[Question #12392] HIV anxiety

8 months ago

Hello, I feel stupid for returning to the forum but I can’t help myself. I thought I would be able to get over this fear of HIV on my own but I can’t. My possible exposure happened in late May. Dr.Hook explained that it was a zero risk incident and that I needed to move on. I decided I would get one more test after the 6 month window period to real be sure I was safe and out of harms way. On Nov 8 I went to planned parenthood and took a rapid test. It was negative. I started to get anxiety after due to thought of being infected at the clinic. Also I had a small hard lump appear on the left side of my neck and I believed it to be my lymph nodes swelled. That really threw me into a spiral. My question is ( I understand it sounds completely ridiculous) can I be infected at a clinic like planned parenthood? Also are the testing lancets they use able to transmit HIV if there was some type of blood on it?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

8 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm afraid I can't help very much. I read your recent discussion with Dr. Hook and agree entirely with his advice. I think you know your anxiety is irrational.

HIV would never cause a enlarged lymph node as the only symptom, and nobody ever has acquired HIV from having blood drawn or by a lancet in any kind of clinic, no matter how many HIV infected patients the clinic may serve. (And the large majority Planned Parenthood clinics have very few HIV infected patients anyway.) As for the original exposure you were worried about, you already know you didn't acquire HIV at that time. Negative HIV blood test results overrule all other considerations: no matter how high the risk at the time and no matter how typical someone's symptoms may seem for an HIV infection, your negative results prove you were not infected.

I hope these facts reassure you. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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8 months ago

Thank you Doctor for your fast response, it has helped ease my mind. Just a general question, What are the main early symptoms of HIV? I think this answer would help a lot of people looking for answers on the forum.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

8 months ago

The main symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) are sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes (several of them) mostly in the neck, fever, fatigue, and a typical non-itchy body-wide skin rash. Most people with ARS have at least three of these at once, starting 1-3 weeks after exposure. Diarrhea and other symptoms sometimes occur. Cold symptoms (nasal congestion, cough) do not occur. However, up to half of all newly infected people have no symptoms at all.---
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