Worried about possible HIV Transmission

[jason8964]

Hi Doctor thanks for fielding my question.

Recently, I went on a business trip and very stupidly finished an evening with a trip to an exotic massage parlor. Earlier in the day, I had used an electric hair clipper to shave my legs, chest and area around my genitlas. As a result, I had quite a few scrapes on my body, mostly on my legs.

Anyway, at the massage parlor, all I received was a massage and a hand job, at one point the woman did cough on her hand (seemingly dry cough) and continued to massage me.  At the end, she cleaned me off with a hot wet towel.

Now, I am completely freaking out that I may have contracted HIV through a scrape on my body. I don't know if she had any cuts or scrapes on her hands. Also, I don't really know if the hot wet towel she used to clean me off with was clean or not. If she did have a cut or soar am I at risk?
Following this, I went to my hotel room and took a shower and when I soaped up my legs they did sting quite a bit, indicating that the scrapes from earlier where still not healed.

I did take an oraquick 19 days after all this and it came back negative, I realize that I should have probably waited longer, but plan on taking another one in a month or so.

I've been feeling enourmously anxious and out od sorts since this episode, I can't stop feeling tense and have a continous sensation that I want to jump out of my skin, I've also had headaches and completely lost my appetite. I can't believe I made such a grave mistake. I have 2 wonderful children at home and a loving wife and can't forgive myself for putting all of that at risk.

Thank you for your time.

Thanks again for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No risk for HCV, which also would not cause itching as the only symptom.

You may not keep coming back with every additional anxiety-driven comment that pops into your head.  That is truly the last comment you are going to make in this forum, about any infection or any symptoms.  If you do, I will delete the entire thread without further comment.

[jason8964]

This isn't a comment regarding HIV, but I'm curious to know if my exposure could have put me at risk for Hep C. Reason I am asking is due to the couple of days of bad itching all over that I went through.


Thank you.

[HJK58]

Possible entry points?  maybe if large quantities of her blood came in contact with them in a very vigourous fashion.  

I know you feel horrible about what you did - I really think that the stress/guilt is eating you alive.  Try to relax and forgive yourself man.  

Again, read what the doctor said.  He's an expert on this.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Clearly you have a psychological need to convince yourself, and me, that you were at risk for HIV.  You were not.  You came here for reassurance and I gave it.  Either accept it or not, but don't argue with it.

Any further comments will be deleted without response.    

[jason8964]

The hand/genital contact is not what worries me, I realize there is no risk there. What does worry me are all the scrapes and cuts I had on my legs as possible viral entry points.

[HJK58]

If you got HIV through a handjob, sell your story - you'll make a few million dollars because it would be so incredibly rare.

You don't have HIV - go back and read the doctor's comments.

[jason8964]

I apologize for all the questions, but I'm still quite worried. So far I've experienced nausea, loose stools and a strange feeling of tension in my legs. In addition, I've had several days of really bad itching. Sometimes I can't notice anything on the itchy spots, while other times i notice small little bumps. The itch has occured mostly on my back, chest, face and scalp.  I don't know if stress and anxiety can lead to this sort of itching.
In the back of my mind I keep thinking that the exotic masseuse may have had a cut or soar on her hand which may have mixed with my cuts, but I just don't know. I've also noticed a couple of small pin sized red dots that appear and then vanish after a day or so on various parts of my body.
All I know is that I never had any of these symptoms prior to this. I'm really concerned.

Again, I apologize for all the questions, but I have no one else to turn to.
Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Since you didn't need testing at all, it doesn't much matter.  In any case, the Oraquick and Home Access tests are equally accurate.

[jason8964]

Mentally, I just couldn't wait another day, so I took a Home Acces test at 26 days which also came back negative.
I guess for even greater piece of mind I should take the 40 day ~6 week test? Does it matter whether I use Home Access or OraQuick or are they both about the same in terms of accuracy?

Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Probably that could explain a lot.  As I have said many times on this forum, whenever a person suspects his or her own symptoms have an emotional or psychological origin, most likely s/he usually is correct.  But I don't make specific diagnoses nor do I draw that conclusion in your case.  The way to address this is to ask exactly the same question of your personal health care provider.

[jason8964]

One more question for you Doc if you would. Do you think that my excessive anxiety, fear and worry is leading to the  malaise and out of sorts feelings that I have been getting?

Thanks again.

[jason8964]

Thanks for the reply and reasurrance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  In the quarter century of the known worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic with many millions of infected persons, it is likely that not a single person acquired HIV from such an exposure.  HIV simply is not transmitted in the ways you imagine.  Hand-genital is zero risk, and even contact with a partner's genital secretions or saliva has no measurable risk through shaving nicks.

From a risk assessment perspective, you didn't need HIV testing at all; the only reason is for the anxiety relief from convincing yourself you aren't infected.  The 19 day negative OraQuick result is somewhat reassuring, since about 75% of infected people probably would have positive results by that time.  But for definitive results, get tested again at 6 weeks.  This does not mean I believe you were at risk. You were not.  I repeat that you didn't need testing at all and there is no chance you caught HIV or are at risk of tranmitting anying to your wife -- and of course not your kids, since HIV isn't transmitted nonsexually to household members.

Bottom line:  Mellow out and relax.  You don't have it.  Your problem is your guilt over your sexual indiscretion, but you can be sure there are no health consequences from it.

Regards--  HHH, MD