This information does not change my opinion or advice. You do not have HIV. See a provider if you remain concerned.
Dr - Thanks for the response. I have been seeing a girl for about 6 months now which is now 8 months after my test and 12.5 months since my last sexual encounter other than giving oral and condom protected vaginal sex. Based on the symptoms above and based on my test results, test type and test timing do you feel it is okay for us to engage in unprotected sex? She tested for my benefit and assuming she's been faithful did so 4 months after her last unprotected sex.
To reiterate my symptoms:
1 - Dry Mouth
2 - White tongue/cheeks - tongue doesn't resemble OHL and no pictures on net of cheeks infected for me to compare to. Tongue and cheeks go back to pink and smoothe when sucking on candy.
3 - Little tiny mouth ulcers
Things I do: suck candy/cough drops 24/7 and brush the hell out of my teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue. I'm afraid to stop these things because when I do my mouth is all messed up. I notice I chew on my tongue at night as it wakes me up. It is not painful at all but does wake me up as I notice that I am pushing my tongue against the roof of my mouth hard and my teeth are pressed against the outer border of my tongue. I even have what appears to be ridges along the top border and lateral border of my tongue that line up exactly with my teeth.
All of these symptoms have come and gone in levels of severity over the last 8 months. And ironically didn't even start until after I got my negative result!!!!
Thank you again for your advice. I just don't want to spread this disease and I want to take control of my life back.
Welcome fo the HIV forum.
You have no worries. First, HIV test results always outweigh symptoms in judging whether or not someone has HIV. There are no exceptions as long as testing is done long enough after exposure -- and 18 weeks is plenty. Even 6-8 weeks usually is adequate. Therefore, the details of your oral symptoms are irrelevant: the negative HIV test proves something else is the cause. On top of that, OHL related to HIV is evidence of overt AIDS, and occurs only in people with other symptoms -- usually fever, weight loss, and generally being quite ill. Finally, self-diagnosis of OHL by medically untrained people really isn't possible. It is very unlikely that OHL explains your oral symptoms.
I think that answers all your questions. Briefly, the specific replies are:
1) Yes, 100% conclusive.
2,3) I cannot answer based on written description. It's very doubtful you have OHL. You need to see a health care provider in person to know the cause of these symptoms.
4) Sugar also gives a "wrinkly" feel to my cheeks when I such on hard candy. This doesn't sound abnormal. But I cannot reply from a medical standpoint, except to say this doesn't suggest HIV to me.
See a provider if you remain concerned about your oral symptoms. But you can disregard HIV as a cause. It isn't possible.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD