Strange symptoms after unprotected sex. HIV?

[toonsterwu]

Approximately 11 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with my now ex girlfriend. Later I found out her previous boyfriend cheated on her several times with girls while at school. Having learned that I went to get tested for STD's at 5 1/2 weeks post exposure. Everything came back negative. However, at the 4 weeks time period I experienced a sore throat, runny nose which produced green mucus from coughs and nose blowing. I went to the doctor and got diagnosed with a upper respiratory infection and was put on antibiotics. I felt little better 2 weeks after my doctor visit but still had a dry night cough. 7 weeks after exposure, I had a small macular rash pop up on my hip. It was just one spot so I didn't freak out. After 9 weeks I had another small red spot pop up on my chest but again it was only one spot. After 10 weeks I began experiencing some esophagus pain especially when swallowing food and when I took a deep breath. Being stressed out by all this I have been consuming a lot of alcohol which could bring on esophagus problems. I guess my questions are:
1.) could my esophagus problems be related to seroconversion?
2.) does an hiv associated rash only show up as a random red spot or does it spread across the entire body?
3.) Also does the rash associated with hiv ever present itself as a macular rash or is it always macularpapular?

I am obviously paranoid  and plan on getting tested at the 12 week mark (1 1/2 weeks away) but am worried about my symptoms.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help.  The answer to your question really begins with the question of whether or not your ex has HIV and the fact is that it is very unlikely that a heterosexual woman in the U.S. who does not use IV drugs will have HIV, even if she has had other partners or if some of her other partners had other partners.  In a situation where you have concerns of the sort you express, people then sometimes look at themselves more closely than they would otherwise or work through a mental checklist to see if some of the things they experience (such as sore throat, rash, etc) might be a sign of something more serious such as HIV.  This step is not something we recommend because the symptoms of early HIV infection are very non-specific and can be mimicked by any number of other things including summer colds.  

In your own case, your symptoms really are not suggestive of the early HIV syndrome because when people get this, they tend to have all the problems, fever, sore throat, rash at the same time, not at different times which is what you seem to be reporting.  In answer to the specific questions you ask:

1.  No esophageal irritation is not a typical part of the ARS.  Your drinking and recent cold are better explanations.
2.  The rash of ARS is typically diffuse, not localized.
3.  the rash is variable but is most typically maculopapular.

Your questions suggest you are concerned about t his.  you already know you did not get other STDs as the result of your testing.  I am confident you do not have HIV either but I would suggest that you prove it to yourself by getting a single HIV test.  At this time the results will be conclusive and will prove that you did not get HIV.  In my own opinion you do not even need testing but I recommend this to help you move forward.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Last answer.  Thanks for the follow-up.  You did not get HIV from the exposure you describe. End of thread.  EWH

[toonsterwu]

Forgot to update you doc! Had a rapid test (Oraquick I believe) done at 11 weeks upon your suggestion. It came back negative as you suggested, this time frame for an rapid oral test is conclusive, right? Thanks again for your support during my anxiety driven stage!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  Your 5.5 week tet results are, indeed, strong evidence that you do not have HIV.  No harm in re-testing however.  Take care.  EWH

[toonsterwu]

Thanks Doctor! I think my symptoms are more due to anxiety than anything else. I have been checking my body much more frequently then normal, which could have caused me to realize the red spot on my chest. Seeing as I have always had a little chest acne it is probably associated with that. Not only that but at the 5 1/2 week period when I got tested, I was also tested for HIV which came back negative. Granted it was not in the 6-8 week window period which seems to be a clear indicator but I'm not sure a few days either way is going to make much of a difference. Your response has eased my mind, although I still plan on going at the 12 week period just to put this chapter to rest. Thanks again.