[Question #12385] Scared by Symptoms
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8 months ago
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I'm male, late-50's. Went to Thailand and had interaction with female masseuses: 2 hand jobs at small parlours and 3 covered oral (BJ - one may have been a bit uncovered) and covered vaginal intercourse at more higher end parlours. Slight kissing with 1 girl. No issues noticed with condom (no breakage/slippage) during and after intercourse. Slight non-itchy rash on abdomen area a few weeks later, which concerned me a little, but I do have eczema and it went away about a month later and there were no other ARS symptoms. In the meantime, had vag. intercourse with spouse (she has no outside exposure) a couple of times, once with a bit of excess rubbing of penis which caused a bit of a cut. However about 10 weeks after return, I have been waking up at night with extreme dry mouth. I didn't want to check the internet knowing I would become anxious, but eventually did since it wasn't going away. However, after reading that dry throat can be caused by HIV I have been really freaked out and now I'm feeling the dry mouth constantly as well as other issues. I know I should just test, but I'm just so nervous now. My understanding was that it was fairly low risk, but I just can't seem to get the fear out since just looking up dry mouth/swollen salivary ducts shows that it could be HIV. Don't know what else it can be. Just need your sound advice.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions, for your implied confidence in our service and for staying off the internet where it is more likely than not that you would be misled. I do not have a good explanation for your dry mouth but am confident that it is not caused by HIV. Salivary involvement in HIV tends to present with swelling and local discomfort- dry mouth would be unusual Even more importantly, the encounter you describe was virtually no risk. Condoms are almost entirely protective and there has never been a case of HIV documented to have been acquired from receipt of oral sex or masturbation.
Throat lozenges may help your dry mouth.
If you feel the need to prove to yourself that this is not HIV, virtually any test you do at this time, more than 10 weeks after your encounter will be reliably conclusive results.
Please don't worry. EWH
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8 months ago
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Thank you Dr. Hook. Both you and Dr. Handsfield do an amazing service with your esteemed guidance and reassurance. The extreme dry throat has been present for over 2 weeks now, and sometimes feels a bit better (usually during day) and worse at night (mind wandering?). It’s as if the Salivary glands have totally stopped working at times. Recently the tongue and glands feel/look more swollen and the back of the throat more irritated (like a lump in the throat/globus), which could be due to frequently being dried out, although I’m constantly drinking water. Could it be exasperated due to high anxiety and stress? But it has got me very worried and I just wanted to hear your advice and hopefully reassurance. At first I thought it may due to HPV but then saw online that dry throat is symptomatic of HIV. I know getting test is the best idea, but I’m quite nervous.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
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Anxiety can certainly increase the severity of symptoms. Beyond what I've already said, the only other suggestion I have is to see a Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist. EWH---