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Trying to figure out what is wrong
Hello Doctors,
About 3 weeks ago I had what I considered to be a risky exposure in China. I am sure I did not have any stds before this exposure. Two days later, I noticed slight pain urinating and woke up with a headache (something that almost never happens to me). Over the next few days, my body became very sore, dizzy and I started exhibiting flu-like symptoms. I had chills and night sweats for about a day, but my thermometer never showed a temperature above 98.6 (usually it was in the 97s or low 98s). The chills and night sweats went away quickly, but everything else continued. I had a sore throat for about two days, but no cough and very minor nasal congestion. Seven Days after possible exposure, I had a urinalysis and tested negative for stds. My doctor thought it was probably a bladder infection and prescribed antibiotics. The prescription lasted a week, by the end of which my painful urination, headaches, soreness and dizziness gradually died down.
What worries me is that yesterday, two weeks after the symptoms had started to die down, I woke up with the exact same kind of headache. The headaches lasted through the day and by the evening, I began to get the chills, feel dizzy and there was some minor swelling/soreness on one side of my neck. My temperature was between 99 and 99.5. When I woke up this morning, the dizziness, headache and soreness were still present and my temperature was still around 99.2.
When I get sick, it usually doesnt happen like this, and it definitely doesnt happen twice in a three week period. Is this how the body might react to an acute HIV infection? Also, is seven days long enough to wait for bacterial stds to show up on a urine analysis? I know the odds of vaginal HIV transmission for one exposure are VERY low, so I take comfort in that, but I cannot help but think that something is wrong with my body at the moment.
I apologize for the length of this post and appreciate you taking the time to read and respond to it.
About 3 weeks ago I had what I considered to be a risky exposure in China. I am sure I did not have any stds before this exposure. Two days later, I noticed slight pain urinating and woke up with a headache (something that almost never happens to me). Over the next few days, my body became very sore, dizzy and I started exhibiting flu-like symptoms. I had chills and night sweats for about a day, but my thermometer never showed a temperature above 98.6 (usually it was in the 97s or low 98s). The chills and night sweats went away quickly, but everything else continued. I had a sore throat for about two days, but no cough and very minor nasal congestion. Seven Days after possible exposure, I had a urinalysis and tested negative for stds. My doctor thought it was probably a bladder infection and prescribed antibiotics. The prescription lasted a week, by the end of which my painful urination, headaches, soreness and dizziness gradually died down.
What worries me is that yesterday, two weeks after the symptoms had started to die down, I woke up with the exact same kind of headache. The headaches lasted through the day and by the evening, I began to get the chills, feel dizzy and there was some minor swelling/soreness on one side of my neck. My temperature was between 99 and 99.5. When I woke up this morning, the dizziness, headache and soreness were still present and my temperature was still around 99.2.
When I get sick, it usually doesnt happen like this, and it definitely doesnt happen twice in a three week period. Is this how the body might react to an acute HIV infection? Also, is seven days long enough to wait for bacterial stds to show up on a urine analysis? I know the odds of vaginal HIV transmission for one exposure are VERY low, so I take comfort in that, but I cannot help but think that something is wrong with my body at the moment.
I apologize for the length of this post and appreciate you taking the time to read and respond to it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. Thanks for your question.
First, you don't describe enough about your exposure for me to help judge how risky it was. If it was protected sex, or if it was heterosexual (even without a condom), the risk was probably low.
Second, HIV doesn't cause the sympoms you describe, and for sure it never causes symptoms sooner than about 10 days after exposure -- to the timing of onset rules out HIV as the cause. Also, the fever associated with acute HIV infection is just about always 101F or higher.
My guess is that your higher-than-average temperatures are not abnormal, merely the result of taking your temperature quite often. 98.6F is not the maximum normal temperature; it's the average when someone's temperature is measured several times. Almost everyone's temperature normally reaches 99 or even 99.5 degrees from time to time.
As for other STDs, initial urinary discomfort that clears up is not very suspicious, and urine STD testing (i.e. for chlamydia and gonorrhea) indeed is fully accurate by 7 days.
All things considered, it sounds like you picked up a minor, garden variety viral infection -- perhaps from your commercial sex partner. But I really wouldn't be worried about HIV or other STDs. Of course if you remain concerned about HIV, consider getting tested in a few weeks for reassurance.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
First, you don't describe enough about your exposure for me to help judge how risky it was. If it was protected sex, or if it was heterosexual (even without a condom), the risk was probably low.
Second, HIV doesn't cause the sympoms you describe, and for sure it never causes symptoms sooner than about 10 days after exposure -- to the timing of onset rules out HIV as the cause. Also, the fever associated with acute HIV infection is just about always 101F or higher.
My guess is that your higher-than-average temperatures are not abnormal, merely the result of taking your temperature quite often. 98.6F is not the maximum normal temperature; it's the average when someone's temperature is measured several times. Almost everyone's temperature normally reaches 99 or even 99.5 degrees from time to time.
As for other STDs, initial urinary discomfort that clears up is not very suspicious, and urine STD testing (i.e. for chlamydia and gonorrhea) indeed is fully accurate by 7 days.
All things considered, it sounds like you picked up a minor, garden variety viral infection -- perhaps from your commercial sex partner. But I really wouldn't be worried about HIV or other STDs. Of course if you remain concerned about HIV, consider getting tested in a few weeks for reassurance.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
All right. That is reassuring. Thanks a bunch for the help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That's a low risk exposure; even with unprotected sex after the condom broke. Few sexually active women in the US have HIV, and even when HIV is present, the transmission risk is low for a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex.
I already gave you my best shot at the likely cause of such symptoms. We don't speculate in depth on causes other than HIV, which almost certainly isn't the problem. If your symptoms persist and you remain concerned, then you indeed should check back in with your doctor. But I really wouldn't be worried about HIV in this situation.
I already gave you my best shot at the likely cause of such symptoms. We don't speculate in depth on causes other than HIV, which almost certainly isn't the problem. If your symptoms persist and you remain concerned, then you indeed should check back in with your doctor. But I really wouldn't be worried about HIV in this situation.
Dr. Handsfield,
Thank you for the quick response. I am a male in my early 20's and the exposure was heterosexual. Initially, it was protected, but the condom broke and I am not sure how long it was before I noticed this. I will probably still get a test at 6 weeks just to be sure.
I am still a little curious as to where these symptoms are coming from. I have never experienced symptoms exactly like this before and additionally, I also have never had identical symptoms occur twice in a three week period. I know this is the HIV forum, but do you have any idea as to what else could be causing this? Would you recommend another visit to my doctor?
Thank you for the quick response. I am a male in my early 20's and the exposure was heterosexual. Initially, it was protected, but the condom broke and I am not sure how long it was before I noticed this. I will probably still get a test at 6 weeks just to be sure.
I am still a little curious as to where these symptoms are coming from. I have never experienced symptoms exactly like this before and additionally, I also have never had identical symptoms occur twice in a three week period. I know this is the HIV forum, but do you have any idea as to what else could be causing this? Would you recommend another visit to my doctor?
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