I had an encounter exactly 7 weeks ago. It was protected vaginal and oral intercourse. I also fingered her quite a bit, after a while she put a condom on my finger. She was a prostitute in a brothel. As far as I know, I did not have any problems with the condom, but I cannot be sure. I also washed after intercourse, does that increase the risk? Since that time I've felt very poorly. I developed a rash shortly after the encounter that lasted a few days. I had a cold, stuffy nose, and minor throat irritation for a bit. I noticed my skin was becoming very dry all over my body. My joints hurt all over my body. Most notably my elbows and auxiliaries. I believe my glands were enlarged, although several doctors told me they weren't, but I think this came and went. 23 post encounter I had an antibody/antigen test, results were negative.
On around the 5th week my sore throat became extremely irritated. To the point that water eventually hurt it. Also, a little while before this, I'd begun to have night sweats. I recently noticed that my skin is irritated by any little thing. My hands and feet are often quite red, and have small patches of pigment that I never before noticed. I've also begun to break out in a rash all over my torso. This rash comes and goes. Here is a link to a picture of it: http://yfrog.com/eu20100420125936j
The rash seems to come and go. It's accompanied by an outbreak of acne all over the same area. Could you tell me if that looks like the ARS rash? I've also broken out in pimples all over my face, and I've always had relatively clear skin.
The night sweats have now become VERY VERY intense. To the point that last night I had to change three times. I also have woken up several times during the night and find it hard to fall back asleep. My sense of hearing and sight also seem to be more intense. I feel as though I am more sensitive to light and to sharp noises, and I feel as though my balance is not what it was. I had an antibody test at 5.5 weeks and it also came back negative. I have not had a fever to the best of my knowledge. If you could please give me some advice on this, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm deadly afraid that I've contracted HIV and I do not know what to do. This morning I had a complete STD panel and blood analysis tests, and I will find out the results tomorrow. I'd appreaciate some advice on the matter doctor.
Thank you,
ES
Good Morning
You should relax. Whatever the symptoms and signs are they are not HIV from this epsiode.
I can say this with certainty because:-
you did not have an exposure. You had protected sex and condoms will protect you against HIV
You have had HIV tests since and if you were to be HIV positive then the tests would correctly identify this
the symptoms and signs are 1) too soon and 2) not terribly convincing in their own right, and certainly not against the background of protected sex and negative HIV tests
You can relax about HIV. You do not have it.
You can see more information about Early Symptoms of HIV here and also a Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases pdf here
What bothers me is that I cannot remember if then entire encounter was condom protected, or whether the condom slipped. Also that I've had a very sore throat and the rash pictured there. Both the sore throat and that rash intensified around week 5, along with the night sweats, which is what makes me suspicious.
1) Does the rash resemble the rash associated with ARS?
2) Also, much of my skin pigment seems somewhat discolored. Somewhat spotty and reddish purple.
3) I received my seven week test, blood count was normal. And I am HIV negative. Can I rest assured with these results? The testing people are not terribly convinced of it's accuracy at this time. But said it was a good indication. Given that I've had these symptoms for a little more than a week, would my blood or test indicate the presence of the virus? I was negative for syphilis, all forms of hepatitis, HIV, UTIs, but my urine appeared cloudy.
Hello,
thank you for post. I am going to reply to your last questions this time instead of my colleague, Dr Sean Cummings.
I had the opportunity to look at your photo and the rash looks more like an allergic rash of some sort and less like the rash associated with acute HIV sero-conversion. Therefore I would agree with Dr Sean's comments that you have not been infected with HIV for all the reasons that he mentions. If the symptoms were those of ARS, the tests that you have had at the time would have been positive. This is the reason why these symptoms have nothing to do with sero-conversion and a negative test after seven weeks can be considered fully conclusive under these circumstances. Everything points out that you are definitely HIV negative.
Best wishes,
José
I very much hope so doctor. I am so nervous and anxious at this point. Each time I relax a new symptom appears. And the timeline in which they appear is driving me mad! I regret my actions, worst decision of my life. Lastly, would ARS cause pimple like outbreaks? I ask this because I've gotten several flat pimples on my face, accompanied by pimples on my shoulders. The rash seems to have subsided after I stopped doxycycline which leads me to believe it may have been a reaction to that antibiotic, yet I cannot be sure. I am filled with more fear than I ever have had in my life. I am trying to tell myself that I truly am negative, and that all of this is simply a coincidence, but it can be hard, and I feel hopeless at times.
Sexual Health, Rash, sore throat, night sweats, no fever,
Hello again,
You are obsessing about this unnecessarily.
I'm going to repat what I said earlier and then close the thread. You are not HIV positive.
Quote:
Good Morning
You should relax. Whatever the symptoms and signs are they are not HIV from this epsiode.
I can say this with certainty because:-
* you did not have an exposure. You had protected sex and condoms will protect you against HIV
* You have had HIV tests since and if you were to be HIV positive then the tests would correctly identify this
* the symptoms and signs are 1) too soon and 2) not terribly convincing in their own right, and certainly not against the background of protected sex and negative HIV tests
Linear Mode
