High Anxiety

[jte777]

I am a male and last week had sex with another guy I have known off and on for a while. We have usually just masturbated together and once tried anal sex  with a condom. Last week we got carried away and he slightly and momentarily penetrated my anus. He did not ejaculate inside me. However, he did ejaculate around the exterior portion of my anus after which I remember fingering myself there for stimulation prior to my climax.  There was probably semen on my finger.

Seven days later I had a mild sore throat. I developed this after eating some hot (temperature) food and do not know if that contributed or not. There is a lot of mucus in my nose and I do notice that if I sniff hard to draw the mucus out of the back of my throat the soreness temporarily disappears. Thought it was probably post nasal drip.

Then eight days after being with the guy I noticed two small (half the size of a dime) pink blotches on the right side of my body. These faded somewhat by the end of the day and now 2 days later can very faintly be seen.

There is no fatigue, no temperature, no body aches, no swollen lymph nodes, or any other symptoms except the two I mentioned. From what I have read, usually in the initial stage these symptoms appear later than 7 days and do not clear up in just two days. I have been known to have spots appear and disappear on my skin for no reason. But the fact that these and the sore throat appeared a week after having sex is freaking me out. It  seems like too much of a coincidence.

As far as I know the other guy is negative, married and has kids. But people do lie sometimes.

I know I should not have done what I did and will NEVER do it again.  But I am now worrying myself sick over this. I cannot tell you how much stress this has created for me Cannot even do the simplest of tasks due to this anxiety. Have not left the house in two days.

Does what I have described sound like I have contracted HIV? I have a SEVERE phobia  about doctors and have great anxiety over my health since turning 50. I am working through this, or trying to with my psychologist. I know you will recommend testing and I understand this, but at this point my mental state will simply not allow me to do this. Perhaps at some point in the future I can get to the point of doing it.  What I need now is a ray of hope that I hope you can give me. I feel doomed and this will not be a very good Christmas for me. I hope you can help!

Thank you so much for your kind and compassionate assistance.

John

[jte777]

Thank you for your rapid response. Today my temp did go up to 98.8

[Ineed2relax]

I am not in the health field, but you only only resolve this by being tested.  The oral swab can give you results within 20 minutues.  I think you must wait 30 days to be tested. Do not let this spoil your holidays, my wish for you is a negative HIV test, and next time rememeber to use a condom. I know you will be okay. Take Care.

[jte777]

Do not know if it is pertinent, but wanted to mention that the two spots on my right side (half size of dimes) which are now fading after two days have always been readily blanchable when pressure is applied, are not raised, and are not painful or itchy.

Thanks again for your kind help. Hopefully your response can reassure me and lessen my extreme anxiety.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The symptoms you describe sound very nonspecific (meaning they don't point to any particular disease.)  They do not make me think of HIV.  There are plenty of other viruses that can cause this sort of thing, and as you point out yourself, HIV presents far more intensely, with fever and swollen glands, than what you've had.

I would advise you to forget about it.  For ultimate peace of mind, get an HIV test in 3 months, and work with your psychologist on your phobia.  Needless to say, avoid future high-risk behavior.

Merry Christmas.

Dr. Rockoff