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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Confused to DR.HHH
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
Confused to DR.HHH
by NeverDespair879, May 05, 2008 09:53AM
Hello,
I know this is pretty much a waste of money, since I am pretty much reposting my question I had earlier, but I have a an appt. with a family doctor and will be taking a test, I just need some reinforcement or I will chicken out as always.
I am a 23 year old, straight male, recreational drug user but never needles.
Here is my dilemma. A year ago, I was heavily intoxicated and went crashed at my friend's girlfriend's house. Her cousin is MSM and according to mutual friends has some grudge against me. I went to bed because I was really intoxicated and wanted to pass out and woke up next morning with low recollection of my sleep. Anal area irratated. Since then I was plagued by health problems. Exactly a month later I developed a 103 fever that lasted about 3-4 days (it felt like a really bad FLU and it was end of summer). No swollen lymph nodes really, just heavy fever. I also had red spots (not bumps) on my chest and abdomen, my doctor looked at them and gave me some cream, which I applied but it didn't really do much but spots went away (I must mention that i do suffer from seborrhea dermatitis) which looks kinda like the spots I had and comes and goes. Three month later I started losing weight (about 10lbs.) but I was working out on and off, so it is hard to say. After 4 months, I started getting upset stomach a lot. I have a sinus infection/post nasal drip EVERY MONTH.
My main concern is this, my seb derm. has gotten much worse since then. My face has been tingling and itching, my scalp too, sometimes it feels like someone sticks a feather in my nose. It seems it is always flared up. I never had this before. I am having liver pains too and my liver enzymes are elevated even though I have stopped drinking alcohol period. And the last thing is body aches. I am getting random pains everywhere, feels like someone sticks me with a needle everywhere on my body, doctor says to seek help for fybromialgia but I am not sure...
Plz help, did this guy infect me?
I know this is pretty much a waste of money, since I am pretty much reposting my question I had earlier, but I have a an appt. with a family doctor and will be taking a test, I just need some reinforcement or I will chicken out as always.
I am a 23 year old, straight male, recreational drug user but never needles.
Here is my dilemma. A year ago, I was heavily intoxicated and went crashed at my friend's girlfriend's house. Her cousin is MSM and according to mutual friends has some grudge against me. I went to bed because I was really intoxicated and wanted to pass out and woke up next morning with low recollection of my sleep. Anal area irratated. Since then I was plagued by health problems. Exactly a month later I developed a 103 fever that lasted about 3-4 days (it felt like a really bad FLU and it was end of summer). No swollen lymph nodes really, just heavy fever. I also had red spots (not bumps) on my chest and abdomen, my doctor looked at them and gave me some cream, which I applied but it didn't really do much but spots went away (I must mention that i do suffer from seborrhea dermatitis) which looks kinda like the spots I had and comes and goes. Three month later I started losing weight (about 10lbs.) but I was working out on and off, so it is hard to say. After 4 months, I started getting upset stomach a lot. I have a sinus infection/post nasal drip EVERY MONTH.
My main concern is this, my seb derm. has gotten much worse since then. My face has been tingling and itching, my scalp too, sometimes it feels like someone sticks a feather in my nose. It seems it is always flared up. I never had this before. I am having liver pains too and my liver enzymes are elevated even though I have stopped drinking alcohol period. And the last thing is body aches. I am getting random pains everywhere, feels like someone sticks me with a needle everywhere on my body, doctor says to seek help for fybromialgia but I am not sure...
Plz help, did this guy infect me?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 05, 2008 11:22AM
, May 05, 2008 11:22AM
I agree with the opening statement.
Regardless of how drunk you were, it is very unlikely you were assaulted in your sleep and don't remember it. Further, your symptoms don't suggest HIV. But if you remain concerned, it's fine with me if you decide to get tested. As far as getting your nerve up for it, that's in your control, not mine. You can expect negative results; and intellectually you know that it is dumb to not be tested because of fear of the result. Whether or not you are infected does not depend on whether you are tested. Even if you happen to have it, the stress of worrying -- as you are now -- is clearly worse than the stress of getting a positive result. But as I said, it's up to you.
To the follow-up questions below, probably around 5-10% of MSM in North America are HIV infected. But people typically don't lie, so you can assume your friend's cousin doesn't have it. HIV acquired by sexual assault is rare in the US, but I cannot give you specific figures. But the question is irrelvant in your situation.
No further follow-up comments or questions, please, unless and until you want to come back and tell us about your HIV test result. Also, please note the MedHelp rule about a maximum of 2 questions very 6 months in the professionally moderated forums.
HHH, MD
Regardless of how drunk you were, it is very unlikely you were assaulted in your sleep and don't remember it. Further, your symptoms don't suggest HIV. But if you remain concerned, it's fine with me if you decide to get tested. As far as getting your nerve up for it, that's in your control, not mine. You can expect negative results; and intellectually you know that it is dumb to not be tested because of fear of the result. Whether or not you are infected does not depend on whether you are tested. Even if you happen to have it, the stress of worrying -- as you are now -- is clearly worse than the stress of getting a positive result. But as I said, it's up to you.
To the follow-up questions below, probably around 5-10% of MSM in North America are HIV infected. But people typically don't lie, so you can assume your friend's cousin doesn't have it. HIV acquired by sexual assault is rare in the US, but I cannot give you specific figures. But the question is irrelvant in your situation.
No further follow-up comments or questions, please, unless and until you want to come back and tell us about your HIV test result. Also, please note the MedHelp rule about a maximum of 2 questions very 6 months in the professionally moderated forums.
HHH, MD
1. How common is HIV in MSM?
2. How common are cases of pretty much HIV rape/criminal transmission in North America.
I just got back from my doctor and took a test. He reassured me that it will be negative, even though he was concerned on my weight (180 to 157 in 7 months). I explained I am working out and dieting, he said ok. I declined having multiple partners, being homosexual and using IV needles (all true). I told him of the possible assault and he said ok take the test.
My last question is: When weight loss occurs in HIV, is it due to appetite loss? Can a patient lose weight just due to HIV destroying his body but yet he/she has good appetite. It is just for my knowledge...I want to be a doctor one day.
MUCH THANKS and I will post my NEGATIVE result WED.
I hope one day I can answer questions like you DR. I am in the Information Technology field, but am very interested in the medical field. Hope soon I can make a blend of two.
I will post my results Wed. Thanks again, you are great.
I would like to thank DR. HHH and EWH for helping me go through with the test. By reading these forums, I have gotten enough courage (I know it is quite silly) to get tested after struggling with fear for 2 years. My results are NEGATIVE and I was 100% sure I was sick. The amount of worry and stress this has caused me really impacted my everyday life. So here is some advice for people like me:
1. Before asking questions, research this forum well, almost every question is answered.
2. Even though HIV/AIDS is a very serious condition, many people freak out because of very low/no risk behaviors and that is unnecessary.
3. I have also noticed that many people in this forum do not take reassurance as an answer, so get tested to destroy your anxiety. I could not let it go, now that I know the result I feel I am out of this cell for good!
THANKS AND BLESS YOU ALL.