[Question #13628] HIV Query
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14 hours ago
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Hello Dr’s
Apologies, I’ve had to set up a new account as I couldn’t remember the credentials I used last time
I’ve only had sex with one person in the past 4 years and it’s a girl who isn’t my live-in partner. I’ve had issues with health anxiety in the past and had, for the most part been free of this for a while. However, after a particularly traumatic year with terminal family illness I’ve been struggling a bit of late
The girl I have sex with is married and I don’t have any reason to suspect that either her or her husband have had sex outside of their relationship )other than with me) we’ve always been very open and she’s told me about threesomes they had in the past before we met
He’s agoraphobic and doesn’t go out much so I’m sure he probably hasn’t done anything
We typically sleep together, unprotected about 1-2 times a month. I tested like crazy when we first got together as did she. I’ve really reduced testing recently (last one was on feb) with the intention of having 1 annually. She’s was last tested for everything 2 years ago and neither of us have ever had an STI (I’m 43, she’s 33)
Recently I’ve started to have a lot of sinus pressure. A dull ache at the front of my head and across my nose. After googling I saw this can be a common symptom of HIV. I will be getting my annual test in soon but could do with some guidance on whether or not I need to expedite this? I also have a lot of tiredness at the moment although I do have poor sleep patterns and usually maintain some level of sleep debt. Over the past week or so I’ve been feeling more fatigued and noticed an increase in sinus pressure
Do I have anything to worry about here?
Many thanks
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14 hours ago
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I also have a bit of a sore throat too but that only came on today
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14 hours ago
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Sorry, the other thing you mention is I woke up to some red spots on my legs today. I shaved my legs a couple of weeks ago and all of these marks seem to be on hair follicles (and have darkened quite a bit already) so not sure if they’re delayed razor bumps or a sign of something else?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
5 hours ago
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Welcome back.
I had no problem finding your several (6 or 7) previous questions, most recently a coupe of years ago. Most if not all those also asked about exposures known to be little or no risk for HIV transmission. In this case you describe a partner who almost certainly does not have HIV. And HIV doesn't cause "sinus pressure" or other symptoms of colds, allergy, and so on. Tiredness and fatigue also do not suggest HIV. (Of course these can occur in people with HIV, but they would never be the only symptoms; and 99.999999% of all people with such symptoms are HIV free.)
From a medical or risk perspective, you do not need HIV testing. Of course you are free to be tested anyway: reassurance alone is a valid reason. If you're going worry about this despite my advice, being testing probably would be a good idea. (This does not mean I believe there is any possibility you have it. I do not.)
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
5 hours ago
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Your follow-up questions don't mention any other symptoms that would suggest you have an HIV infection. But they do suggest you have very unrealistic fears about it, so they indirectly reinforce my advice about considering an HIV test for reassurance.---
