need advice

[goldendoodleriley]

Had an possible exposure to hiv. Had unprotected oral (both ways) and vaginal (1-2 mins tops) with a female uncertain of status. Since then at 2 weeks lymph nodes in neck started swelling, about 17 days arm pits felt odd, 20 days soreness in legs, shoulder and muscles stomach is a mess, droped 4-5 pounds, diarrhea last couple of day right after eating, seems lik drymouth, jhavet had one good night sleep in 3 weeks ....now they are all dying down. Have had no fever to date at 24 days.

Since then:
had pcr dna done at 13.5  days and came back  negetive....

they did a 24 days HIV1 1/2AB- NEGETIVE
cbc all blood work came back normal

1) is this a positive first step? 2) If all my blood work is ok what would cause the other issues? 3) If these are ARS symptoms would a fever been included.



thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes- often.  And with this final answer to your anxiety driven quesitons, rather than continue to feed yoru anxieties I will end this thread. Further questions will be deleted without comment.  EWH

[goldendoodleriley]

Have u ever met anyone who has ad a known exposure ad all ars symptoms at appropriate 2-4 weeks time and yet not had hiv

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, stress could be cauing htese symptoms.  EWH

[goldendoodleriley]

Final I promise can stress and anxiety manifest any of these severe symptoms like muscle pain or stomach issues

[goldendoodleriley]

Thank u again DR H. I guess I just can't get it out of my mind

Is there a research firm u are associated with that I could make a donation to for your time

[Edward W Hook, MD]

1.  the CBC is irrelevant and nothing can be said as to the result elative to your risk of HIV.
2.  Yes.  EWH

[goldendoodleriley]

Thank you doc I know u get a lot. 2 more questions and then I am done and having faith.

1 my cbc came back normal and mono neg could it still be something other than *ars

2is the lack of fever another positive piece of info?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

1. ARS symtoms tend to all have their onset at about the same time.

2.  Yes.   EWH

[goldendoodleriley]

I have 2 followe up questions. 1 do all ars come on at same time or can it be sequential over 2 weeks and 2 is fever always a part of ars

[goldendoodleriley]

Thank you...the muscle pain is what scares me but i bet a lack of sleep, and stress may add to that.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I can understand your concern.  The symptoms you have experienced and their timing are within the framework where acute HIV infection is a consideration.  That said, it is statistically far more likely that you acquired some other viral infection than HIV. Sexually transmitted causes of such symptoms could include mononucleosis due to CMV or Epstein Barr virus.   In addition there is a huge list of plain old, "every day", community acquired  viral infections which could also be causing this at a time coincidental with the encounter you describe above.

Before we discuss your testing, I should also point out that the statistical likelihood that you got infected is very, very low.  Most heterosexual women do not have HIV and, in the unlikely circumstance that she has HIV, there is virtually no risk of infection from oral sex (either way) and the risk of getting HIV form a single episode of vaginal sex is about 1 infection for every 1000 sex acts.

The testing you have performed is strong evidence that this is not HIV.  While there is general agreement that HIV PCR will become positive sooner than the standard and less expensive antibody detection tests, it is not totally clear how much sooner these tests would be positive.  In addition, at 3+ weeks, the standard antibody test that you had would be positive in well over 50% of persons who became infected.

Putting all of this together, it is very unlikely that you acquired HIV form the exposure you describe.  Your statistical risk of infection is low and your laboratory tests provide strong evidence that you did not become infected.  that said, I would suggest one more antibody test at about 8 weeks to provide you with definitive evidence that you did not get HIV from this encounter.  I hope this information and suggestions is helpful to you.  EWH