Aa
A Little Nervous
Hi Dr,
Ten days ago I had protected sex with an escort, (I know really stupid idea and I am really regretting it now!) I had the ELISA test done and the ORACare test done this past week, with negative results, so I know that I am at least pretty much safe from my last 12 week sexcapade that was before this one 10 days ago.
I started taking augmentum about 6 days ago, and I am getting both diarrhea and sharp muscle and joint pains. The reason I am taking antibiotic is because I was feeling dizzy and was getting headaches (but I never had a fever or any of the other HIV symptoms yet). Basically the two most prevalent symptoms are the diarrhea and the muscle/Joint pains I am having. It has been 2 days now that I am off of the antibiotic and I am still getting the muscle/joint pain. I am hoping you can answer all of my questions below:
1) Is it most likely that the muscle/joint pain is a side effect from the antibiotic? I say this because I dont think I ever really needed the antibiotic to begin with, so is it possible that because the antibiotic didn't really have to be put to use in my body and get rid of an infection that is not really there, the side effects are worse and more prevalant, hence the joint/muscle pain and diarrhea?
2) Is it also possible that taking the antibiotic reduced the initial symptoms of HIV and that why I do not have a fever, or rash, or anything else, but the muscle aches/joints and diarrhea was just a few symptoms that still occured that the antibiotic was not able to reduce or stop?
3) I spoke with a counselor over a state hotline and they said the ELISA test is at 95% accurate after 3 weeks from the last time, is this true?
4) Just out of curiousity, I heard that even with unprotected sex with a positive female partner, the odds are 1 in 1000 for the male to get infected, is this true?
Ten days ago I had protected sex with an escort, (I know really stupid idea and I am really regretting it now!) I had the ELISA test done and the ORACare test done this past week, with negative results, so I know that I am at least pretty much safe from my last 12 week sexcapade that was before this one 10 days ago.
I started taking augmentum about 6 days ago, and I am getting both diarrhea and sharp muscle and joint pains. The reason I am taking antibiotic is because I was feeling dizzy and was getting headaches (but I never had a fever or any of the other HIV symptoms yet). Basically the two most prevalent symptoms are the diarrhea and the muscle/Joint pains I am having. It has been 2 days now that I am off of the antibiotic and I am still getting the muscle/joint pain. I am hoping you can answer all of my questions below:
1) Is it most likely that the muscle/joint pain is a side effect from the antibiotic? I say this because I dont think I ever really needed the antibiotic to begin with, so is it possible that because the antibiotic didn't really have to be put to use in my body and get rid of an infection that is not really there, the side effects are worse and more prevalant, hence the joint/muscle pain and diarrhea?
2) Is it also possible that taking the antibiotic reduced the initial symptoms of HIV and that why I do not have a fever, or rash, or anything else, but the muscle aches/joints and diarrhea was just a few symptoms that still occured that the antibiotic was not able to reduce or stop?
3) I spoke with a counselor over a state hotline and they said the ELISA test is at 95% accurate after 3 weeks from the last time, is this true?
4) Just out of curiousity, I heard that even with unprotected sex with a positive female partner, the odds are 1 in 1000 for the male to get infected, is this true?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Many (most? all?) online sites simply list symptoms, without clarifying the important limitations: First, that acute HIV presents with combinations of symptoms, almost never with only 1 or 2 of them (fever in particular is important, i.e. its absence of fever is pretty strong evidence against HIV, regardless of other symptoms). Second, that almost of the listed symptoms occur large numbers of other health problems, everything from the common cold to pneumonia to urinary infections to rheumatoid arthritis and a hundred other things. Almost all of those are more common than acute HIV.
These are the reasons that symptoms almost never are useful indicators of new HIV infection. Risk assessment and blood test results tell the truth; symptoms rarely do.
You can find many other detailed discussions of these issues on this forum. Use the search link and enter such terms as "HIV symptoms", "ARS symptoms", and so on.
To my knowledge there are no data on altered transmission risk based on lubricant use, but I don't see why it would make any significant difference.
These are the reasons that symptoms almost never are useful indicators of new HIV infection. Risk assessment and blood test results tell the truth; symptoms rarely do.
You can find many other detailed discussions of these issues on this forum. Use the search link and enter such terms as "HIV symptoms", "ARS symptoms", and so on.
To my knowledge there are no data on altered transmission risk based on lubricant use, but I don't see why it would make any significant difference.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. You asked the same question on the STD forum; I deleted it.
Sex with an escort: Very low risk. Few up-scale (high cost) sex workers, i.e. escorts, have HIV. And you had condom-protected sex, meaning no risk for HIV. As you now apparently realize, the symptoms you describe were definitely not a reason for antibiotic therapy. If you saw a health care provider who prescribed the Augmentin on that basis, shame on him or her; if you decided on treatment yourself, e.g. with left over drug in your medicine cabinet, bad move. That said, it made no difference in your zero risk for HIV. To your specific questions:
1) I don't know the reason for the muscle and joint pain. It is not due to the antibiotic or to HIV. Maybe an emotional/psychologic origin? Or a minor viral infection?
2) HIV is a virus. No antibiotic has any effect on any virus, including HIV. The Augmentin had no effect at all on HIV test reliabiliy, and would have had no effect on symptoms of new HIV infection.
3) The counselor is correct. This has been discussed many times on this forum. Try using the search function, entering something like "time to positive HIV test" or "HIV seroconversion" or "window period".
4) That statistic is about right. Actually, 1 chance in 2,000 is closer to the truth. And that's IF the woman has HIV; and without condom.
Bottom line: No serious worries about HIV in this situation. But see a health care provider if your symptoms persist or you remain concerned about them.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Sex with an escort: Very low risk. Few up-scale (high cost) sex workers, i.e. escorts, have HIV. And you had condom-protected sex, meaning no risk for HIV. As you now apparently realize, the symptoms you describe were definitely not a reason for antibiotic therapy. If you saw a health care provider who prescribed the Augmentin on that basis, shame on him or her; if you decided on treatment yourself, e.g. with left over drug in your medicine cabinet, bad move. That said, it made no difference in your zero risk for HIV. To your specific questions:
1) I don't know the reason for the muscle and joint pain. It is not due to the antibiotic or to HIV. Maybe an emotional/psychologic origin? Or a minor viral infection?
2) HIV is a virus. No antibiotic has any effect on any virus, including HIV. The Augmentin had no effect at all on HIV test reliabiliy, and would have had no effect on symptoms of new HIV infection.
3) The counselor is correct. This has been discussed many times on this forum. Try using the search function, entering something like "time to positive HIV test" or "HIV seroconversion" or "window period".
4) That statistic is about right. Actually, 1 chance in 2,000 is closer to the truth. And that's IF the woman has HIV; and without condom.
Bottom line: No serious worries about HIV in this situation. But see a health care provider if your symptoms persist or you remain concerned about them.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thanks, I took aspirin and went to the gym and my joint/muscle aches seem to be less now
would that 1 in 1000 or 2000 stat hold true if lubricant was used?
Thanks Dr... Just one more quick question, how come many sites on the Internet mention joint/muscle pain as a symptom. Both you and the counselor said that it is NOT an initIal HIV symptom but many sites out there on the web says that it is?? Of course I will go by what you and the counselor say however just want to absolutely be sure that I can dismiss the joint/muscle pain I am having? And why all the bad information on the web? Even on sites that seem pretty credible.... Any way I really appreciate your help!
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
