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Anxiety and symptoms
Hello,
I hope that you can help ease my anxiety. I am a 24 year old woman living in the US. On February 27th, 2010 I had an affair with a heterosexual man who does not do any drugs. It did begin with a condom, but ended without one (due to bad decisions) and there was also oral sex involved. I have come clean and told my husband about my mistake and I regret it terribly. Along with my guilt I have been completly stressed out. On March 11th (12 days later) I began to have a sore throat. It was different than I’ve ever had before. It was more in my tonsils/glands on day 13 making it very difficult to open my mouth wide. That then went away and I began diarrhea on day 14 that lasted the weekend. I now feel ok; however I have had a very annoying headache daily, which I know can be from stress, but then again the worry of HIV is there. I have not had a fever or any other rashes etc. It has not been easy dealing with my extreme guilt, my husband’s pain and the anxiety. I am going to my OBGYN next Friday (day 27) where I will be tested for everything; however I know it is too early for an accurate HIV result. I do plan on going at the end of May for a rapid test to have a more accurate result. Can you please tell me your opinion on my symptoms? What my odds truly are and if there is anything I can do to ease my stress. I appreciate you help in advance! Thank you.
I hope that you can help ease my anxiety. I am a 24 year old woman living in the US. On February 27th, 2010 I had an affair with a heterosexual man who does not do any drugs. It did begin with a condom, but ended without one (due to bad decisions) and there was also oral sex involved. I have come clean and told my husband about my mistake and I regret it terribly. Along with my guilt I have been completly stressed out. On March 11th (12 days later) I began to have a sore throat. It was different than I’ve ever had before. It was more in my tonsils/glands on day 13 making it very difficult to open my mouth wide. That then went away and I began diarrhea on day 14 that lasted the weekend. I now feel ok; however I have had a very annoying headache daily, which I know can be from stress, but then again the worry of HIV is there. I have not had a fever or any other rashes etc. It has not been easy dealing with my extreme guilt, my husband’s pain and the anxiety. I am going to my OBGYN next Friday (day 27) where I will be tested for everything; however I know it is too early for an accurate HIV result. I do plan on going at the end of May for a rapid test to have a more accurate result. Can you please tell me your opinion on my symptoms? What my odds truly are and if there is anything I can do to ease my stress. I appreciate you help in advance! Thank you.
Thank you Dr. Hook! I truly appreciate you taking the time to answer my question! I will try to relax, listen to your advice and take one day at a time.
Thanks again :)
Thanks again :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I understand the anxiety that events of this sort can generate and how the coincidental onset of a sore throat or other symptoms of a viral illness can raise concerns as to whether or not you might have gotten HIV from the exposure you describe. AQs we have said many time on this Forum symptoms are an extraordinarily poor way to tell if you have HIV. The odds of very, very much in your favor that this is not HIV but some other, community acquired viral illness or perhaps, at least in part, anxiety related (anxiety does not cause sore throats but the diarrhea could certainly be due to anxiety, as could your headache.
You note that your partner is heterosexual and does not use IV drugs. This makes the risk of him being HIV infected less than 1 in 10,000. Even if he did have HIV, the risk of transmission would only be 1 infection per 1000 exposures. Thus your statistical risk from the exposure you describe is 1 in 10 million or less. If you really want to put this to rest sooner than later, you might request that he get an HIV test. If it is negative, there is no risk at all.
Testing for other STDs is a good idea. Again your risk of infection is low, but actually somewhat higher than for HIV. I predict that all tests will be negative. When they are, I hope that will help you to move forward from this. Take care. EWH
You note that your partner is heterosexual and does not use IV drugs. This makes the risk of him being HIV infected less than 1 in 10,000. Even if he did have HIV, the risk of transmission would only be 1 infection per 1000 exposures. Thus your statistical risk from the exposure you describe is 1 in 10 million or less. If you really want to put this to rest sooner than later, you might request that he get an HIV test. If it is negative, there is no risk at all.
Testing for other STDs is a good idea. Again your risk of infection is low, but actually somewhat higher than for HIV. I predict that all tests will be negative. When they are, I hope that will help you to move forward from this. Take care. EWH
This will honstly be my last post, but my gyno called me today to tell me I had an abnormal pap and need to go in next week for futher tests. I know that abmormal paps are also another sign of hiv and I am having a hard time holding it together. Tomm will be 90 days so I plan to get a rapid test done. Do u think this abnormal pap has anything to do with the rest of my problems and hiv?? I am terrified!! I will be sure to stop posting if u can please help me with this. Thank u!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Believe your test results. Your diarrhea is due to something other than HIV. If they are really problematic for you you should discuss them with your physician. EWH
I received my 9 week results which were negative. I really want to believe them and move on however I'm still having runny stools almost every other day. I'm not sure what to do anymore....
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
At 3 and 1/2 weeks the test would detect about 90% of HIV infections. this fact, combined withthe low risk of your expsoure are strong evidence that you do not have HIV. I urge you not to worry. There is no reason to.
EWH
EWH
Can someone please answer my second question? I am super nervous and understand that i am only allowed two questions, but feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you! :)
Thank you! :)
Hello Dr’s,
I have some additional concerns that I wanted to ask about. Along with my persistent dull headaches, I had a vaginal yeast infection on 3/24/10 (25 days past affair) which was treated with a Diflucon (that I had left over in the medicine cabinet), and my left tonsil is still enlarged. My husband has forgiven me, but I cannot sleep at night because my head is spinning with worries and thoughts. Also, I tried to ask the gentleman who I had an affair with (who again is a 25 yr old black heterosexual male, who does not do any IV drugs…to my knowledge) and he told me I was “ridiculous for thinking that he was”. That defiantly has not reassured my doubts and I have chosen to break complete and all contact with him.
I did go to the OBGYN on 3/26/10 (27 days past event) to get tested for all STDs. All cultures and blood work came back negative. Prior to that I went to the health department on 3/15 (only 16 days past event) for the antibody blood test which also was negative.
From many posts that I see you recommend that we should wait until 6-8 weeks to get a pretty accurate result, and 12 weeks test as conclusive result. Can I rest off of my 3 week 6 days test or no?? I really want to move forward with my husband and be able to leave this in the past, but I cannot do so until I know for sure that we are both clear of HIV and completely healthy!
I have some additional concerns that I wanted to ask about. Along with my persistent dull headaches, I had a vaginal yeast infection on 3/24/10 (25 days past affair) which was treated with a Diflucon (that I had left over in the medicine cabinet), and my left tonsil is still enlarged. My husband has forgiven me, but I cannot sleep at night because my head is spinning with worries and thoughts. Also, I tried to ask the gentleman who I had an affair with (who again is a 25 yr old black heterosexual male, who does not do any IV drugs…to my knowledge) and he told me I was “ridiculous for thinking that he was”. That defiantly has not reassured my doubts and I have chosen to break complete and all contact with him.
I did go to the OBGYN on 3/26/10 (27 days past event) to get tested for all STDs. All cultures and blood work came back negative. Prior to that I went to the health department on 3/15 (only 16 days past event) for the antibody blood test which also was negative.
From many posts that I see you recommend that we should wait until 6-8 weeks to get a pretty accurate result, and 12 weeks test as conclusive result. Can I rest off of my 3 week 6 days test or no?? I really want to move forward with my husband and be able to leave this in the past, but I cannot do so until I know for sure that we are both clear of HIV and completely healthy!
I forgot to add that my tonsils are still englarged. I look forward to hearing from you....Thank you!
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