Unprotected sex with prostitute

[nickname12345]

I had unprotected sex with a girl that I met and picked up in a local bar, about 3 weeks ago. I ran into her a week later, when I was with a friend of mine. It turns out that my friend went to high school with her. I told him of my encounter and he informed me that she is a prostitute. I refused to believe it, so he gave me the name of the agency that she works for and I checked their website. He wasn't lying... she is a prostitute. What makes this really horrifying, is that she is advertised as a GFE. Apparently, this terminology means that she does not use condoms with her customers.

So 3 weeks ago, I had this encounter. Over the past few days, I have had symptoms of mild illness. My symptoms began 6 days ago and they are clearing up now. The symptoms are...

Lack of normal amounts of energy (although I still went to the gym and worked out for 2 hours each day). I would estimate that I had 75% of my normal energy levels, during the past week.

Coughing.

Sneezing.

Lots of bright green mucus in nose.

Lymph nodes in my neck were not painful and didn't feel swollen, but I could clearly sense them when I swallowed. This lasted for 3 days.

On the 3rd night of sleep, after sensing the palpable lymph nodes, I had night sweats. The night sweat happened 1 night only and when I woke up that morning, I no longer had the palpable nodes.

My bowel movements have been more runny than usual. I'm not having to go constantly, or more often than usual and the consistency has been 50% solid and 50% liquid.

I realize that I have a cold. I was out on the town, at night, 2 weeks ago and it was cold out. I wasn't wearing a coat and I knew that I would probably catch a cold, as I often do at this time of year. However, I'm wondering about the lymph nodes, bowel movement and night sweats. These symptoms do not usually occur when I get a cold.

Combine the fact that I had unprotected sex (3 weeks ago) with a woman who I have determined to be a prostitute (that does not use protection with her customers), the palpable lymph nodes, unusual bowel movement consistency (which I'm hoping is due to anxiety) and night sweat... and you can see why I'm wondering if I am going through seroconversion (at the same time as having a cold).

I'm getting tested for HIV in 9 weeks. I would appreciate some advice / opinions. Needless to say, I'm losing my mind here.

Thank you.

[Teak]

I leave playing odds at the horse track.

[nickname12345]

Thanks Teak. I will definitely get tested in June... but I was just wondering what the odds are in my situation, not the odds of infection through occupational hazard. I'm not sure what you mean when you say "No the odds aren't even close". Could you please elaborate? Thank you.

Occupational infections seem to refer to needle pokes, etc... I'm particularly wondering about the odds of contracting HIV from my sexual encounter (unprotected vaginal sex with a woman).

I asked a friend of mine and he said he thinks the odds that I contracted HIV from unprotected vaginal sex are 0.01%. I'm just wondering if anyone can support his claim with facts.

[Teak]

No the odds aren't even close. There are over 900,000 occupational exposures a year in the US and since they have be collecting data on occupational exposure since 1985 only a little over 150 people have ever been infected. So do the math. Odds will never tell you your status the only way to know is by testing at the correct time.

[nickname12345]

Hey guys...

I just got home from the doctor's office. I decided to go see him because my throat started bothering me again and I noticed pus on my tonsils. I told him about my sexual encounter and he diagnosed my symptoms. It appears that I have a respiratory infection.

I told my doctor about my encounter. I asked him if my symptoms were consistent with acute HIV infection and he said "No".

I also asked him if he thought that it was POSSIBLE that my symptoms were due to acute HIV infection and he said "I can't say no for sure, but I really don't think so. Take the antibiotics and if you're not better in a week, come see me again".

So I guess I feel better, in a way... but not really. Still feel like I have a dark cloud over me. I guess that feeling won't change until I see a negative HIV test in June.

I have a question for Teak and the rest of you.

I have read that when one is poked with an infected needle, the odds of infection are 1 in 250. Does anybody have any idea of what the odds of infection are, when one has vaginal intercourse with an HIV infected woman (assuming that there was no blood, of course)? I should have asked my doctor, but I was somewhat embarrassed and left quickly.

I have no knowledge of this woman's HIV status and for all I know, she might not even have it... but I would still like to know what the odds are of me catching it, assuming that she is HIV positive.

So my question, again...

Does anybody have any idea of what the odds of infection are, when one has vaginal intercourse with an HIV infected woman?

Thanks again guys. I look forward to your responses.

[Teak]

You're welcome. Use condoms correctly and consistently and you'll keep your status NEGATIVE. It's that easy.....

[nickname12345]

Thanks Teak!

I'm going to stop worrying about the lymph nodes. In fact, I'm going to just stop worrying. Keeping my fingers crossed and my d@#$ in my pants, until I get a negative test. After that, I'm keeping it wrapped up until I settle down.

I needed you guys today... whoever you are.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

[Teak]

Yes
Yes
Yes
If you are in the US your 3 month test will be conclusive.

[nickname12345]

I'm in North America. I was told by by my doctor that we have to wait 3 months for the test. I'll talk to him again.

Teak... could you please elaborate on the duration of symptoms? Are you saying that my swollen nodes were not swollen long enough to be consistent with early HIV infection? I read another post of your which states that nodes are NOT painful when caused by HIV infection. This makes me uncomfortable, because mine were NOT painful (but lasted for 3 days).

Would the nodes have to be swollen for longer than 3 days, to be consistent with HIV infection?

I know that many people live with this disease, but I can't picture my life under such circumstances. My life would change too drastically to know what to do.

[Teak]

DUO test in the UK have to be done at 3 months to obtain a conclusive negative test result.
http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Guidelines/Testing/GlinesHIVTest08.pdf
Post-test discussion for individuals who test HIV negative
The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

[Miguel513]

Yeah get tested at 3 months to be 100% sure, Im guessing you're not in the UK right?  because not alot of people outside UK know about 4th generation HIV DUO test. Now what im trying to say is that you're not far off from 4 weeks - to have the DUO test. This will give you great peace of mind (99.8%). Then at 3 months you can have another test.

No point worrying mate, get a test at 4 weeks (HIV DUO) then another at 3 weeks.

[Teak]

Symptoms of ARS if one has them at all, come at 2-4 weeks post infection and last 1-2 weeks which your symptoms did not.

[nickname12345]

I'll get tested at 3 months to be sure.

I'm particularly concerned about the 3 days of palpable lymph nodes, unusual bowel movement consistency (which I'm sure, could easily be due to anxiety) and 1 night of night sweats.

Based on what you guys know, does my 3 days of palpable lymph nodes, 1 night of night sweats and irregular bowel movement seem consistent with seroconversion?

I am wondering if these symptoms are (or are not) too brief (or too few) to be consistent with early signs of HIV infection.

[kumar007]

he need to test again at 3 months..
that is the current guideline

[Miguel513]

Dont worry too much about it, I tottaly feel for you mate, you dont have to wait any longer than 4 weeks to get a conclusive results. Have a DUO test that detects for p24 antigen and antiobody at the same time.

Antibody alone test mean you have to wait 3 months for conclusive results. Have a read on google for HIV DUO test. This test has an accuracy of 99.8% accurate at 4 weeks post exposure.

Dont loose your mind, just have the test - and you'll see its all negative.

[kumar007]

symptoms cant diagnose hiv..many people here in this forum come with soo many symptoms but test negative for hiv..this is due to anxiety or plain coincidence
you can get tested at 6-8 weeks for a good indication of your status..
test again at 3 mths for a conclusive result..
good luck