[Question #12856] Error in Judgement (part 2)

4 months ago

Sadly I am back. On March 9 I fingered a girl in a bathtub. Prior to risk my puppy had bitten my fingers a little, but no open wounds . I also deep kissed her with a sore in my mouth. More details are in my first post.

On the March 24th the girl and I both tested negative using the alere rapid duo. She said her last risk was in December. She also said she doesn’t take biotin. Not sure I trust her.

My symptoms:

On this Saturday march 29 I had what looked like a thrush sore in my mouth.

This Tuesday April 1 my muscles joints ached slightly (23 days post risk) By Wednesday aches were pretty much gone. I’ll also note I woke up hot Wednesday morning but didn’t have a fever. My hands were sweaty, chest was damp.

Today (25 days post risk) I had a alere rapid duo test it was negative.

1. Did testing today (considering the timing) eliminate that my symptoms were ARS?

2. Can I sleep with my wife unprotected ?

3. Can I stop testing?

4. Did I even have a risk?

I just want to go back to my normal life. I’ll never do this again. Thanks.

4 months ago

I am very disappointed in myself. I feel like your going to say move on with your life, don’t worry and get counseling.

4 months ago

I may also have one swollen gland. I know a person can’t tell themselves if it actually is swollen. Just thought I would mention it.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

These are repeats of the same questions you asked and were answered two weeks ago, concerning the same zero risk exposure. I see no reason to repeat myself: go back and re-read the previous discussion (no. 12797).

"1. Did testing today (considering the timing) eliminate that my symptoms were ARS?" Yes. If symptoms are caused by HIV, the tests always are positive.

"2. Can I sleep with my wife unprotected " Yes.

"3. Can I stop testing?" Yes.

"4. Did I even have a risk?" No.

"I feel like you're going to say move on with your life, don’t worry and get counseling." Exactly right.

"I may also have one swollen gland." HIV never causes a single enlarged lymph node. See above about symptoms and HIV test results.

Do not ask any follow-up questions that have already been answered either here or in your previous thread. If you do, the thread will be closed immediately.

HHH, MD

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4 months ago

Thank you for your response. Mentally I feel much better..

Today my lower right arm (muscles) are a little sore. Other than that I feel fine.

Between my partner and I testing hiv negative at two weeks post exposure and me testing negative yesterday I am ready to calmly move on with my life and my wife. I will not worry about hiv.

1. Do you agree with my plan?

Have a nice weekend!

4 months ago

I’ll assume the minor arm pain should be ignored.

4 months ago

As I said yesterday’s test (25 days) post event was an alere rapid duo. It was negative after symptoms.

Thank you.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

Yes, I agree with your plan; I'm glad you understand! Indeed you should ignore your arm pain or any other symptoms you have now or might have in the future.---

4 months ago

As I mentioned. The girl and I tested negative with a rapid duo 15 days post risk. Today I called her and asked when was her most recent risk before me. She stated just before Christmas. She also said she doesn’t take biotin.

Since my arm muscles still were aching for over a week I decided to test this morning. I tested negative with a rapid duo 31 days post risk.

I can’t believe the anxiety I caused by fingering a girl with possible finger nicks, and kissing a girl with a sore in my mouth (that I had picked at).

I actually think I am being ridiculous.

My follow-up questions are:

1. Did I rule out Ars from hiv 1 & 2 today by testing negative a week after arm pain started and possible swollen gland? (31 days post risk)

2. What is the timing of Ars?

3. Is muscle aches in isolation and maybe one swollen gland normal Ars Symptoms ?

4. Can I stop the repetitive hiv testing and move forward?

5. Can I sleep with my wife unprotected ?

6. Should I ignore my symptoms or any future symptoms and stop thinking everything is hiv?

The truth is I think I really need more extensive mental care.

Thank you for the valuable services you provide.

4 months ago

Also wanted to say my right arm muscles hurt more then my left muscles,

4 months ago

Lastly I just want to move on without more worry. I think you clearly said I should do so .

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

4 months ago

These are repetitive questions answered previously, or the answers are obvious from the discussion above or in your two previous threads.

"I actually think I am being ridiculous." I agree. "Lastly I just want to move on without more worry. I think you clearly said I should do so." Correct. I have nothing more to say.

That concludes this thread. The forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. Not counting your first question a year ago, this and your previous one reflecting your inflated anxieties about STI/HIV risks in general, and you have been resistant to the reasoned, science-based evaluations and advice you have had. This will have to be your last one; future questions on these topics will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended 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.

If you remain concerned, my first advice is to go back and carefully read every detail of this and your previous discussions (no. 12797). If you remain concerned, please consider professional counseling. Your thinking on all this is not normal and probably reflects some underlying psychological issues. That said, I do hope the two recent discussion have been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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