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Avatar universal

Stepped on a needle and now very worried about HIV

On Oct 19 I stepped on a needle. I didn't think I felt a prick until I got home an saw a small hole in the heel of my foot and there was some blood. I went to my dr but he didnt prescribe PEP. I literally had symptoms the following day. Started with diarrhea and general unwell feeling. Lost all appetite and got dry mouth. Also developed very mild sore throat.  Day 8 post exposure my hips began to hurt pretty bad for 2 days and continue to bother me randomly. Aches moved down legs and yesterday my ankles hurt quite bad, now it is mild. Sore joints and achy muscles have been experienced all over my body, they come and go. I have had diarrhea almost every other day. Still have very mild sore throat. My main question is I know that stress can bring on many symptoms but the joint pain being in varied places, coming and going is quite worrisome.  Is this normal joint and muscle pain seen during ars? It is now 22 days post exposure and I will get bloodwork done at 28 days using a 4th generation test. I have not yet had a fever or rash. Is this reassuring? Thank you
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1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
I don't know but Joint and muscle pain can be due to a lot of things.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply. I'm sure that my anxieties have produced many symptoms. Mainly its just the joint and muscle pains that are concerning and why they all the sudden showed up during the ars period. (I am still experiencing them now, 23 post exposure) I had no other incidences or possible explosures. I will get 4th generation test done
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, Symptoms wouldn't have appeared so quickly for any blood borne pathogen. So, I think a lot of it is anxiety.  Whether you developed a virus or other illness due to something else after that is hard to say. Since it takes a while to develop antibodies to Hepatitis B and C it is best to wait to get tested for that to around 3 months or so. For HIV you should get the 4th generation test around 35-40 days after exposure then you will have both the antibodies and the antigen at their peak for this test. So those are the main tests. If you don't have any other localized infection on the foot then you should be okay. Since your hips ankles hurt you could get tested for Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune problems that are not related to this incident. It doesn't sound like you have the usual symptoms of HIV. Have you had any other kind of exposure besides this incident? If you have other general questions about HIV you can visit the HIV prevention forum.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
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