Hello Doctor. Very foolishly, in early June 2010, I was intoxicated and spent time with a sex worker in Africa. I honestly can't remember if I had penetrative sex with a condom or not, but I do recall receiving oral sex with a condom on. What happened before or after that I have no idea.
Anyway, around three weeks later I presented with a headache initially, then a sore throat, sore muscles, glands in the groin, neck and armpits. My tongue turned white, I had a sore stomach and I tested negative at four weeks although a blood count revealed my white cells were fighting an infection. All my symptoms went away about 4-5 weeks later other than the sore throat which I still have today.
My throat was fine for a week in August and then it returned along with sore glands in my neck and a very sharp pain between my shoulder blades on my back. I also had a strange numb sensation across my nose, below my eyes and also on my ears and the side of my head.
Those symptoms went away but I am now experiencing them again along with pins and needles on my hands and feet. As well as the pins and needles, my hands and feet get very painful and I've also noticed a dull pain in my groin and armpits again.
Obviously before and since returning to the UK I have had numerous tests for HIV which have all been negative. I firstly did a rapid post 90 day test in London and it was negative. My latest test was in November 2010 by an NHS doctor, five months post exposure. I didn't reveal to my GP the real reason I wished to be tested. Other tests had revealed that my liver was slightly inflamed, normal top range 50, I was 53, so it was decided to test me for HepB&C which were also negative.
I realise that at five months post exposure that I should be fine but I'm concerned that I may have been prescribed antibiotics in Africa that may be giving me an incorrect negative result. Is that possible? Alternatively, could I be one of the few people who take longer to seroconvert?
Obviously, I am still very worried and as I am experiencing more symptoms at present, ie. the sore hands and feet and numb ears, pins and needles, wonder if it's still possible that I could have HIV? Are these symptoms consistent with HIV eight months post infection? As I mentioned before, my white cells indicated an infection 4 weeks after the event.
Lastly, a swab taken on my throat in late November revealed that I had coronavirus. Could that be the root of my problems or do I have coronavirus and the other symptoms due to a suppressed immune system.
I have always enjoyed good health prior to June of last year.
Thanks for your time.