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Hi
I am a 32 year old male from India. Please see below-

Nov2nd - I did unprotected oral sex with a sex worker in Hongkong. After the act, I got scared and asked her if she was HIV+ and she said yes. I got scared and I asked here again and she replied that she was joking. I am not sure if she was serious or joking, but my life has become a joke now. I really really repent this stupid act of mine and I am very stressed out.

Nov4th  - So 2 days after the exposure, I started taking PEP.

Nov14th- Due to side effects I could not complete the 28 day course. I used to feel extremely tired and lifeless while I was on PEP.

Nov23rd - 9 days post PEP and 21 days post exposure, I tested negative - PCR, ELISA and P24 antigen. I also tested negative for Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis and Gnorrhea.

Dec4th - 20 days post PEP and 32 days post exposure, I tested negative -both PCR and P24 antigen

Dec15th- 31 days post PEP and 43 days post exposure - I went for a PCR and P24 antigen test. The results would be come on Dec19th/20th.

For the past 1 month, I have persistent muscle ache, joint pain and fatigue which shows no signs of abating. Initially only my leg muscel used to ache but now its the hands and sometimes back and neck too. Surprisingly my muscle ache and joint pain vanishes for couple of hours immediately after I jog/ exercise. But then it returns. Sometimes I felt that I have low grade fever, but I am not sure. I have no diarrhea. Yesterday I saw 2 rashes (itchy) - one on my stomach and one on my thigh. I normally develop these rashes during the summer season (Its winter in India now). I have no enlarged nymph nodes on my neck or groin but muscles seem stiff. I dont know if they are enlarged nymph nodes. I did have a slight headache 3 times yesterday lasting only for 2 seconds.

My questions-

1) Are these symptoms due to HIV or is it due to side effects of PEP? Its more than a month now, since I discontinued PEP and I cant believe that the muscle ache, joint pain and fatigue could be due to PEP. I have read PEP sometimes causes myopathy. Is it myopathy?

2) Is the PCR test 20 day post PEP accurate? If its not, would a 31 day PCR test post PEP be accurate?

Somebody please reply. I am totally stressed out.
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
I think I had a few cuts in my mouth. So i m worried
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You didn't have a risk to begin with.
Helpful - 0
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