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Baffled By Illness - Dengue? HIV? Anxiety?
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I'm baffled by my present situation and was curious to get your opinion.
Before I start, I should tell you that I live and work in Thailand....and do not have a habit of frequenting CSW's.
With that said, on Friday, September 6th, I had unprotected vaginal intercourse with two CSW's. I had had way too much to drink and got carried away (I actually had condoms on the table). What I didn't realize at the time is that one of the ladies was spotting. I performed unprotected oral on this one CSW. Before and after the incident, we showered and I did not notice blood at all on my body. The next morning, the young lady awoke and apologized for the blood stain on the sheets. She had started at some point while sleeping. I honestly didn't think anything of it.
The following Monday, I started to have a sore throat with sore lymph nodes in the neck. Not swollen, just sore. This was followed by muscle soreness and incredible fatigue. I also had unusual headaches in the back of my head which felt as if I was dizzy. On no point throughout this ordeal have I ever had a fever.
I did not think this was related to the sexual incident as it seemed to be too early to be showing signs. But I was very sick. It was everything I could do to walk to the train station. The fatigue was unreal.
On Weds. Sept. 11, I visited the local Red Cross HIV Center for a test. It was, of course, negative. When I described this incident to the counselor, she laughed it off and said I was completely fine and not showing sings of seroconversion. She said I didn't have a fever or runny nose so not to worry...and not to lose sleep over the lymph nodes.
I continued to feel worse and decided to visit an infectious disease specialist on Sunday, Sept. 15th. He ran some tests and concluded I did have a virus....but it was only a guess as to what it was. He suspected dengue as it is quite bad right now. He said not to worry too much about HIV infection.
The following week, my headaches and fatigue were slightly better. Unfortunately, I developed a very painful penis (stinging). On Thursday, Sept 19, I went to a nearby doctor's office and was diagnosed with chlamydia. After a full blood test (HIV negative result), the doc agreed that my problem was most likely dengue....but still just an assumption.
Within a few days, the headaches were mostly gone. I still had lymph node issues and a VERY sore neck and upper back. Oddly enough, I broke out into a terrible acne rash around my neck and armpits. When I went back to the clinic for my follow-up appointment on Sept 26, my doc told me the rash was from my lymph nodes forcing the bacteria and junk out through my skin (??).
Despite not yet reaching the after exposure 6 week point, I've come to the realization that I most likely do not have HIV infection - or am experiencing seroconversion - (of course I'll get tested) but have something else.
My question is this....what could this possibly be? Let me be more specific.
As of now, my lymph nodes, particularly at the base of my neck and armpits are extremely sore and painful. This has never gone away. Pain in my neck, shoulders and upper body comes and goes. I assume this pain is related to anxiety. This situation has certainly been on my mind.
But....can these symptoms of dengue still linger after what is now over 3 weeks? According to the infectious disease specialist, I clearly had a virus. If this continues another week, I will go back and have a visit.
In your professional opinion, what do you think of these symptoms regarding the circumstances and what course of action should I take?
Thanks again.
Before I start, I should tell you that I live and work in Thailand....and do not have a habit of frequenting CSW's.
With that said, on Friday, September 6th, I had unprotected vaginal intercourse with two CSW's. I had had way too much to drink and got carried away (I actually had condoms on the table). What I didn't realize at the time is that one of the ladies was spotting. I performed unprotected oral on this one CSW. Before and after the incident, we showered and I did not notice blood at all on my body. The next morning, the young lady awoke and apologized for the blood stain on the sheets. She had started at some point while sleeping. I honestly didn't think anything of it.
The following Monday, I started to have a sore throat with sore lymph nodes in the neck. Not swollen, just sore. This was followed by muscle soreness and incredible fatigue. I also had unusual headaches in the back of my head which felt as if I was dizzy. On no point throughout this ordeal have I ever had a fever.
I did not think this was related to the sexual incident as it seemed to be too early to be showing signs. But I was very sick. It was everything I could do to walk to the train station. The fatigue was unreal.
On Weds. Sept. 11, I visited the local Red Cross HIV Center for a test. It was, of course, negative. When I described this incident to the counselor, she laughed it off and said I was completely fine and not showing sings of seroconversion. She said I didn't have a fever or runny nose so not to worry...and not to lose sleep over the lymph nodes.
I continued to feel worse and decided to visit an infectious disease specialist on Sunday, Sept. 15th. He ran some tests and concluded I did have a virus....but it was only a guess as to what it was. He suspected dengue as it is quite bad right now. He said not to worry too much about HIV infection.
The following week, my headaches and fatigue were slightly better. Unfortunately, I developed a very painful penis (stinging). On Thursday, Sept 19, I went to a nearby doctor's office and was diagnosed with chlamydia. After a full blood test (HIV negative result), the doc agreed that my problem was most likely dengue....but still just an assumption.
Within a few days, the headaches were mostly gone. I still had lymph node issues and a VERY sore neck and upper back. Oddly enough, I broke out into a terrible acne rash around my neck and armpits. When I went back to the clinic for my follow-up appointment on Sept 26, my doc told me the rash was from my lymph nodes forcing the bacteria and junk out through my skin (??).
Despite not yet reaching the after exposure 6 week point, I've come to the realization that I most likely do not have HIV infection - or am experiencing seroconversion - (of course I'll get tested) but have something else.
My question is this....what could this possibly be? Let me be more specific.
As of now, my lymph nodes, particularly at the base of my neck and armpits are extremely sore and painful. This has never gone away. Pain in my neck, shoulders and upper body comes and goes. I assume this pain is related to anxiety. This situation has certainly been on my mind.
But....can these symptoms of dengue still linger after what is now over 3 weeks? According to the infectious disease specialist, I clearly had a virus. If this continues another week, I will go back and have a visit.
In your professional opinion, what do you think of these symptoms regarding the circumstances and what course of action should I take?
Thanks again.
Hey appletree123 keep us posted on your testing and symptoms i hope you find out what is going on.
Unprotected sex means risk for HIV and other STIs.
For HIV, you must test at least six weeks post exposure for a reliable result. If negative, this result must be confirmed at 3 months for a definitive diagnosis.
All the best,
For HIV, you must test at least six weeks post exposure for a reliable result. If negative, this result must be confirmed at 3 months for a definitive diagnosis.
All the best,
Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond to my question. LOL! Hopefully this will be resolved soon.
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