Please help me.... I am scared!

I spent the night hanging out with a few friends in Philadelphia.  Later that night and after a lot of beer I was talked into going to a "washy, wash."  It is a glorified name for a prostitution house.  I cannot believe that I did this.  Well, here is my story:

The Russian sex worker put the condom on my penis.  The condom covered about 3/4 of my penis.  I began having sex with her (about 5 mintues).  When finished I immediately got a grossed out and decided to dump some Hyrdrogen Peroxide on my penis to clean myself off (this was located in the bathroom of the prostitution home).  Anyway, the next morning I remembered that I had a small cut on the base of my penis that I am sure came in contact with vaginal secreations (got it earlier that day from zipping my penis up in my pants, 1/8 of an inch or less cut).  How scared should I be?  

I got tested yesterday and am planning on getting tested again in 30 days, 90 days 6 months.  Did I mention that I am scared?  

Thank you for your help!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax; you are overreacting.  Using a condom means you had safe sex (regardless of the zipper cut on your penis), and on top of that, most commercial sex workers in the US (whether or not born in Russia) do not have HIV.  From a medical or risk assessment perspective, you don't need testing at all; the only reason for testing is that you obviously are frightened and my reassurance probably won't be enough to settle you down.  If you decide to follow through with testing, have a single antibody test 6 weeks after the event; you don't need a 3 month test and definitely not one after 6 months.  (Search the forum for "time to positive HIV test" for extensive discussion.)

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[sparkeler]

You wore a condom that cover 3/4 of your penis.  I assume it covered the "cut" you had?  Didn't it sting when you poured the peroxide on the "cut"? ouch!  I hope it heals faster though.  You did not contract hiv.  Even if the prostitute did hav hiv, there is a 1 - 2000 chance she gave it to you.  You should be tested to ease your fear and learn of your hiv NEGATIVE status.

[Perfectmax]

The cut on my penis was NOT covered by the condom.

[sparkeler]

Theoretically, the "cut" would slightly increase the chance of transmission maybe 1 - 1999.  However, I'll let the doctor calm your fears.

[WorriedUS]

Whoa..never heard of a 'prostitution house' referred to as a "washy wash"!  Reminds me of that scene from Full Metal Jacket where the Vietnamese prostitute says, "sooky sooky! Five dolluh!" lol

But man, relax..If you search the HIV threads, you cannot get HIV with a condom on..If a condom is used properly, Dr. Handsfield says that it is 100% effective.  But basically, okay, yours wasn't on ALL the way.  so it was not 100% used effectively.

But CONDOMLESS sex with a KNOWN CONFIRMED HIV person is around 1/2000, woman to man transmission...and since you used a condom, your risks are WAY less. Probably even much less since you don't know your partner at the washy wash had HIV.

But I'd say sparkeler is right.  less than (1/2000) = .05%.

relax, and just get tested at 28 days.

-WorriedUS

[Perfectmax]

But... guys, my open cut on my penis was exposed to her vaginal secreations...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Cool it.  My response took into account that your wound was not covered by the condom.  Search for "HIV transmission risk" to find discussions of how hard it is to transmit HIV.  Most nonprofessionals assume that "just one virus" is all it takes.  Not true; it takes lots of virus or infection doesn't take.

HHH, MD

[robespierre]

Dear Doctor,
I have read in another topic the same expression, "just one virus".
May you explain to me (obviously "nonprofessional") what does it means exactly?
Thanks a lot.

[WorriedUS]

robespierre,

RP, not cool to invade on another person's thread.  If you have a question, start a new thread.  

But basically, he means that from a epidemiological level, 'one' or rather, a small amount of the HIV virus does not pose enough of a risk to the human body enough to start an HIV infection, i.e., there is probably NOT enough of the virus to find its way to the bloodstream, among other things. I would assume that this could be over our heads, but the virus emits a bunch of proteins to take over the CD4 cells, but you'd have to know cell biology to know more, as I clearly do not.  But I would surmise it means that it took more than a few hundred Greeks to take over the City of Troy.  The more the number of atackers, the more probable that the city gates will be penetrated by at least a few of the attackers. And once inside, it takes more to tear down the city and hold it.  get it? the rest, you'd probably have to pick up a book or two and understand viral and cell life cycles, I would assume.

-WorriedUS

[Perfectmax]

This insident happened Saturday at 3am.  My muscles are sore today.  Could this be a symptom?  Please be honest with me.

[skerdstraght68]

Nope way too early and theres no chance your going to get HIV..

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Stop posting anxiety-driven irrelevant comments, symptoms, etc.  Take the reassurance you have had at face value; you really had almost no chance of getting infected.  Go to a movie, have a beer, mellow out.  But don't waste your time and energy on this forum or any other online source.  All you are doing is enhancing your own unnecessary anxiety.

HHH, MD

[Perfectmax]

I appologize for everyone time that I am wasting, but I thank you all for your replys.  I have no body else to talk to and I am extremely upset at myself for what I have gotten myself into.  I am tenatively getting married in May 2007 (providing that I don't have an STD).  I truly did something stupid and for some reason, in the moment it seemed O.K..  What the hell was I thinking?  

My limbs feel numb and my body feels constricted.  I am praying that it is only stress and that I do not have HIV.  If I am so luckly to be in this girls life for years to come, I will never cheat on her again.  This is a promise to myself.  

Thanks again...

[Perfectmax]

Why is anxiety so difficult to deal with.  I am trying to feel comforted/reassured by your posts doctor but the statistics that I have found on hiv are killing me:

-1 million people in the US have HIV
-1 out of every 300 people have HIV in this country.  
-A prostitute has definately had an encounter with HIV and therefor would be a high risk individual.  
-I had a cut on my penis which had direct contact with her vaginal secreations for over 5 minutes.

I am in day 8 and am still so scared and upset at myself for what I have gotten myself into.  My muscles in my body have been sore since day 4.  My back, neck and arms ache and even my forearms and calf muscles.  I sometimes even get tingles/numbness in my limbs.  Question 1:  is this a symptom of hiv or is stress doing this to me?  Question 2:  I guess that I should not have sex with my finace until I have been tested negative?  Question 3:  Should I be this nevious about hiv?  Am I high risk?

Thanks again...  (I won't bother you again).

[Perfectmax]

Doc... can you please make sense of the questions above?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See my 11/21 reply.  Stop posting comments/questions here; this thread is over.  If you want nonprofessional opinions from other forum users, you can go over to the HIV support forum.

HHH, MD

[Perfectmax]

Doctor... I really think that I am having issues with ARS symptoms.  I am right at the 14 day mark and I have developed a mucocutaneous rash on my inner thighs, on either side of my testicles.  On one side it looks like a 1 inch x 1/8" deep red worm and the other is 2x2" round rash that is peeling.  I have also have muscle aches all over my body and on day 12 I had a bad case of diarrhea and loose stool ever since.  My neck feels stiff.  My only hope is that I have not had a fever yet, however I have had off and on headaches.  I also have no appetite.    

I told my finance about my incident last night.  I love her and wanted to be honest with her.  I made a grave mistake and I felt that she needed to know.  

Can you please just make sense of my ARS symptoms.  Or is it now time to start worrying and taking this seriously.  

[Perfectmax]

Welp Doc, I got genital herpes from this encounter.  Does this mean that I am at more of a risk for HIV.

[monkeyflower]

How do you know you got genital herpes from this encounter? What kind of test did you have? How long after exposure were you tested? I ask all this because it's much, MUCH more likely that you had herpes to start with.

[Perfectmax]

MonkeyFlower...  Thank you so very much for commenting.

My symptoms appeared about 1.5 weeks after my encounter.  My symptoms included a rash on either side of my Testicles (on my inner leg).  One side blistered and the other is just a rash that looks like a 1' worm.  Also, my testicles felt/feel like they where and still are on fire!  

I am worried that if Herpes entered this sore that I had on my penis, HIV would definitely have too.  

One a personal note:  I am depressed (actually going to see a therapist on Monday).  My fianc

[o_g]

hi,
I am posting here because I found something common with your exposure. I also caught genital herpes from my exposure which was 30 seconds of condom break.
However, I would really like to know what Monkeyflower has asked that is how are you concluding that you have caught genital herpes. Is it by visual inspection made by a physician or is it through a blood test or did you self-diagnosis? Blood test for HSV-2 should be take at 3 month mark and that is when they are more valid.
If you have done a blood test for HSV-2 & that came +ive, then I will have to assume that you have done a blood test for HIV as well. It seems HIV antibodies develop faster as compared to HSV-2 antibodies. This was once mentioned by Doc himself in another thread. So, if you do not have HIV antibodies  and have HSV-2 antibodies when both the tests are done at almost the same time from the same exposure, you can start counting yourself lucky.

[Perfectmax]

I was diagnosed with Herpes today from a doctor (Day 17 after exposure).  "If" this girl had HIV my chances of contracting HIV are very good, correct?  I know that is a big "if" but I have to look at the odds.  

[monkeyflower]

HOW were you diagnosed? Blood test? Culture? Visual inspection?

[monkeyflower]

I forgot. Herpes or no, it was a no-risk encounter. You wore a condom. The cut was irrelevant.

You have an extremely overinflated idea of the risks associated with sex, sex worker or no. Your guesses about whether your partner had HIV, or had contact with people who had HIV (which means absolutely nothing if she didn't contract it) are wrong and pointless. You need to get off the internet. Seek counseling.

[Perfectmax]

Fine... I agree, i wore a condom.  It was not used correctly and did not cover enough of my penis.  My cut was directly exposed to vaginal secretions.  I somehow wound up with herpes at the 11 day mark.  It is not jock itch and certainly not a heat rash.  It has now been there for 7 days and counting.  Symptoms (although meaningless are as follows):

1.) blistering rash on thighs
2.) night sweats
3.) occational diahria
4.) No appitite, weight loss
5.) dry mouth
6.) Swollen Lymph Nodes (I think...  they feel large to me, getting check out on Thursday)
7.) Day 18 and no fever yet (97.2 - 98.6).  When do people normally come down with HIV fever?  

I have never had an encounter with herpes before (with fiance for 7 years).  I got herpes from this even, if the sex worker had HIV would that come hand in hand with the Herpes.  I just want the truth...

[o_g]

You know reading at how you are feeling physically reminded me of how I felt and it sounds exactly the same. The point you need to remember is that herpes has to be massaged from skin to skin contact. I do not think you get herpes if vaginal secretions come in touch with a zipper cut on the penis. It is my understanding herpes is a disease of skin and not not passed through bodily fluids. You very well might have had herpes from the past and your current state of stress and anxiety might have caused an outbreak. You can resolve your herpes satus by taking a type specific blood test. Your exposure is 20 days old. If the IgG is showing positive value, you will for sure know that it was an older infection and not attained from the sexual escapade you are describing.

[Perfectmax]

O_G, did you contract HIV or are you still in the waiting period?

[monkeyflower]

Stop self-diagnosing your "herpes" (it's obvious from your comments that you were NOT actually diagnosed), and quit worrying about HIV. You were at no risk.

As for your symptoms, are you waking up drenched in sweat, with the sheets soaking wet? 'Cause that's what a night sweat is. I'm sure the rash is something completely innocuous; in fact, it sounds like jock itch/fungal infection. I can pretty much guarantee that your lymph nodes are not swollen. The rest is pure anxiety.

[o_g]

I had a 12 week negative antibody test. I really feel you should follow what monkeyflower is saying. Honestly, you did not have risk for HIV. If finding out tha you have herpes(which I really think you do not know for sure as yet) is giving you a heartache, get a herpes test right away to settle the matter if at all you have an infection and whether it is recently caught. I really feel getting a propper herpes test right now will settle a lot of issues for you.

[Perfectmax]

I really appreciate your thoughts.  I am so scared, so scared.  I have built a great life with the girl that I love and I can't believe that my penis/sex drive has put me in this situtation.  

I am so nervious.  I check my temp almost every 4 hours.  My thighs are on fire (which doesn't help things:  symptom = herpes, herpes can = HIV) and I can not sleep and keep having nightmares.  I want to cry but I can't.  I am not hungry at all and when I force food down my mouth I dry heave.  I hope that this is all anxiety and that God can give me another chance at this life.    

Sorry for wasting all of your time.  I am going to get a physical thursday (find out if those glands are swollen, get another option on the herpes) and I am going to a therapist Monday for someone to screw my head (not penis) back on correctly.  

I will update everyone as i find out what my results are on my HIV test (taking it Dec. 15th).  In the meantime, please check back on this post occationally to answer any scares that might come up.  I need help to get through this.

[monkeyflower]

Post on the unmoderated HIV board instead... I have a feeling Dr. Handsfield's going to put an end to this kind of emotional, anxiety-driven stuff :-)

But by all means, herpes does NOT mean you have HIV (where on earth did you get that idea?)--and it certainly sounds like you don't have herpes anyway. It does sound *exactly* like a fungal infection, though. YOU HAD PROTECTED SEX. You cannot get HIV from what you describe (your "cut" is completely irrelevant).

It's your guilt that's getting to you. Personally, I say so what if you had protected sex with someone else. You're human, and sex is an integral part of being alive. I'm so glad you're starting therapy (I hope with a sex therapist). I hope s/he can help you come to some self-acceptance and self-understanding. Acceptance really is everything :-)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I turn my back for a minute....

On 11/27 I said I wouldn't allow any more anxiety-driven comments in this thread.  I meant it, but didn't monitor it.  Monkeyflower is right--I will delete any comments following this one, by anybody.  And this time I'll be looking.

Perfectmax, you realize you need support. I appreciate that. But this is not the place for it.  This forum is not supposed to be a comfort zone for people who need professional counseling.

HHH, MD

[Perfectmax]

27 day test:  negative...