Oral Sex Scare

[mrsaginaw490]

Hello Doctor,
                      Hopefully you will be able to answer these questions. I performed oral unprotected sex on a sex worker on June 16th. Since then I have been going through living hell. Th reason that I'm so concerned is that I have bleeding gums and I am concerned that if this worker was positive that the virus could have entered my blood stream this way. I have had negative antibody tests on Sept 19th, Oct 25th, and November 9th which would be 129 days after possible exposure. Also a negative rapid test on Sept 24th. I'm concerned based on the following syptoms.

6 weeks after the exposure I had diarrhea and sore throat. I have had a low grade fever not raising over 100 since September. I have had a loose stool since September, I have a rash that is on my shoulders since October, and I have started to have really dry flaky skin and bumps all over my chest and stomach. Since August 31st I have lost thirty pounds do to this. My throat has been sore since the beginning of August. Not only am I concerned of HIV now I'm concerned about acquiring aids. I have had a loose stool for at least thirty days, the 30 pounds of weight loss, the fever for over 30 days. I am afraid that maybe I have an opportunist infection dealing with my gi that is causing the diarrhea and the weight and the sore throat. Also I have not slept pass five am since the beginning of august, and consistent tingling of hands an my right leg. Do I have HIV and can I acquire aids that quickly.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, ELISA alone is 100% reliable at 90 days or more since the last exposure.

And that makes your next question irrelevant.  Your test results prove you cannot possibly have AIDS, no matter when or how fast your symptoms developed.  And of course the symptoms you describe are common to hundreds of medical conditions.  Your HIV test has ruled out one of them, HIV/AIDS.  Now you and your doctor need to figure out which of the other hundreds of possibilities is the actual cause.

That will end this thread.  There is nothing you can add that would change my opinion or advice, so I won't have any more comments.

[mrsaginaw490]

Just a few more questions.
Can I trust  a Elisa test by its self after 90 days?
Could I develop aids in this quick period of time? I ask this because of the consistent diarrhea,the throat issues over 30 days, and the 10 perecent of weight loss I read these can be syptoms of opportunist infections which lead to aids,

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm happy to answer your question.

However, I'm concerned you are having trouble believing or understanding the advice you received in discussions on the HIV community forum.  Oral sex is NOT a risk for HIV -- or at least sufficiently low risk you can forget about it.  Second, the large majority of sex workers don't have HIV, so you probably weren't exposed at all.

But most important, the HIV tests are among the most reliable diagnostic tests ever developed, for any medical conditions.  Test results ALWAYS OVERRULE SYMPTOMS.  Also, every symptom that can be caused by HIV is also caused by many, many other medical conditions.  It doesn't matter what the symptoms are, how severe they are, or anything else.  Your negative HIV tests PROVE you do not have HIV.

Therefore, something other than HIV explains your symptoms.  They also do not suggest any other STD, and I'm sure they are not due to anything you caught during the oral sex event you are concerned about.

If you have not been seeing a doctor or clinic about this problem, you need to do that right away.  If you have been under medical care without clear answers, then talk with your doctor about referral to a specialist.  But whatever else is going on, you can be sure it isn't HIV.  Believe it!

I hope this has helped.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD