who would do such a thing :/) or fell off (if this could happen?) would you say my results can still be considered conclusive. It was very brief, certainly less than 30 seconds (probably more like 15) with no ejaculation. Genuine need for further testing?
2) My PEP was only combivir! I have read this might not be effective without a 3rd drug. Does this make my results even more reassuring as it would have worked and I would have acquired the virus if exposed?
3) My Dr referred to the HIV testing equipment being highly accurate as it was the ‘new generation’. Obviously not 4th gen though as they didn’t offer the DUO. Would you envisage they are using the 3rd gen ab and ag and that they are accurate (the ab test sheet said CORBAS 6000 I take it that’s a make/model? On appearances the hospital is very smart, modern and expensive according to the locals if that helps.
4) If your opinion on question 1) hasn’t changed am I ok to have unprotected sex with my gf when I return to the UK in a few weeks? (Yes I know poor judgement on my behalf; drunkenly decided to fulfil an unsatisfied curiosity :[…never again! And not the same ‘never again’ after a heavy drinking session..literally never again!)
5) My penis was sucked until I cum with out a condom. Is the urine only test still conclusive? Any of the none standard stds I need to worry about?
Thanks again,
Jack
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you for your post and welcome to our forum. Your sexual encounter seems to have been protected for the anal penetration. If that is the case, then there was no risk of HIV infection. Obviously if no condom had not been used, then the risk would be considerable but that does not seem to be the case here. No risk of HIV from rimming or being rimmed. I will try to answer each of your questions here below:
1) Would you say my 3 months antibody test is more of a formality in light of my test results to date?
THAT IS WHAT THE GUIDELINES RECOMMED AFTER HAVING TAKEN PEP. HOWEVER IN PRACTICE, THE NEGATIVE TEST THAT YOU HAD AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FINISHING PEP CAN BE CONSIDERED CONCLUSIVE.
2) Have any of your patients ever experienced my neck aches? My doctor thinks it is related to stress/anxiety? However compared to a few weeks previous I am very calm and the discomfort remains.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IS RELATED TO TENSION AND ANXIETY. IT IS NOT A SYMPTOM OF HIV SERO-CONVERSION IN ISOLATION.
3) Hep B surface ag & ab (8week); Syphilis VDRL at (4weeks); Urine test (no uretha swab, 4weeks) ALL NEGATIVE. Are these conclusive? Any other tests that I need?
ALL THOSE TESTS ARE FINAL AND FULLY CONCLUSIVE; YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO GET AN ANAL SWAB FOR CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHOEA
Best wishe,
Dr José
Thank you for your post and welcome to our forum. Your sexual encounter seems to have been protected for the anal penetration. If that is the case, then there was no risk of HIV infection. Obviously if no condom had not been used, then the risk would be considerable but that does not seem to be the case here. No risk of HIV from rimming or being rimmed. I will try to answer each of your questions here below:
1) Would you say my 3 months antibody test is more of a formality in light of my test results to date?
THAT IS WHAT THE GUIDELINES RECOMMED AFTER HAVING TAKEN PEP. HOWEVER IN PRACTICE, THE NEGATIVE TEST THAT YOU HAD AFTER 4 WEEKS OF FINISHING PEP CAN BE CONSIDERED CONCLUSIVE.
2) Have any of your patients ever experienced my neck aches? My doctor thinks it is related to stress/anxiety? However compared to a few weeks previous I am very calm and the discomfort remains.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IS RELATED TO TENSION AND ANXIETY. IT IS NOT A SYMPTOM OF HIV SERO-CONVERSION IN ISOLATION.
3) Hep B surface ag & ab (8week); Syphilis VDRL at (4weeks); Urine test (no uretha swab, 4weeks) ALL NEGATIVE. Are these conclusive? Any other tests that I need?
ALL THOSE TESTS ARE FINAL AND FULLY CONCLUSIVE; YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO GET AN ANAL SWAB FOR CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHOEA
Best wishe,
Dr José
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