Questions about possible ARS symptoms

[789ORL]

Good evening doctor.

I've posted on the free forum before, and several other forums, but I'd really like a professional opinion about this.

For the past 4 years, I've been in a completely monogamous relationship with the exception of one incident that happened 7 weeks ago. (Saving all of the comments of regret and extreme guilt. Already had my rant on the free forum)

I engaged in pro tected receptive anal intercourse with a man I had just met. He did not ejaculate as far as I could tell. I did not engage in any other type of sexual activity. It was also the first time I'd ever tried poppers. I only took one sniff, because I had never tried it before so I was skeptical about it. The intercourse lasted less than a minute before I stopped because I immediately felt wrong about it. I looked at the condom when pulling out and it appeared to be intact.

Fast forward two weeks, and I got sick with what I thought was the flu, because I knew several people who had similar symptoms, so I assumed it was going around. It started with a sore throat on the first day. The second day I had a headache all day, then developed a fever, body ached and night sweats. The worst of the symptoms lasted about 3 or 4 days. By day 5 all I had was a sore throat that went away by day 7.

Two weeks later (week 4) I became very worried that it could have been ARS symptoms that I had experienced, an went crazy reading the forums. I took an Oraquick home test the next day, turned out non reactive, but I haven't had peace of mind since, because I know it's not recommended to test before the 6th week after possible exposure.

What's the risk factor here? Am I worried well? Has the anxiety completely taken over?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Testing is a personal choice however from a medical perspective I see no reason for further testing.  EWH

[789ORL]

Dr Hook,
Thank you so so so much for your response. This is the most reassuring response I've received in weeks. Should I even bother getting retested at a lab for this incident, or can I finally move on from this episode?

[789ORL]

I've continued to suffer from sleeplessness, stomach issues, occasional fatigue especially when I can't sleep the night before and occasional night sweats even on week 7, but I can attribute that to the anxiety and depression I have been under. The moderators of the forums have unanimously told me that I've had no risk, but your opinion would mean a lot to me. If it weren't for those flu symptoms I had, I would no longer be worried. I haven't been able to get past this fear.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll be pleased to add my assurance to that of others and tell you that there was no risk for HIV or for other STIs from your single episode of condom protected, receptive rectal intercourse.  Condoms make sex safe and if your condom had broken it would have been obvious at the time you looked at the condom after he removed himself from you.

As for your flu-like illness, your negative test proves that it was not HIV.  When persons have ARS symptoms, the symptoms are due to reaction between antibodies and the virus.  As a result, antibody tests are positive.  If you had a negative antibody test two weeks after a flu like illness, you can be completely confident that your flu-like illness was not due to HIV.

I would not worry further about the episode you describe and see no reason for further testing related to the encounter you have described.  EWH