Very concerned about confirmed thrush

[Freaking.Out]

Doc, 1st off, thks for this forum, its helped me get through the past few very diff.  Me-29yo healthy hetero US male
Sitch-Unprot oral (me giving to her) and condom fail during vag sex w/Canadian masseuse CSW in Montreal.  Was drunk, don't know how long unprotected, but it was def broken when I ejaculated inside her.
Timeline
+21days-Sore throat for 10 days
+28days-Notice white patches on tonsils/uvula, GP conf thrush with swab
+32days-Neg HomeAccess HIV1 test
No other sympt (rash, temp, vomit, diarhhea, sores)
Test today for chlam, syph, etc.  Results in 2 weeks.

I've seen your posts re: unprotec vag sex and unlikely hetero single incident HIV trans but this conf thrush has me crazy.  No other common reason for it (diabetes, antibiotics, etc).  Obviously I am unbelievably worried about HIV and other STDs.

Also, I just bought a huge house, had a baby 3 months ago, am quitting my secure and great job on Tuesday to start a new partnership, and now layer on concern about HIV/STD, so stress is high right now.  I work in an extremely high stress environment and am used to it, but this thrush has stressed me more than anything ever has.

Any other causes you can think of for this thrush? Me giving her unprotected oral maybe? A CSW must be likely to have yeast infect, can it spread to my mouth? Going to retest HIV at 6,8,12 weeks.

What course of action would you suggest to a patient of yours? Any other thoughts?

Thank you sir.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The most important fact you provide is your negative Home Access HIV test a month after exposure.  That means it is virtually certain you didn't catch HIV; but if you want to be even more certain, have another test 6 weeks after the exposure; you don't need the addtitional 8 and 12 week tests.  It also will be negative.

I cannot explain where the thrush came from.  It happens from time to time in normal, healthy people.  Generally you don't catch the yeast from another person.  We all carry yeasts on our skin and in all our body cavities, including the mouth.  Why it sometimes grows or causes inflammation isn't known, but it doesn't necessarily mean an abnormal immune system.  CSWs or other promiscuous people are no more likely than anyone else to be carrying yeast, since it isn't sexually transmitted.

'Course of action?'  Sit tight, follow your GP's advice, and try to put STDs and HIV out of your mind.

Good luck--- HHH, MD

[Freaking.Out]

Doc,
Thank you.  I guess I can live with "virtually certain" for another week and a half.  What do you think the odds are that test could flip given the exposure I described?  Wouldn't antibodies normally be present if the thrush was actually a symptom of ARS?

Also, on a non-medical note, this ordeal has opened my eyes to HIV.  I'd like to donate to a worthwhile charity to further the cause of finding a cure.  Any suggestions?

Thanks

[wowlyheck]

doc,

after checking out these forums, i have an honest question i hope you can answer. nearly every post gets a response that std is not likely or, sometimes, even possible.

i mean, this guy had unprotected sex with a prostitute, showed some symptoms and after only a 30 day home test, you tell him it's "virtually certain you didn't catch HIV". maybe medical science has greatly increased since i became monogamous, but we were always told that a test at 30 days, and even 3 months, was likely to be unreliable -- 6 mos was the rule. can you elaborate?

[Freaking.Out]

i thought the same thing too until reading alot this week.  apparently its very difficult to transmit female to male.   a couple of links that have helped me get through the past few weeks.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/2415.html

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/HIV/messages/1129.html

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/HIV/messages/1121.html

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Current/Q185011.html

i don't know whats changed, i was under the same impressions that you are.  hopefully its all accurate, these two doctors are experts on the subject.   I also read somewhere that the average time for antibodies to show up on a test is 25days.  

[wowlyheck]

good to know...

and stop ******* hookers! you've got too much to lose ;)

[Freaking.Out]

Tell me about it.  I would happily sacrifice an arm or a leg to go back in time and make a different decision.  This is the worst feeling someone can have, believe me.  Avoid at all costs.  I am just hopeful its not too late for me...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I have no additional advice or comments on your new question (in a new thread); see my replies above.  Your test result isn't going to change.  Also note that this whole thread should have been in the HIV forum; the STD forum does not address HIV issues (see the disclaimer on the forum home page).

You have no HIV worries.