[Question #3798] Symptoms coincidental to a gastroenteritis illness or could it be ARS?
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86 months ago
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I started unprotected sex for the 1st time with my wife to conceive, we only did it 2 times on a weekend and she got pregnant! :) We always had protected sex before and I know this will sound stupid but I had very weird symptoms 13 days after that weekend; I don’t know if they were coincidental to a gastroenteritis illness we all had or if in the crazy even that my wife was exposed before to an STD like HIV if those symptoms could be related.
My symptoms were:
Day 11: My wife, in-laws & I were exposed to Rotavirus from my nephew due to changing watery diapers (we all got sick in the next days), mine developed as:
Day 13: Very very itchy & burning soft palate and inner ears with post nasal drip.
Day 14: Diarrhea twice, stomach pain/gas/burping/noises; headache, some chills-aches, tired, sporadic itchy burning palate/inner-ears.
In the afternoon felt like hot, although no fever as my temp was 99.32F max (oral) and it went back to my normal ~98F after 5 hours.
Over night had very bad reflux with acid in my mouth & chest burning and another flare of itchy/burning soft-palate/inner-ears.
Day 15-18: FELT PERFECT! NO MORE headache, chills, aches or feverish sensation! Still acid reflux, GI symptoms (no diarrhea) and minor sporadic itchy/burning of soft palate/inner-ears & a dry larynx from acid.
1) Does this sound like HIV ARS? Or where all from the gastroenteritis?
2) Why I had itchy/burning soft-palate and inner-ears? Was it from acid reflux flare?
3) Can fever on ARS be that low (99.32F) and lasting only for 5 hours? Is that even a fever?
4) Is itchy/burning around soft palate like ARS sore throat?
5) Can I continue unprotected sex; should I go for testing?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
86 months ago
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Welcome to ur Forum. I'll be glad to try to help. As I understand it, you have had unprotected sex with your wife on just two occasions and that since then you experienced the symptoms you describe. You do not describe prior partners or risks and I will presume there are none. Thus, my answers will be directed to the context of your recent sex and symptoms only. if there are additional questions or my interpretation of the situation is wrong, please feel free to use your up to 2 follow-up questions for clarification.
1) Does this sound like HIV ARS? Or where all from the gastroenteritis?
Your symptoms are in no way suggestive of the HIV ARS. They are however compatible with rotavirus infection which is highly contagious. In addition, the inset of your symptoms occurred at just the time that one would expect rotavirus to cause infection.
2) Why I had itchy/burning soft-palate and inner-ears? Was it from acid reflux flare?
Your oral symptoms could reflect the effects of rotavirus which does cause dehydration or some other problem. They certainly do not suggest an STI of any sort, including HIV.
3) Can fever on ARS be that low (99.32F) and lasting only for 5 hours? Is that even a fever?
This fever is lower than is typical for the HIV ARS and was also briefer than typical. Many clinicians would not consider a temperature of 99.3 to be clinically significant.
4) Is itchy/burning around soft palate like ARS sore throat?
No.
5) Can I continue unprotected sex; should I go for testing?
I see no need for testing and no need to not continue to have unprotected sex with your wife. By the way, your wife will probably be tested for STIs and HIV at the time she goes for prenatal evaluation related to her pregnancy.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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86 months ago
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Thank you Dr. Hook! I am very happy to know that my symptoms were from the Rotavirus infection and that we can continue our normal lives! :)
I forgot to mention that 1 week after the Rotavirus I also experienced a very bad hangover, and I am not sure if its related but it happened like this:
We had our annual party of the company where I work on Friday from which I went all over until the next morning without sleep and honestly I drank a lot! then I was extremely exhausted but had a family event right after so I just took a shower and went straight there, so again no sleep until Saturday night (40 hours without sleep) I slept finally on Saturday night and on Sunday morning after breakfast I felt absolutely terrible! Headache, aches, extremely tired, shaking uncontrollably and felt really cold! Took my temp and it said 94F! I couldn’t beleive it and then my heart went full on with a very fast rate and I felt really hot! Took my temp again and it was 99.5F, I felt that my heart was going to explode! The fast heart rate, headache and temp of 99.5F lasted 2-3 hours and then I went back to normal temp and heart rate, just the headache and tiredness remained until the next day. What was this? I never felt that bad from a hangover! But to be honest I also never drank that much and at the same time not sleeping for 40 hours!
1) Could those other symptoms be related to how weak my body was from the previous Rotavirus infection?
2) Are these clasic symptoms of severe dehydration of a hangover?
I honestly don’t ever want to do that again!
Also, my wife will be going for routinary pregnancy screening which will include STIs as you said, her gynaecologist just ordered the checkup over the next 2 weeks (she is 1 month pregnant)
3) Is it OK for her to be tested on the 1st trimester? Or when should it be?
Thank you doctor!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
86 months ago
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Thanks for the additional information. Your hangover may have contributed to your symptoms as well as the rotavirus. There is still nothing in your comments that raises any concerns at all about STIs.
Testing for women who have recently become pregnant is fine and a good idea. The timing of such test is not especially specified other than at some point during the 1rst trimester. EWH
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86 months ago
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Thanks again Dr! I agree that the excesive drinking with sleep deprivation plus the weakness of getting over Rotavirus made me feel a bad hangover!
To close this issue forever I want to ask you a last question: Do think it is of any difference that my itchy/burning soft palate and inner ears were a few times only a burning sensation on the soft palate and a little bit back-up through my nose? would that make any difference? I have had sore throats before with colds and they kind of feel different like pain, raw, and burning but only itchy at the begining of the cold, after it is just a lot of pain/burning/raw.
This time it was only a lot of itchiness and burning on the soft palate and some times back up to my nose but not really pain. Additionally I had bad itchyness on the inner ears. Also I felt a lot of heavy acid reflux up to my mouth and throat that always triggered the crazy itchiness and burning son I believe that was the cause of my “throat symptoms” in addition to the other effects of Rotavirus.
Is this new info relevant?
I really would like to thank you for all your kind guidance as I am really looking forward to delete this minor fears forever and continue as happy as always with my amazing wife and future son to come!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
86 months ago
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While I am sure that your throat, soft palate and nasal discomfort is not due to and STI (including HIV) I cannot tell you what caused it. My sense however is that you are spending entirely to much time worrying over an event that has now resolved and is of no consequence. I urge you to stop worrying and move forward.
This is my 3rd reply to your symptoms and, as per Forum guidelines, completes this thread. The thread will be closed in a few hours with no further comments. Take care and please do not worry about these symptoms. EWH.