[Question #13022] HIV testing & Possible other STD

3 months ago

I Male 36 y/o (M) had unprotected vaginal sex with a 49 y/o (F) co-worker of unknow status. I did not ejaculate

When questioned about her status, she was very vague and did not disclose.

3 days post event , cold sensation on the tip of my penis which lasted 3 days. ( no discharge )

7 Days post event , experienced some night sweats , burning sensation under my skin and sole of feet.

15 days post event , I started feeling fatigued , with sore muscles and soreness under armpit and groin area,. feeling cold easily

25 days post event , i took HIV-RNA & 4th Gen DUO ( both negative ) . Had sex with my regular Partner female .

40 days post event , partner experiences sore throat and cough With body aches. My symptoms persists.

51 days post event , 4th Gen DUO ( negative ). But started developing elbow , knees joint pain and lower back pain. (so did my partner. She experience itchy skin all over body with no rash. i have litle dry pimple around my joints that itch and random little pus filled pimples on my arms. AND HAVE LOST 12 LBS SINCE THEN today IS day 65

Question#1 is my HIV test accurate. despite drinking astragalus and having Hpylori at the time?

Question#2 I have HSV 1 from a while ago .. could this be a flare up ? or EBV ?

Question#3 could it be Syphillis

Edward W. Hook M.D.

3 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. While I don't know anything about your casual partner the exposure you describe was low risk. IF she had untreated HIV (in the US less than 0.1% of women have HIV) your risk of infection from a single exposure would be, on average, 1 infection in 2000 exposures. Since then you have proven you do not have HIV by testing for the virus two different ways (by PCR and the HIV p24 antigen in the 4th generation test) and for antibodies. All tests are negative (in some instances repeatedly) at times when your results are conclusive. You can be entirely confident that you do not have HIV. In response to your specific questions:

Question#1 is my HIV test accurate. despite drinking astragalus and having Hpylori at the time?

Your results are accurate and conclusive. Neither astragalus nor the medications for H. pylori would impair the results of your tests. What medications were you on for H. pylori?

Question#2 I have HSV 1 from a while ago .. could this be a flare up ? or EBV ?

Nothing about this sounds like HSV-1. EBV can do some strange things and may be worth evaluating although it would also be an uncommon cause of your symptoms and would be unusual for you and your regular partner to have the same infection in the time-line you describe.

Question#3 could it be Syphillis

These are not symptoms of syphilis.

My advice is to seek evaluation by your regular doctor. The list of things which might cause these symptoms is very long and include COVID and influenza as well as many other non-STI problems.

I hope this information is helpful. If there are lingering doubts, you could inform your casual partner of your symptoms, that you do not know what is causing them and ask that she be tested and let you know the results as well. EWH

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3 months ago

Thank you so much for your prompt response and advice. I intend to follow it.. I also developed some random body twitches/spams .. is there any correlation to std

Edward W. Hook M.D.

3 months ago

No, there are no STIs which would cause the twitches and spasms you describe in you or your partner. EWH---