Severely worried...(sorry so long)

[Irrationalornot]

Great site!  I

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for your appreciation of this forum.  I will try to help.  But since you have followed the forum closely, most likely my responses won't surprise you.  And I will be brief, because you don't raise any questions that haven't been asked and answered several times.  The risk of acquiring HIV from any single episode of vaginal sex is low, even unprotected, and zero with a condom and zero or close to it for oral sex; symptoms never are a reliable indicator of HIV infection; your symptoms don't suggest HIV anyway; personal judgment about one's own possible lymph node enlargement (lymphadenopathy) is rarely valid (and the pain you describe doesn't suggest lymphadnopathy); and coated tongue indeed is variably normal or can indicate any mild viral infection, and is never a particlarly useful sign of HIV.

Bottom line:  There is not a single thing in all you say that makes me even remotely suspect you have any chance of having HIV.  But some people need the reassurance of a negative lab test, regardless of any reassurance I can give.  If that applies to you, get tested.

Good luck---  HHH, MD

[Irrationalornot]

One other thing...for a few weeks I also experience what felt like swelling in my upper thighs and lower abdomen.  The same doc checked for swollen nodes but didn't find anything.  But my thighs would rub together and it would become very irritating.  I was constantly streching my groin to get some relief.  Could that be swollen nodes?  Wouldn't the doc have felt something?