Aa
A living nightmare...
I had unprotected vaginal intercourse 11 weeks ago. A few days later, I developed vaginal discharge. Went to the Dr. at ten days post-exposure and got tested for all STD's - negative. He told me I had a yeast infection & gave me some Diflucan. Despite two courses of Diflucan & some Monistat, this infection hasn't cleared up. I then developed abdominal pain, which felt like inflammation. Next, I developed terrible heartburn & severe nausea. Also a very stiff neck. A couple times I felt a bit feverish and my temp was around 100 degrees. I developed a mild sore throat and a dry cough. Nausea and low grade fevers went away. Sore throat and cough lasted for over a month. During this time, I developed chronic diarreha. Everytime I ate I had to run to the bathroom shortly after. It wasn't watery; very fatty. Sore throat went away. Enter the joint pain. It started in my spine. Then went to my knees, then my elbows, then ankles... pretty soon it was in every single joint in my body but never at once; it migrated. The muscles on the tops of my thighs were sore and felt hot inside (for lack of a better explanation). I've had a lot of fatigue this whole time. The diarreha stopped abruptly. Then, just a few days ago, the joint pain disappeared. Now, I am experiencing muscle twitches all over my body. Also, I am breaking out in what I believe to be cherry angiomas.my feet are extremely itchy and my toes are peeling. My tongue is totally white. It's like all my taste buds are white. My mouth, throat and nose are totally dry and I have an increase in post nasal drip. This has all lasted about ten weeks.I just want to know your opinion on these symptoms and if they sound anything at all as though they could be HIV-related. I had a negative antibody test at 8 weeks, negative OraQuick at 8.5 weeks, and a negative antibody test at 9.5 weeks.I plan on going back for a test at 13 weeks. But, until then, maybe you could offer some insight.
Thank you for your time,
Scared to Death
Thank you for your time,
Scared to Death
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Bottom line: for sure you do not have HIV. Something else is responsible for your symptoms.
Why am I so sure? First, you had a low risk exposure; unless your partner was at particularly high risk for HIV (gay or bi, injection drug user, etc) it is very unlikely he has HIV; and if he did, the average transmission risk for vaginal sex, male to female, is around once for every 1,000 exposures.
Second, your symptoms really don't sound at all like a new HIV infection. Most symptoms that occur with almost any infection also occur with HIV, and some of your individual symptoms could go along with that. However, the pattern of symptoms you describe doesn't sound like HIV. Absence of high fever also is good evidence against HIV, regardless of other symptoms.
Finally and most important, the HIV tests never lie, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after the last possible exposure -- and with modern HIV tests, that time is almost never longer than 6 weeks. Therefore, test results always overrule symptoms (no matter how typical for HIV) and exposure history (no matter how high risk it was). Your first negative test result at 8 weeks proved you weren't infected and the later ones confirm it. Because some experts continue to advise testing at 3 months (12-13 weeks), you might want to have a final test at that time -- but there is no chance it will be positive.
I hope this information is helpful. Really, you can stop worrying about HIV. If any symptoms continue or otherwise concern you, continue to work with your personal health care provider about the problem.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Why am I so sure? First, you had a low risk exposure; unless your partner was at particularly high risk for HIV (gay or bi, injection drug user, etc) it is very unlikely he has HIV; and if he did, the average transmission risk for vaginal sex, male to female, is around once for every 1,000 exposures.
Second, your symptoms really don't sound at all like a new HIV infection. Most symptoms that occur with almost any infection also occur with HIV, and some of your individual symptoms could go along with that. However, the pattern of symptoms you describe doesn't sound like HIV. Absence of high fever also is good evidence against HIV, regardless of other symptoms.
Finally and most important, the HIV tests never lie, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after the last possible exposure -- and with modern HIV tests, that time is almost never longer than 6 weeks. Therefore, test results always overrule symptoms (no matter how typical for HIV) and exposure history (no matter how high risk it was). Your first negative test result at 8 weeks proved you weren't infected and the later ones confirm it. Because some experts continue to advise testing at 3 months (12-13 weeks), you might want to have a final test at that time -- but there is no chance it will be positive.
I hope this information is helpful. Really, you can stop worrying about HIV. If any symptoms continue or otherwise concern you, continue to work with your personal health care provider about the problem.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, I cannot help further. You have heard the facts and very reasoned reassurance. Your continued fear is emotional, probably related to a sexual encounter you regret, and not likely to go away by hearing the facts once again. I'll just say again that for sure you do not have HIV. I suggest you re-read all my comments above and concentrate on them carefully. If your fears continue despite doing that, I recommend professional counseling. I doubt your fears will resolve until you do that. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
In any case, there is nothing more this forum can offer you, so that will have to end this thread. I won't have any further comments.
In any case, there is nothing more this forum can offer you, so that will have to end this thread. I won't have any further comments.
You have given me a lot of reassurance.. However I can't help it, I am still terrified. I can't shake it. In the reasoning in my head, I think that since my diarrhea and joint pain stopped so abruptly that that signaled that seroconversion was complete.. that for some reason my acute symptoms lasted that long and that now I am going to test positive. Friday marks 12 weeks. So CAN symptoms last ten weeks or more? Also wondering if symptoms could last only one to two days.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're welcome; glad to have helped.
The only HIV tests on the market in the US are the modern, accurate ones. It dosn't matter where you live; you can't get a bad one.
The only HIV tests on the market in the US are the modern, accurate ones. It dosn't matter where you live; you can't get a bad one.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. What worries me is that I live in a very small town. What if they don't have the most up to date testing?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw these comments and took them into account in my reply above.
Forgot a couple things... in the beginning I constantly felt as though I had a UTI, but I didn't. At one point I had to really push to urinate. Also, I've been sweating a lot and my skin always feels clammy when I do. Cold sweats, I guess? And I get this rash under my chin that comes and goes, usually when I am doint something active.
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