HIV from bad brazillian bikini wax? What are the chances? I'm really freaking out!

[catanus37]

I got a Brazilian wax almost three months ago. The lady didn't use gloves, used her fingernails (which could have had blood in them) to peel off the hot wax, touched my labia with her fingers, and put her hand on my skin which was bleeding at the time. I honestly don’t remember if her hand were bleeding or not, as I was in too much pain to pay attention. I know that she is no longer working at the salon where I got waxed, and that she was an “independent” waxer (I doubt as to whether she was even licensed). Two weeks later I got a yeast infection (which I NEVER had before, btw) which I got treated with a single pill (from the gyno). Then about a month and a half later I got another yeast infection, along with other symptoms of acute HIV such as sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in my neck and groin (which still have not gone away), and slight fever, headaches, and muscle/joint pain. These are all symptoms that I have NEVER had. I’ve also been bruising a lot lately, except the bruises look more like Kaposi’s sarcoma (they don’t fade when I press on them) than actual bruises. I got a Rapid Test for HIV two months after the waxing incident and came back negative. My question is this: do these ARS symptoms sound like HIV in terms of the pattern in which they’ve appeared during the window period? Also, what are the chances that if I get tested at the three month mark my results will come back positive? And finally, are Rapid Tests accurate? The fact that my lymph nodes are still swollen is really starting to worry me. I'm really freaking out!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Sorry, I don't understand why the notion of HIV transmission would even enter your mind in this situation.  They call it an STD because you have to have sex to transmit it.  Nobody in the world ever got HIV because someone had contaminated body substances on their hands, on waxing equipment, or anything like that.  It doesn't matter whether or not there is bleeding.  And the chance your wax lady had HIV probably is low anyway.

Every woman gets a vaginal yeast infection from time to time, and the timing in your case is just a coincidence with the wax job.  Finally, your HIV test proves you didn't catch HIV.  A negative rapid tests iss equally accurate as a lab-based test.  If you decide to get retested at 3 months--which truly is unnecessary, assuming you have no real HIV risks in the meantime--it will also be negative.

Self assessment of enlarged lymph nodes is highly unreliable.  But if you think you have that, ask your doc to check it out.  Even when enlarged, HIV is a rare cause.  I cannot guess the cause of your possible increased bruising, but no bruise fades when pressed.  And KS is not a sign of new HIV infection, only overt AIDS--i.e., several years after the initial infection.  Finally, test results ALWAYS outweigh symptoms as evidence for or against a new HIV infection.

Bottom line:  Relax.  You don't have it.  Raise your fears with your own doc if you remain concerned.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[catanus37]

As of lates I have been having nerve pain and blisters along the right side of my ribcage, which is synonymous with shingles. Also, I had some recent blood work done and it came back with a low MCV count, which has led the doctors to diagnose me with anemia. Aren't shingles and anemia all related to HIV, especially in a seemingly healthy 22 year old? I am not iron deficient and the doctors aren't sure what's causing the anemia. Can shingles occur just three months after possible exposure? My lymph nodes are also still swollen. Could ARS symptoms still be persisting at this time (three months)?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your blood test results prove you don't have HIV from the waxing event, period.  Everything else is irrelevant.  You have been reassured.  Accept it and stop trying to talk me (and yourself) into believing you have HIV.  Talk to your provider about other causes for your symptoms.

I will have no further comments.

[catanus37]

i don't mean to nag, but they weren't blood tests. a) it was a rapid test, and b) it was done at the two month mark. how can you be so certain that i don't need further testing?

[monkeyflower]

It doesn't matter when or how you were tested. No one ever got HIV from a brazilian wax. You aren't going to be the first.

if you can't let this go, consider counseling/meds...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You need to let this go.  As implied by monkeyflower, your irrational thinking despite all avialable evidence suggests you would benefit from professional counseling.  Both she and I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.  But if you post another anxiety-driven follow-up comment, I will delete the entire thread.