[Question #13612] Symptoms Please Help

5 days ago

Hello

I am a married man and at times have had sex with men over the years. I also try to be safe and haven’t been with a man in a couple of years. 2 weeks ago I made a mistake and met a guy through an app. I went to his house and he proceeded to suck on my nipples and even bit them a few times. I did not see any blood but my nipples were raw. I rubbed his body and hair a lot while he did it. He wanted me to preform unprotected anal sex on him which scared me so I didn’t do it and he just masterbated me to completion and I left. Exactly 9 days later I developed a sore throat and two days later severe congestion, sinus drainage and cough. Also body aches and fatigue. To my knowledge no fever so far. I am still sick

several days after it started. I know that symptoms start at this time so I am terrified. My questions are:

1) I have read that the risk of exposure is low but possible if he had even a small amount of blood in his mouth. Is it possible I could have gotten exposed by him sucking and biting my nipples?

2) I have also read my symptoms are ones that could be ARS. Is that true?

3) Should I get an hiv rna test now or wait 6 weeks for the standard test?

4) Should I refrain from unprotected sex with my wife?

Thank you so much

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 days ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. As I suspect you know, the activities you describe are considered no risk activities in terms of HIV and STI acquisition. There is general consensus on these facts. It is far more likely that your flu-like symptoms are the result of seasonal influenza, COVID, or one of the all too common viral illnesses that occur at this time of year. Admittedly the symptoms you describe are also listed for the HIV ARS but the others possibilities are far more likely. If you wish to prove that your symptoms are not HIV, you can test at this time with a 4th generation HIV test since tests are always positive when symptoms are due to the ARS. If you test, I am confident that the results will show that your symptoms are not due to HIV.

I hope that this information and perspective will be helpful. EWH

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5 days ago

So you are saying that I was not at risk correct? But I should test anyway now so that sounds like there was a risk and my symptoms could be ARS. What about sex with my wife? Should I not do that given the risk??

Edward W. Hook M.D.

5 days ago

Testing is always a personal choice . Nothing you mention provides a scientific basis for testing, nor for avoiding unprotected sex with your wife other than the possibility that she’ll catch your non-HIV/STI URI. Please don’t worry. EWH---