possible anal rape

[sleeplesswalker]

Hi Drs,

I have posted this on the HIV Prevention Forum with a response by Dr Edward Hook who kindly offered his opinion, and suggested that I move on with the experience I had. He believed what I had was a vivid dream. I would just like a second opinion to offer greater reassurance on what happened to me.

I live alone on the 2nd floor of a student dormitory in London. I had an unusual episode last week where I thought I was sleep-walking out of my dormitory, and was anally-raped. I once sleep-walked a long time ago when I was about 8 years old but I do not think I have since then and I am 17 years old now. I woke up on my bed, not elsewhere. I had no cuts and bruises and nothing out of the ordinary except that my shorts were all crusted in semen, and I have pain and discomfort in my anal area although I have not seen any blood. I had masturbated the night before I went to bed so that semen could be mine. I also should say that I have been living in fear of HIV for the past 6 months to the point that I feel I have become HIV-infected because of my anxiety disorder. I thus believed I sleep-walked and was anally-raped without being able to stop it. I am unable to concentrate on my studies because of this recurring fear. I do not drink or take drugs but I do suffer from fatigue and anxiety. I do not believe I was drugged as I live alone. The last HIV test I took was a couple of weeks back: it was negative.

In my situation, where I do not know for sure that I sleep-walked and was anally-raped or that it was a vivid dream, what is medically recommended in my case? What should I do if I was to come to you for instance? Anal sex or rape is high risk activity if it had taken place so should I take a HIV duo test? I really have no clue what to do, and have become very depressed because of this incident. Appreciate your advice on this matter.

Henri

[sleeplesswalker]

Hi Dr Jose

Thanks for the reassurance. I discussed my anal pain with my GP today and he said there is a bit of tear in my anus and that I could be heavily constipated. He also suggested that I get psychological help for my anxiety problems. Final two questions if you would oblige:

a. Is it worthwhile to do a HIV duo test to calm my fears?
b. If let say I was indeed anally raped, would a HIV duo test be definitive at 4 weeks?

Henri

[Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia, MD, MRCGP, PhD]

Hello,
If you had been raped whilst asleep, you would have certainly woken up.  You would have definitely noticed it.
The whole thing does not make any sense and it is most likely to be just a dream (or rather a nightmare).  We all have sometimes vivid dreams.  What you need to do is forget about it.  However if it continues disturbing you, what you need is psychological help.  
Best wishes,
Dr. José