Extremely dry tongue and throat

[needaresponse]

I hope somebody can answer my question.  I had a highrisk anal exposure last April. The condom could
have slipped,(I am not sure about that) but the guy did not consummate.  A week after, I really got scared
to the point that I did not stop surfing the internet on the possible symptoms of HIV.  I have read tons
and tons of Q&A's but this is my first time writing.

I knew it was pointless, but because I was so scared I went to get tested after one week because I started feeling nasty and funky.  The test came out negative.

In less than 10 days after possible exposure, I started feeling a slight pain behind my knees and slight
tingling in my fingers.    The slight pain was on and off, but the tingling was there every morning.

In a span of 5 weeks, the pain had been moving to different parts (right arm, left arm, chest, and neck).
Then I decided to get tested again and came out negative at 5 weeks.

Perhaps it was due to extreme anxiety that my blood pressure went up to 165/115.  I went to
the emergency and they had taken blood tests and CT scan.  The doctor said that I had
infection of the sinuses and gave me Cephalexin (3x/day for 10 days) and a nasal spray containing
antihistamines.  During this time I was still feeling the pain in the neck and in addition to this,
I cannot take the taste of cigarettes.

Exactly after 10 days of taking Cephalexin, I started having a sour taste in my mouth that lingered
the whole day and my tongue slowly turned white.  I went to see two doctors and asked
them if it was thrush and they said it wasn't.  But, they did not tell me what it was but assured me
that definitely it wasn't thrush.  They diagnosed it as GERD/Acid Reflux.  But I worry about the
diagnosis because there wasn't any tests done (Barium swallow, etc...)  They based it
from my complaint of mild muscle pain sensation that I had been feeling on my chest and arms.

I was prescribed to take acid reducer (Prilosec) and switched to Proton Pump Inhibitor (until now I
am taking this).  The pain in the neck was gone but the metallic taste goes on and off.  At the same
time I was prescribed amlopidine besylate for my hypertension.

13 weeks came after my possible exposure.  I was tested again and it came out negative.  Somehow,
I was assured that I am HIV neg.

However, my tongue and  throat still get extremely dry.  I went to a third doctor who is an ENT and
told me that nothing is wrong with me.  All the blood tests are negative including test for Sjorgren's.  And the
ENT or any of the other two doctors cannot tell me what the tingling is about.   They said it is not related
to GERD but cannot give me an answer.

I have not changed my diet but in the last 2 months I gained 10 pounds.

So right now, I have dry tongue (not mouth), dry throat, mild sore throat and tingling in my fingers.  Could these be signs of HIV?  

Can it take this late to seroconvert?  

I never had fever, diarrhea, rash and swollen lymph nodes.
I am not as anxious as before and I think it couldn't be anxiety this time.

Do I need to get tested again for HIV?  

I apologize for the lengthy text but I just want to give you a complete picture.

Thanks.

[needaresponse]

Thank you so much for your relieving words.  I also suspected that Cephalexin was the culprit plus the steroidal nasal spray nasarel.  I've done everything I could to replenish the good bacteria that were swiped out by that nasty meds, like taking yogurt, acidophilus supplements, etc but nothing seemed to work.  As I have said, 3 doctors have already looked at my tongue, and one of them is an ENT specialist.  All three assured me that it is not thrush.  If I closely look at it, it doesn't seem to be thrush but rather dry tongue caused by acid burn of some sort.  Sometimes (like now) it just feels so leathery...grainy to the touch, and even the looks of it is like the back of dried leather scraped by a coin.  

My mouth does not hurt, there are no sores or blisters of any sort.  In fact, it is a relief to eat something because it makes my mouth smooth.  It is only the tongue which is dry, not the mouth because my glands are actively producing saliva.

I went to the doctor again this afternoon for some blood tests and everything is normal - glucose and calcium.

I know that I am safe now. But I think for those who worry too much about their plight having had sex that they resented, it is not worth it to think about it because it will simply bring about some irregularities in your system.

[nursegirl6572]

Yes, you are conclusively NEG, congrats!

Anxiety can also cause dry mouth...but I would be willing to bet it was the antibiotic.  VERY common side effect of most of atb's.

In your case...it just may be taking some time to go away.

I would get a second opinion about the thrush...cuz that's what it sounds like.  If anything...they should treat you for that (with something called Nystatin swish...an oral solution) just to rule it out.  It is a very safe med.

Is your tongue and mouth painful?  Especially when eating or drinking?  That is par for the course with oral thrush.

Good luck and again congrats on your results....put THAT thought behind you....you are without a doubt in the clear when it comes to HIV!  :0)

[alienshadow]

You are negative no need to keep testing. Try and relax anxiety will keep you this way if you let it. Sorry you cant seem to put this behind you but the test speaks for itself congrats