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GOT QUESTIONS...??? PLEASE HELP
Please help... 2 weeks ago I noticed my boyfriend had a rash, raised, not red at all, looked like really dry skin but i think it had some little bumps on it.. the rash was on the back of both his arms. One side cleared up but the other side is still a little rashy. but he'd been working has gained alot of weight and out doesnt lotion. I noticed this rash on Jan 22. Thursday Feb 10th (2 weeks later) he woke up Thursday night complaining of really tight neck and shoulder and said his body kinda ached all over and he felt like he was coming down with something. The next two day he dranked orange juice and tried to fight it off. Sunday night he called me and told me he felt really bad. He had a sore throat and body aches and he was going lay down. By Monday morning all the symptoms hit... he had severe body aches.. low grade fever of about 101... cough.. some sneezing and wheezing, dizziness he couldnt taste anything and said when he sneezed it felt like pins all over his body. Tuesday He still felt very bad still.. fever broke but he still had a little wheezing and other symptoms where still present and he complained of nausea no vomitting or diarrhea but severe gas.. Tuesday night he said his stomach felt bloated and it was hurting really bad....
Wednesday- He felt better and fever gone completely, sore throat gone and other symptoms let up but he still had cough and some stomach pains. Today he says he feels okay. Stomach not really hurting anymore and he said he feels much better but sill has cough and now has a headache. I have two question: 1. Does his symptoms sound ARS realated, Should I be worried that he may have exposed him self to hiv??? Does he need to get tested? 2. We use condoms but I do perform oral sex on him and we kiss deeply during sex. If he has exposed him self Do I need to worry about exposure from kissing and oral sex . I got tested yesterday and the test was negative. i know it's to soon. Do i need to test again??
Wednesday- He felt better and fever gone completely, sore throat gone and other symptoms let up but he still had cough and some stomach pains. Today he says he feels okay. Stomach not really hurting anymore and he said he feels much better but sill has cough and now has a headache. I have two question: 1. Does his symptoms sound ARS realated, Should I be worried that he may have exposed him self to hiv??? Does he need to get tested? 2. We use condoms but I do perform oral sex on him and we kiss deeply during sex. If he has exposed him self Do I need to worry about exposure from kissing and oral sex . I got tested yesterday and the test was negative. i know it's to soon. Do i need to test again??
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This information does not chance my opinion or advice. Although some of your partner's symptoms occur in ARS, most do not. ARS is generally not associated with sore throat, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, or dizziness, and the fever generallly is not low grade, and it lasts 7-10 days, not "a day or two".
As African Americans, you and your partner are statistically at higher risk of HIV. Of course not all AAs are at high risk; most are not. Here are a couple of threads that explain these issues in detail. I hope all African American forum users will read them.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/African-American-Epidemic--please-advise/show/717093
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Waiting-for-test-results-Cannot-take-it-any-more/show/1261996
As for seeking out an "HIV anxiety group", it is clear you are indeed very anxious about it, perhaps not without reason, if indeed your partner has other sex partners. Consider calling your local health department or an HIV/AIDS community support group to learn what might be available. Unfortunately, this forum isn't a substitute, so that will be all for this thread.
As African Americans, you and your partner are statistically at higher risk of HIV. Of course not all AAs are at high risk; most are not. Here are a couple of threads that explain these issues in detail. I hope all African American forum users will read them.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/African-American-Epidemic--please-advise/show/717093
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Waiting-for-test-results-Cannot-take-it-any-more/show/1261996
As for seeking out an "HIV anxiety group", it is clear you are indeed very anxious about it, perhaps not without reason, if indeed your partner has other sex partners. Consider calling your local health department or an HIV/AIDS community support group to learn what might be available. Unfortunately, this forum isn't a substitute, so that will be all for this thread.
Hi Doc,
Please be patient with this question. I have one last quesiton I need to put my self at ease. As stated above My boyfriend (Oh and we are both heterosexual African American) had a rash on the shoulder arm area of both his arms about 3-4 weeks that was almost clear then last thursday about 3 weeks later he began with the body aches, sore throat, coughing, some sneezing, wheezing, dizziness, and a low grade fever for about a day or two, couldnt really tast anything, some nausea, and gassines but no diarrhea or vomiting. Then he developed these severe abdominal pains with no diarrhea or vomiting. Everything came on starting Thursday but Everything Hit by Sunday night/Monday morning and everything was pretty much gone by Yesterday. So about 7 days but the cough i think is still here and there.
My question last night he was balled up a knot becuase he the stomach pains were so severe.. Still no vomiting or diarrhea. i think he took or drank something that settled it. My question is.. is severe stomach pains a symptoms or acute hiv/ARS. If this is not a symptom i think maybe I need to seek out an hiv anxiety group. If it is a symptom he need to be tested?
Please be patient with this question. I have one last quesiton I need to put my self at ease. As stated above My boyfriend (Oh and we are both heterosexual African American) had a rash on the shoulder arm area of both his arms about 3-4 weeks that was almost clear then last thursday about 3 weeks later he began with the body aches, sore throat, coughing, some sneezing, wheezing, dizziness, and a low grade fever for about a day or two, couldnt really tast anything, some nausea, and gassines but no diarrhea or vomiting. Then he developed these severe abdominal pains with no diarrhea or vomiting. Everything came on starting Thursday but Everything Hit by Sunday night/Monday morning and everything was pretty much gone by Yesterday. So about 7 days but the cough i think is still here and there.
My question last night he was balled up a knot becuase he the stomach pains were so severe.. Still no vomiting or diarrhea. i think he took or drank something that settled it. My question is.. is severe stomach pains a symptoms or acute hiv/ARS. If this is not a symptom i think maybe I need to seek out an hiv anxiety group. If it is a symptom he need to be tested?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are being very smart to use condoms for vaginal sex as long as you believe your partner is having sex with other partners. It would also make sense for you to be tested for HIV and other STDs from time to time, like once a year -- and ideally your partner would be tested as well.
If there are other risk factors -- for examplie, if your partner has been imprisoned, might have sex with other men, if either of you is African American, if your partner might use drugs by injection -- then the HIV risk could be a lot higher and more frequent testing might be a good idea. But as long as you continue to consistently use condoms for vaginal (or anal) sex, the HIV risk is low.
If there are other risk factors -- for examplie, if your partner has been imprisoned, might have sex with other men, if either of you is African American, if your partner might use drugs by injection -- then the HIV risk could be a lot higher and more frequent testing might be a good idea. But as long as you continue to consistently use condoms for vaginal (or anal) sex, the HIV risk is low.
Thanks Doc,
I apologize for not including anything about his sexual lifestyle... he's a heterosexual male and yes it is possible that he has had another partner. That's why I always use a condom and why I asked the question about his symptoms. As stated we always use condoms but I do give him oral sex.
The oral sex and His symptoms where my main concern. You stated they dont sound like HIV infection so maybe I just have HIV phobia.
I apologize for not including anything about his sexual lifestyle... he's a heterosexual male and yes it is possible that he has had another partner. That's why I always use a condom and why I asked the question about his symptoms. As stated we always use condoms but I do give him oral sex.
The oral sex and His symptoms where my main concern. You stated they dont sound like HIV infection so maybe I just have HIV phobia.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. Directly to your questions:
1) You don't say anything about your partner's sexual lifestyle, i.e. whether he has other partners, or whether he is at high risk for HIV because he has sex with men, is an injection drug user, etc. If not, then HIV is not a significant risk. Either way, your partner's symptoms do not suggest HIV; they sound like a garden variety respiratory infection, like influenza or a bad cold. Fom a medical standpoint, I see no need for him to be tested. But perhaps he would be willing to be tested to help reassure you.
2) Oral sex is safe sex, and carries almost no risk for HIV transmission,. HIV is never transmitted by kissing. (Saliva kills HIV, so transmissible virus is not commonly present in the mouth.) And of course condom-protected vaginal sex is safe. So even if your partner is at high risk or has HIV, the chance you are infected remains low.
3) You might need another test for psychological reassurance, but not because there is any actual risk of HIV. But this of course could change if your partner in fact is at high risk for HIV.
If you remain concerned, you and your partner could go together to a primary care doctor or your local health department STD clinic for a reassuring exam and testing. But in the meantime, I really don't think you should be as worried as you are about HIV.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) You don't say anything about your partner's sexual lifestyle, i.e. whether he has other partners, or whether he is at high risk for HIV because he has sex with men, is an injection drug user, etc. If not, then HIV is not a significant risk. Either way, your partner's symptoms do not suggest HIV; they sound like a garden variety respiratory infection, like influenza or a bad cold. Fom a medical standpoint, I see no need for him to be tested. But perhaps he would be willing to be tested to help reassure you.
2) Oral sex is safe sex, and carries almost no risk for HIV transmission,. HIV is never transmitted by kissing. (Saliva kills HIV, so transmissible virus is not commonly present in the mouth.) And of course condom-protected vaginal sex is safe. So even if your partner is at high risk or has HIV, the chance you are infected remains low.
3) You might need another test for psychological reassurance, but not because there is any actual risk of HIV. But this of course could change if your partner in fact is at high risk for HIV.
If you remain concerned, you and your partner could go together to a primary care doctor or your local health department STD clinic for a reassuring exam and testing. But in the meantime, I really don't think you should be as worried as you are about HIV.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
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