Chances of HIV when having symptoms - effect of extreme anxiety

[AnxiousinSingapore]

Dear all,

I have been reading a lot on this website recently, and it already helped me a lot, so thanks to all the contributors.

Recently I had uprotected oral sex (1 min) with a commercial sex worker in Thailand, followed by regular intercourse with a condom. The condom was a little short, e.g. it did not cover the shaft completely. I don't know if the CSW in question has HIV or not.

Four days after this risky exposure I developed throat pain and a headache and I got worried. And now, 6 days after, I developed a mild fever, diarrhea, headache, muscle pains. Obviously, I am extremely worried and I have booked myself for a RNA PCR test next week to get some clarity. I must say that my worrying after the first 4 days compounded my problems, I have lost my appetite, can't sleep and am continuously anxious and my heart rate is way above normal. Also my hands shake a little. I hope the diarrhea is caused by the anxiety and not by HIV, as I normally get stomach cramps when I am anxious, and now I am anxious 19 hours a day ( I still get 5 h of sleep at least).

Questions I have are:
What are the chances for people who show symptoms and who had a risky exposure to actually be infected? We washed before having sex and she used Listerine mouthwash prior to having sex, does that help my odds or is it irrelevant? I read that odds are pretty low in general, but the symptoms have got me worried.

If the symptoms I display are caused by acute HIV, does this mean I have detectable levels of HIV already for the PCR test? I read they are most reliable after 4 weeks, but I also understand most people only develop symptoms after 2-4 weeks. Given that I have symptoms already, does this mean the test will also work sooner?

Is it true that people who show symptoms early (like I do, if I am infected) have a poorer prognosis? E.g. are more likely to transgress in to AIDS quickly.

To help cope with the stress I am reading up on the subject and also read up on living with HIV. I have read many inspiring posts on this, so thank you all for contributing. Personally, I am at a loss of how I would cope if this turns out to be true. I hope my wife would forgive and support me.

[AnxiousinSingapore]

Thanks zamzam44 and getitright77 for your help.

[zamzam4]

nobody has ever gotten HIV by getting blown, it doesn't matter what spin you put on it.  Your symptoms are totally irrelevant and  more likely due to stress, anxiety or a cold.

You do not need to test and to so so would only be for your peace of mind.  There is no way you would have contracted HIV in this manner and over 25 years of study allows us to say this which so much confidence.

ZERO RISK.

[AnxiousinSingapore]

Ok, I'll try to relax now. I'll probably still do a test in a while and post the results to prove you are right.

[RainLover71]

You DON,T require any HIV testing that should have read,Sorry.

[RainLover71]

I didn,t assess you risk to be very low,i said it was zero risk.You require Hiv testing and you don,t have to worry about this situation anymore.All the best.

[AnxiousinSingapore]

That is great to read, thanks a lot for your post, great to read that you assess my risk to be very low. I am trying to relax, but haven't been able to. Guilt is definitely an issue both for the act and the risk I took.  I am not sure if "what if" questions are allowed on this forum, so let me know if this is the case. Do early symptoms mean high viral count? E.g. greater chance for PCR NAT test to work?

[RainLover71]

All your questions about symptoms are not related to this incident simply because you had no hiv risk and no testing is required.Hiv experts agree that oral sex is zero risk for hiv infection,back that up with our own experts here on this forum,Teak and Lizzie Lou,it is safe to say that you are hiv free.You can begin to relax now and get more sleep.I think the guilt is the issue here not the exposure.