Should I test or am i being too anxious??

[AD231044]

Dr. HHH

This site is amazing and the work you do to help people is truly outstanding, especially for anxious people like myself.

My story:  About 3 months ago or so i had sex with two different women. Im a 27 hetero male, non-drug user. One girl was a brief one night stand, unprotected for not even a minute. The other was completely protected all three times we had intercourse but i later found out that this girl had HSV2. My test was negative for HSV2 but now im worried about HIV. Do my actions warrant testing??

For the past week or ive been experiencing headaches and muscle twitches. Also when i went to the dr. a month ago my temp was around 99.4 but i dont know if my normal body temp fluctuates that high?? Dr. didnt seem to concerned about and said that not considered a fever. Dont think ive had a temp since then.

Should i be worried...or can i just let this go? I'm never going to put myself in a situation like this again. Also if it makes any difference,  both these girls are in the US, college educated etc.... I met them both at local bars here in Chicago.

Any insight would be extremely helpful!!

Thank you,

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[monkeyflower]

Good lord. What part of "You describe nothing to suggest herpes or HIV is a reasonable possibility" made you think Dr. Handsfield thought HIV was a reasonable possibility? I think your anxiety may have caused you to misread/misunderstand his response.

And as for the HSV2 test, he was just saying that if it makes you feel better to get tested, get tested--but you didn't need testing after one specific encounter. Since you DID get tested and had a negative result, then you clearly have nothing to worry about either way.

Regardless, you are way overreacting. This is not a big deal, and you are not at any particular risk. Your reaction is really pretty irrational. Counseling and maybe meds could be helpful in getting your anxiety and panic under control.

[AD231044]

Dr HHH

I'm sorry...im a little confused about your last comment. I was tested for HSV2 (negative) and i never had a sore on anything like that. Now your saying HIV is a reasonable possibility   I'm Terrfied!!!  Please respond!!

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[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I wasn't very clear in my initial response; sorry.  The regular sex partners of people with HSV-2 generally should be tested, even if they don't have herpes symptoms.  People exposed once to someone with HSV-2 generally do not need testing, but certainly can and should get tested if they are nervous about it.  But if your test were positive, I would not assume it had anything to do with the exposure you describe; it would more likely be due to some past exposure you never knew about.

"Nervous beyond belief" is an overreaction to this situation. You describe nothing to suggest herpes or HIV is a reasonable possibility.

HHH, MD

[AD231044]

Wow?? you wouldnt have recommended hsv2 testing eventhough she told me she had it??  I did wear a condom everytime i guess!!  Anyway, tomorrow im going for my oraquick hiv test 3 months past these exposures. Nervous beyond belief!!

Take care!!


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[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Those are not symptoms of HIV or any other STD.  Otherwise, I cannot guess at the cause.  See a health care provider if you are concerned.

[AD231044]

Would hip pain and twitching calf muscles have anything to do with these exposures??? The hip pain i experienced about a month ago, disappeared in a few days and the muscle twitching current.  Any suggestions??


Thanks in advance!!

AD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As you already know intellectually, there was no plausible risk of HIV, herpes, or any other STD from the exposures you describe.  That's what condoms are for, and anyway you describe very low risk partners.  Everybody's body temperature fluctuates that high, but even if you had a slight fever, there is no reason to suspect it realtes to HIV, HSV, or any other STD.

I would have recommended against HSV-2 testing. and I never recommend HIV testing after single low risk exposures of this sort.  However, all sexually active people outside committed, permanent relationships should be HIV tested once a year.  So if you haven't been tested recently, this would be a good time, since it's on your mind.  But it's only for anxiety relief, not because of any risk from these particular exposures.

Good luck--  HHH, MD