Oral problems may be HIV?

Hi,
I had a risky sexual encounter almost 3 months ago and am going for a HIV test soon.
I did have a negative antibody test at 3 weeks.

Anyway, I had a number of "symptoms" which I tried to ignore and could have been anxiety or anything.

However, one thing has plagued me on and off since a week after exposure - chronic oral problems.

First I had a simple white coated tongue of the type you might get when run down.
This became geographic tongue after a couple of weeks which became really tingly and also felt like something stuck in mouth.
I went to the docs over this and he gave me something to treat thrush although he said it didn't look like thrush.
The treatment had no effect anyway.

Eventually the red patches went but and I now have a white tongue most days which is uncomfortable - tingling and feels sore.

I spoke to a doc at a HIV clinic and he said this is "not typical" of acute HIV symptoms but I have found some scary pages on the net about geographic tongue and HIV.

I will get my HIV test this week but will have two weeks to wait for the result.

Do these symptoms sound like they have anything to do with HIV infection?

[Teak]

What was your exposure?

[stupidkid]

Unprotected anal sex with a gay man.

[stupidkid]

Sorry should say as insertive participant.

[stupidkid]

Should also say that white tongue first occured the day after exposure followed by a short illness - feeling weak, tired, cold - from day 2 to day 5.

Since then I haven't been 100% for nearly 3 months!
Mostly problems in the mouth, though.

I know 1-5 days is supposed to be short for ARS but I read that HIV starts to damage the immune system right away.

[LIZZIE LOU]

ars comes at 2-4 weeks after infection and lasts for 1-2 weeks.

i'd be willing to bet that you...like most ppl here...starting reading about hiv and "then" you started noticing symptoms.

only your test...not symptoms...will tell if you were infected or not.

good luck

[stupidkid]

Thanks Lizzie Lou.
I know this is true, just wanting reassurance.
This 3 month test is scaring me more than the 1 month one :(

I keep putting off going for fear of the result.

[stupidkid]

If it is thrush, then isn't this unusual in a normal healthy person not taking anti-biotics?

I have read that thrush is very rare in early HIV infection as it is not a symptom of ARS but of a compromised immune system. How rare is rare? Under what circumstances does it occur?

So my last question (I promise) is: if my immune system were suppressed enough to allow for a thrush infection, wouldn't I see other immune system related symptoms?

[Teak]

No. Thrush can be caused by a number of things. Mouth wash for example. Thrush is no way HIV specific and it can only be diagnosed by a doctor or dentist.

[stupidkid]

Any comments regarding geographic tongue which has now returned, 3 months post-exposure.

You say it is not a HIV symptom, but even Dr. HHH says it is in some cases:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HIV--OHL--Yeast---Typical-Timeline-of-symptoms/show/246970

[stupidkid]

Specifically:
"Thrush or glossitis usually are signs of overt AIDS and generally do not appear until a person has had HIV for many years.  Once in a while they occur with ARS or early HIV infection, but not usually."

[LIZZIE LOU]

STOP with the self diagnosing and see a doctor if you are having health concerns...geeeeeez

[Teak]

Thrush is NOT HIV specific and that was what you were advised.

[stupidkid]

3 month test results just come back - NEGATIVE!!!

I'm so relieved.
No more unprotected sex for me.

Now I just need to sort out those oral problems - still got them after three months.