Nervous about future

Hi doc,

Since the last time that I wrote in I went and took a blood test and it came out negative for HIV. But since I have taken the test more symptoms have appeared. Such as a small rash on my neck. And I am also starting to get dry mouth. Would this be an indicater that I have contracted HIV. I was reading on some websites that some people never have any symptoms and that for some it may take years. Is it possible that dry mouth could be an early indicater of HIV? Does early stages of HIV start problems in your digestive system? I think what may be happening is that I am suffering from anxiety. I start thinking about HIV and then I start searching my body for any symptoms for HIV. How long can a person live with HIV? Are there any other STD's that could cause a rash on the neck and dry mouth? Thanks in advacne for your answers.

               Marco

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

All those symptoms are very nonspecific--i.e. many things cause them.  Also most HIV infections are entirely without symptoms of any kind until more serious things develop.  You don't describe your HIV risks; if you are a gay man or an injection drug user, those risks alone should lead to periodic HIV testing.  But if you are a straight man without sexual exposure to a known-infected person, with your negative test recently I would totally dismiss any chance of HIV explaning your symptoms.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[Marco Polo]

I am a heterosexual male, who does not use any drugs of anykind. Do u think that it is possible for dry mouth to be a early indicater of the HIV virus? I had swollen glands in my throat about 3 and a half months ago. If that was a indicater for the HIV virus do u think that it would have shown up? Also when I look in the mirror at my throat I see some redness on one side of my throat more than the other. DO u think that this could be a indicater of HIV? If not do u know of any other infection that I could possibly have. Thanks in advance for your response.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"Is it possible?"  Perhaps; there are few absolutes in medicine and biology.  Is it likely?  No; the odds that your symptoms indicate HIV are greater than the likelihood of winning your next state lottery.  For every case of "swollen glands" in or around the throat due to HIV, there are tens of thousands of cases due to other things.

See a health care provider for an exam and tests to figure out what you DO have; and stop worrying about longshots that you almost certainly DON'T have.

Good luck-   HHH, MD

[ryan191]

A related discussion, std was started.