Aa
HIV Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS)
Dear Doctor Handsfield:
As someone who has had a high-risk exposure similar to many of the people who have written (i.e., sex with a prostitute with a latex condom), I have become more aware of my body and the potential of ARS. I noticed that many of the questions surrounding ARS have to do with swollen lymph glands (or are they called nodes?) I'm wondering if you could briefly address a few questions regarding ARS and swollen glands.
#1--I keep reading that one single swollen lymph node is not suggestive of ARS in any way shape or form. How can we be so sure about that?
#2 What about cases of two swollen lymph nodes? For example, I can feel ONE swollen node in my axilla, and ONE swollen node below my left ear. The swollen node below the ear was swollen for almost a week before the one in the axilla came along. No other nodes are swollen. Is this typical of ARS for lymph nodes to swell in waves (i.e., one swells this week, then another one next week, etc)?
#3--Is it true that ARS is a constellation of symptoms with fever, swollen lymph glands (i.e., flu-like symptoms)? Or can ARS present itself with one symptom, such as ONLY fever, or ONLY swollen lymph nodes.
#4--I have also read that swollen lymph gland as a result of ARS are not painful. How can this be so? I thought that if lymph nodes swell due to "infection," then such swollen nodes are almost always painful (at least for a few days). Or do you answer questions regarding "painful node" and ARS solely based on your experience with your patient (in other words, there is a possibility that other doctors have experienced patients with painful nodes during ARS.
As you can see from my line of questioning, I'm a little anxious.
Thanks,
WadeM.
As someone who has had a high-risk exposure similar to many of the people who have written (i.e., sex with a prostitute with a latex condom), I have become more aware of my body and the potential of ARS. I noticed that many of the questions surrounding ARS have to do with swollen lymph glands (or are they called nodes?) I'm wondering if you could briefly address a few questions regarding ARS and swollen glands.
#1--I keep reading that one single swollen lymph node is not suggestive of ARS in any way shape or form. How can we be so sure about that?
#2 What about cases of two swollen lymph nodes? For example, I can feel ONE swollen node in my axilla, and ONE swollen node below my left ear. The swollen node below the ear was swollen for almost a week before the one in the axilla came along. No other nodes are swollen. Is this typical of ARS for lymph nodes to swell in waves (i.e., one swells this week, then another one next week, etc)?
#3--Is it true that ARS is a constellation of symptoms with fever, swollen lymph glands (i.e., flu-like symptoms)? Or can ARS present itself with one symptom, such as ONLY fever, or ONLY swollen lymph nodes.
#4--I have also read that swollen lymph gland as a result of ARS are not painful. How can this be so? I thought that if lymph nodes swell due to "infection," then such swollen nodes are almost always painful (at least for a few days). Or do you answer questions regarding "painful node" and ARS solely based on your experience with your patient (in other words, there is a possibility that other doctors have experienced patients with painful nodes during ARS.
As you can see from my line of questioning, I'm a little anxious.
Thanks,
WadeM.
Let's just say that I keep praying that the masseuse actually had KY or Astroglid in a bottle of Lubriderm so as to incriminating evidence in the event that they get busted. I would be amazed if they actually used lotion as a lubricant, especially since lotion is not good for a woman (for hygenic reasons).
I'm at the end of Week #4. I'm thinking about going in for a PCR tomorrow ($399--ouch).
I'm at the end of Week #4. I'm thinking about going in for a PCR tomorrow ($399--ouch).
Do you have your original thread handy. I would be interested in hearing about the event and subsequent anxiety and symptoms. You can just tell me how to find it. I think this thread will probably be closed down at the end of the day for getting too long.
How long ago was the lubiderm incident? When can you get tested? That is the only way to ease your mind.
And on the "asian massage prostitute", I do not agree they are more likely to have HIV. I have been to them and they are very conscience of safe sex. Have you ever heard any where "massage parlor found to be link to HIV in the city" news stories? Forget law enforcement, the health department work shut them down in no time flat. Much like the bath houses in San Fran 25 years ago. I have never had massage parlor girl not insist to use a condom. This was 5 years ago, I have since managed to stay away from them. The reason I have been on here is I "relapesed" in May and almost killed myself with guilt. I had every smptom of every std...I tested negative for all of them and now I am back on track and taking even more measures to stay "clean".
I hope you can relax a bit. But if you are like me, only a negative test will clear your head.
And on the "asian massage prostitute", I do not agree they are more likely to have HIV. I have been to them and they are very conscience of safe sex. Have you ever heard any where "massage parlor found to be link to HIV in the city" news stories? Forget law enforcement, the health department work shut them down in no time flat. Much like the bath houses in San Fran 25 years ago. I have never had massage parlor girl not insist to use a condom. This was 5 years ago, I have since managed to stay away from them. The reason I have been on here is I "relapesed" in May and almost killed myself with guilt. I had every smptom of every std...I tested negative for all of them and now I am back on track and taking even more measures to stay "clean".
I hope you can relax a bit. But if you are like me, only a negative test will clear your head.
PS: I did write Dr. Bob, and I did receive more optimistic response about Lubriderm and condoms.
I will post in the future. Let me tell you why I got afraid: I saw this response in The Body from Ryan Kull (August 2002) regarding oil-based lubricants and condoms. Mr. Kull wrote:
"Oil-based lubricant won't only make the latex condom prone to breakage, but it can decrease the condom's ability to prevent HIV and other STIs from passing through the barrier (or as you say, makes it permeable). So if you use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom and it doesn't break, that does not mean that the condom was effective in preventing disease transmission.
I do not know specifically how long it takes for the condom to lose it's effectiveness when oil-based lubrication is used, but it can happen quickly. Regardless of the timeframe, you should not consider the condom to have been 100% effective."
That's what was driving all of my anxiety (the "porous" claims).
"Oil-based lubricant won't only make the latex condom prone to breakage, but it can decrease the condom's ability to prevent HIV and other STIs from passing through the barrier (or as you say, makes it permeable). So if you use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom and it doesn't break, that does not mean that the condom was effective in preventing disease transmission.
I do not know specifically how long it takes for the condom to lose it's effectiveness when oil-based lubrication is used, but it can happen quickly. Regardless of the timeframe, you should not consider the condom to have been 100% effective."
That's what was driving all of my anxiety (the "porous" claims).
first off, you did not have unprotected sex, and second, no not everyone agrees sex workers in the USA are higher risk. In fact, most sex workers know more about safe sex than most. The is no evidence to suggest sex workers have HIV at any higher rates than the general population.
As the Dr. says, the chances of a man getting HIV from an HIV infected women by having unprotected sex is 1 in 1000. You had protected sex and she had a 99% chance of not having HIV. You can choose to worry if you want to, but I would love to see one more post from you after you negative test (and it will be negative) saying you needlessly worried yourself to death. Will you post that for me in the future?
As the Dr. says, the chances of a man getting HIV from an HIV infected women by having unprotected sex is 1 in 1000. You had protected sex and she had a 99% chance of not having HIV. You can choose to worry if you want to, but I would love to see one more post from you after you negative test (and it will be negative) saying you needlessly worried yourself to death. Will you post that for me in the future?
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STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
