Aa
Does this sound like Primary HIV Infection(or am I just freaking out)
Doctor,
6 weeks and 5 days ago I had an encounter with a female sex worker in the Dominican Republic. The sex was protected but the condom came off sometime during the last couple of minutes. 4 days later I went for std testing and was negative for everything but still treated with azythromicin for possible urethritis.
2 weeks- white coating on tongue(has persisted but two doctors have told me it is nothing)
20 days I was tested for HIV at an NYU clinical study that specializes in Early Detection and treatment of HIV. My rapid test was a "faint positive" and on that day blood was also drawn for an RNA PCR test and a Western Blot test.
3-4 weeks- 2 nights of night sweats(I think it may have been to hot in my apartment) muscle aches/ rash that is sometimes on trunk/neck/back but seems sensitive to how I've been sitting etc..
4 weeks- PCR and Western blot tests negative and was assured that the rapid test was a false positive/meaningless. Since then I've still been completely freaked out and have been having some symptoms that seem suspicious to me. The clinician at nyu has told me multiple times that my tests are conclusive and that I absolutely do not have HIV. I'm wondering if you agree with this and if my symptoms sound suspicious to you. Another factor that I'm well aware of is that I've been under extreme duress since the encounter and many of these symptoms could provoked by stress. I"ll list them chronologically below.
4-5 weeks- 3 mouth sores that showed up within 24 hours of each other and healed within 3-4 days
4-5 weeks- started noticing red rash on trunk, back and neck that comes and goes and seems very sensitive to pressure such as what side I'm sleeping on.
5 weeks- got physical. Doctor saw nothing unusual
5 weeks and 2 days-started noticing slight blotchiness in palms/rash is still showing up on trunk/back/neck. sometimes its obvious other times very faint.
5 weeks and 4 days- Fairly heavy chest congestion w/ cough, hand rash is more pronounced. It almost looks normal(hands do seem redder than usual) when hands are at 90 degrees or higher but they become very blotchy when down by my side(this is when the blood is pumping into them) trunk/back/chest/neck rash is still present. I also have much more acne than usual showing up on my chest/neck/face/legs.
6 weeks and 5 days- These conditions have pretty much stayed the same for the last week. The congestion has shifted to the nose and now is sitting in my throat(voice is hoarse). I have a cough that is dry but sometimes brings up mucous. The hand rash persists and my trunk rash goes from very faint(maybe not even there) to obvious. It seems to be consistently on my chest in the collar area. I also have a couple small mouth sores that have showed up in the last day or so.
At 6 weeks and 3 days I went to a dermatologist who said my rash was urticaria(this satisfied me until I read about it and realized that it usually itches). He didn't seemed concerned at all. The next day I went to a GP and told him about the situation and he said he didn't see anything that seemed alarming. I also think it important to mention that I've had no fever.
6 weeks and 5 days ago I had an encounter with a female sex worker in the Dominican Republic. The sex was protected but the condom came off sometime during the last couple of minutes. 4 days later I went for std testing and was negative for everything but still treated with azythromicin for possible urethritis.
2 weeks- white coating on tongue(has persisted but two doctors have told me it is nothing)
20 days I was tested for HIV at an NYU clinical study that specializes in Early Detection and treatment of HIV. My rapid test was a "faint positive" and on that day blood was also drawn for an RNA PCR test and a Western Blot test.
3-4 weeks- 2 nights of night sweats(I think it may have been to hot in my apartment) muscle aches/ rash that is sometimes on trunk/neck/back but seems sensitive to how I've been sitting etc..
4 weeks- PCR and Western blot tests negative and was assured that the rapid test was a false positive/meaningless. Since then I've still been completely freaked out and have been having some symptoms that seem suspicious to me. The clinician at nyu has told me multiple times that my tests are conclusive and that I absolutely do not have HIV. I'm wondering if you agree with this and if my symptoms sound suspicious to you. Another factor that I'm well aware of is that I've been under extreme duress since the encounter and many of these symptoms could provoked by stress. I"ll list them chronologically below.
4-5 weeks- 3 mouth sores that showed up within 24 hours of each other and healed within 3-4 days
4-5 weeks- started noticing red rash on trunk, back and neck that comes and goes and seems very sensitive to pressure such as what side I'm sleeping on.
5 weeks- got physical. Doctor saw nothing unusual
5 weeks and 2 days-started noticing slight blotchiness in palms/rash is still showing up on trunk/back/neck. sometimes its obvious other times very faint.
5 weeks and 4 days- Fairly heavy chest congestion w/ cough, hand rash is more pronounced. It almost looks normal(hands do seem redder than usual) when hands are at 90 degrees or higher but they become very blotchy when down by my side(this is when the blood is pumping into them) trunk/back/chest/neck rash is still present. I also have much more acne than usual showing up on my chest/neck/face/legs.
6 weeks and 5 days- These conditions have pretty much stayed the same for the last week. The congestion has shifted to the nose and now is sitting in my throat(voice is hoarse). I have a cough that is dry but sometimes brings up mucous. The hand rash persists and my trunk rash goes from very faint(maybe not even there) to obvious. It seems to be consistently on my chest in the collar area. I also have a couple small mouth sores that have showed up in the last day or so.
At 6 weeks and 3 days I went to a dermatologist who said my rash was urticaria(this satisfied me until I read about it and realized that it usually itches). He didn't seemed concerned at all. The next day I went to a GP and told him about the situation and he said he didn't see anything that seemed alarming. I also think it important to mention that I've had no fever.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Symptoms almost never are a valid indicator of new HIV infection, because the symptoms of ARS are exactly the same as those of a hundred other conditions, almost all of which are much more common than ARS -- especially in people at low risk for infection. And yes, you were at low risk, based on the exposure you describe. Further, your symptoms don't sound like primary HIV infection anyway.
Most important, HIV test results always (that's always, as in no exceptions ever) are more accurate indicators than symptoms. The bottom line is that your negative tests prove without doubt that you did not catch HIV during the evetn 6+ weeks ago. On top of all that, you have seen health care providers who gave you alternative explanations for your symptoms and told you not to worry about it. I agree completely with their advice, as you describe it.
If any symptoms continue, follow-up with your doctor(s) to figure out the cause and possible treatment. But you can put HIV out of your mind. You don't have it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Most important, HIV test results always (that's always, as in no exceptions ever) are more accurate indicators than symptoms. The bottom line is that your negative tests prove without doubt that you did not catch HIV during the evetn 6+ weeks ago. On top of all that, you have seen health care providers who gave you alternative explanations for your symptoms and told you not to worry about it. I agree completely with their advice, as you describe it.
If any symptoms continue, follow-up with your doctor(s) to figure out the cause and possible treatment. But you can put HIV out of your mind. You don't have it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you really have a rash on your palms, syphilis might be a consideration. If so, you probably caught it sometime before the encounter 6 weeks earlier. But why are you speculating and asking the question here? Wasted energy. Just have a blood test. If it is negative, something else is causing the rash.
That truly is my last comment, and yours.
That truly is my last comment, and yours.
To be clear it is both palms and has been present for about 10 days now. I was just wondering if this seemed like a coincidence or if it set off any kind of alarms for you? This is the last time i will write. Thanks for your time and help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There is no realistic risk of syphilis here; syphilis rashes cover the entire body and are not localized to one hand; and it's too soon for a syphilis rash anyway. But it's fine with me if you get tested. A negative syphilis blood test at this time--6 weeks after exposure--will prove you didn't catch syphilis.
You may not keep coming back every time a new anxiety-generated concern jumps into your brain. This thread is over. I will delete any further comments.
You may not keep coming back every time a new anxiety-generated concern jumps into your brain. This thread is over. I will delete any further comments.
When I asked the clinician that did my hiv test about the hand rash he suggested that it could be a symptom of syphilis. I tested negative for that 4 days after exposure but have since read that there is also a window period for detection of that disease. I haven't had any obvious sores. Would you recommend getting retested for that? Is there any other std that has a blotchy red palm rash(that becomes more pronounced when blood is pumping into it), hive like body rash and mouth sores(inside)? It seems strange to me that I've gotten all these symptoms, that I never had before, since this encounter. Also, in your time working with STD's have you seen people develop unexplainable symptoms due to excessive stress and anxiety?
Doctor,
Thanks for the answer. This has been an emotionally draining 6 weeks that has caused me to stop thinking logically. I'm going to move on now.
thanks
Thanks for the answer. This has been an emotionally draining 6 weeks that has caused me to stop thinking logically. I'm going to move on now.
thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Makes no difference.
I also should mention that my rash doesn't my trunk/chest/back/neck rash doesn't itch. My hand rash doesn't really itch but feels a little weird sometimes.
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