4 nights ago, I was in a night club with some friends and met an oriental girl named Kassandra. I had a few too many drinks, and ended up going back to her apartment and we had protected intercourse as well as protected oral sex, all of which lasted about 20 minutes. I went home later in the night.
The next day, one of my friends told me that an oriental girl is working as an escort from that same apartment building. I have asked around a few locals who would be "in the know", and it seems as though this is indeed the case, and it was the same girl with whom I had sex. I am now sick with worry (as you can probably see from the time this is posted) that I am at risk of becoming infected with HIV. I would really appreciate if you could lay some facts out for me to at least help to calm me down.
I really need to know:
-Is there a risk that I could be infected with HIV, even though a condom was worn throughout and it remained intact?
-What is the likelihood that she was infected?
- Should I get a HIV test?
I am shaking as I write this as I am so worried about the outcome of my mistake.
-Is there a risk that I could be infected with HIV, even though a condom was worn throughout and it remained intact? No
-What is the likelihood that she was infected? No real idea but unlikley
- Should I get a HIV test?only for peace of mind - you were not exposed to HIV because you were protected with a condom.
I am shaking as I write this as I am so worried about the outcome of my mistake.Well, the only outcome is feeling a bit silly and also gaining reassurance that you will not get HIV if you use condoms - you did so you wont.
You're ok Mark. Relax. Have a test if it reassures you but from a strictly medical perspective you don't need one for this episode.
Thank you very much Dr. Sean. You have really put my mind at rest. I visited my GP yesterday evening, and he more or less said the same thing, so I am a lot happier now. I will go for a test, purely for my own sanity. How long before I can go for a test, given that the episode was only a week ago?
Hi, there!
Bearing in mind that you do not really need it, I would suggest that you gat a HIV Duo test after 28 days of this event, which by then a negative result will be fully relaible, final and conclusive.
Kind regards,
Jose
Hi Doctors Gonzalez and Cummings. Many thanks for your replies.
Since I spoke with you last (about 2 weeks ago), I have developed a number of symptoms, which I am unsure whether I should be worried about or not. The sexual episode concerned occured about occurred approximately 20 days ago now. My symptoms are as follows:
1. Pain in the back of neck, on and off through out the day, which seems to be worse when I'm sitting down/driving. ( Happening For the last 4 days and counting)
2. Pain in ear canal, made much worse by cold air.
3. Shooting pains in left shoulder and arm ( happening since approximately 5 days post episode)
4. Diarrhea in the mornings, but not in evening ( happening since 3 days post episode, which is when I began to worry. Anxiety?).
5. Sudden headache in left side of the head, occurring at regular intervals during the day and lasting no longer that 15- 20 seconds at a time)
6. Throbbing pain in testicular region at some stages during the day.
7. A painless, non itchy rash on inner thighs which appeared approximately days ago. ( I'm putting this one down to friction from my work trousers though. I do a lot of walking in my job as a field sales advisor, and the rash seems to fade considerably in the evenings when I change clothes.) Am I right to think it's just a friction rash?
8. Other pains in various other muscles that come and go very quickly, and are never constant
9. The one that is worrying me most, I don't know why, is a pain in my armpit region that comes and goes in the day. I am worried it might be glandular related.
I have no fever at all, my temp is never above 36.6 degrees celsius. I have been monitoring it all week. I have no throat symptoms either. I spoke on the phone with you Dr. Cummings and you advised me that a seroconversion illness needs to have
1. A very high temperature
2. A rash
3. A very sore throat
I think you also said that they must appear together? Am I recalling that correctly? Basically, what I want to know is, would you be worried about any of the symptoms I outlined above.
I should also add that I went for an STD screen yesterday, and the doctor said he could see nothing that concerns him ( in the genital region anyway). I presume he meant the presence of Chlamydia etc. Test results are due back in 3 wks. He wasn't overly friendly so I don't have much confidence in what he said.
By the way, the phone call you took from me the other week was much appreciated and has helped calm me down somewhat. You have no idea how much that helped me, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you can do the same for me now.
I posted a follow up to my original question on the forum early yesterday morning, Saturday November 28th, but received no reply. I can only assume you didn't receive it (my internet connection isn't reliable at all so it wouldn't surprise me). I'll ask you again.
Basically, I am once again feeling a little worried about the episode described in the original post.
I have started to experience a number of symptoms, which I will outline below. I am looking for your opinion on them.
1. Intermittent Earache in both ears, accompanied by neck pain, left shoulder pain, and headache. Headache has been present since 4 days after exposure. Earache, neck pain and shoulder pain has been happening since 14 days post exposure. I should point out that my GP has examined my ears and found no infection that could be causing pain.
2. Diarreha. I have had Diarreha every morning since 3 days post exposure. Funnily enough, it's fine in the evenings, stools are quite normal. Just first thing in the morning. Anxiety?
3. Rash. I have a painless rash on both inner thighs, which appeared 15 or 16 days post exposure. It is only present when I come home from work, and fades away completely in the evening time when I change into track suit or jeans. Friction perhaps? I do a lot of walking in my job. I'm a field sales advisor.
4. Various aches and pains throughout my body, including legs, the testicles and upper groin. These have been happening since about 5 days post exposure.
5. Pain in the left armpit. Again, this is intermittent, and not always present. Only when I lie on the couch watching telly etc. Sometimes when driving.
6. A painless blemish on the tip of the penis which I noticed about 3 days post exposure, which disappeared about a 10 days after I noticed it. It may have been there beforhand, I just didn't see it until I started examining myself. I suffer from Psoriasis and believe this may have been the cause. My GP seemed to think it didn't look at all sinister.
I should point out that I have had no fever at all since exposure. I have been monitoring my temperature for the past week, and it fluctuates between 35.3 degrees and 36.8 degrees. I have not had any kind of a sore throat either. It is now 19 days post exposure. Is this a reassuring sign?
Dr. Cummings, I seem to recall that during our telephone conversation about a week and a half ago, that you said that a seroconversion illness needed to have the simultaneous appearance of a Very sore throat, a very high temperature, and whole body rash 12 -16 days after exposure. Am I remembering this correctly?
Given the list of symptoms I am displaying, would you be concerned with regard to an HIV infection, or any other STD? I have been tested for other STD's at my local GUM clinic on my GP's advice, however, he said it was only to put my mind at rest.
The doctor at the GUM wasn't overly friendly and didn't really answer my questions in a very satisfactory manner. He did however say that based on the episode in question, and also from the physical exam he gave me, he saw nothing of concern and expected the results to be negative. He also looked at my ears and throat and said he saw nothing at all.
I am looking for you to provide me with some final reassurance to tide me over until my Duo test with you next week. I'm already booked for an appointment.
The phone conversation we had about a week and a half ago calmed me down a great deal, and I am eternally grateful for that. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Many thanks, and I hope you receive the question this time.
I don't have anything to add to the answers already given both by Jose and I.
We are both firmly of the view that you are not at risk and you do not need an HIV test except to reassure you.
I'm not going to go through the list of things again I'm afraid. The more you feed this sort of anxiety the worse it gets. You are not HIV positive and the test will establish that.
Sick with worry
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