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Avatar universal

Need Advice from Doctor (HIV Risk?)

Hi Doctor,

It's very likely that I am overreacting, but I wanted to get reassurance from you if possible regarding my situation... About 5 1/2 weeks ago, I went to a massage parlour and the asian masseuse inserted her finger in my anus for about a minute or so.  What worried me was that during that time frame, I was having some issues with hemmoroid or something else... and after she was done, I checked and my anus was bleeding a bit.  I did not have a chance to see if her finger had any cuts or not.  

In any event, I got ELISA test done at 2 and 4 1/2 weeks after the incident and the tests came back negative.  I believe the risk of HIV infection in the first place was very slim... and, my doctor told me that I didn't need to test in the first place and that I don't need any further tests.  But, a few days ago, I got a few sharp pains in my outer chest areas which went on and off for a couple of hours.... and now, my outer chest areas have been tender (it hurts a bit when you pressed on the area) for the past few days.  It's probably a mistake to self-diagnose myself with the symptoms that I read online - but can this be as a result of lymph nodes reacting to the virus?  Should I get tested again in a week or so (6 weeks after exposure)?  I haven't had fever... but 3-4 weeks ago, my neck did turn unusually warm for a day or two... Not sure if that was a result of my anxiety...

Thank you for your time and response...  
6 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Coincidence (actually, just plain old bad luck).  No need for further testing.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your reassurance... I saw my dermatologist a couple of days ago, and he believes that it can be herpes zoster and has prescribed acyclovir for me to take.... he explained that you can get that when your immune system is affected...   Am I reading too much into this?  I'm sorry to bother you with yet another question - especially after I stated "this will be my last question."  It's just that I didn't expect my rash to perhaps be this condition...  I didn't have flu symptoms (i.e., high fever) so far, but maybe a couple of nights of night sweat - which may be because my room was warm.  

Can I rule this out as a mere coincidence, and I can be confident that I don't need to test again?  

If it means anything, and please believe me when I say this, THIS WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION.

I would really appreciate your response.  Thank you very much in advance.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Get over your fear. The rash of HIV is very non-specific but for you, the time is wrong (five weeks is too late) and your exposure was no risk.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dr. Hook,

I appreciate your comment...  and, I don't want to sound like a person who can't get over his fear, but I was hoping that you can respond to a follow-up question...

In the last couple of days, I noticed a red rash towards the bottom of my stomach (left side) that is about 1.5 inches in width... it itches a bit.  I also noticed 3-4 small rashes - 1 about an inch away from the original one, and 2 towards my left side.  I saw a dermatologist and he simply told me to use cortizone... although he only looked at it for a second.

I'm wondering what HIV rashes would look like... and, if I can eliminate any chance that what I have are HIV rashes.

Sorry for this additional question...  and I hope that you'd be able to respond.  This will be my last question.  
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Short answer- no risk, no need for testing.  Here are the facts:

1.  Your exposure was low risk.  The act you describe was essentially masturbation and masturbation is safe sex.  In addition, before you ask, the recommendations about masturbation do account for the fact that small amounts of genital secretions do get spread from person to person during masturbation. Similarlry, the hemmorrhoid does not change things, even with bleeding.
2.  Odds are that your partner did not have HIV.
3.  You had two negative HIV tests.  At four weeks 85-90% of tests that are going to be positive will be.

When you combine these fact together, your risk of having gotten HIV from the exposure you describe approaches zero.  No need for further worry or further testing.

So what about the symptoms.  They are not due to HIV.  Please take the liberty of examining other posts on this site.  You will find that we repeatedly state that symptoms, no matter which ones, are not good indicatiors of early HIV infection and should be discounted.   If your chest pains and neck symptoms persist or return, you may want to be evaluated by a health care provider but if you do, HIV is not a concern,

Hope this helps.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
btw - I live in Canada, and the girl masseuse was Asian.  Not sure if this changes the risk exposure at all.
Helpful - 0

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