[Question #10724] Back Again- post prep

20 months ago

Hi Doctors-

U fortunately I am back again. As a follow up to my previous question (exposure was guy rubbing his penis against my anis with no clothes on. However, I didn’t feel penetration)

- I completed pep for 30 days and on day 5 after completion of prep I got a really bad headache. The next few days I also started to feel neck tightness and back pain. I took an hiv 4th generation test on day 8 post pep, and am anxiously waiting results. My questions are:

- can these be ARS symptoms? Is it likely that my pep didn’t work (although I regularly tested throughout my pep treatment)?

- I also took several inti HIV rapid tests today (9 days post pep completion) if it was ARS, how likely would it be that insti would pick it up?

- is it possible that the guy could have penetrated me without me knowing (no lube and his penis was fairly small)?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

20 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm sorry you found it necessary. I reviewed your recent discussion with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said.

As Dr. Hook said, it is not possible to have symptoms due to HIV and a negative blood test. Your negative HIV tests prove your symptoms are not due to ARS. And anyway, the minor symptoms you report are not at all suggestive of HIV anyway.

"Is it possible" there was anal penetration you didn't notice? How can I possibly know that??? I find it hard to believe you would not have known, regardless of your partner's penis size, but you're the only one who could know, not me. In any case, at this point your HIV risk at the time of exposure is irrelevant. The evidence so far is that you were not infected with HIV. But have a final AgAb (4th generation) blood test 6 weeks after your last dose of PEP. You can expect a negative result.

HHH, MD

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19 months ago

Thanks doctor. It is now 22 days post pep. 2 days ago (20 days post pep) I began to have a headache, tightness in my throat and it feels like swollen lymphomas (not sure tho). Today I went to the clinic and got a rapid hiv insti finger prick test that came back negative. My question is:

- if my symptoms were hiv ars would the insti finger prick test be positive?

- how Likely is it that these are ars symptoms? The symptoms come and go through out the day

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

19 months ago

Once again, your negative test results prove your symptoms are not ARS. That result mean there is no possibility your symptoms are related in any way to HIV. Sound like you might have caught a cold (or maybe covid?). ---
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19 months ago

Thank you doctor. I took a 4th generation test today (23 days after completion of pep) and it was negative. A few last questions:

- my partner for the last 3 days have been experiencing itching and vaginal pain along with white thick clumpy discharge. She took 1 yeast infection pill (diflucan) yesterday and immediately began feeling better. However, this morning the burning and irritation started to return. Is it possible that I could have contracted gonorrhea and/or chlamydia from mutual masterbatuon and hand-genital contact and gave it to my partner? Or is it more likely that she is feeling worse because she is also simultaneously taking antibiotics (doxy) for something else?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

19 months ago

The symptoms you describe for your partner indeed are typical for a vaginal yeast infection, and some such infections (up to 10%) are caused by yeasts that resist treatment with the standard "azole" drugs, including the pill she took (fluconazole). She should see a doctor about alternate treatments. There is nothing in this that suggests an STD from you or anyone else. In addition, taking doxycycline means she cannot possibly have chlamydia and probably not gonorrhea.

Resist the temptation to blame all genital or other health events on the sexual exposure you remain so concerned about. That's a done deal and you have no adverse health problems from it. Believe it and move on!

Also please note the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. This being your second about the exposure a few weeks ago it will have to be your last one; future new questions about this exposure, testing, and your fears about HIV or STDs may receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding.

I do hope the discussions have been helpful. Happy new year!

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