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STDs (Expert Forum)
ARS symptoms in timeline sweetspot after risky exposure
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
ARS symptoms in timeline sweetspot after risky exposure
by TheOutlier, Oct 05, 2009 03:24AM
Had unprotected vaginal sex with a prostitute. I only lasted about 30sec b4 I finished. I briefly rinsed my penis and dried it. I had no visible scratches or marks on my penis, she was taking contraceptives (I think oral). I am circumcised. 10 days later about 7-8pm (Friday) I suddenly became tired. I had only been getting around 4-5 hrs sleep a night around this time, but this fatigue was heavy.Throat began to feel sore, and after an hour or so felt swelling in my neck (my throat?).Stayed up until 3-4am and slept.Felt a bit cold, sinuses were much worse than usual.I always have sinus probs(infections common) bc passages are very narrow and I am allergic to dust.. Seemed worse this time. Next day, woke @ 8am,felt like ****, tired, mild headache, painful sore throat, congestion,malaise/ light headed and I believe nasal drip.Slight nausea around 10am –went to clinic.No fever (seem to never have fevers),doctor said my throat was red, ruled out a sinus infection for some reason.She said lymph nodes weren't swollen. Couldn’t afford strep test.She gave 500mg amox bc I had an ear inf.She said it seemed i had an upper resp infection and checked pharyngitis on sheet. Took meds @ 12pm, ate, slept and woke @ 5-6pm.Symptoms already subsiding (24 hours after onset) but had pounding headache. Stayed up till 5am the next day. Felt like the meds were working, but maybe just quick hiv symptoms?Woke up Sunday around noon. Felt a lot better.Still felt a bit tired, maybe a slight headache, throat pain was near gone.Symptoms may have completely disappeared that night, (disappeared 4sure by next morning).Minor sore throat came back a day or so later tho (I get minor sore throats a lot, don’t know if it was related) I took a blood test for HIV 4 weeks after potential exposure, was neg.Was Elisa 3rd gen.Getting tested again for HIV in 7hrs, it will be 7th wk.Feel certain I have hiv, cant get over the timing/type of symptoms.What do you believe the chances are I will be positive this time?
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 05, 2009 06:08PM
, Oct 05, 2009 06:08PM
You have posted on the wrong site. Questions about HIV belong on the HIV prevention site. I will do my best to answer your questions with this reply but, if you have additional questions or follow-up they must be on the HIV Prevention site. Sorry
There is little reason to worry about HIV from the exposure you describe. My guess is that your symptoms occurred coincidentally at a time when the ARS might have occurred and this has caused you great anxiety. Let's review the situation.
!. Your partner is emphatic that she is not infected. Why would she lie? Further, that she said whatever it took to get you to meet her does not surprise me- this is a business and the first step is to make contact with the client.
2. Even in the unlikely situation that she had HIV, the risk form a single episode of vaginal sex is 1 infection per 1000 exposures. The numbers are in your favor.
3. Your symptoms really sound far more like a non-STD viral sore throat or allergies than the ARS.
Bottom line, my assessment is that your risk is quite low. Your 7 week test will detect nearly all (about 98%) of infections acquired 7 weeks earlier and virtually all if your sore throat was ARS. Your tests will be negative. When they are, try to relax and put this behind you. EWH
There is little reason to worry about HIV from the exposure you describe. My guess is that your symptoms occurred coincidentally at a time when the ARS might have occurred and this has caused you great anxiety. Let's review the situation.
!. Your partner is emphatic that she is not infected. Why would she lie? Further, that she said whatever it took to get you to meet her does not surprise me- this is a business and the first step is to make contact with the client.
2. Even in the unlikely situation that she had HIV, the risk form a single episode of vaginal sex is 1 infection per 1000 exposures. The numbers are in your favor.
3. Your symptoms really sound far more like a non-STD viral sore throat or allergies than the ARS.
Bottom line, my assessment is that your risk is quite low. Your 7 week test will detect nearly all (about 98%) of infections acquired 7 weeks earlier and virtually all if your sore throat was ARS. Your tests will be negative. When they are, try to relax and put this behind you. EWH
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Anyhow just wanted to add. I talked to the girl recently and she says she is 100% sure she is not infected (but why say bareback is ok over the phone?). Said she never gets sick. She said she tested negative 5 months ago, started working 3 months ago. Her one review mentions she did ** with a condom (half without tho).
Day after calling her and telling her about what was going on with me, I called her under a different number, acted like someone else and offered her more than double her rate for unprotected sex, she wouldnt take it. I know it was creepy, but I am very scared and had to see.
Despite saying bb was ok over phone, when i met her she was going to have me use a condom, but easily let me slip through after I brought up the call (I am so dumb). She did seem very sincere in saying she almost never bbs, just started 'working', and very confident that she is clean.
Our convo about my symptoms obviously scared her.
None of this really matters I guess though, just wanted to add.
Thankyou Dr. Hook for the response it helped me relax a lot. Just wanted to add this response in case anyone else ridden with anxiety finds this post, hopefully it helps them relax. I really thought I had it, it took over my life for a month, but I am fine. Be careful out there though.