Worried and Confused

[sick27]

Hi Dr.
I am 27 year old healthy male who is having the worst nightmare of his life. I am trying no to be paranoiid but symptoms are overwelming,

7.5 weeks ago I had Protected sex with a white female who lives in Vegas. We did prolonged open mouth kissing in the club and then in the hotel. She performed oral on me for 5 min I didnt ejaculate. The next day i found a CUT on my lip.
5 weeks later, I fell flu like symptoms fever, runny nose, cough. I went online on the second day to find out about HIV symptoms. since then I have been on a emotional and physical roller coaster that is still going on.
The cold went away after 4 days. On day 5 - week 5.5 since exposure- I developed a rash that spread to my legs back chest. My skin broke out few pimples.    
I got tested on week 5 negative - three days after my symptoms started- and negative again at 6.5 weeks or 45 days since exposure.
I tried to feel better but on week 7 I started felling pressure in my left groin that spread to my right side, to my leg and genitals later in my left armpit which swell after some poking. Now I feel pressure in my neck, my armpit and groin. My ears still plugged since 3 weeks.

I admit I have been under a great deal of stress and anxiety non stop since week 5. I feel bettter by another symptom pops up to make me feel miserable again.

can nodes swell two weeks after I had fever and on week 7 after exposure?
What you think my exposure risk is with the cut on the lip and prolonged kissing especially ?

Please let me know what you really think and what should I expect

Thank you for your work and I appologize for the long message.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  You have some serious misunderstandings of HIV transmission risks and symptoms and you are overreacting in a major way.  The responses you had on the HIV community forum are correct.  Let's summarize some of the reasons.

1) It is the rare sexually active woman in the US who is HIV positive, even for women who live in Las Vegas.  2) Protected vaginal sex = no risk.  3) Receiving a BJ = no risk for practical purposes (max 1 chance per 20,000 exposures if the oral partner has HIV, which yours probably didn't).  4) Kissing is no known risk, regardless of cuts on the mouth and duration of kissing.  5) Your symptoms don't sound like HIV, not even close.  HIV doesn't cause runny nose, cough, pimples, the "pressure" symptoms you describe, ear plugging, or anything else that you mention except fever. Self-assessment of enlarged lymph nodes is highly unreliable, and anyway HIV is one of the less common causes of enlarged nodes.  You caught a cold and have anxiety symptoms on top of it, nothing more.  6) Your negative HIV test at 5 weeks is near-solid proof against HIV.

As to the "coincidence" you comment on in the other forum, it's not so much of a coincidence.  Let's guess that every week there are a couple of million non-monogamous sexual encounters in the US.  And let's guess that every week there are a million people who get new respiratory viruses, i.e. colds, flu, etc.  It stands to reason that tens of thousands of people, maybe 100,000 or more, will get symptoms like yours within a few weeks after a new sexual adventure.  You're one of them.  (I don't know the real numbers.  The point is that such "coincidences" are expected and common.)

You didn't need HIV testing at all.  But if you find this reassurance unconvincing, have another HIV test 6-8 weeks after the event. That will nail it down for sure.  The result will be negative.  Of course see a health care provider if your symptoms continue or you otherewise remain concerned.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[sick27]

Thank you Dr. I appreciate ur response. Its just what I am felling is louder that anything else. I am sure you re right. I just need to figure out a way to get out from this vicious circle. I keep getting a new symptom every day litterarly I am going crazy.

Thanks for your reassurance

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are re-asking things already covered in your initial question and my reply.  Your symtpoms are NOT like those of HIV--period, full stop.  And a negative test at 6+ weeks is virtually absolute proof you don't have HIV.  And you were already told your exposure was extremely low risk.

You don't have HIV. Believe it and move on. You came here for reassurance.  I gave it.  Accept it and move on. I have nothing more to say.

[sick27]

I realize my risk is low but is still there especially the oral part which is gaining risk on some websites.I am writing you again cause I got a low grade fever tonight 90.3 once and 90 most of the time. Please let me sum the symptoms again .
- Flu like symptoms (runny nose, muscle ache, fever, congestion, chills) my ears still plugged since then (sinus infection?)
- rash started with hives then some flat purple traces on my chest. Bumpy dots on my back and legs. Breakouts and pimples on sholder hand and back. they are taking a long time to heal.
- week 7 pain in groin, armpit and neck
- week 8 tonight low grade fever. (i should not I took a test yesterday and I am waiting for result. Pretty anxious)
i tested negative at 5  and 6.5 weeks
what you think ?
Can fever occur week 5 and be followed my lympnodes two weeks later?
Please reply thank you again

[sick27]

Thank you Dr that is very reassuring. I tested at 6.5 weeks and it was negative. I felt really good but the swollen nodes kind threw of edge. I am sure of the swelling under my left armpit when compared to my right one. I am not sure of the swelling in my groin but there is stabbing pain for the last 4 days in my groin genitals lower back and sometimes leg. I feel pressure arround my ears and a soar jaw. as I mentioned they have been plugged for 3 weeks now and i think a sinus infection could be probable. My urine have been yellow for the last 3 days.
Thanks again for the detailed post you are great