Edward W Hook, MD  
Male

Specialties: HIV Prevention, stds

Interests: Microbiology, epidemiology
Sore throat and rash
4 hours ago in the STDs Expert Forum
Treatment without testing is not a good idea becasue when it fails, you have no idea why. Sounds like your treatment did not fail however. there are several unusual aspects to your report which I mention below: 1. Six-10 weeks is quite long for the onset of symptoms. Further, it would be unusual after that long to develop both urethral and anal sympt...
HIV RISK
4 hours ago in the HIV Prevention Expert Forum
Be honest, this is not for the "benefit of the forum". No I have not. EWH
Honest response
4 hours ago in the HIV Prevention Expert Forum
The swollen lymph node in your neck are due to your sore throat. Your sore throat is not HIV but due to something else. As to what might be causing your sore throat, perhaps strep, perhaps some other virus. The pea sized node you describe is irrelevant. Pep will not supress anythng other than HIV and the chance that you have HIV is VERY, VERY low. Foll...
HIV RISK
Jul 23, 2008 09:18PM in the HIV Prevention Expert Forum
Get over it. Whomever you were talking to was being overly conservative. Three months is as certain as it gets. You could have HIV just like you could be hit by lightening in the next hour but both are unlikely (it is more likely that you'll be hit by lightening). There are no absolutes in biology. You do not need testing at 6 months. EWH
Worried about low risk exposure
Jul 23, 2008 05:32PM in the HIV Prevention Expert Forum
Do I thinnk you are at risk? Honestly no. But, as I said, stuff happens. A negative test is primarily an assurance for you. If you choose not to get tested, I would not worry. Using the same reasoning, I also presume you will not get tested for hypertension or diabetes any time soon either. Nothing is likely to happen. TAke care. EWH
HIV RISK
Jul 23, 2008 05:27PM in the HIV Prevention Expert Forum
I have read the story of your exposure and note that you describe a single very low risk exposure followed by symptoms and at least three negative HIV tests, the last of which was at 13 weeks following exposure. Without reading them, I suspect your questions relates to whether the three tests you have had could be wrong and are your symptoms related to HIV? ...