Strange set of circumstances

[somewhatrelieved]

Good Morning,
I wrote a while back about a low risk exposure.  I am a male 34 yrs of age.  I had unprotected oral both gave an received.  My partner was female and her HIV status is still not known as she will not reply.  She is a known intervenous drug user (not known at the time)  and has confirmed she has hep B.  I did as you said and tested at the 6 week mark and it came back neg for HIV and Hep B.  I also had a neg PCR test at 11 days.  The expousure was mid Sept.  After the neg results I forgot about it.  However, now I have swollen glands on both sides of my neck and under my clavicle.  I have not felt well over the past month, in a daze, dizzy etc, I have also developed a rash on the bottom of my neck and the skin on my stomach is very itchy.  I went to my PCP and he is doing another round of tests?  He believes that the symptoms are consistent with HIV, however you always say symptoms are not a good indication of infection?  He also ordered a chest x-ray to check out the swollen nodes?  I am confused?  Should I be concerned?

Thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"Consistent with HIV" doesn't mean "due to HIV".  Unless you have other risk exposures you don't describe, HIV remains a very unlikely cause of your lymph node enlargement or other symptoms.  Saying symptoms are not a good indication of infection does not mean that symptoms never are due to HIV.  But presumably your PCP has ordered yet additional HIV testing, which will settle any remaining uncertainty.

In any case, these are questions best answered by your PCP.   What did he say?   (Also note MedHelp's Terms and Conditions of no new threads within 6 months, in those forums that permit limited numbers of new threads, including this one.)

Good luck--  HHH, MF

[Dr. Negative]

Hi,
I am definately not a Dr. but still would recommend getting one last test. Your possible exposure was back in mid September, it is now mid January. This puts you at a great time to get tested as it is pretty much 4 months and an Elisa would be considered VERY definative. If I had the option I would take a second mortgage out and put the money on that your symptoms are NOT hiv related! Also, your exposure (oral - giving and receiving) are extremely low risk, and ARS (acute retroviral syptoms) come between 2-4 weeks, sometimes 6 weeks, extremely rarely later. Bottom line, you are clean! BUT, get that last test (which will be negative!) and get some final closure and no more anxiety. Stay cool, you're Golden!

[Imdumb]

I don't know why docs scare people without looking at all the facts. First - no one has giotten HIV from oral as far as the experts know. With 40 million cases, don't you think they could document one by now? Second - ARS happens with a month, you are at over 3 months. Third - you had a neg 6 week test. For you to have HIV would defy odds that are 1 in milliions.

[somewhatrelieved]

Dr.
There are no other risk factors to consider.  

My PCP had no idea what was causing the symptoms only that they are consistant with HIV, hence the blood test.  I understand that doesn't mean are "due to HIV."  I am waiting for the results of the latest blood test.  The only reason for my concern is that I had already ruled it out due to prior testing.

Thanks

[carnageofthepast]

If your story is accurate and complete, I believe with 99.9% certainty that you don't have HIV.  The only possible way you could have gotten hiv is if you had a bleeding wound in your mouth and the girl was on her period gushing blood and she was hiv positive!

Even if she is an iv drug user, that doesnt mean she has hiv although the risk is higher if she is hepB positive.

The biggest concern about this whole situation is how you've chosen who to be intimate with.  That is what you should be worried about.  In the future, make sure you choose your partners more carefully and if you arent monogamous and both confirmed negative, wear a condom!