Extremely worried about HIV - Test tomorrow

[pinkmartin]

Hi everyone,

I have an HIV test booked for tomorrow but I'm so wracked with nerves that I needed an opporunity to air my fears and perhaps for people to try and put my mind at rest ahead of tomorrows test.

Since 2005 I have had 3 sexual encounters with other men, the last being around December 2007. On each occasion, the encounter was fairly brief but I performed oral on the other party each time, although never to completion. Over the last year I have developed a number of symptoms that have led to me to arrange a test.

Approximately 1 year ago I was (wrongly) diagnosed with Ringworm due to ring-shaped red blotches that had appeared on my face and hand. Anti-fungal tablets and steroid creams appeared to cure the problem but after a couple of months the symptoms returned much worse and had spread from my forehead down to my nose and cheeks, the creases of the arms, legs and ankles. I also have an incredible urge to itch across most of my body but particularly my back, arms, legs and face. From time to time I also get what I can only describe as a burning/tingling sensation in my hands and feet.

I know self-diagnosis on the internet is silly and if you search for  + hiv you will find lots of information connecting the two. However, as I have previously been a (fairly) fit and healthy person with a decent diet and moderate exercise routine, I am extremely concerned by the symptoms my body has been displaying over the last 12 months.

Based on the sexual encounters (3 encounters, gave oral in each) I have described and the symptoms I am displaying (dermatitis on face and upper body, itching all over, periods of tingling and burning sensation in hands and feet) what are the chances that my HIV test tomorrow will be all clear and has anyone been through a similar situation.

Thanks in advance

James

p.s. I have already posted this elsewhere but would appreciate some expert advice

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It is very unlikely you have HIV.  The large majority of men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV have had multiple partners and frequent unprotected anal sex.  Transmission by oral sex is rare.  Combining your history of only 3 exposures, all oral, it is very unlikely you were infected.  Your symptoms don't mean anything one way or the other, because even when HIV symptoms are typical (yours are not), many other medical conditions cause exactly the same things -- but most websites and other educational sources don't make this clear.  You are exactly right about internet searching for symptoms -- rarely helpful and always anxiety-producing.

There are no guarantees, and you are doing the right thing getting tested to know for sure.  But you can expect negative results.  It will be very surprising if the result is positive.  Please come back and let us know the result.

Regards-- HHH, MD  

[pinkmartin]

The past couple of days I have found myself trapped in a vicious circle of trawling the internet for information that may put my mind at rest only to end up feeling ten times worse.

I have taken on board what you said about oral sex and its relatively low risk but I feel that I should point out that for he past two years I have had poor oral health (due to nothing more than lazyness) and some gum disease means that my gums bleed now and again. I understand that this may increase the risk of infection, is this true?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Makes no difference.  Poor oral hygiene might theoretically raise the risk, but doubling a very low risk still leaves very low risk.

[pinkmartin]

Hi folks,

Just back from my test, paid £130 for an instant result test and it was worth every penny because it came back negative.

I would like to thank those who put my mind at rest which allowed me to sleep easy last night and enter the doctors surgery with confidence.

Thanks

Steven

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The rapid test kits cost $5-15 USD.  Although that price might not be unusual in some UK providers' office and laboratories, it was a rip-off.  You probably could have had it for free at a GUM clinic.  But I'm glad it's negative, as expected.

[iamnotalegendatall]

Doc,

More NHS GUM Clinics are beginning to offer rapid tests (at last - they've been very hesitant to over the years until they were convinced of their reliability), but not all do. And even if they do, they are sometimes reserved for the "traditional" high risk groups. Often, the only way to get a rapid test is by seeing a Private GP. The cost of the test therefore incorporates the consultancy fee. The test may be cheap - the visit to the Doctor is not!