Exposure and Testing worry

[Stevepenny1975]

Hello Dr,Firstly I would like to commend the excellent work.

I had an encounter in April of last year.

Went to the brothel totally drunk, not much memory.What I do remember is that a condom was initially put on my by the sex worker with gloves on and lube and alot of the time we weren't having intercourse but we did on at least two seperate occasions during my session. I was not erect alot of this time so I am of the belief there is no hope the condom stayed on the entire time.I did not climax and im unsure if she did or not.

Since then I have had every symptom in the book, from night sweats, diahrrea, rash on my feet and under arms, coldsores and mouth ulcers, sore throat, sinus infection etc. Also I have longstanding (over 2years constant) jock itch in the inner groin flaps and on my buttocks - I believe it to be jock itch or some sort of fungal infection but it has not responded to any treatment since my exosure. (Terbinafine, clotrimazole etc).It however seemed to respond to fungal creams before this incident.  I decided to go to a private clinic, supposedly my countrys number one sexual health specialist on the 26th of March and the 2nd of April for a follow up.  I had a full std check hiv, chly, herpes, hep b/c, syph etc and I checked out negative for everything except a small amount of chylmidia apparently..which cleared up after 4 tablets of azrith..? The hiv test I had was a rapid finger prick one and im unsure of what type but the Dr stated there was two hiv tests (i assume the tests were approved tests as the clinic is ran by an nhs consultant)

I also have muscular dystrophy and to add that I used anabolic steriods for 6 weeks at around 7 months post exposure (methandionene, 4 taken orally per day 5mgs.)  Was also curious if this would upset test result in anyway.

Do I need further testing, is there any chance of turning out positive down the line due to this one exposure?

[Stevepenny1975]

Got a call from the nhs gum clinic regarding my antibodies and pcr dna test.  Just posting my results which as you assured me - all negative!  Thanks for your expert advice it really helped me deal with the anxiety whilst waiting, and I urge all of the worried guys and girls on this forum to believe your advice and equally important believe their negative test if done at the correct interval!  

Thanks again and keep up the good work.

[Stevepenny1975]

Just wanted to post that I am currently waiting on full blood draw results, antibody and pcr tests are being completed.  I had the blood drew on wednesday at the nhs gum clinic, I could be waiting a total of 2 weeks for the results but if something shows up im sure I will hear before that.  I have had two determine rapid tests both negative well outside the window period.  If this comment doesn't get deleted I will post my results when I get them.  I just want to thank the expert for helping me with my anxiety over this troublesome period and encourage all the worried souls to heed your advice.

[Stevepenny1975]

Thanks Dr hook for all your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The tales of mysterious strains that would not be detected by standard testing coming  from Asia, Africa or elsewhere are all internet fueled urban myths.  I repeat, one last time, believe your test results.  You did not get HIV from the activities you have described.  EWH

[Stevepenny1975]

Thanks Dr hook.

Last question I promise..should I forget about rare strains due to the nationality of this sex worker (phillipeanes).

Thanks for all your help I will attempt to move on knowing im hiv negative.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct, as I said, neither your Muscular Dystrophy (Charcot–Marie–Tooth) nor your course of anabolic steriods would make your test results unreliable.

Jock itch can have many causes and sometimes takes a bit of trial and error to resolve.

An expereinced clinican should have no trouble in reading a rapid HIV test.  EWH

[Stevepenny1975]

Thanks for the reassuring advice Dr hook.

To clarify neither my charcot Marie tooth disease or a single 6 week course of anabolic oral steriods would affect antibodies or antigens detection?

Should I be worried about jock itch not responding to treatment but only from the exposure?

Could an experienced physician misread a rapid test result in your opinion?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll try to help.  You can believe your test results and have complete confidence in them.  Even before I mention your test results, let me tell you that this was a rather low risk exposure.  I suspect a condom was use despite your memory problems but, even if it was not, the risk of getting HIV, IF your partner was infected which is unlikely as well (few commercial sex workers have HIV) is only 1 infection, on average for every 1000 acts of intercourse. Thus with two acts your risk would be no greater than 1 in 500 an probably lower since a condom was probably use and since your partner probably did not have HIV.

Any HIV test taken more than 8 weeks after an exposure also provides an accurate result.  You were tested after far longer.  Neither anabolic steroids or your M will change this.

It is time for you to believe your test result.  As for your symptoms, they are coincidence and nothing more.  The reason that testing is important for HIV is because the symptoms are non-specific an therefore require testing to sort things out.

I hope this helps. There is no need for further testing.  EWH