thrush...

[under1min]

I'm male, 22, white, non-druguser, heterosexual, here in america...i only have had sex a couple others times...but its been protected in stong relationships.
~recap on my story: 2nd posting in 6 months
I had unprotected vag sex with a friend from work, it lasted only 30 sec cause i could not last long.  She was tested for HIV 7 months ago which came back negative but has slept with other people.

I also told you that i dont have random sex that much, i like to be in a good relationship before i do.  You told me that i did not need testing....but here is my last question for you doc

I developed thrush in the back corner of my throat....my doc looked at it and thought thats what it could be.  I read on here that you say symptoms mean nothing to HIV, but then you say people dont need testing after one exposure unless symptoms come up.  This thrush is scaring the heck out of me, i also have a canker sore on my tongue.  I also have these rash LINES on my inner legs...my doc said it could be from a yeast infection.  I dont have a fever, or flu...this all developed 5 weeks.  
~~2 days before this i didnt eat but a small meal a day for 5 days...just started eating again.  I think the reason for this is because i was stressed out of my mind because of the scare of hiv.
~I as tested for hiv at 5 weeks and at 6 weeks with the uni-gold hiv test....the came back negative.
Questions below

[fanatiker]

A related discussion, dear hunter handfield was started.

[under1min]

My doc told me that i developed a small pus filled spot in the tonsillar crypts.  He said its clearing up and didnt know if it could be from hiv....so this is the reason why im coming to you.  Could this be related to HIV or any other STD??  I have no follow up questions.....thank you!

[under1min]

Thank you for your info...it has helped alot!  Take care and God bless

[Red Fish 88]

To answer your questions... it took a while to get rid of my thrush, three different treatments.  A little advise, change your tooth brush often during treatment.  I tested out 6 weeks then 13 weeks.  The 6 week test was when I was diagonsed with thrush.  I got the thrush not long after the exposure.  The doctor said I could have got it from the cunnilingus or from the oral to oral contact, but like I stated, he said he could not be sure where or why I got it.

Look... I know this is scary, but the chance you are infected is pretty close to zero.  You are probably more likely to get struck by lightning and hit the lotto in the same day than have hiv from this exposure.

Do not let this consume your life.  Get tested at 13 weeks if that is what it takes to get you out of this funk, even though it is not necessary.  Take care of your thrush and move on.

A life with out living isn't much of a life.

[under1min]

Red....thank you for your words, they helped a lot.  This thrush thing stinks!!  Anyways, i do have three questions,

how many weeks out were you tested?  6 weeks like me or was it longer?

And how long after your exposure did you develope thrush?

Did you test negative while you had thrush...or was it after?  

Thanks!

[Red Fish 88]

I'll try to help...I went through a simiular situation, except that I had many different (all hetro) partners. All protected vaginal sex with oral sex both ways.  I took an hiv test that was negative but was also diagonsed with thrush.  My thrush was diagonsed by an ENT doctor.  I also became worried about hiv because of the thrush.  Here is what he told me.  " I can't be 100% sure of what caused your thrush.  What I do know is that it was not caused by hiv.  The reason I know it was not caused by hiv is because of your negative test result."

He also said that he sees thrush in people with normal immune systems all the time and the reasons they get it vary.

Good luck.

[under1min]

this is my last and there will be NO FOLLOW UP.....my last question

~~~do you think i need to be tested again after this exposure (with being tested at 5 and 6 weeks)???  

I have no more follow up questions...you can kick me out of thie site if i do!!

[under1min]

Thank you for your answer....i know you get sick of all the same questions, but what you do for all of us means a lot.  Have a great Sunday....thanks again

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I answered your question by telling you that oral thrush, if indeed you had it, is not necessarily an indicator of immune deficiency or HIV risk. (As I have posted many times on this forum, I had it myself once.) And you don't know you had it:  "my doc looked at it and thought thats what it could be" is obviously not a clear indication.  My brusque response was primarily because of the innumerable times on this forum that I have stressed the near-zero HIV risk of the sort of exposure you describe.

Follow up with your doc if you remain concerned.  But there is no realistic chance you have HIV.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I have repeatedly posted my perspective on reliability of HIV testing after various intervals (use the search link for "time to positive HIV test".  I do not tell people what to do; I only provide the information on which they can make their own decision.  I don't think you needed any testing at all.  What you do now is up to you.

[under1min]

So you are not going to answer my question because i didnt post them in the main post?  I'm not asking for you to tell me its 1/2000 or anything like that....i wanted some information on thrush....thats the reasons for the questions.  Im sorry i didnt ask them on top....but im asking you to please answer my questions...i have no follow up.  Because i paid the $15 and money is low for me....i just want some info.  Thank you and sorry for not posting in the right area.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The word limit is there for a reason.  Questions have to be asked in the question section itself, not as a comment.

You weren't at risk, your doc is right about test performance, and oral yeast infections (thrush) can occur in immunologically normal people.

No follow-up discussion or comments.

HHH, MD

[under1min]

Here are my questions:
1) does the fact that i have thrush change your mind me and HIV?
2) I was tested 2 days before i developed thrush (5 weeks) and then 4 days after I developed thrush (6 weeks)....if i had thrush due to hiv wouldnt my test show positive?
or 3) because i have thrush will it take longer to turn positive for hiv
4) could their be any other reasons for my yeast/thrush besides hiv.
5) do i need to be tested again...and if so, when?
6) My doc told me that the uni gold test is the best you can get...it shows 99.6% at 5 weeks...is this true

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See below.