Docs,

Firstly can I ask how you make the payment to paypal. I dont see any link?

To explain my situation, I am a hetrosexual 26 y.o male. My actions have been purely down to being intoxicated and on the second weekend being heavily intoxicated. I feel ashamed and full of remorse for my actions, my stomach is churning with anxiety and guilt. I really do feel awful and since the second incident I have hardly slept a wink which has been noticed by others around me and my overall level of mental health has been low-i.e feeling depressed and worried.

On the 19/20th March I had unprotected pentrative sex with a friend who is south african (of white origin and from a good background). The next weekend I had unprotected sex on a one night stand with an italian girl I met in a club who was 21 and studying in Edinburgh.( The first incident we had sex a few times and I ejaculated inside her, say 2 or 3 hours, the second incident was much shorter around an hour in total and again I ejaculated inside her) To my knowledge I didnt give oral on both occasions but did recieve on both.

My health- Day 1 being 19/20th March.

Day 1-6 no real change in health feeling a little run down, simply due to work related issues.

Day 7- Had unprotected sex with Italian girl. Health was ok but was beginning to develop a chesty cough.

Day 8- Still feeling ok and extremely guilty but cough has developed more and at night my feet were sweating like mad. Think it might have been due to the anxiety, my head was racing big time and couldnt get to sleep. Also had diarohea for the next few days.

Day 9- Head was still racing and cold was developing more and joints were aching.

Day 10- Went to doctors and was prescribed amoxicillin 500mg for my chesty cough, she listened to my chest and told me I was sounding a little crackly. I tried to explain my situation regarding my behaviour but referred me to the GUM clinic where I know you cannot be tested for HIV until 12 weeks.

Day 11- Joints are still aching a little and head is pounding, have been taking sleeping tablets to try and get some sleep so was feeling a little crogy. Had a small rash develop on my right arm which dissapeared after a few hours but was very definite in appearence.

Day 12- Head aches not so bad but still worrying like mad, and chesty cough has still developed.

Day 13- Still feeling very poorly and chesty cough with phlem still present.

Day 14- Sent off home testing kit for chlamydia and ghonorehea. ( which have came back negative!) Would the antibiatocs for a few days affect the results?

Day 15-18- Today feeling a little better, due to the fact I have been reading up this forum of people who are likewise worried out their minds but still chesty cough in the morning and joints particularly my left elbow are aching pretty much constantly!

I have also had a slightly tight chest but is probably due to smoking and I take it there is a possibility of the sore heads on the second week due to drinking to excess for two nights? Please can you advise for the best way for me to go about an HIV testing programme as im worried sick. Literally! I have got to the point im noticing every ache in my body and putting two and two together. I havnt had a really sore throat when gulping etc nor rashed all over my body, but I assume that everyone is different. Throughout this time particularly the 10-15 day mark I did feel a little feverish, hot then cold, the hot again. Again this might me anxiety.

I look forward to your reply and thank-you in advance.

[Dr Jose]

Hello,
Thank you very much for your post and welcome to our forum. Your payment has gone through without any problem.
It is important not to become fixated in the symptoms, as they are not a reliable diagnostic tool in the case of HIV because they are non-specific. In your case, they are not typical at all of acute HIV sero-conversion and I do not believe that they are related.
However bearing in mind that you had unprotected sexual intercourse, you have put yourself at risk of STDs including HIV, and hence I would recommend you having a full STD screening.
Regarding HIV, you could have a PCR RNA test after 7 days or a HIV Duo after 28 days, with conclusive results without having to wait 12 weeks.
Best wishes,
José

Hi doc, thanks for the reply. How was assess my exposures in terms of risk? Would you say these have been high risk exposures?

Also can you recommend anywhere in Scotland where I could have such tests carried out? Thanks in advance.

[Dr Jose]

The risk is relatively low. Assuming that the lady was HIV positive, the risk for you per sexual encounter is less than 1 in 1,000. Not knowing the status of the lady, much, much less. I do not know anywhere in Scotland where you could have these tests. I do not believe that the PCR RNA is available outside London; the HIV Duo is probably available in most units.
Best wishes,
José

Dr Jose,


Just a quick follow up to thank you for your reasurung words a few weeks ago. I have since taken a HIV duo 34 ish days after the first exposure and 26/27 days after the second. I realise it wasnt the full 28 days but I am using my common sense and saying a day wont make a differnce? Thank-you so much for your reasurance, in what was a very difficult and lonely time in my life.

Today after the test I have never felt so relived in all my life, shaking etc etc. And talking of shaking this has given me a big shake up in my attitude to unprotected sex with new partners.


Thanks once again and you guys do a great job, I didnt want to forget to come on here and let you know of the good news as its too easy to forget about the stress I was under and you guys helped it our BIG time.