Possible exposure - Scared of symptoms

[aroundthahorn]

In advance, thanks to whoever responds.

I'm a male in his mid-20's. I've had 4 sexual encounters with other men over the past two years (not tested in over 2 years).

First encounter - Very safe.

Second encounter - No insertion. However, he grinded on me as I was on my stomach, penis between my buttocks. I had inserted my pinky in the night before, and scratched the anus a bit. I washed with soap and water after the encounter, but it burned a little (signifying a cut of sorts).

Third encounter - This is the one I'm most afraid of. He gave me oral for a while (no condom). Then we had intercourse (me on top, with protection). We stopped, and he ejaculated on his stomach while laying on his back. I was masturbating and without even thinking, touched his semen on his stomach. Then I took that same hand and continued to masturbate with it. After ejaculating, I went to the bathroom immediately and used soap and water to wash my penis. I frequently masturbate and rarely use lube so I don't think it's unlikely that I had small abrasions on my penis.

Fourth encounter - No condoms used, but no intercourse. Gave each other oral, I believe I swallowed a little pre-***, nothing more. I accidentally inserted just the head, briefly, before pulling out.

All claim to be negative, but I'm especially suspicious of the guy from the 3rd encounter.

About 2 months after the 3rd encounter, I got a bruise very easily on my left calf, from what I can tell nothing more than resting the calf on my other leg watching a movie. Then, recently I just healed from a bruise on my left bicep for about 3 weeks.

Then, also recently, I got about 5 or 6 red bumps on my foot/calf. Looked like mosquito bites, but they weren't. One small one on my calf I scratched/picked at a bit, and now there is a faint bruise there as well.

VERY concerned. I thought I was safe, but not so sure. What do you think are my chances of exposure? And what do you think of the symptoms? I've never brusied easily before.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You’re safe.  Before I get to your exposures, let me tell you that easy bruising is not something that would be a sign of an HIV infection acquired in the past two years.  This is not due to HIV.  Nor are the red bumps.

As for your exposures, all of the exposures you describe were masturbation, which is totally safe, or condom protected except for your oral exposures.  Furthermore, all your partners said they were negative and most people do tell the truth.  Here is the risk associated with your exposures:

1.  Condom protected rectal intercourse - zero
2.  Masturbation - zero.  Please be aware that to get each other's genital secretions on one another through mutual masturbation is normal and occurs regularly and had never lead to HIV transmission.  Also be aware that tiny abrasions regularly occur with masturbation without changing the risk.  Again -zero risk.
3.  Unprotected oral.  Some say the risk is less than 1 in 10,000, others say it is zero (both figures are for situations in which your partner is HIV infected)

Taking all of this together, your risk of having gotten HIV is probably zero.  If you want to be very conservative, perhaps it is 1 in 100,000.  Bottom line, this is not something to worry about, nor is it something you need testing for.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There have been recent concerns raised about the rapid tests but they are still few and far between.  I would not worry about having a rapid test.  If the result is negative, you are not infected.  If it is positive, you need a confirmatory test but that is the case no matter what test is used.  I'd go with the rapid test.

I'll take you at your word - no further questions please.  EWH  

[aroundthahorn]

One last follow-up.

With the concerns with rapid tests, should I still be confident in the result? Is a follow-up test with the actual blood draw from the arm a good idea?

Also, is there any reason to believe that the fingerstick rapid test is more accurate than the oral, swab of the gums rapid test?

Thanks again.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There have been some concerns about the rapid tests but they do not seem to be major problems.
Glad to here of your result.  Take care.  EWH

[aroundthahorn]

Hey Dr. Hook,

Just wanted to write and let you know that I finally built up the courage and went to a local STD clinic and got an HIV test...thankfully, it came back non-reactive!!! Thanks for your advice and opinions pertaining my concerns.

Just one last thing I'd like to ask, if possible. I had the OraQuick rapid test done. I requested the fingerprick and drop of blood as opposed to the swab of the gums...I just felt more comfortable with an accurate result using blood. I believe this is a relatively new technology, is this still a definitive form of testing? I read where an LA clinic stopped using the oral version of the rapid test based on false results. Just wondering what the latest word is with these 20 minute HIV tests.

Thanks for the feedback Doc!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This is not a debate.  You have to decide what and who you want to believe.  I have given my opinion.  Thi sis the end of this thread.  No further comments.  EWH

[aroundthahorn]

Thanks Doc.

Can I ask for further clarification? I've seen plenty of sites say (and it makes sense to me) that masturbating with somebody else's semen poses a potential risk. Who's to say I don't have small cuts on my penis? HIV can get through even the smallest of cuts or abrasions, correct?

Perhaps HIV dies when it enters the atmosphere? But I would think if the semen is fresh, HIV would still be alive and pose a risk of transmission until it dries.

Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I really do not know what your symptoms could be due to .  They do not resemble the description of a typical STD.  You should work on this with your own doctor.

You information about HIV is incorrect.  The findngs associated with HIV are dependent on how long the infection has been present.  By your own history, you could not have been infected for more than two years (and in fact, as I've already indicated, I doubt that you are infected at all) End stage (after a decade or more) HIV can cause low platelets can SOMETIMES casue low platelets.  You are misinformed as to what is and is not typical of HIV.  EWH

[aroundthahorn]

Thanks Doc.

Do my symptoms give you any idea what it could possibly be? STD related (one easier to spread)??? Possibly some other health issue off the top of your head?

I was concerned because I think I read that bruising easily means low platelets, which is what HIV causes???

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are wrong. Easy bruisng is not a common sign of early HIV.  Your symptoms do not raise a red flag.  EWH

[aroundthahorn]

Dr. Hook, thanks so much for your response.

I got similar answers posting on the free forum, and found the responses a little hard to believe. Being so paranoid, I've searched about every HIV symptoms page on the internet imaginable.

It's not uncommon to see red bumps (or purplish, etc) bumps and easy bruising as a symptom of HIV infection. Doesn't the timing of these symptoms, and the fact that they've never happened to me before, raise a red flag?