Aa
Very sick with worry
I am a 38 yr old male from mid missouri. I am heterosexual with no IV drug use or never sex with men. I had an HIV test in Jan 2010 that was neg. Here is my situation and question:
On around Oct. 20th 2010 I made a huge mistake and had a one time sexual exposure with a girl I did not know whom I met online. She was a 20 yr old college student also from mid mo. The exposure was unprotected vaginal sex for about 15 min with ejaculation inside. I will assume she has had numerous sexual partners.
At around 21 days after I developed a rash under my left armpit, perfect circles about the size of a quarter. Started with just a few then spread to about 20 or so, still on my side only. I then noticed this same thing a week later under right side and in right groin area, but there were only maybe 2 of these in each location. Nowhere else on my body were there anything. They stayed for about a week so I bought some over the counter anti fungal medicine and applied. They began to disappear and within 10 days they were gone. I would liken how they looked to maybe ringworm, but they were red in middle. No itching. I had absolutely no other symptoms at this time whatsoever, no fever, no swollen nodes, no fatigue, and no sore throat. Nothing.
Nothing again till around January 10th. I got a terrrible stomach virus that lasted a couple weeks. Then around Jan 25th I noticed a red patch on lower back and was diagnosed with Shingles. That went away on its own after a couple weeks. Thats all the syptoms I have had. Here are my questions:
1) Does the rash hint at HIV? Would it last that long after exposure and seem to clear with an OTC medicine. Also having no other symtoms at all.
2) Does HIV early cause a bad stomach problem?
3) Would the shingles worry you at all? Would HIV cause these just 3 months after exposure?
I have read a lot of your responses and seem to be over worrying. Does this sound like HIV/ How many times have you seen someone be pos after an exposure like mine?
On around Oct. 20th 2010 I made a huge mistake and had a one time sexual exposure with a girl I did not know whom I met online. She was a 20 yr old college student also from mid mo. The exposure was unprotected vaginal sex for about 15 min with ejaculation inside. I will assume she has had numerous sexual partners.
At around 21 days after I developed a rash under my left armpit, perfect circles about the size of a quarter. Started with just a few then spread to about 20 or so, still on my side only. I then noticed this same thing a week later under right side and in right groin area, but there were only maybe 2 of these in each location. Nowhere else on my body were there anything. They stayed for about a week so I bought some over the counter anti fungal medicine and applied. They began to disappear and within 10 days they were gone. I would liken how they looked to maybe ringworm, but they were red in middle. No itching. I had absolutely no other symptoms at this time whatsoever, no fever, no swollen nodes, no fatigue, and no sore throat. Nothing.
Nothing again till around January 10th. I got a terrrible stomach virus that lasted a couple weeks. Then around Jan 25th I noticed a red patch on lower back and was diagnosed with Shingles. That went away on its own after a couple weeks. Thats all the syptoms I have had. Here are my questions:
1) Does the rash hint at HIV? Would it last that long after exposure and seem to clear with an OTC medicine. Also having no other symtoms at all.
2) Does HIV early cause a bad stomach problem?
3) Would the shingles worry you at all? Would HIV cause these just 3 months after exposure?
I have read a lot of your responses and seem to be over worrying. Does this sound like HIV/ How many times have you seen someone be pos after an exposure like mine?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
These will be the last answers. You are clearly worrying about this more than is warranted. My answers appear to be feeding your unwarranted concern. It is time for this to end. I would also suggest you stay off the internet as it too is apparently fueling your anxiety.
1. Increase risk for shingles occurs after persons have had HIV for many years.
2. No!
I'vce already told you you should not be so worried.
End of thread. EWH
1. Increase risk for shingles occurs after persons have had HIV for many years.
2. No!
I'vce already told you you should not be so worried.
End of thread. EWH
This will be my last post before I test next week, which I am sure is not gonna be a good result.
As u know I had a 3 week rash 3 weeks after exposure, which u stated ARS rash does not last that long.
I was then diagnosed from a Dr. with shingles 3 months after exposure which went away on its own with no treatment.
I have been sick several times since January(exposure in Oct.).
I have now had a non stop cough for over 6 weeks now. I think my biggest problem is reading to much crap online about symptoms. here is my last set of questions prior to test and results.
1) If someone got shingles due to HIV would they show up in the first 6 months or only after years of having the virus?
2) Is a persistent cough a sign of HIV within the first 6 months of exposure?
The cough is just that, nothing else at all. I am hoping it is just becasue the weather is up and down and its just that time of year. My fear tells me it has to be HIV and my common sense says I will be fine(hell of a battle). I even asked the girl and she said she was clean, but I have no idea if she has ever been tested. I am so scared, I am married and have continued unprotected with wife.
here is my common sense...shingles would be a later sign of HIV, a persistent cough for over 6 weeks would also be a later sign of HIV.
here is my internet fear side...I sometimes read that after the initial infection that the late stages of HIV can start as soon as 6 months after exposure, but I find this hard to believe as I think that it would be a few years until I would begin to see other signs after initial infection.
You and Dr. H seem to be as knowledgable as it gets on HIV so I would just like to know if these symtoms at all would continue to linger as I have stated this long after my exposure in Oct. I know a test is the only conclusive answer, but do you fell I should really be all that worried? Thx
As u know I had a 3 week rash 3 weeks after exposure, which u stated ARS rash does not last that long.
I was then diagnosed from a Dr. with shingles 3 months after exposure which went away on its own with no treatment.
I have been sick several times since January(exposure in Oct.).
I have now had a non stop cough for over 6 weeks now. I think my biggest problem is reading to much crap online about symptoms. here is my last set of questions prior to test and results.
1) If someone got shingles due to HIV would they show up in the first 6 months or only after years of having the virus?
2) Is a persistent cough a sign of HIV within the first 6 months of exposure?
The cough is just that, nothing else at all. I am hoping it is just becasue the weather is up and down and its just that time of year. My fear tells me it has to be HIV and my common sense says I will be fine(hell of a battle). I even asked the girl and she said she was clean, but I have no idea if she has ever been tested. I am so scared, I am married and have continued unprotected with wife.
here is my common sense...shingles would be a later sign of HIV, a persistent cough for over 6 weeks would also be a later sign of HIV.
here is my internet fear side...I sometimes read that after the initial infection that the late stages of HIV can start as soon as 6 months after exposure, but I find this hard to believe as I think that it would be a few years until I would begin to see other signs after initial infection.
You and Dr. H seem to be as knowledgable as it gets on HIV so I would just like to know if these symtoms at all would continue to linger as I have stated this long after my exposure in Oct. I know a test is the only conclusive answer, but do you fell I should really be all that worried? Thx
I just wanted to thank you for being so understanding and helpful!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, the rash of HIV rarely lasts even a week.
The damage to the immune system cause by HIV takes place over years, not days or weeks.
You should not be worriyng so much. EWH
The damage to the immune system cause by HIV takes place over years, not days or weeks.
You should not be worriyng so much. EWH
Last questions on this matter. Would the rash from HIV last 3 weeks? When someone gets HIV does it deplete their immune system in the first few months where they would get shingles or other illnesses due to HIV?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Despite the fact that your test was before your exposure, As I indicated above, your risk is low. When people get the ARS, they do not have just a rash. Rather they are sick with fever, muscle aches, and feel like they have the flu.
Your risk is very low. If you are worried, get tested. I am confident the test will be negative. EWH
Your risk is very low. If you are worried, get tested. I am confident the test will be negative. EWH
Figured id get these asked so u can answer in one message. These are my last ?s
Now knowing that I have not had a test since exposure does that change opinion at all?
Now knowing that I have not had a test since exposure does that change opinion at all?
The rash came around 21 to 25 days after the sex.
My test was actually several months before my encounter.
Yes, I am sure it was shingles....well, thats what the ER Dr toldme anyways.
Would a rash be the only symptom of ARS?
Thx so much for all you do. This is a very helpful answer to what I was wondering.
Yes, I am sure it was shingles....well, thats what the ER Dr toldme anyways.
Would a rash be the only symptom of ARS?
Thx so much for all you do. This is a very helpful answer to what I was wondering.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. Your risk for HIV from the exposure you describe is very, very low. The HIV rate among heterosexual women in the U.S who do not use rugs is around 1 in 10,000. Further, HIV is transmitted through heterosexual intercourse only once in every thousand exposures, on average. Thus, even before testing your mathematical risk was less than 1 in 10 million. That does not mean that testing is not a good idea, just that your risk is very, very low.
The timing of your rash relative to the timing or your exposure, or your testing, is not clear to me. If your test was more than a week after your exposure, the negative test proves that your rash was not due to HIV. Furthermore, any test taken more than 8 weeks after your exposure rules out HIV.
As for your other questions:
!. The rash does not sound like HIV.
2. No, early HIV rarely causes stomach problems of this sort.
3. No, most people with shingles do not have HIV. Are you sure it was shingles?
Hope this helps. EWH
The timing of your rash relative to the timing or your exposure, or your testing, is not clear to me. If your test was more than a week after your exposure, the negative test proves that your rash was not due to HIV. Furthermore, any test taken more than 8 weeks after your exposure rules out HIV.
As for your other questions:
!. The rash does not sound like HIV.
2. No, early HIV rarely causes stomach problems of this sort.
3. No, most people with shingles do not have HIV. Are you sure it was shingles?
Hope this helps. EWH
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