exposure and symptoms

[anxiouspersonApac]

Hi,
I wanted to ask a question about something which happened to me last week which has been worrying me since. I worry a lot about things like this, and feel embarrassed to be seek advice. I hope I am being a needless worrier.

Last Friday, I went to an Chinese massage parlour. The worker had removed her top, rubbed her face against mind and her chest against mine. She offered to masturbate me. She also offered to perform oral sex on me (I declined that). I have searched on this forum and I can see that these events do not really pose a risk.

However, what I was mildly concerned about at the time was that I had a cut on my ear, which I had picked the scab of shortly before and which was slightly bleeding. Also the next day I noticed that I had a very small cut on my nose which shed a little bit of blood and left a small scab, which bled for a short while the next morning after I showered.

I worry about this. Considering she offered these extra services, if she had traces of another man's semen on her person or lips which came in contact with my small cuts, if she had traces of her own bodily fluids which came in contact with my small cuts, or if any contact from the room could have been made with my small cuts.

I have searched on this forum for similar stories and read that it is generally not a risk. I have also read about symptoms, and this is what concerns me.

4 days after this event I came down with a cold, irritated throat, a headache, and feeling fatigued. It is now 7 days after the event and I feel fine now (aside from a strange sensation on my tongue like it is burned, which is possible from soup of coffee I suppose). I have read that ARS symptoms are similar to what I describe here.

I have some questions about this I would like to ask.

1) Do you feel that I have been put at risk?
2) Does this sound like ARS?
3) Is 4-6/7 days too early for ARS?
4) Do I need to be tested?

Thank you for reading my question.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, discount those sensations too.  EWH

[anxiouspersonApac]

Hi doctor, thanks for the response. I hope I am sounding idiotic!

The sensation is on other parts of my lips now too. Should I just discount these as being anything significant?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The exposure you reported was no risk and isolated mouth sores are not suggestive of early HIV.  You really have no reason to worry.  EWH

[anxiouspersonApac]

Hi Doctor,
I had a follow up question now it is 2.5 weeks following this.

I have read on this forum about mouth somes being related ARS. At the weekend (2 weeks after) I had a slight pain in my gum for a few days, which was like a minor mouth sore, but I didn't pay any attention to and put it down to circumstances/coincidence even though I very rarely have any such issues.

However, yesterday I felt the constant tingling sensation or a sore develop on my lip, which I still feel today and something there is visible. This has brought back my worries and is driving me to distraction.

I have no other symptoms apart from this.

Are mouth sores really a part of ARS? Does my situation sound concerning, especially as I do not get these?

Thanks

[anxiouspersonApac]

Hi Doctor,
I had a follow up question now it is 2.5 weeks following this.

I have read on this forum about mouth somes being related ARS. At the weekend (2 weeks after) I had a slight pain in my gum for a few days, which was like a minor mouth sore, but I didn't pay any attention to and put it down to circumstances/coincidence even though I very rarely have any such issues.

However, yesterday I felt the constant tingling sensation or a sore develop on my lip, which I still feel today and something there is visible. This has brought back my worries and is driving me to distraction.

I have no other symptoms apart from this.

Are mouth sores really a part of ARS? Does my situation sound concerning, especially as I do not get these?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll be pleased to provide a few comments which I hope you will find helpful. The exposure you describe did not put you at any risk for HIV.  HIV is not spread by kissing, touching or rubbing. In addition  HIV is not transmitted from inanimate surfaces of from the surface of one person's body to another person.  The virus is too fragile and does not live in such environments.  

Thus, to answer your specific questions:

1) Do you feel that I have been put at risk?
No, this was a no risk exposure/

2) Does this sound like ARS?
No, this really does not sound like the typical ARS.

3) Is 4-6/7 days too early for ARS?
Yes, typically the ARS begins at least two weeks following exposure.

4) Do I need to be tested?
No, I see no medical reason for testing.

I hope these comments are helpful. EWH

[anxiouspersonApac]

Also to add to that, while I felt those symptoms come on at 4 days, at 3 days I had an instance of diarrhea and a midly upset stomach for the day.