Reassurance Needed

[adubai]

Dear Doctor, I had gone to a massage parlour on 12th April, i just fingered the lady i have a habit of biting my nails and also have cuts on my finger skin due to that, and she also gave me an oral with a condom on me,

got fever aftr 3 days of the same, the fever went away in 2-3 days time after medication but i read about the symptoms of HIV post exposure and have been worried,

after 3 weeks and 1 day of exposure i noticed i had swollen lymph in my neck just under the chin,behind my jaws, also had a white patch on my throat (which was ruled ot by my doctor),heavy itching on my chest area which caused rash,i saw a GP he said i have allergy and he gave me an antiallergy injection. No fever no sore throat, a little bit of tiredness, i also had hot flashes in my neck which still come and go,

tested for hiv at 4 weeks which came out to be negative, a P24 antigen/antibody test in Dubai (this test is done by the ministry of Health in UAE, i underwent this because i had to renew my visa,is it reliable)
all these symptoms went away gradually,
now a few weeks back (About 4 mnts after) i had headaches everyday, initially it used to be on left side,top of nose, between eyebrow and the eye, then it has moved to the right side,i am had blurred vision smetimes. my doc gave me a 5 day course for the headaches and they are gone now

now again i am having swollen lymph nodes which come and go everyday behind my jaws just under the ear and back of the neck,

for the last 2 days i am having a tingling sensation in both my feet and have a sore throat, seems like another fever is cmng

also had  white coating on my tongue which goes away easily on scrapping, not painful at all

my questions to you are:
1. Are the above symptoms related to HIV
2. Do the symptoms of HIV come and go during the infection
3. Can i believe in my tests and move ahead or do you suggest retesting
4. what do you think these symptoms can be?
5. What causes Hot flushes in the neck, no night sweats, only hot neck

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I am always surprised when clients ask the hosts on the International HIV Forum and then repeat the same question on this site.  I doubt that there has ever been a time when we have come to different conclusions about client risks and this will not be the first time.  As you have already heard from that site (and your own doctor) you do not have HIV.  The reasons I can say this is because your exposures were NO risk (HIV is not spread by masturbation or by condom protected sex) and because you had a reliable test 4 weeks following your exposure which proved that you are not infected.  Thus, you can be sure that your symptoms are not due to HIV.  

Answering your specific questions:
1.  No.
2.  No.
3.  Retesting would be a waste of time and resources.  You do not have HIV from the exposure you describe.
4.  I would discuss this with your doctor.
5.  See answer to no. 4.

Bottom line, this is not HIV.  You do not need to worry and do not need further testing.  Playiong of the title to your question- please consider yourself reassured.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This is your last answer.

1.  As I told you on my original response. Your behavior did not put you at risk for HIV. worrying about HIV, as well as testing is a waste of time.  

3.  At test at 4 weeks would detect over 90% of HIV if infection, if you had been at risk. You were not. Thus it does not matter how much you test, you will not find that you have HIV from the exposure you described.

Further questions will be deleted without response. EWH

[adubai]

Dear Dr,

i really appreciate you patience in this matter,

1. i dont understand why am i getting all the symptoms and that too after a no risk activity,

2. now as i am talking to you my parotid gland is not swollen, it might come back in a few days,

3. also i came to know that the test (visa screening) which i had was an elisa Antibody and not combo, how do you rate an elisa at 4 weeks (29 days),and just last one can i rely on the results and move on, assure you wont bother you again

Thanks a lot again Sir

[adubai]

Dear Dr,

i really appreciate you patience in this matter,

1. i dont understand why am i getting all the symptoms and that too after a no risk activity,

2. now as i am talking to you my parotid gland is not swollen, it might come back in a few days,

3. also i came to know that the test (visa screening) which i had was an elisa Antibody and not combo, how do you rate an elisa at 4 weeks (29 days),and just last one can i rely on the results and move on, assure you wont bother you again

Thanks a lot again Sir

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Nothing about the persistently swollen parotid gland you mention changes my opinion.  If you are really worried about HIV, get tested again but only if you will promise yourself that you will believe the results (since you do not seem to believe me) showing you that your exposure was no risk and that you do not have HIV.  EWH

[adubai]

dr Hook please reply,

Regards

[adubai]

Dr EWH,

my parotid gland is swollen again, its been 6 moths since the swelling has been reoccurring, it never goes fully but reduces and increases,

whats your call on this, i also have a dry mouth and a white tongue

Regards

[adubai]

Thanks a lot Doctor, will take all possible measures to get rid of that

your help and patience is highly appreciated

Thanks a lot once again and Best of Regards

[Edward W Hook, MD]

None of this changes my assessment.  It does however indicate that you remain overly anxious over the no risk exposure you described.  You need to stop worrying about HIV and start addressing your anxiety.  EWH

[adubai]

sorry but do you think the oral effects can be the after effects of antibiotics that i was taking last week,

i visited my dentist and he says the swollen gums are due to plaque formation which can be due to antibiotics,

my concern i white tounge and tingling in the leg, they were there before i started my antibiotics,

i am really stressed, just need your opinion on my symptoms

Regards
A

[adubai]

also i keep getting tingling in my legs sometimes, can all this be due to anxiety

[adubai]

Dear Dr. EWH,

thanks a lot for your prompt reply, i also have a sore throat along witth that, my swollen lymph are gone now but have a sore throat for the lat 2 weeks,

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As isolated symptoms, these symptoms are not suggestive of early HIV. I urge you not to worry.  EWH

[adubai]

Dear Dr EWH,

this will be my last question on the thread,

i was diagnosed with mild sinus and was put on antibiotics, was fine after a weeks dosage, now its been a week that my medication was over,

for the last 2 days i am experiencing bumps in my mouth, a white tounge, swollen gums, and dry mouth,

i read somewhere that oral issues like the above are a sign of HIV infection,

my question to you is that is it true that these symptoms are related to early stage of infection,

i was absolutely getting back to normal when this happened and is scaring me again,

need your help

Regards
A

[adubai]

Cheers to your job and commitment to people,

thanks doctor

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  Take care.  EWH

[adubai]

Thanks a lot Dr. Hook,

its just the anxiety that makes all the worried wells hunt for all kind of suggestions,

Anyways i am just trying to get over my anxiety but all these symptoms dont let me do so, every time i forget this thing some kind of a symptom pops up.

Thanks a lot for your help Doc, really appriciated