Anxiety and HIV

[bclemit20]

Hi Docs,

I posted a while ago, but started to get really worried again. Long story short. I was engaged and my fiance broke the engagement off with me. We were in a monogamous relationship, but did have unprotected sex. All of these what if's are now playing in the back of my mind and is causing me to panic and have really bad anxiety. A couple of questions,  to put my mind at rest before I have my annual gyn exam where I will request my Dr. for sti testing.

1. Do ARS symptoms come on all at once. Or can they be scattered throughout weeks.
2. I had a small rash on different parts of my body-but to describe the rash it was one red, itchy bump on my foot, one on my wrist, one on my rib area, and on on my stomach.
3. I had two finger joints that hurt terribly and were swollen and hurt really bad to bend them.
4. I had one swollen lymph node on the side of my neck that was swollen and painful for a couple of days (around 3 days).

Each of these things didn't happen at the same time-but usually one week I would have the bumps, then the next week or two I would have the swollen/joints from the fingers. I don't know if these things could have been symptoms of an hiv infection. I know that I can only tell via testing but I thought maybe this could put my mind at rest for the time being. I've been devastated from him calling everything off and this is the last thing I need right now. It's all overwhelming.

Thank you.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  EWH

[bclemit20]

Thank you! I really, really appriecate your answers!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

First of all, the joint pain of recently acquired HIV involves all joints, not just isolated pains.

More importantly however, you are taking things out of context.  Most joint pain, even when it occurs all over, is not due to HIV but has other causes.  When studies of the "classical" symptoms of the ARS (which again, I emphasize, you DO NOT have) have been studied, less than1% are due to HIV.  

I hope this helps. Based on what you say, you need not be concerned. EWH

[bclemit20]

Why do journal articles list joint pain as a main HIV or ARS symptom? Do they mean all over joint pain? Or Joint Pain in 1 or 2 plcations? I think that is the main one that is concerning me....

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to our Forum. I'll be glad to comment.  I'll try to help.   Your risk for getting HIV while in a monogamous heterosexual relationship are tiny and none of the individual findings that you mention are the least bit suggestive of HIV.  When persons have the ARS or other signs of recently acquired HIV all of the symptoms tend to occur at the same time and are severe.  Isolated rash, lymph node swelling or aching joints are not suggestive of HIV.

I suspect your risk for HIV is very, very low and would not worry that this is a problem for you.  If you are tested at the time of your annual exam, I anticipate that your results will be negative.  Please do not worry. EWH