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Flu? Or something much more?

Hello,
4 weeks ago I developed a contagious upper respiratory infection with congestion and body aches that was not related to ARS. My friend is completely over hers.  Then 22 days ago I, being super stupid, had sex with a person who I think was a high potential for having ARS. Several hours beforehand, I found an ingrown hair at the base of my penis and dug it out with a knife. When we had sex she didn’t ask for a condom but I put one on. But I think that the condom likely did not cover the sore where the ingrown hair was. Five days after this act of insanity, I started to have pain in multiple lymph nodes: left back of neck, bilateral cervical, axillary and inguinal. I’ve not had any fever or rash that I am aware of. Now my right tonsil seems to be infected with white spots or pus. I still have congestion, now without colour. I’ve had headaches which I attribute to sinus congestion and I don’t feel particularly fatigued.
It has been 22 days and I’ve still got painful nodes. I cannot tell their size but I’d say that they are under 1.5 cm and non-mobile but I just don’t know. I can’t be tested for two months because of where I am located in the world. But I’ve ordered contraband rapid tests from the internet just to hopefully give me some peace of mind. They have not arrived yet and I hope they are not confiscated. I cannot use Home Access because FedEx takes more than 10 days from here.
In short I’m freaking out and can’t sleep. Any reply would be greatly appreciated.
Here are my questions:
1. Assuming that this woman did recently contract HIV, what are the chances that I became infected from contact between virginal secretions and that sore or from oral/clitoral contact?
2. Could the upper respiratory virus cause generalized lymph node pain, or more specifically, axillary and inguinal node pain?
3. The website for the tests claims that the tests are the same ones used in medical clinics. Do you have any knowledge about these claims?
Thank you,
2 Responses
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936016 tn?1332765604
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good Afternoon!

Firstly I think from what you say you will be absolutely fine. I aprreciate the concern about the ingrowing hair which "you dug out with knife" !!!! but I do not believe this puts you at signifcant risk because there is usually insufficient vaginal fluid outside the vagina/vulva.

To your questions:-

1. Assuming that this woman did recently contract HIV, what are the chances that I became infected from contact between virginal secretions and that sore or from oral/clitoral contact?

As above - minimal.

2. Could the upper respiratory virus cause generalized lymph node pain, or more specifically, axillary and inguinal node pain?

Yes, of course - this happens with diseases such as Epstein Barr, flu etc

3. The website for the tests claims that the tests are the same ones used in medical clinics. Do you have any knowledge about these claims?

In short no. I would be very wary about home testing kits.

I do not believe you have an acute HIV infection. The timescale you describe of 5 days is way way too short.

The only way to be sure is to test but obviously you are limited by geography with respect to that.

Try and keep calm and I think all will turn out ok.

best regards, Sean
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thank you. I'll get tested in two months back stateside.
Helpful - 0

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