[Question #12932] Trying to Move On (part 2)
3 months ago
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Dr. Hook,
I recently asked a question. Please refer to part 1 for exposure detail.
Key points:
Risk was March 8.
My partner and I tested hiv negative with a rapid duo two weeks and a day after our hookup. She said she hadn’t been with her ex since December. He was Indian.
Symptoms:
The first week in April my right forearm started to ache. The bicep slightly as well. This continues to this day. The left only has barely hurt. I also thought one gland was swollen in neck.
Because of this arm muscle pain I have been repeatedly testing. History below:
2 weeks, 3 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 45 days and 50 days. These were all rapid hiv duos. They all were negative.
I also tested negative for hep c at 45 days and syphilis at 49 days.
Questions:
1. Have I ruled out hiv 1 ?
2. Have I ruled out hiv 2?
3. Would the myalgia (arm pain) be more widespread pain if it was Ars?
4. Would Ars (arm pain) last 4 weeks and continue like mine?
5. Can I finally go back to sleeping with my wife starting tonight?
6. Can I begin to calm down and accept I am hiv negative?
I continue to treat with my therapist on a weekly basis. I also reread your reply saying I had no risk. Finally I do take anxiety meds.
3 months ago
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7. Lastly can I please stop testing?
3 months ago
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8. Lastly would all of my tests while having arm pain rule out Ars for hiv 1 or hiv 2?
3 months ago
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One additional fact. I tested negative for Covid and flu. I feel fine besides the mild arm pain.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
3 months ago
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I'm sorry you found it necessary to return. These additional questions are well covered in your recently closed discussion with Dr. Hook, which I reviewed. Or at least the answers are obvious from that discussion. Therefore my replies are brief.
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1, 2. Yes you have ruled out both HIV1 and HIV2.
3,4,8. These questions are irrelevant. In your other thread, you asked "Does it sound like Ars (why or why not) and did my rapid test prove it’s not?" Dr. Hook replied "Tests [for HIV] are always positive in persons experiencing ARS. If your symptoms were due to HIV, your tests would have been positive." That reply answers these questions. And ARS doesn't cause arm pain anyway.
5. You should never have stopped sleeping with your wife. You can safely resume unprotected sex whenever you like.
6,7. Yes, you should "calm down and accept" that you do not have HIV and should stop testing. You should have understood this from your previous thread and certainly should do so now.
That you tested negative for covid and flu is meaningless in regard to your sexual exposure and later worries about HIV.
Good luck with your therapist. Hang in there with the anxiety medications. Good luck and stay safe. Let me know if anything isn't clear. However, if you ask anything whose answers already are obvious, they will not be answered and the thread will immediately be closed. Finally, I suggest you print out this thread and share it with your therapist: I believe it will give her important insight into your state of mind about these issues. Good luck.
HHH, MD
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3 months ago
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Dr. Handsfield,
Thank you for your response. I am putting in the work with my therapist.
As a reminder my risk was kissing a girl with a sore in my mouth that I picked at and fingering the same girl with potential cuticle nicks and also I let my dog nibble on my fingers when playing.
As I mention my right forearm muscle still hurts. The left arm barely hurts. I also may have had one potentially swollen neck gland on the right side. (Not really sure about the gland)
This past Friday I tested negative for HCV. This was 54 days post risk.
Today I tested negative for hiv 1/2 using rapid Alere 4th gen test. It was 58 days post risk. I did this to rule out hiv 2.
Questions:
1. Did I have a risk for hepatitis c?
2. Did I need testing for hepatitis c?
3. Did I rule out hepatitis c infection with a 54 day negative test?
4. Does coinfection of hcv and hiv affect hiv test results (for either hiv 1 or hiv 2) or is that a myth ?
5. My arm muscles have been hurting for over a month. Is this to long for ARS?
6. My tests ruled out ARS correct?
7. Did I rule out hiv 2 with today’s negative 58 day hiv test?
8. I have date night with my wife tonight can I sleep with her unprotected?
Thanks for your time.
3 months ago
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9. Lastly would muscle aches be more widespread then just my arms if it was related to Ars or hcv?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
3 months ago
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1-3. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is widely misunderstood. The only sexual transmission risk is between men having traumatic (potentially bloody) anal sex practices with other men. It is almost never transmitted by vaginal intercourse or any sex between men and women. You were not at risk and do not need testing. But yes, your negative test proved you don't have HCV.
4. Irrelevant since you do not have HCV. Such interference is real but exceedingly rare, and only in people who acquire both viruses at once.
5-8. All answered previously in your previous thread and this one. Re-read those replies.
9. Yes.
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3 months ago
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Since the last time I posted I got sores in my mouth. An oral surgeon said it was probably an allergic reaction not likely thrush.
I had more tests:
Rapid duo at 68 days post risk (neg)
Rapid insti test today 72 days post risk (neg)
1. Can you advise why i didnt have a hcv risk?
2. My negative hcv test at 54 days ruled out hcv?
3. I have read where you and Dr. Hook said hcv interference with hiv tests is more of a myth. Please comment?
4. Could mouth issues at 58 days be to late to be ARS?
5. Did i rule out ars by testing negative multiple days after the sores started?
6. What should I do about the mouth issues. Please note i have had and been treated for thrush before. Docs dont know why? Thats why i test so much.
7. If my mouth issues end up being thrush should i still not worry about hiv?
8. Do I need to just move on and stop testing?
9. Can I sleep with my wife unprotected?
3 months ago
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As a reminder- my risk wish fingering with cuticle nicks, kissing with a mouth sore. Lastly my dog bites my fingers (playing) and maybe there are little wounds on the fingers which i used to finger the gal.
3 months ago
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Lastly the mouth sores are front roof of mouth. The white in the sore won’t really scrape off.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
3 months ago
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These questions mostly repeat previous ones, or the answers are obvious from the previous answers.
2. Yes.
3. HIV/HCV test interference is very rare -- and since you do not have HCV, obviously it could not have interfered with HIV testing.
4. There is no such thing as "late ARS", or ARS in presence of a negative HIV test.
5. Yes.
6,7. We only address issues related to STDs and HIV. Since you have neither, they cannot be the cause of your oral symptoms. Thrush is common in people without HIV and is not a reason for repeated HIV testing. And maybe you don't have thrush (i.e. oral yeast infection) anyway. Thrush is not the same as coated tongue, for example. I suggest seeing a doctor about your oral symptoms, whether thrush or something else. But you may not keep coming to this forum about it.
8. Yes.
9. What did you not understand about my comment above? "You should never have stopped sleeping with your wife. You can safely resume unprotected sex whenever you like."
This is your last forum question about these issues. You previously have been warned about repeated anxiety driven questions -- and this entire thread has been nothing but repeat after repeat. Future questions on these topics and your inflated fears will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. From now on this policy will be strictly enforced so please do not try. Thank you for your understanding.
I do hope this and your previous thread have been helpful. If you remain concerned, your first step should be go go back and carefully re-read both of them. If that doesn't help, please seek professional counseling to figure out why you are so unable to accept, understand, or believe the advice you have had. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism: this isn't normal. Good luck with it.