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Potential exposure and subsequent symptoms, please HELP
I have potentially been exposed to HIV. In Brazil, on December 9 I had protected sex w/ a prostitute and at some point during the intercourse the condom broke exposing my entire penis. I do not know how long this exposure took place. Three days later, December 12, I started experiencing a fever. The fever lasted up until Dec 15th approximately. I returned home, United States, on the 14th and had swollen lymph nodes below my jaw on both sides. I went to my doctor the next day, Dec 15th, and told her what happen and my worries, she prescribed me doxycycline for the lymph nodes. By Sunday the left lymph had completely gone down but the right one still remains. The doctor also had me test for STDs on the 18th (Syp-Neg Gon-Neg, and HIV-Neg.) I am now experiencing tenderness and slight pain under my arm pits and behind my left knee there is a pain when I walk or stretch that leg. Are the symptoms of early HIV infection? How worried should I be about the lymph nodes?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Stop picking and prodding those nodes every 30 minutes, it's only going to get sore by doing that.
Your assessment of swollen node is only as good as thousands of WWs assessing their own swollen nodes here on this forum for the last decade, they have all come back to post a negative.
Stay focused and mentally positive.
Your assessment of swollen node is only as good as thousands of WWs assessing their own swollen nodes here on this forum for the last decade, they have all come back to post a negative.
Stay focused and mentally positive.
1 Comments
"the mind is set up to solve puzzles" Not in this case since you have no medical training, so you aren't going to solve any biology puzzles from google searching and ignoring reality.
COMMUNITY LEADER
As suggested by ANM symptoms are not indicator of any thing. Also, ARS does not start 3 days post infection. It usually occurs 7-10 days post infection.
If you crunch in the probablities together odds are seen to be in your favour.
1. The possibility of your partner being HIV positive is in the grey. Sex workers are usually very careful with their own health. Practicing safe sex and STI testing are integral part of their lifestyle. There is a fantastic possibility she is HIV negative.
2. Odds of FTM transmission for a full one episode of unprotected vaginal sex is stated to be relatively difficult, odds are at 1: 1000. You were only unprotected for the time your condom failed. It is usually observed that a male individual who contracted the virus from a female partner through unprotected vaginal sex had multiple unprotected exposures with the same partner.
Remember HIV is a fragile virus. Symptoms do not mean any thing. You must have spent a lot of time on the internet searching and reading about HIV already. That needs to stop.
Stay composed and rational. Take a test at 4 weeks with a IV Gen HIV test for a conclusive. In case you can't access the aforementioned test, take a test with any standard antibody test at 6 weeks from the date of incident.
If you crunch in the probablities together odds are seen to be in your favour.
1. The possibility of your partner being HIV positive is in the grey. Sex workers are usually very careful with their own health. Practicing safe sex and STI testing are integral part of their lifestyle. There is a fantastic possibility she is HIV negative.
2. Odds of FTM transmission for a full one episode of unprotected vaginal sex is stated to be relatively difficult, odds are at 1: 1000. You were only unprotected for the time your condom failed. It is usually observed that a male individual who contracted the virus from a female partner through unprotected vaginal sex had multiple unprotected exposures with the same partner.
Remember HIV is a fragile virus. Symptoms do not mean any thing. You must have spent a lot of time on the internet searching and reading about HIV already. That needs to stop.
Stay composed and rational. Take a test at 4 weeks with a IV Gen HIV test for a conclusive. In case you can't access the aforementioned test, take a test with any standard antibody test at 6 weeks from the date of incident.
5 Comments
Condom failures happen due to incorrect application. Always release the air correctly before usage. You can search it up, there are plenty of DIY pics available.
Thank you, Mike, this helps ease some of my worries. Yes, you are correct, I have been obsessively reading up on every relative symptom that my search engine cranks out. The particular symptom that worries me the most are the general lymph node irritation. I know what you're thinking but...the mind is set up to solve puzzles, i fear I wont have any true relief until I get my results. thank you again, sir
I took a RNA test on Dec 31st, the 22 day mark post potential exposure, and the results were negative. I was told from the lab agency that this was 95-99% accurate. Is it still necessary to take the 4 Gen test at 4 weeks?
No
A negative RNA PCR test is indicative. It is a very sensitive test with looks for the genetic matter itself. It is only approved for diagnostic purpose for individuals exposed to known risk in order to seek early detection and management of the disease.
You would still need an antibody test for confirmatory purpose to follow the correct course of action . You need to take a IV Gen HIV test at 28 days or any standard antibody test at 6 weeks or later for a conclusive.
I personally don't see your result changing. You should expect a negative.
You would still need an antibody test for confirmatory purpose to follow the correct course of action . You need to take a IV Gen HIV test at 28 days or any standard antibody test at 6 weeks or later for a conclusive.
I personally don't see your result changing. You should expect a negative.
Docs can't diagnose hiv from symptoms so you shouldn't be worrying yourself trying to either. You can test with a duo for a conclusive result on Jan 6, so try to relax until then, because the test is the only thing that can diagnose. If she supplied the condom then likely she is negative anyway, otherwise why would she waste money on a condom? She uses to condom to protect herself.
3 Comments
Will an over the counter test be sufficent i.e. oraquick ?
That is not a duo and it requires 12 weeks. I meant Jan 9 you can test, not Jan 6. Also don't google for symptoms because that just makes you anxious too.
Thank you...
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