Aa
First Time - Have Symptoms
Doctor,
On March 10th, I engaged in M2M intercourse with an older gentlemen (~45/50). I am 23.
We both gave each other unprotected oral sex but neither of us came. Then we had protected anal sex where I was the insertive partner. I pulled out, and took off the condom, and came.
3.5 weeks later, I stared having headaches, stuffy/runny nose, and a sore throat, but no fever. I also had random allergy (I assume) rashes on my arms, but they would go away after Caladryl.
At 4 weeks, I was feeling generally tired, shoulder-joints ached, and still had several of those symptoms. I had an OraQuick HIV rapid test (finger-prick) at the local clinic at 30 days post-exposure, but it was negative.
This morning, 33 days post-exposure, I developed a rash on the left side of my face that doesn't itch, but reminds me of a sunburn in the way it appears. I also still have a sore throat, my right twitches frequently, headaches are still occurring, and I feel a slight numbness and/or pressure on the left side of my face.
I called the gentlemen that I had the exposure with and he said that I had nothing to worry about as he tested negative in December; but he also claimed to have had intercourse with three other men before me (in between the test and our encounter).
This was my first M2M encounter and now I am scared to death that I am going through ARS symptoms. My doctor said that I was fine and that I am just under a lot of stress (which is very true), but I cant help but wonder if he is wrong.
I have a few questions for you, Sir:
1) What, in your opinion, would be my actual risk?
2) If the symptoms were in fact ARS, would it have shown up on my finger-prick test at the 4-week mark?
3) Knowing that symptoms are not able to diagnose an infection, do you think that I may be experiencing them?
Could you give me some words of medical wisdom that could calm my nerves?
Respectfully,
VeryConcerned
On March 10th, I engaged in M2M intercourse with an older gentlemen (~45/50). I am 23.
We both gave each other unprotected oral sex but neither of us came. Then we had protected anal sex where I was the insertive partner. I pulled out, and took off the condom, and came.
3.5 weeks later, I stared having headaches, stuffy/runny nose, and a sore throat, but no fever. I also had random allergy (I assume) rashes on my arms, but they would go away after Caladryl.
At 4 weeks, I was feeling generally tired, shoulder-joints ached, and still had several of those symptoms. I had an OraQuick HIV rapid test (finger-prick) at the local clinic at 30 days post-exposure, but it was negative.
This morning, 33 days post-exposure, I developed a rash on the left side of my face that doesn't itch, but reminds me of a sunburn in the way it appears. I also still have a sore throat, my right twitches frequently, headaches are still occurring, and I feel a slight numbness and/or pressure on the left side of my face.
I called the gentlemen that I had the exposure with and he said that I had nothing to worry about as he tested negative in December; but he also claimed to have had intercourse with three other men before me (in between the test and our encounter).
This was my first M2M encounter and now I am scared to death that I am going through ARS symptoms. My doctor said that I was fine and that I am just under a lot of stress (which is very true), but I cant help but wonder if he is wrong.
I have a few questions for you, Sir:
1) What, in your opinion, would be my actual risk?
2) If the symptoms were in fact ARS, would it have shown up on my finger-prick test at the 4-week mark?
3) Knowing that symptoms are not able to diagnose an infection, do you think that I may be experiencing them?
Could you give me some words of medical wisdom that could calm my nerves?
Respectfully,
VeryConcerned
Sorry to bother you again! This question is more academic as I understand your assessment of my risk.
Would taking Prednisone, to your knowledge, affect my body's ability to mount a defense to the HIV infection? I know that Prednisone can lower the immune system and that the presence of HIV Antibodies is largely due to the immune system.
I know that medication can not affect test results, but would it delay me, in theory, in testing positive?
Would taking Prednisone, to your knowledge, affect my body's ability to mount a defense to the HIV infection? I know that Prednisone can lower the immune system and that the presence of HIV Antibodies is largely due to the immune system.
I know that medication can not affect test results, but would it delay me, in theory, in testing positive?
Thank you for your response! I can definitely admit to being a victim of the "worried-well" syndrome. I felt that most of my concerns were suppressed until I woke up this morning with the rash on my face and the headache.
So you are entirely convinced that I should be OK? I guess I just need the reassurance. So many people out there seem to give conflicting thoughts, doctors included, that a resounding word from someone who actually deals with HIV transmission would go a long way!
So you are entirely convinced that I should be OK? I guess I just need the reassurance. So many people out there seem to give conflicting thoughts, doctors included, that a resounding word from someone who actually deals with HIV transmission would go a long way!
1) What, in your opinion, would be my actual risk? ZERO. Oral sex is not a risk, and you used condoms for the anal sex, which is not a risk.
2) If the symptoms were in fact ARS, would it have shown up on my finger-prick test at the 4-week mark? You didn't have a risk, therefore did not need testing.
3) Knowing that symptoms are not able to diagnose an infection, do you think that I may be experiencing them? No, because you didn't have a risk. You can't have symptoms of a disease you were never at risk of getting.
2) If the symptoms were in fact ARS, would it have shown up on my finger-prick test at the 4-week mark? You didn't have a risk, therefore did not need testing.
3) Knowing that symptoms are not able to diagnose an infection, do you think that I may be experiencing them? No, because you didn't have a risk. You can't have symptoms of a disease you were never at risk of getting.
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