[Question #7616] Follow up on previous encounter

54 months ago

Dear Dr.

I am very sorry to come back again and I hope I am not wasting your time.

As stated previously I had a stupid encounter as I have asked for massage service and I was so careful when the lady arrived I have noticed that she is sex worker I was careful as the whole process I was wearing my underwear but at the end of the massage only I had that stupid thing . The day before my encounter I had my thump finger cut while I was opening a box wit a ounce and it was bleeding a lot and I had bandage and later on the day I took it off as not any more bleeding. during the meeting I don’t remember my finger was bleeding but the cut was open.

She used my hand to rub her virginal area and unfortunately I used one of my finger but the one one had cut to finger her like sex act.. unfortunately I was so so stupid of doing such thing it was as stated like for five min and I could feel her liquid but I don’t know if her liquids tocuched my cut in the thump finger.

I could not sleep since then thinking of this encounter I have not used my penis and I was the whole process wearing my underwear. What makes me to come back is yesterday night I have had pimple like in one of my fingers etchy and when I etch it once only it bleed little and with tear of white water like ‘tear’ , now it’s not at all etchy and I can not even notice pain.. the pimple is not like a mosquito bite now rather That surface half circle cut it’s 2 mm dia almost. The time line is as follows: 29 morning had my finger cut , 30 night I had the massage , 1st feb I had the pimple of the finger.

Would these symptoms of HIV or STI ? Do you recommend any other STI testing if any ? Do the events detailed above change any of your risk assessment?

I am so worried as I have a regular partner and I want really to get back to normal life I had before this encounter.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

54 months ago

I'm sorry you continue to worry after the reasoned, science based advice I gave last time. You provide no new information about the exposure, no STD is a likely cause of the symptoms you report, and I continue to believe you are not infected and do not need testing. However, my reply last time included this: "But of ocurse you are free to be tested if it would stop you from worrying about this. Many (most?) anxious perons are more reassured by negative lab test than by professional advice, no matter how expert it may be."

Please note that repeated questions on the same exposure or topic are not permitted, and are subject to being deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee). If you were hoping to hear from Dr. Hook's in addition to me, there was no point: our expertisae is identical and our optinions and advice always are the same.

Really, stop worrying about this. All is well. Don't confuse guilt or shame over a sexual decision you regret with infection risk from that decision. They aren't the same.

HHH, MD

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54 months ago

Dear Dr. Hunter,

I am very sorry if my new question was just from paranoia and fear I truly don’t mean to continuously ask these I was under the impression that the new pimple will make different to the assessment previously provided, and you are absolutely right I feel so much shameful and stupid of doing what i have some and trouble sorry for that encounter. I have even my work being affected badly and requested a leave to stay home and even I can not socialize, this bad feeling is really impacting my overall life mode.

Today I have my both hand palms are kind of having allergic reaction etching with small red dots , is it because of my nervous and both hands are wetting I have really no clue. Or because of yesterday’s red pimple. The problem with testing is the long waiting period under the same paranoia and fear so I don’t want to go through this hassle. Also I have read most of the similar cases in this website and answers have never changed, of no risk at all and the problem some websites still indicate that the chances are high so that the reason making me so unbelievably in fear.

Very sorry again of making you really uncomfortable as stated perviously we are so luckily to have the chance to chat and request advises on this subject from the top experts on the world.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

54 months ago

To be clear, you are not making me "uncomfortable" in the least. I'm sorry "the bad feeling is really impacting my overall life mode" is an excellent statement of the sort of problem that additional facts (whether about HIV, STDs, or any other medical fear) will never solve. You clearly need professional mental health care: no amount of restating the facts about STD/HIV riska nd symptoms can not possibly benefit you. I'm glad you think we are "top experts", but we are definitely not experts in metnal health and psychology, which are the man health issues you display. Both the suggestion for professional counseling and excluding you from such questions going forward reflect compassion and caring, not criticism. I'm sorry this forum isn't able to help. Best wishes to you. Good luck.---
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