Just a general question Dr.

Dr. HHH,

I posted an earlier comment today, but I decided to put up a new thread since I'm not sure if you'll see the old one and I forgot to mention something very important.

As I told you earlier, I had a negative test result for HIV, hepatitis, and herpes 8 months past any last exposure. Please don't respond to this situation since as you have already.

33 days ago I saw an escort and fingered her, kissed her twice--not very deep--just regular mouth to mouth kisses. And she manully stimulated me to orgasm--that's all. About 2 to 4 days later, maybe a week but not more than that, I had joint pain, mild swollen throat glans (glands), and mild fatigue. I fought that off in about 3 to 4 days. I also saw I chiropractor at the time for low back pain so I don't know if his adjustments had anything to do with it. I emailed this escort and she said she gets std checks for everything every 3 months and was as concerned as I was about getting something. She assured me her last lest was all negative--I believe her thoroughly from her response to my email, but she was checked for std's 1 month before I saw her. I cannot help to think it is possible she aquired something in the 1 month after the test when I saw her. Do these symptoms sound like anything in particular. I know from reading other threads that this does not warrent testing. My mind cannot stop thinking that I aquired something and I feel as though I'm going almost insane. Would you also reccomend counciling? My main question, though, regards these symptoms I had.

Thank You, rc123

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Those symptoms do not suggest any STD, and you couldn't have acquired an STD from the exposures you describe.  However, you could have acquired a viral infection by kissing, such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV), the cause of classical infectious mononucleosis; or cytomegalovirus, another virus commonly transmitted by saliva and a cause of "heterophile negative" mono; or other (unknown) virus that could cause similar symptoms.  Or your symptoms could be entirely coincidental; that kind of illness can be picked up anywhere and there is no particular reason to attribute it to your contact with the escort.

I can't tell that you are upset/concerned/anxious enough to need counseling.  If you think it's a good idea, it probably is.  But why not just get another HIV test?  A negative result 33 days after this most recent exposure at least will be very reassuring with respect to HIV.

HHH, MD

[keb2727]

Forgive me Dr.,

I also wanted to mention when I fingered this women I did feel vaginal fluids on my finger, and wiped it off with a antibacterial cloth I she gave me. I am scared also that I could have accidentally touched my genitals, mouth, nose or eyes after the fingering of her--transfering any virus to me. I know from other posts you do not recommend testing for these, but I have found 1 instance of hiv being transfered through kissing.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

HIV isn't transmitted by kissing with sufficient frequency to lose sleep over it; it's like worrying about being struck by lightning.  Ditto for vaginal fluid to finger to eye/mouth.  HIV is very hard to transmit by sex.  Anyway, the escort has told you she is HIV negative and you believed her.  Yes, she could have acquired HIV in the meantime.  But what are the odds?

HHH, MD

[keb2727]

Thanks Dr,

I might test or just ask her in 3 months again to see if she is negative still, as I do not want to go through another test.