Extremely stressed out

[Jsmith197]

I had an encounter on the 24th of September with a call girl. Received unprotected oral from her for a few minutes but did not come in her ( she did not have any marks on her lips and for some reason she gave my penis a good check before proceeding with the oral). On the second round we had protected vaginal sex (Durex extra safe) one time. 2 weeks later I had a 2 spots on my back that looked like acne so i panicked and then started browsing the internet frantically which in turn freaked me out with all the information I was reading.... I got extremely stressed and scared and became very wary of every single mark on my body. I then found a few spots on my inner thighs that got me really panicking like you don't believe. This was followed by mild on and off rashes behind my ears.  3 weeks ago. I went to a dermatologist (did not tell him anything about my fears) and he told me that spots on my thighs and back of ears could be heat rush and the spot on my back is mild acne . He prescribed to me vibramycin doxycycline mono hydrate for the acne and a cream for my thighs. I used the cream for 2 weeks and the spots on my thighs have nearly disappeared and only started taking the vibramicine  5 days ago. However after three days of taking the vibramicine, I noticed red marks on the lube of my ears (one ear more than the other) this in turn increased my level of stress drastically. I returned yesterday to the dermatologist and he told me that it could be a reaction to the antibiotic but asked me not to stop it and gave an ointment called Locoid and an anti histamine medicine called Aerius to use for one week and go back to see him. I am so scarred and worried sick that I might have caught something....please help, I have been deprived of sleep for days.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I will be pleased to comment.  I think you are over reacting.  There is no meaningful risk for HIV from the exposures that you describe.  It is statistically unlikely that your partner had HIV and even if she did, there are no cases of HIV that have ever been proven to be acquired as the result of receiving oral sex.  Similarly condom protected sex is safe sex as long as the condom does not break and is worn throughout intercourse.  The dermatologist was not troubled by your rash.

My advice at this time is for you to go and get an HIV test, not because there is any risk that you are infected but in order to prove to yourself that you did not get HIV.  At this time, the results of your tests will be definitive.  EWH

[Jsmith197]

Thank you ever so much for your appreciated reply

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The sort of rash you describe is not suggestive of HIV. The rash of HIV is a generalized rash and is accompanied by other symptoms.  Please relax.  EWH

[Jsmith197]

Dear Doctor,
Thanks again for your reply. I have one last question please while I wait to get the chance to get tested. The acne I mentioned to you in my earlier email seem to have subsided with the antibiotics but now I am getting on and off skin redness with grainy skin behind my ear which is again making me panic and on the internet it mentions that this could be HIV related or what they call HIV rash....please let me know your thoughts on this, I am really stressed out from this.  Please help.
Many thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad I help. Oter than my assessment, the only additonal thing you ca do is to get the testing I suggested.  I am confident however that your risk for infection form the events you describe approaches zero.  EWH

[Jsmith197]

Dear Doctor, thank you very much for your kind reply which has eased my mind a lot. I am an expat in a country that has strict regulations when it comes to HIV testing and I am very hesitant on taking one or actually scared to death of what implications it might cause (deportation if I was positive). My biggest worry is why these light rashes and allergy came to me all of a sudden and I am not at liberty of telling the dermatologist my fears or if these skin problems were in any way related to this sexual encounter. The dermatologist didn't ask me anything about sexual exposures and just looked at my case as a general skin issue. To me you are the only person I have spoken about this in confidence. I hope you can give me some reassurances or guidance that I can live with until I am able to to travel to Europe and do the test. I am married and been avoiding sex with my wife in fear of being infected...I am sorry if I am going in circles even after your encouraging reply but your guidance is the only thing I have for now.
I thank you ever so much and appreciate your help tremendously.