[Question #3219] HIV anxiety!
37 months ago
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Hello,
I am straight male, really nervous about having contracted HIV from a brief
sexual encounter I had 16 days ago with a white American girl (28 years old).
Her HIV status is unknown to me (she has not been tested recently), but
according to her, she had a boyfriend until 2 month ago and had unprotected sex
with him few times. His status is also unknown. I wasn't sexually active for many months before tha
During this encounter, we kissed for maybe 10 minutes (tongues involved), then I performed oral sex on her for a couple of minutes (didn't get to her vagina - but her clitoral are was wet, and it got into my mouth - no open wound in my mouth). Also, I pleasured her with my fingers for a couple of minutes (no wounds on my fingers either). Lastly, while I was robbing my penis on her clitoral area, it suddenly slipped into her vagina. It only took couple of seconds and I pull out immediately. I ejaculated couple of seconds right after that.
Almost 13 days after the encounter my throat started feeling slightly sore – with feeing like phlegm is blocking it. Today (day 16) my throat is slightly better, but muscles of my neck have become slightly painful and stiff (right below ear towards throat), though I can’t feel swollen lymph glands. I have no more symptoms as of now. I smoke a couple of cigarettes a day. I am not sure if my current symptoms are because of rampant flue in winter and very cold and dry weather, they are ARS symptom, or merely because of sever anxiety I am experiencing.
My questions please:
1. What are ARS symptoms? when do they appear and how long would they last? and could my symptoms be those of ARS? or might they be due to severe anxiety?
2. What are the odds of me being infected with HIV? do you recommend getting tested at 6 weeks mark or sooner?
3. How can I manage my severe anxiety about this situation? (I can’t sleep, can’t eat, get heat flashes, have gotten dry mouth, …). It is really eating me alive
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
37 months ago
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37 months ago
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Thanks a lot for your reassurance. It is really heartwarming. Please let me give you a brief update on my condition at 24 days mark post exposure.
My throat is almost not sore anymore, but there is still mucus there. I didn't have any other major ARS symptoms either.
However, there is the general mild redness (not so acute) that appears and disappears (in less than an hour) on my cheekbones from time to time (maybe once a day or less). Also, a few non-itchy rashes appeared on the same area (one at a time again maybe less that once daily) and disappeared on their own in less than an hour. No rashes on my trunk or limbs.
I also get heat flashes when I go to bed at nights. It goes away in a couple of minutes but makes me sweat on the head and legs.
I know all these can be symptoms of anxiety and stress, or due to me being constantly scanning my body. I could've had those things before and never even considered them.
Anyways, my questions are:
1. could those be ARS symptoms (especially those few rashes and redness)?
2. if not, can I completely rule out possibility of ARS (as I am past week 3) and stop scanning my body for any symptom?
3. if yes, do you recommend getting tested at this point just to see what the result would be?
4. Could those symptoms be due to other STDs which might possibly have become activated in my body?
Thanks a lot again for your support.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
37 months ago
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37 months ago
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Dr Handsfield,
I got 10 Panel STD test yesterday (day 29) at QD and
the results came back all negative today – except for HSV-1. My questions are:
2. In my specific case (you estimated the odds of infection close to zero in the first place), do you see any slight chance that it turn positive in 6 or 12 weeks? and do you recommend getting tested again few weeks later?
3. I have a strong body and never have had any decease except for flu once every couple of years. Could it be the case that the virus hasn’t been able to get activated in my body at day 29 since my body defense is pretty strong?
4. Are other negative results on the 10 panel test 100% conclusive at 29 days mark past the encounter (especially Syphilis – PRP with reflex to Titer/FTA – AB)?
5. The lab told me that HSV-1 is not dangerous and a remarkable percentage of adults have that virus, and there is no need for an immediate treatment. They told me that I can get over-the-counter drugs if/when I get cold sore in my mouth or on the lips. Do you corroborate that? and if not, what is your recommendation?
Thank you very much again for all your help!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
37 months ago
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37 months ago
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You didn't mention Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Is negative results for those two conclusive at this point?
37 months ago
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
37 months ago
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