Here is my story:
On the night of 12th to 13th of march I was in Amsterdam and had a sexual encounter with a window sex worker. I enterd the room, the lady told me to lay on the bed and said she will do everything. I did this. She started to perform oral sex. After 1 min I asked if it is protected. She said that she wouldn't touch me without a condom and that the condom was on. I looked and the condom was on.
I could not have an erection-probably because I was thinking about catching a disease, I was very anxious anyway- and she continued to perform oral and hanjob with the condom on for about 10 min or so. After this the time expired and I removed the condom and threw it away.
3 days after this episode I started to think about my chances of catching HIV I read all the info on a lot of forums. I was worried about catching HIV from this scenario: she spit on my penis before putting the condom. I did not see this or felt it but I thought it was possible. 10-14 days after this (knowing that the symptoms would appear at this time) I started taking my temp.Took it several times per day. It was between 36.7 in the morning to 37.2 in the afternoon taken axillary. I got very scared called doctors became very anxious, started to cry about this and couldn't do anything. The temp went even a little bit higher about 37.3 and one time 37.4 also in the midday-evening. I went to the doctor told him whole story - took my temp said it was a normal maybe a little high but nothing to worry about. Made a white blood test lymfocites and reactive protein ( can come back with the exact details)- all good.Said it is just to prove that I do not have anything going on in my body. Beside this I had a little sore throat but I kept touching my neck for several days before so it felt somewhere outside not inside the throat.
I then started to search for swollen lymph nodes. Thought I found them .Was again very scared. Went to the doctor. He told me that there were no lymph nodes and that I need mental help.
All this lasted for about 2 weeks. I took Coldrex for 4 days . Also went to the psychiatrist who prescribed me Seroquel. After a few days with seroquel and coldrex I was better. Went to the doctor again to search for lymph nodes- again and temp(felt like it was still a high). He took my temp. It was 37.4 inside the ear and he took his own temp- it was the same- to prove that it was normal. After this episode I felt better did not feel temperature again.
After a few days, the 28 days were reached so I went to get tested. I was tested for HIV 1,2 for antibody and antigen I do not know what gen the test was. I asked and wa told taht is test for antibody and antigen and that it is quite reliable in early stages. On the result it is written Ag/IG . 28 days is not clear 28 days.The episode was on the 12 march night and the test on 8 april at noon. All together somewhere at 27 days.
Fever went down 4-5 days before the test. 2 days after the test a rash came up on my legs on an area of about 10X10 cm on the outer side of each leg. Only there. Looked like an acnee. I am offering this information because in some posts I have seen that the test is not realiable if the symptoms are still on.
Test back negative. Also tested for white blood cells(again) and many other things like reactive protein etc.( can come back with the info if necessarily) . All all right.
After 6-7 months a mouth ulcer appeared but I have them many times so I did not really worry about that one.
Now I am still on Seroquel for depression-this was the diagnostic; reccomended 4 more months. As I look back I don't understand where those symptoms came from. I would like to know if, in your oppinon, I can move on .
This ideea comes back from time to time and is freaking me out. There is not one single day without this thought in my mind. I am very afraid to take the 3 months test. I imagine it comming positive and this is freaking me out again more severe.
I would like to know your opinion on my case and what your reccomendations would be.
Hello,
Thank you for your post.
I can assure that your symptoms have absolutely nothing to do with HIV.
You did not put yourself at risk of HIV infection anyway in the first place and becuase of that you did not even need a test. However you had a test, whcih is the equivalent of the Duo test at 28 days, which was negative. It is conclusive and you do not need to have any further tests. You do not have HIV.
My advice to you is to forget it and move on.
Best wishes,
José
Your reply is very encoraging because it comes from such an experienced Doctor. Still, I need some information to reassure myself.
If the episode itself is concerned what would be my risk? - protected oral sex received -being sucked-, not sure if the condom was on in the first place. The worst scenario would be she using her saliva to lubrify me before puting the condom on. This assumption is not based on anything I did not feel her spiting nor see her doing it but because I have asked her like 2 minutes later and looked myself at the condom at that time, I assume that she could have done it before. If she did is the risk still zero? Why?
If the episode itself and the symptoms would be concerned what would be my risk?
You said you "assume" -concerning the symptoms- that they were not related to hiv. Can I consider this for sure? Is fever of 37.3 - 37.4 max. as I described it above taken axillary a possible symptom?
What do you think about the rash I had after test? - I described it above. -> Looking like acnee on the side of both legs near my buttoks on an area of about 10 X 10-15 cm.
If those symptoms were related to hiv and I had a test at the time I have specified-27 days after encounter and 5 days after fever went down whould the test be positive? I mean after symptoms, do usually tests show positive results? Also consider that the possible "rash"appeared a few days after the test.
The test itself was made in the Netherlands, it was a combo as the doctor told me and it was searching for antibody and antigen. On the paper result it is written Ab/Ig Hiv 1,2 . Doctor said that would detect Hiv in quite early stages but is certain at 3 months.
Finally, can I rely on the dialogue we had here and stop testing + thinking + fearing HIV ?
Risk/Test reliability
Linear Mode
