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Dr. HHH -- I'm freaking out
I am a hetero guy, had my share of fun in the past, with both CSWs and good old pick-ups. Always used condoms. However, on two occasions few years ago condoms came off. Once, with a girl i met while studying abroad for college in Europe, it was in Poland with a local girl (who I later found out was promiscuous and used drugs). Second time was on a trip to Mexico – this one was with a CSW i found through the phonebook. Both cases condom came off while inside vagina, and didn’t realize it for about a minute in one case and several minutes in the other case.
Back to the present. My new girlfriend has a policy of not making love with any new partner without knowing their hiv status through a test. Made me recall these old incidents and sheer terror has now set in. I took monday and Tuesday off from work to do internet research, seems likely that i was infected as I recall having the classic ARS symptoms of nightsweats some time back (woke up very sweaty and cold for several days running). I can’t for life of me recall proximity of these nightsweats to the condom incidents, but I assume the worse. My only hope is that I do not recall having a fever accompanying these nightsweats or swollen lymph nodes or rash, and a buddy of mine in med school told me today that ARS is almost always accompanied by high fever above 100 as though with a flu. Sometimes I get little colds or un-diagnosable “virally things”, but haven’t had a real flu in years (I take flu shots).
1) Also, performed oral sex on the girl in Poland, and read that women’s fluids can be highly infectious, and I must have tasted/swallowed some.
2) What are my chances in your opinion from having caught hiv from these incidents? Between a girl who does dope and a hooker, I sure picked “winners” to lose condoms with….
3) Night sweats suggest - is my buddy from med school right that ars is almost always accompanied by fever, he told me like 101, 102 for few days running?
Back to the present. My new girlfriend has a policy of not making love with any new partner without knowing their hiv status through a test. Made me recall these old incidents and sheer terror has now set in. I took monday and Tuesday off from work to do internet research, seems likely that i was infected as I recall having the classic ARS symptoms of nightsweats some time back (woke up very sweaty and cold for several days running). I can’t for life of me recall proximity of these nightsweats to the condom incidents, but I assume the worse. My only hope is that I do not recall having a fever accompanying these nightsweats or swollen lymph nodes or rash, and a buddy of mine in med school told me today that ARS is almost always accompanied by high fever above 100 as though with a flu. Sometimes I get little colds or un-diagnosable “virally things”, but haven’t had a real flu in years (I take flu shots).
1) Also, performed oral sex on the girl in Poland, and read that women’s fluids can be highly infectious, and I must have tasted/swallowed some.
2) What are my chances in your opinion from having caught hiv from these incidents? Between a girl who does dope and a hooker, I sure picked “winners” to lose condoms with….
3) Night sweats suggest - is my buddy from med school right that ars is almost always accompanied by fever, he told me like 101, 102 for few days running?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This question regarding risk of exposure is answered numerous times on this site. Feel free to search the site. An outline of why it is low risk:
1. Most people do not have HIV, including CSWs. This is true in Mexico as well
2/ Unprotected sex with an HIV infected person transmits infection less than 1 in 1000 times
3. You were partially protected.
Do the math, the odds are in your favor.
End of thread. No further questions please. EWH
1. Most people do not have HIV, including CSWs. This is true in Mexico as well
2/ Unprotected sex with an HIV infected person transmits infection less than 1 in 1000 times
3. You were partially protected.
Do the math, the odds are in your favor.
End of thread. No further questions please. EWH
OK, understood, final question: Can you elaborate on why you feel that the incidences where condom came off are extraordinarily low risk? I would especially think that a CWS in Mexico would be much more likely then the average person to be HIV+
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said, while we don't always express ourselves the same way, we do always agree, including that worrying about ARS symptoms is a waste of time. This is so true that I willnot waste your or my time commenting on them. The finger stick tests are just as good as the ones based on drawing blood from your arm and can be counted on. EWH
Dear Dr. Hook: Thank you for reply. I saw a recent comment from Dr. Handley few days ago to a woman nervous about symptoms, I have copied it below. I am sure I am an idiot, but it seems like he is saying that its rare to have ARS without fever, and that its usually well over 100 degrees. Also, for my testing, what is your opinion on rapid finger ***** tests? I see some people say the rapid has higher chance of false positive, how much higher chance is that, or its just not true? Respectfully, bostonanxious
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.
Jun 23, 2008 03:41PM
“It is rare to have ARS without fever, which you don't describe; and ARS rashes don't itch.”
“ARS fever usually is well over 100 degrees and generally lasts 1-2 weeks or more.”
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.
Jun 23, 2008 03:41PM
“It is rare to have ARS without fever, which you don't describe; and ARS rashes don't itch.”
“ARS fever usually is well over 100 degrees and generally lasts 1-2 weeks or more.”
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dr. Handsfield and I share the forum. You got me. FYI, the reason we share the forum is because we have worked together for nearly 30 years and while our verbiage styles vary, we have never disagreed on management strategies or advice to clients.
Now on to your question. I think you are over analyzing this. In your internet research, you have apparently missed our repeated statements that the symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS. For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time, particularly for exposures that occurred in the distant past.
As for your specific questions:
1. Oral sex- ingestion of genital secretions. Whatever the source, it is wrong, at least in the context in which you present it. IF your partner was infected (most unlikely), the odds of you getting HIV from oral sex with her, not matter how much genital secretion you ingested, is less than 1 in 10,000 and probably far less.
2. Extraordinarily low.
3. Your buddy in not correct. They are non-specific and not always accompanied by fevers; many other things can do it as well
To summarize, you have little to worry about. Instead of worrying about this ancient history, go get tested so you can get on with your new relationship. EWH
Now on to your question. I think you are over analyzing this. In your internet research, you have apparently missed our repeated statements that the symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS. For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time, particularly for exposures that occurred in the distant past.
As for your specific questions:
1. Oral sex- ingestion of genital secretions. Whatever the source, it is wrong, at least in the context in which you present it. IF your partner was infected (most unlikely), the odds of you getting HIV from oral sex with her, not matter how much genital secretion you ingested, is less than 1 in 10,000 and probably far less.
2. Extraordinarily low.
3. Your buddy in not correct. They are non-specific and not always accompanied by fevers; many other things can do it as well
To summarize, you have little to worry about. Instead of worrying about this ancient history, go get tested so you can get on with your new relationship. EWH
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