[Question #13176] Frottage / Oral / HIV Concern

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1 months ago
Hello Doctor, hope that you are well.
I had a recent encounter and have had felt off since.

On Sunday in the US, after landing from a cross country flight, I went to a massage parlor and engaged in unprotected oral her to me, unprotected rimming her to me and Frottage with a female CSW. The oral wasn’t to finish and was for about 3 minutes. With water running, she rubbed her body against mine up and down, she was naked, and I’m pretty sure her vagina rubbed against my penis. No insertion or penetration. After maybe 2 slides I stopped her because this was not something I wanted - I was very nervous when this happened. 

The next morning and in the days since I have had fullness in my lymph node areas - neck, armpits and groin, it has not gone away. I have not had a fever but I do have bouts of feeling warm throughout the day and especially noticeable in the evening. No other symptoms. 

1) Does this sound like ARS?
2) What was the likelihood of HIV from this encounter? 

3)The Frottage is mainly what I’m worried about. 
I took at RNA test yesterday, awaiting the results, if these symptoms were from HIV, it would be positive, correct?

4) I have a whoop and my recovery crashed Monday morning - meaning something happened to my immune system. It had improved all week, and again no rash, fever, diarrhea, cough, etc.

5) could the lymph feeling be my body fighting the infection since Sunday and it just hasn’t taken hold yet?
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1 months ago
Hi Doctors, any update?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
I don't know what sort of "update" you hope for prior to the initial reply to your question. We are not online 24/7; we endeavor to answer questions within 8 hours and always within 24 hours.

This question is almost the same as your several previous ones over the last few months. You should not need to ask our advice every time you have a new non-monogamous sexual exposure. This time the events are entirely risk free in regard to HIV; there has never been a case known to have been acquired oral to penis or by frontage, or by non-penetrating genital contact. And no infection of any kind -- and certainly not HIV -- can start to cause symptoms within 24 hours of exposure. Whatever symptoms you had "the next morning" were not due to any infection from the events the night before. And ARS cannot start sooner than 8-10 days after exposure.

1) "Does this sound like ARS?" No. Not only is the timing wrong, but your symptoms are not at all typical for ARS.
2) "What was the likelihood of HIV from this encounter?" Zero.
3) "The Frottage is mainly what I’m worried about." Not a possible source of HIV. Your RNA test was done much too early; it doesn't become positive until 5-6 days at the earliest and is always positive by 11 days. You really don't need HIV testing at all. But if you decide you need a negative test result for reassurance, you could have another RNA test 11 days or more after the event.

Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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1 months ago
Understood and thank you, apologies if my message felt pushy. 

So, to clarify - the lymph node blockage in the three areas is just coincidental?

Yes, the test was very but if the lymph ache and warm was at night was tied to ARS, then the test would be positive, correct? No matter how soon?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
From your description, I very much doubt you have "lymph gland blockage" or any lymph node problem at all. It may not be "coincidental" -- my best bet is that anxieties about HIV have made you more aware of trivial symptoms or normal body sensations that otherwise would not be bothersome or even notice. Certainly nobody should be poking their own armpits, groin and neck in absence of symptoms or just because of a sexual event. That simply guarantees that anxious persons find something wrong. In any case, as I said above, it is absolutely impossible for these or any other symptoms to show up the next day after an exposure to any infection of any kind. Period, no exceptions.---
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1 months ago
Thanks, Doctor.

I guess to clarify about the fullness - I’m not poking these areas at all. The areas feel congested / slightly achy. There isn’t swelling but there’s an ache in my neck, armpits and groin. It came on Monday and has ebbed and flowed throughout the week. No visible swelling. Additionally, I have had fluctuations of feeling warm / feverish but no fever throughout the day, it is especially pronounced during the afternoon / evening. Does this sound like anything to you? Is lymph node reaction a “symptom” or is it a reaction before symptoms begin?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
These symptoms do not suggest HIV. There is no such thing as some sort of body "reaction" that you can feel before "symptoms" begin. If nodes are not enlarged enough to feel, they are healthy and not abnormal. As already discussed, this can have no connection with the sexual contact the previous day, except through emotion and psychology. If these feelings continue and/or you remain concerned, see a doctor. But please stop worrying about HIV or STIs from the recent sexual exposure. I have to believe that because lymph node inflammation is commonly listed as a symptom of ARS, you are inclined to think any discomfort in lymph node bearing areas might be HIV. But there are many things under the skin in those areas other than lymph nodes; and these cannot become abnormal or inflamed sooner than 2-3 weeks after catching HIV.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Do your best to accept the expert, reasoned, science-based information I have attempted to convey. Best wishes and stay safe.

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