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HIV risk and positive mono test
Hello-
First off, let me say that this forum is a wonderful help to people and I appreciate all of the work you are doing. I have been worried for months about a possible hiv exposure. About 8 months ago, I had a stupid unprotected drunken sexual encounter with a man whose status I didn't and still don't know. I am a female, and once again, so stupidly, I do not know if we even used protection. I did not really think about it for a while, however, I have been having bad luck with health for the past couple of months or so.
I was studying abroad in Spain, running down my immune system with traveling. At the end of my semester, I went to Morocco and contracted a bad case of salmonella in June--my Drs. put me on a lot of antibiotics which I actually believe only hurt the problem. My digestive system is still recovering.
Over the past 2 months I had been suffering from swollen lymph nodes and pretty much avoided the Dr. because I was terrified of HIV. I finally went earlier this week and I tested positive for mono, which I thought made sense as to why I had been feeling tired and just kind of "off" for the past couple of months.
My question is this...
1) Being a female, what do you believe my risk was for only this one time last April of a probably unprotected sexual encounter. I did not have any symptoms of acute HIV infection and the salmonella and the mono symptoms of swollen lymph glands and fatigue are the only things that have been wrong with me over the past months (I know that is a lot wrong, but I have not had a fever, extremely sore throat, thrush or those things).
2) Secondly, do you think that my symptoms right now are due to just Mono? I am a senior in a prestigious college, work a part-time job, participate in activities, trying to figure out my life, and on top of that I believe that I have caused myself severe stress and anxiety over worrying about my HIV risk. Could it be possible that my body has just gone through a lot lately?
3) Thirdly, I'm a little worried because my boyfriend is not showing any signs of mono. Does that mean that my mono could be a complication of a new HIV infection or something like that? I thought that mono caused by the Epstein-Barr virus was highly contagious.
Dr., I know that you address many of these questions every day so thank you very much for continually helping people who ask about repetitive subjects. I am just sick of worrying, I know I need to get tested and will do so on Monday, I'm just looking for a little peace of mind...hopefully.
First off, let me say that this forum is a wonderful help to people and I appreciate all of the work you are doing. I have been worried for months about a possible hiv exposure. About 8 months ago, I had a stupid unprotected drunken sexual encounter with a man whose status I didn't and still don't know. I am a female, and once again, so stupidly, I do not know if we even used protection. I did not really think about it for a while, however, I have been having bad luck with health for the past couple of months or so.
I was studying abroad in Spain, running down my immune system with traveling. At the end of my semester, I went to Morocco and contracted a bad case of salmonella in June--my Drs. put me on a lot of antibiotics which I actually believe only hurt the problem. My digestive system is still recovering.
Over the past 2 months I had been suffering from swollen lymph nodes and pretty much avoided the Dr. because I was terrified of HIV. I finally went earlier this week and I tested positive for mono, which I thought made sense as to why I had been feeling tired and just kind of "off" for the past couple of months.
My question is this...
1) Being a female, what do you believe my risk was for only this one time last April of a probably unprotected sexual encounter. I did not have any symptoms of acute HIV infection and the salmonella and the mono symptoms of swollen lymph glands and fatigue are the only things that have been wrong with me over the past months (I know that is a lot wrong, but I have not had a fever, extremely sore throat, thrush or those things).
2) Secondly, do you think that my symptoms right now are due to just Mono? I am a senior in a prestigious college, work a part-time job, participate in activities, trying to figure out my life, and on top of that I believe that I have caused myself severe stress and anxiety over worrying about my HIV risk. Could it be possible that my body has just gone through a lot lately?
3) Thirdly, I'm a little worried because my boyfriend is not showing any signs of mono. Does that mean that my mono could be a complication of a new HIV infection or something like that? I thought that mono caused by the Epstein-Barr virus was highly contagious.
Dr., I know that you address many of these questions every day so thank you very much for continually helping people who ask about repetitive subjects. I am just sick of worrying, I know I need to get tested and will do so on Monday, I'm just looking for a little peace of mind...hopefully.
If someone doesn't show signs of mono it doesn't mean they didn't have it. Some people aren't as affected as others. Years ago I caught mono and had no idea how due to the fact I was in a monogamous relationship. My girlfriend came down with symptoms for about a day while mine seemed to last a couple months.
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