Aa
Scared about recent encounter and have a few Qs
I'm a European working in China. Four weeks ago I had protected vaginal intercourse, but unprotected oral sex (both giving and receiving), with a CSW in Shanghai. From reading doctor and community responses on this forum, I know that exposure is generally considered "very low risk". I am nonetheless sick with worry because I have developed what appear to be some acute HIV infection symptoms.
About 1 -2 weeks after exposure (I don't recall exactly when) my eyes became very bloodshot and have remained so 24/7, though they are worse when I wake up and get a bit better as the day progresses. The top and bottom lids also appear inflamed. There is no significant discharge, itching, or pain, but my vision is blurry, my eyes water a little, and people are noticing my glowing red eyes.
At roughly 3 1/2 weeks after exposure, I noticed a small increase in body temperature, mostly in the afternoons and evenings. The first night my face was flushed and I felt hot. The oral reading was 37.7C. The next two days, 37.5. Today it has been 37.3. Curiously, it is usually just below 37 when I awake in the morning and rises before lunch.
The day after I first noticed the slight fever, I developed a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes under my jaw in the tonsils area. I have also been very fatigued, have been coughing constantly, suffering minor headaches, and have lost enough weight in the last couple weeks for people to comment. On the other hand, I have no signs of rash and no significant joint or muscle pain.
My questions:
(1) What constitutes a "fever" in the context of acute HIV infection? Does 37.7C (99.86F) or 37.5 meet that standard? How long does HIV associated fever usually last and would it fluctuate during the day?
(2) As far as I can tell, only the lymph nodes under my left and right tonsils seem swollen. If these were acute HIV infection symptoms, would I also expect to have swelling under my arms, in my groin, etc.?
(3) How worried should I be about this situation?
I keep trying to tell myself that it is very unlikely that I have become infected with HIV--that I've merely got tonsilitis or something--but that is not helping me sleep, eat, or work normally. Moreover, I have read that my symptoms resemble Toxoplasmosis, a serious condition which usually only affects people with suppressed immune systems, such as those infected with HIV/AIDS. (Yes, I have a cat and change the litter, thus having possible contact with the cysts that can cause Toxo.)
I plan to get tested at the 6-week mark, but in the interim any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated. My anxiety about the test is compounded by the fact that foreigners infected with HIV in China are arrested and immediately deported. Not the best way to encourage testing....
Many thanks!
About 1 -2 weeks after exposure (I don't recall exactly when) my eyes became very bloodshot and have remained so 24/7, though they are worse when I wake up and get a bit better as the day progresses. The top and bottom lids also appear inflamed. There is no significant discharge, itching, or pain, but my vision is blurry, my eyes water a little, and people are noticing my glowing red eyes.
At roughly 3 1/2 weeks after exposure, I noticed a small increase in body temperature, mostly in the afternoons and evenings. The first night my face was flushed and I felt hot. The oral reading was 37.7C. The next two days, 37.5. Today it has been 37.3. Curiously, it is usually just below 37 when I awake in the morning and rises before lunch.
The day after I first noticed the slight fever, I developed a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes under my jaw in the tonsils area. I have also been very fatigued, have been coughing constantly, suffering minor headaches, and have lost enough weight in the last couple weeks for people to comment. On the other hand, I have no signs of rash and no significant joint or muscle pain.
My questions:
(1) What constitutes a "fever" in the context of acute HIV infection? Does 37.7C (99.86F) or 37.5 meet that standard? How long does HIV associated fever usually last and would it fluctuate during the day?
(2) As far as I can tell, only the lymph nodes under my left and right tonsils seem swollen. If these were acute HIV infection symptoms, would I also expect to have swelling under my arms, in my groin, etc.?
(3) How worried should I be about this situation?
I keep trying to tell myself that it is very unlikely that I have become infected with HIV--that I've merely got tonsilitis or something--but that is not helping me sleep, eat, or work normally. Moreover, I have read that my symptoms resemble Toxoplasmosis, a serious condition which usually only affects people with suppressed immune systems, such as those infected with HIV/AIDS. (Yes, I have a cat and change the litter, thus having possible contact with the cysts that can cause Toxo.)
I plan to get tested at the 6-week mark, but in the interim any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated. My anxiety about the test is compounded by the fact that foreigners infected with HIV in China are arrested and immediately deported. Not the best way to encourage testing....
Many thanks!
you could have saved us the reading time and stopped after your second sentence...everything after that is irrelevant.
you were never at risk...and STOP trying to diagnose yourself over the interent.
you were never at risk...and STOP trying to diagnose yourself over the interent.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
