13 weeks all kinds of symptoms

Dear doctors,

I am facing a 13 weeks history of several symptoms after having had unprotected sex with a prostitute in Germany. Of course I am fearing HIV most, but my symptoms seem to last longer than normal ARS and I’d really like to know what’s possibly wrong with me...

3 weeks after the exposure I left Germany to start my new job in China.

4-5 weeks after the exposure I started to feel a fatigue. Well actually already when I arrived China but that should have been still the jet-lag.

After 6 weeks (39 days) I got tested for HIV1/2, Syphillis (syphilis), Hepatitis B & C and TB. During this week I also had some hot flushes which might got caused by the stress.

After 8 weeks I noticed that my left back knee is swollen. I also felt a burning sensation in back knee. A few days later my whole knee started to pain, specially when I took long walks. Although the swelling was just in the left knee, I felt this pain in both legs. I had knee problems before, but that was caused by long runs and occured in the outer side of the patella. The pain disappeared after 2 weeks, but 1 week later it all started again.

After 7-8 weeks I also recognized a very small red blister at the edge of my glans (glands) which sometimes turn grey.

After 12 weeks I had a stiff neck. First I thought it might be swollen glands, but I couldn’t feel or see anything. This condition lasts now again for over a week.

A few days ago I had a cystitis which lasted for two days.

And finally I have problems which my left eye for several weeks now. It feel a slight pressure at the outside.And my eyes are often dry.

Going to have another test is not really an option for me right now as in China STDs are a quite sensitive topic and I might risk my residence permit. So I still have to wait until I can leave the country for this test. But I would really appreciate any opinion on my symptoms as I am really getting mad.

Thanks a lot!!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You have posted on the wrong site.   Questions about HIV belong on the HIV prevention site.  I will do my best to answer your HIV related questions with this reply but, if you have additional questions or follow-up they must be on the HIV Prevention site.  Sorry

Regarding HIV, you have nothing to worry about.  Symptoms are not a good indicator of early HIV infection.  You have been traveling and your symptoms are much, much more likely to be due to a combination of jet lag, viral illnesses (like the flu) picked up during travel, and fatigue.  I will not spend time dealing with your symptoms one by one - none of them indicate any likelihood of HIV infection in your situation.  In addition, You've had a negative HIV test at 39 day, nearly six weeks after your exposure.  At six weeks, over 95% of HIV tests that are going to be positive will be.  Thus when considered with your very low risk of getting HIV to start with from a single exposure, you have nothing to worry about in terms of HIV.

The only symptom you have mentioned that I would have any concern about is to days of cystitis. This could be indicative of an STD like gonorrhea, chlamydia or nongonococcal urethritis.  You should have a swab or urine test to look for these infections.

Hope this helps.  Do not worry about HIV, you do not have it.  Get checked for the STDs I mentioned.  EWH

[Insina]

One symptom I forgot to add:

During the last weeks I also feel a slight pain in my armpits. But once again I can't see or feel anything abnormal.

Thanks!

[Insina]

Sorry, again forgot an imprtant detail: The 39days tests all came back negative.

[Insina]

Dear Mr. Hook,

thank you very much for your help which is really much appreciated!!! Anyway I have to say that you and your colleagues are doing a great job here in this forum. I have never felt the internet such a really useful resp. helpful thing.

May I ask one last question:

I still suffer from the stiff neck and the pain has even spread to my shoulders. Couldn't this be a rheumatoid arthritis? And could this be due to a viral infection like HIV? Would it appear that early (knee pain after 8 weeks, stiff neck after 12 weeks) or when does HIV related rheumatoid arthritis normally occur?

Thanks again!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

See above. No further discussion about HIV.  This is not an arthritis site either so I will not comment on that either.  One last time, this is not HIV.  Please do not waste your time or money re-posting in the HIV stie.  EWH