Oral but still freaking out :(

[worryguyalso]

Hello doctor. The site not only provides great scientific facts, but also helps us all when we need immediate medical answers to our terrifying experiences.

I recieved oral sex from a woman I did not know much. We still converse today, however even though she claims to be clean I still have some doubt (till get tested more). I have tested at 1 week, 2 week and just recently almost at the 4 week mark. All came back non-reactive. I have also tested for Chlymedia, Syphilis, and Gonorreah (twice 1 and 2 week). I have had no symtomps since then (TG!). However, lately i have had a feeling in my throat as if something was stuck. I went to my primary care physician, then to an ENT and have both stated no infection in throat. But the ENT stuck a tube down my nose into my esophagus and notices acid reflux coming up possibly irritating that area. Possibly due to my heavy STRESS and ANXIETY. I am experiencing major emotional breakdowns;never experienced before. Also today i noticed a bean like red mark next to my moller. I am hoping this is just something caused by eating or something as well as some yeat infection days after the event. I have used creams anti-fungal and cortizone for it. I have had no other symtomps though.

Now I am just waiting for a p24 Antigen since the stress and anxiety is killing me. What do you think about this test since I am nearly at 4 week mark by a day?

Also, how soon do lesions in the mouth show up?


Thanks.

[worryguyalso]

Thanks Doc...Real Cut and Dry...:) ....I feel somewhat better since a week ago...(TG!)

I got my lab test back for the p24...Still waiting for doctor office to explain it to me...bitting nails
Perhaps you can?

The syntax on the report is like this::

p24 Ab Absent


I know it looks obvious....but just making sure.

can you help?

No more questions after this one...)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

worriedguy:  Just let it go. You don't have HIV.  

worried:  Don't split hairs; nothing has changed.  Most likely receiving oral sex is not zero risk. But the estimated risk is in the same range as the lifetime risk of dying by a lightning strike (the cause of death for about 1 in 27,000 Americans).  That's close enough to be zero for all practical purposes.  For practical purposes, oral sex is safe sex.

I say 6-8 weeks more often than 4-6 because it generates less debate and fewer follow-up questions. All the business about seroconversion window time is based only on soft data and educated guesswork anyway.  And all this is irrelevant for >95% of low risk exposures that dominate this forum.

[worried scik]

Happy Halloween Doctor.  You state that some experts believe that oral sex is no risk.  You're an expert-what do you believe?  You also always stated to us worried wells to relax-oral sex is safe sex.  I notice you dont state that anymore.  Just wondering if you have changed your stance and why.  Many posters on this site and the community forum have commented that you have become more conservative of late including your recommendations on when to test which used to be consistently 4-6 weeks for low risk exposures and now you have adopted the 6-8 week recommendation.  I know you have said nothing has changed but it does look that way to many readers.

[worryguyalso]

Thank you doctor. I guess I am worried about being struck by lightning since you put it that way. My stress and anxiety is lower today. I think it is part because of my negative test at nearly 4 weeks and considering it is low risk as you mentioned. But, last question with respect to the p24. I know you mentioned I need no more testing, but since I did it already. What do you think is the conclusiveness of a p24 antigen along side an antibody at 4 weeks in my scenario? What would be your best number? 80? 90?

Thank you doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is a major disconnect from your opening sentences.  Receiving oral sex hardly counts as a terrifying experience!  Nobody has been proved to ever catch HIV by receiving a BJ, and some experts believe it to be no risk at all.  Everyone agrees that if there is a risk, it is in the range of 1 per 20,000 exposures.  To put that in perspective, that means receiving a BJ by an infected partner every day for 55 years before getting infected.

Second, as has been said innumerable times on this forum, symptoms never are a useful indicator for or gainst new HIV infection. Every symptom caused by ARS is more commonly caused by other common infections, and your symptoms don't suggest HIV anyway.  You did not need testing at all. You don't have HIV.  The stress and anxiety sound like the only health problem here.

HHH, MD