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Massage ARS



1) Several weeks ago I went to massage parlor for a massage. No sexual intercourse, handjob or anything else.

2) Several places on this sight, states that fluids (blood, semen or vaginal juices) infected with hiv cannot infect a person by way of a scratch, cut or nick.

3) I had several such nick and sratches on my leg where I was massaged by the attendant. did not check her hands for cuts, she said she had none.

Anyways, I didn't think much about it at the time. But the following week I had the following symptoms.

1) A slight cough, post-nasal drip (a lot of swollowing and a pressurized sensation in my ears."

2) One night about 1.5 to 2 weeks after, I took Theraflu,I went to dinner Chinese food and had alchohol.
Later that evening I cam home I started feeling not so good. I had trouble breathing, and I laid down. My tongue and the sides of my face started feeling numb, (I am not sure if they were swollen lymph nodes). I then started blowing my nose, and my eyes started watering with crusts. I don't think I had a fever? I would have been able tell? Correct? I sensed a slight sore thoat but briefly.

3) After about one hour, my breathing became more normal, and sensation came back to my tongue. My cheeks still felt a little weird, again not really sure if they were swollen.

4) The next day I went to work, my eyes were bloodshot. This went away in a day and sensation or normalcy returned to my face. No other symptoms persisted.

5) Without going on about the massage about two weeks prior, I asked another doctor what he thought of these symptoms in light of taking therflu, food and alcohol. He said that a rhino virus could cause everything but the numb tongue and sensation in the cheeks. He said that an allergy could cause all of the symptoms.

6) I know that it has been repeatedly said that no one has received hiv from massage. But do any of these symtoms sound remotely like ARS

What is the risk?
4 Responses
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239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm not diagnosing MSG syndrome -- it was just an idea for you to discuss with your doctor.  I brought it up only to emphasize your symptoms didn't suggest HIV/ARS.  
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Avatar universal
Restaurant claims they don't use MSG. Any thoughts?
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Avatar universal
thanks doctor,

Ironically, I don't think I have every had this reaction before to Chinese. Granted, I don't eat it that often, but you would think that if I had an allergy to CHinese, I would no it by now.

I know it couldn't have been ARS, but I wonder what it could have been. Difficulty breathing scares the hell out of me
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.  Starting right with the way you worded the title of this thread "Massage ARS":  That suggest you might be about to ask about catching HIV from a massage.  That has never happened, assuming the massage didn't involve sex.

Now looking at the question itself:  There are a number of reasons why you have no worries about HIV.  You are correct in your statements about HIV cannot be transmitted.  Therefore, you can conclude that your symptoms cannot possibly be due to HIV you caught during the massage.  It really doesn't matter what the symtpoms are.  Even the most typical symptoms of ARS are identical to the symptoms of many more numerous, minor viral infections and other health problems, usually not serious.  And your symptoms don't remotely sound like ARS.

The symptoms after the Chinese food are classical for "Chinese restaurant syndrome".  Yes, there really is such a thing.  It occurs from high doses of monosodium glutamate (MSG), often used in oriental cuisine.  HIV doesn't cause anything remotely like those symptom.

Bottom line:  Not HIV, you weren't at risk, and no need for testing.  All is well.

HHH, MD
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