extremely nervous guy

[bobsmith22]

about 3 weeks ago i had unprotected sex with a very very very risky partner. a week later i started developing chest pains muscle and joint pains. i went to get tested by my doctor he stated all my test came back negative but i was still experiencing discomfort and pain headaches and a sore throat. i recently had sex with a different partner and she stated she is now having chest pains also. im extremely worried i have no sores and no cuts sill having chest discomfort muscle joints and pain and light headaches please help me

[bobsmith22]

how are you doctor its been 2 weeks since i posted on here ive been to my doctor he said i shouldnt worry to much but ive been feeling tired ache and headaches and a sore throat i cant shake what do you suggest

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If your anxiety is giving you heartburn, you should discuss it with your doctor.  Perhaps antacids would be helpful  You need to get a grip on yourself.  EWH

[bobsmith22]

then what should i do about this heartburn/ chest pain and heartburn feeling ? im still extremely scared and nervous sir

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the clarification.  Most commercial sex workers do not have STDs and most expsoures to infected partners do not lead to infection.  No change in my assessment or advice however.  EWH

[bobsmith22]

sorry im a hetro sexual male my risky was a prost and we had unprotected vaginal and anal sex i wasnt feeling well after words so i did get tested that next week dr said everything was fine but im still having chest and stomach pains

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll try to help and provide some context.  Before I do however, let me share my observation that you characterize your partner about 3 weeks ago as "very, very, very risky" (without other details) and then report that you had sex with someone else rather soon after that making me wonder just who is risky- you or your partners.  I say this because the real fact is that most heterosexual men and women do not have STD's, even those with lots of partners and, as we have said on this Forum innumerable times in the past, post exposures to infected partners do not lead to infection.  thus, the odds are in your favor.

The symptoms you describe, muscle and joint aches and a sore throat, fit the description of what we call a "flu-like illness".  Flu-like illnesses can have many possible cause, including HIV but most persons with these sorts of complaints do not have HIV or any other STD but, instead have the flu or some other community acquired, non-STD viral illness.  I suspect that this is what is going on with you and that you may have given this same illness to your other partner- this time course is most consistent with a community  acquired, non-STD/HIV illness than with HIV.

So, what to do.  You have had sex with at least two partners in the past month- you need STD screening (testing even in the absence of STD symptoms) to make sure you did not get one of the more common STDs such as chlamydial infection.  As far as HIV is concerned, you can test now and if your flu-like illness was doe to HIV, the test will be positive (I anticipate your test however will be negative).  Then, if you wish to be completely sure, repeat the HIV blood test for HIV antibodies at any time more than 8 weeks after your exposure.  At that time your results will be definitive.

I hope these comments are helpful.  I anticipate your tests will be negative.  EWH