No hope at all

[stressed1234]

Hi Doctors,

I had a couple of potential exposures about 65 and 50 days back. First I had protected sex with a girl (nursing graduate. Doesnt matter though) for about 1 minute, no ejaculation from either, and then she started giving me a handjob. While doing that I think the condom slipped off. I am worried that it may have touched my penis while it was slipping off. She wanted to give me oral later but I refused since I was not wearing a condom.

The second exposure was at a club where I fingered a woman. I had a small cut from about a couple of hours before which wasnt bleeding, and no ejaculation. Only these two and no unprotected sex ever.

/since that time I have been monitoring my body 2 weeks after the exposure. I had diarrhea 5 times, no fever or nausea, tiredness, stress. But my biggest concern is a rash I developed this week. It is all over my body, legs, hands, back, hips, tiny red, extremely itchy, bumpy and pink. I never had a rash like this before. I had a slight fever 99.1 last morning. I went to the ER this morning, since I could not sleep. The itch was unbearable. The doctor examined my body, mouth and lymph nodes. She said its possibly a viral infection and prescribed Benadryl to get rid of the itch, but she did say it was harmless and looked like the measles rash. But she said it wasnt measles since I didnt have any dots in my mouth.

I am shocked, convinced myself that I have HIV. I think I don't even need a test, since its going to be positive.

What do you think Doctors ?  I believe its time. The rash is just too visible to be from anything other than hiv.

[Morad2304]

A related discussion, Dear doctor i cant take this anymore was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, the rash of the ARS tuypically develops 2-4 weeks following exposure.  7 weeks is OK for testing.  I am confidnet it will be negative.  When it is, I hope you will beleive the result.  EWH

[stressed1234]

Thanks for the reply Doctor.

I am just worried about the rash now. Can rash develop 7-9 weeks after exposure ? Can you please let me know if the kind of rash I have fits the description of a common ars rash. Also can . I am sure no one has one common symptom or rash but I am just hoping to get a sort of idea to move on.. Its itching like mad. It has sort of like a bumpy center with a pale pink top and pink around the top.

I went to get a test just now, but they didnt have an appointment. Is 7 weeks okay for testing ? Please let me know Doc. Again, sorry for disturbing your weekend.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

"The rash is just too visible to be from anything other than hiv."  This comment suggests that you are over reacting and have serious misconceptions about both how HIV is spread and what can cause rashes.  Let me try to correct both.

Condom protected sex is safe sex and HIV is not spread through masturbation, despite the fact that in mutual masturbation it is entirely typical for participants to get each others' genital secretions on one another. Thus incidental contact with your used condom, or your masturbation of a woman in a club has no risk for HIV whatsoever.

Furthermore, there is an enormous list of possible causes of rashes such as you describe and many of these same things can cause low grade fever and even diarrhea.  These include a long list of community acquired, non-STD viruses, allergic reactions to drugs or things encountered in the environment, and other forms or allergic reactions.

There is absolutely no reason for you to worry in relationship to the two exposures you describe and testing would be a waste of time and resources.  I hope your rash and itching improves soon.  EWH