really scared

[mike319]

doctor, my gf started having a bad headache, a couple of days later it turned into a fever with rash.  I brought her to the eroom and the first doctor told her is was a nonspecific rash caused by a virus. Her fever didnt get better so she saw her primary doctor who had her admitted to a hospital to check for everything.  He was concerned with meningitis but that was negative and everything else is negative except the hiv test which the results are due this week.  She was negative before she met me and im concerned i could have given her something. my only  exposures were 1 time each  unprotectged with 3 different girls i saw, none i suspect would have anything or are hihg risk people.  The headache continued after the fever and now she is better.  But the rash was all over her body and extremely itchy and swollen, her lips and face were swollen and it was in her nose and mouth.  The doc thinks the rash looked like a reaction to a drug which she was taken some illegal drugs she bought from the internet from a 3rd world country that all the 'in" people take in LA for skin and becuase her fever was gone and came back the next day he thinks something might have bitten her and she has a prominent red mark on one of her hands.  I am just completly freaking out thinking i could have given her something.  The doctor asked her a bunch of questions as well, which i guess is normal about her sex life and life history wehre she travfeled.  does this rash sound like ars? Benadryl has cleared up the rash and she is about 99% better now. should i be overly concerned about her hiv test??

[mike319]

Wanted to let you know her test came back negative.  If they tested her while she was converting would it show positive or negative? was it tested to early?

Anyway, my anxiety is extremely lowered and she is probably 99% better.  Rash and headache are gone, she is still a little itchy.

Thank you for your reply and your comfort.  This occasion has put a lot of things in perspective for me.

[monkeyflower]

Not the doctor, but I think you're focusing on the wrong thing entirely. Forget HIV.

They wouldn't have called her emergency contact unless they couldn't get in touch with her otherwise. I have no idea why they called--maybe just to check on her (drug reactions and liver dysfunction aren't something to be taken lightly), maybe something else. She needs to call them and find out herself.

[mike319]

doctor, if her test was back HIV, would they contact her emergency contact to tell them to have her call them? She got a call from her daughter saying  they called her phone and they are wondering how she is doing and have her give them a call? why would htey call the emergency contact, they have her cell and house phone.

Do her sypmptoms look typical of ARS, how would it be handled if they are?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The jaundice and dark urine go along with liver dysfunction, as do her elevated liver enzymes.  This is all consistent with a medication reaction.  you should trust her doctors.  Last post.  EWH

[mike319]

she stopped taking the pillls 4 days before the fever becasue she was getting headacheds. blood t ests did reveal elevated liver enzymes.  I am just very worried.  Does this sound like ARS?

so she had liver problem symptoms early which turned into a rash and fever 4 days after stoping pills. does this sound like it could be the pills she took?

I have been with other people, just the 3 i noted above were unprotected.

[mike319]

also she says her eyes were jaundice and her urine was  very dark,

[Edward W Hook, MD]

It sounds to me as thought your girlfriend was quite ill and was cared for well.  There are many different things which could cause the sort of rash you describe, as well a headaches.  Her doctor was being thorough which is perfectly appropriate - we all routinely ask questions about sex and travel when trying to sort out unusual cases which involve rashes.   From the information you have given me the likelihood that you have HIV or that you could have given your girlfriend something that has caused her recent problems is vanishingly low.  As I read your description, even before you mentioned it, I was wondering if her problems might have been a drug allergy of some sort.  That others may have taken the same drugs without side effects does not mean that whatever she took could have caused this.  Please be aware that much of what is bought over the net either is not what it is advertised to be or has other substances mixed in.

Bottom line.  You did not make you girlfriend sick and there is nothing in your history that would make me recommend an HIV test for you.  Her test will also probably come back negative.  Concentrate on helping her get better.  

Good luck to both of you.  EWH