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Slightly Neurotic Individual, In Need of Response
Detail: I have a fungal infection in my genitals that hasn't cleared up in about a year. HIV test was negative. Antifungals provide temporary relieve, scaly patches on meatus and urethra.
I had unprotected sex with a sex worker for 5 minutes, then wore condom, didn't finish. No rips in condom.
Following weeks proceeded with heavy constant drinking. Frequent watery stools, but not diarrhea. No case of fever, malaise and weakness, attributed to constant hangovers. Change in diet, gained 20 pounds, went from 115 to 135.
Suffer from chronic allergies.
Week 6. Developed mild sore throat after being in room with high AC. Antibiotics cleared irritation in a day, continued for a week. Stomache swollen, not painful, annoying and discomfort around belt.
Week 7. Developed slight photophobia. Mild Headaches, similar to hangover feeling, haven't been drinking. Near end of week, headache escalates considerably, double vision. Moderate Fever. Mild Night Sweats and chills.
Week 8, Go to ER. Stool samples, CBC, enzymes, CT.
Diagnosed: Anal Fissures, Complicated Migraine.
Later go to see GP.
Says it's common in college students, a bug due to unhealthy lifestyle.
Everything normal, no infected sinuses, CT normal.
Take tylenol to manage headaches, symptoms largely persist for the following 5 weeks. Headaches still present after 4 months. Dull throbbing on temples. Obsessing about possible HIV infection. Worried about testing.
What's my likelihood of exposure? Are symptoms representative of some sort of HIV infection? I've read a lot online, it's only served to worry me.
I had unprotected sex with a sex worker for 5 minutes, then wore condom, didn't finish. No rips in condom.
Following weeks proceeded with heavy constant drinking. Frequent watery stools, but not diarrhea. No case of fever, malaise and weakness, attributed to constant hangovers. Change in diet, gained 20 pounds, went from 115 to 135.
Suffer from chronic allergies.
Week 6. Developed mild sore throat after being in room with high AC. Antibiotics cleared irritation in a day, continued for a week. Stomache swollen, not painful, annoying and discomfort around belt.
Week 7. Developed slight photophobia. Mild Headaches, similar to hangover feeling, haven't been drinking. Near end of week, headache escalates considerably, double vision. Moderate Fever. Mild Night Sweats and chills.
Week 8, Go to ER. Stool samples, CBC, enzymes, CT.
Diagnosed: Anal Fissures, Complicated Migraine.
Later go to see GP.
Says it's common in college students, a bug due to unhealthy lifestyle.
Everything normal, no infected sinuses, CT normal.
Take tylenol to manage headaches, symptoms largely persist for the following 5 weeks. Headaches still present after 4 months. Dull throbbing on temples. Obsessing about possible HIV infection. Worried about testing.
What's my likelihood of exposure? Are symptoms representative of some sort of HIV infection? I've read a lot online, it's only served to worry me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I read these comments before replying above. They make no difference in my opinion or advice. Feel free to report the result of an HIV test -- but until then I'll have nothing more to say.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Having had unprotected vaginal sex with a commercial partner whose HIV status isn't known, there is obviously at least a small risk you were infected with HIV. By small, I mean tiny. Depending on where you are (city, country) and the nature of your partner (street or brothel worker, bar pick-up, expensive escort, her origins) the chance she had HIV could vary from less than 1 in 1,000 up to maybe 10%. The risk of transmission from any single vaginal sex event, female to male if the woman has HIV, has been estimated to average 1 in 2,000. So the odds are definitely in your favor.
In the chance you caught HIV, it probably has nothing to do with the symptoms described. Acute HIV infection, when it causes symptoms at all, typically causes fever (usually quite high), sore throat (usually severe), and a body-wide skin rash, all starting 10-15 days after exposure and lasting 2-4 weeks. It generally doesn't cause any of the other nonspecific symptoms you describe. Most of them could be related to diet, alcohol intake, and related factors.
The surprise in your story is that you don't mention HIV testing. That's the obvious solution to your concern about HIV. Enough time has passed for accurate HIV testing, either wtih an stand-alone antibody test or a combo test (for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen). I suggest you return to your GP and give complete information about your sexual exposure and concerns about HIV. Or visit your local STD or GUM clinic for expert advice about it.
I have no patience, by the way, with "Worried about testing", if that means you have avoided testing for fear of a positive result. It isn't the test that gives someone the infection. You have it or you don't; and if you do, your survival depends on knowing it. If that is the reason you haven't been tested, just suck it up and do it. You can expect it to be negative, but better safe than sorry.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Having had unprotected vaginal sex with a commercial partner whose HIV status isn't known, there is obviously at least a small risk you were infected with HIV. By small, I mean tiny. Depending on where you are (city, country) and the nature of your partner (street or brothel worker, bar pick-up, expensive escort, her origins) the chance she had HIV could vary from less than 1 in 1,000 up to maybe 10%. The risk of transmission from any single vaginal sex event, female to male if the woman has HIV, has been estimated to average 1 in 2,000. So the odds are definitely in your favor.
In the chance you caught HIV, it probably has nothing to do with the symptoms described. Acute HIV infection, when it causes symptoms at all, typically causes fever (usually quite high), sore throat (usually severe), and a body-wide skin rash, all starting 10-15 days after exposure and lasting 2-4 weeks. It generally doesn't cause any of the other nonspecific symptoms you describe. Most of them could be related to diet, alcohol intake, and related factors.
The surprise in your story is that you don't mention HIV testing. That's the obvious solution to your concern about HIV. Enough time has passed for accurate HIV testing, either wtih an stand-alone antibody test or a combo test (for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen). I suggest you return to your GP and give complete information about your sexual exposure and concerns about HIV. Or visit your local STD or GUM clinic for expert advice about it.
I have no patience, by the way, with "Worried about testing", if that means you have avoided testing for fear of a positive result. It isn't the test that gives someone the infection. You have it or you don't; and if you do, your survival depends on knowing it. If that is the reason you haven't been tested, just suck it up and do it. You can expect it to be negative, but better safe than sorry.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Just noticed I couldn't edit my question,
I wanted to clarify, that I had my fungal infection prior to my unprotected encounter.
The negative HIV results actually date from December of last year, the encounter in question ocurred in early May. I began to manifest discomfort towards mid June.
I wanted to clarify, that I had my fungal infection prior to my unprotected encounter.
The negative HIV results actually date from December of last year, the encounter in question ocurred in early May. I began to manifest discomfort towards mid June.
Briefly, forgot to mention, at one point, around the 9th or 10th week, begin to notice enlarged lymph nodes in right side of the cheek. Though it manifests itself around the time of moderate pain in gums due to an impacted wisdom tooth.
CBC showed slight dehydration.
I frequently poke and prod at my body, I can feel structures under my skin, is it normal to be able to feel veins? Or am I feeling lymphatic tissue?
Also constant phlegm production, necessary to spit with great frequency.
A single incident of nasal bleeding, extremely rare for me.
Moderate coughing, not dry, some phlegm coughed out, varied from a yellowish/green to clear saliva colored.
CBC showed slight dehydration.
I frequently poke and prod at my body, I can feel structures under my skin, is it normal to be able to feel veins? Or am I feeling lymphatic tissue?
Also constant phlegm production, necessary to spit with great frequency.
A single incident of nasal bleeding, extremely rare for me.
Moderate coughing, not dry, some phlegm coughed out, varied from a yellowish/green to clear saliva colored.
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