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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Food poisoning or ARS?
by nonegiven, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
Dr. H, first I must say I admire your work, it does so much for worried people out there like myself!
I have a low risk, but at the same time a very concerning one...about 1.5 years ago I performed oral sex on an man of unknown status, it was very brief no more than 30 seconds and there was no ejaculation, (I cannot recall if there was pre-*** or not). 8 days later sinus infection, not feeling well…that went away after medication, then 12 days after possible exposure ate calamari, a couple hours later severe abdominal pain followed by throwing up and then during the night diarrhea and more nausea and vomiting. That night had severe chills and sweating, felt like I was burning up. Nurse at health center said low-grade fever and probably a virus of some sort. I was advised to come back if I did not feel better. I stopped throwing up and having diarrhea after approximately a 24 hour period but just felt completely wiped out. No rash or joint pain. About 18 days after contact still not feeling 100% so went to home doctor. He determined my glands were swollen but did not think I was recovering from food poisoning although no specific test was done for that. Performed routine blood work everything normal. Shortly after I developed a small rash around the chin area on my face. It was a few small bumps entire area no bigger than a quarter. Felt like a dry patch on skin, I applied petroleum jelly and it faded away. It actually returned a few weeks later and again faded away after applying lots of moisture. Three months later episodes of headaches with no apparent cause. Now at 1.5 years later have been suffering bouts of very loose stools on and off over the past 3 months. I have been diagnosed as having one swollen lymph gland on back of neck, others were fine. Itchy skin in the mouth and nose area and all over my hands. Ulcers inside mouth. Chronic sinusitis (due to several surgeries, one botched), now several months after surgery the membrane is still inflamed. Does the fact that it is not completely healed yet show sign that possibly immune problem preventing it from healing? Normal blood work fine aside from slightly high cholesterol. Food poisoning or ARS? Coincidence I ate calamari that night or are symptoms unrelated to such a cause. I cannot help but compare the symptoms to that of positive people and think they are very consistent. I know symptoms are not reliable but I am stressing over mine and am making myself sick about it! Please, please advise me on this matter, thank you so much for everything you do.
I have a low risk, but at the same time a very concerning one...about 1.5 years ago I performed oral sex on an man of unknown status, it was very brief no more than 30 seconds and there was no ejaculation, (I cannot recall if there was pre-*** or not). 8 days later sinus infection, not feeling well…that went away after medication, then 12 days after possible exposure ate calamari, a couple hours later severe abdominal pain followed by throwing up and then during the night diarrhea and more nausea and vomiting. That night had severe chills and sweating, felt like I was burning up. Nurse at health center said low-grade fever and probably a virus of some sort. I was advised to come back if I did not feel better. I stopped throwing up and having diarrhea after approximately a 24 hour period but just felt completely wiped out. No rash or joint pain. About 18 days after contact still not feeling 100% so went to home doctor. He determined my glands were swollen but did not think I was recovering from food poisoning although no specific test was done for that. Performed routine blood work everything normal. Shortly after I developed a small rash around the chin area on my face. It was a few small bumps entire area no bigger than a quarter. Felt like a dry patch on skin, I applied petroleum jelly and it faded away. It actually returned a few weeks later and again faded away after applying lots of moisture. Three months later episodes of headaches with no apparent cause. Now at 1.5 years later have been suffering bouts of very loose stools on and off over the past 3 months. I have been diagnosed as having one swollen lymph gland on back of neck, others were fine. Itchy skin in the mouth and nose area and all over my hands. Ulcers inside mouth. Chronic sinusitis (due to several surgeries, one botched), now several months after surgery the membrane is still inflamed. Does the fact that it is not completely healed yet show sign that possibly immune problem preventing it from healing? Normal blood work fine aside from slightly high cholesterol. Food poisoning or ARS? Coincidence I ate calamari that night or are symptoms unrelated to such a cause. I cannot help but compare the symptoms to that of positive people and think they are very consistent. I know symptoms are not reliable but I am stressing over mine and am making myself sick about it! Please, please advise me on this matter, thank you so much for everything you do.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
Your symptoms don't suggest ARS. But the way to know is to be tested. If you happen to have HIV, you can be sure you didn't catch it during the oral sex episode 1.5 yr ago.
No follow-up, yes-but, or what-if questions; I won't have any further comments.
HHH, MD
No follow-up, yes-but, or what-if questions; I won't have any further comments.
HHH, MD
He said if you do somehow happen to be positive, you did not get it from the exposure you described above.