[Question #8808] Follow up to question #8796 Dr. Hook please!

39 months ago

Hi I am just following up on my last question. I had some ARS symptoms, but My 14 week post exposure test was negative although right after the test I experienced these symptoms:

Diagnosed with active CMV

Sudden Muscle weakness and numbness, lasted a couple days, had some residual nerve pain on my lower back days later. Felt almost Gillian barre like, but the ER did no scans but did blood work and diagnosed me with low sodium due to my meds.

Was also diagnosed with a UTI at this ER visit. There was strep B in my urine, but it was <10k and therefore considered a contaminant but they never told me what caused the UTI.

Developed a non itchy pink rash on upper body and some on thighs, it has been here for about 2 months (Looks similar to pitraysis lichenodes)

Developed oral thrush on back of tongue , does not burn or hurt, (possibly from uti antibiotics and stress + I always have dry mouth due to Armodanifil) it is still here but I have not tried the difulcan prescribed yet)

I have white marks all over my nails and have had an infected nail, cuticles look like paraonychia (I was washing my hands very often at work, and hand washing dishes, but still the timing is too much)

Have had irregular periods

I have had canker sores. (Always get them but still)

I have had weird non specific rashes from the sun a couple times

My skin seems more pale

My skin seems to be healing slower than usual, imprints in my skin from clothes and the sheets don’t heal as quickly and are more prominent

Swollen nodes in my neck

Pelvic pain remains after UTI and BV have cleared up

I am just so confused because I tested negative at both 6 weeks and 14 after exposure with 3rd gen AB testing, tested negative for all other stds including syphillis, it has now been about 5 months. The man I was with tested negative on a 4TH gen test 8 weeks after I saw him and negative on an oraquick test 5 months after I saw him. My question is this: could anything else be causing these symptoms I’m facing? Should I te

39 months ago

Should I test out to six months?

39 months ago

I have also had petechial rashes, one on forearm and one small one on breast.

39 months ago

Oops, and also a dry cough that comes and goes along with chest heaviness that comes and goes.

39 months ago

I should mention I have been under severe unrelenting stress for the past few months and cannot function and have lost my job.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

39 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. I’m sorry you continue to worry about HIV. As I start this reply let’s be entirely clear, you do not have HIV and did not acquire HIV from the exposure you have described. Your tests have repeatedly proved this. Currently available test for HIV or amongst the most reliable test and all of medicine. You have had several negative tests at times when your results are conclusive. It is time to stop worrying about HIV. There is no need for further testing for HIV or any other STI related to the exposure you have described.

My comments about the remainder of your questions will be brief as this forum is dedicated to providing information and addressing questions regarding sexual health and sexually transmitted infections. The encounter you’ve described did not transmit an STI of any sort do you. The best approach for addressing your multiple symptoms, not all of which may be related, is to work with a primary care provider whom you trust and feel good communicating with.

Past experience on the forum has indicated that many of our clients, when worried about the possibility of an STI, become hyper-vigilant, worrying about symptoms and findings which they noticed for the first time but likely are either normal or have been present for a long time and have just become noticed because of increased scrutiny and anxiety driven self examination. The stresses you mention may be contributing to noting the symptoms and occurrences you describe.

Once again, my heartfelt advice is for you to identify a primary care provider who you feel you can communicate with and whom you trust and work to address your concerns with her or him. EWH

---

39 months ago

Thank you Dr hook. I just have so much trouble accepting my negative test because I experienced some ARS symptoms along with these other symptoms. Fungal infections particularly and the muscle weakness and numbness I experienced was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I would like to ask though,

1. Can someone give another person a yeast infection? Rather it be from the mouth, vagina, or penis?

2. Does having BV mean you have an STD?

3. What if anything would slow down antibody production?

4. What is the latest someone could experience ARS after infection?

5. If someone is “re-exposed” during their initial infection would that slow down the production of antibodies?

Thank you doc

Edward W. Hook M.D.

39 months ago

I am sorry and dismayed that you were having trouble moving on. The ARS symptoms which, quite frankly your symptoms doo not resemble, are a flu like illness characterized by high fever, severe sore throat, and severe muscle and joint aches. In persons with symptoms such as these, careful scientific studies show that over 99% of persons experiencing these symptoms of something other than HIV. Most commonly influenza, COVID-19, or other community acquired viral infections. Your focus on HIV in the presence of negative tests for this infection is incorrect. As for your specific questions:

1. Rarely. Most sexual exposures the person with yeast infections at one side or another do not need to infections.

2.. PV is a disruption of the bacteria normally present in the vagina. Unprotected sexual activity may increase the risk for BV however persons May develop BV without exposures to others.

3. Nothing you have suggested or described would slow down antibody production or make your tests less accurate. You should believe your test results.

4. The ARS classically occurs about two weeks after exposure to an infected partner. The ARS does not occur more than 3 to 4 weeks after exposure.

5. No

As I have suggested above, you need to move forward from your concerns about HIV and evaluate what is really happening here. Your focus on HIV is a distraction which will only delay addressing the problem see you were having. EWH

---

39 months ago

One last thing please, doc- during my “ars” symptoms, I lost a small chunk of weight- possibly from appetite loss- about 7 pounds. Is this common with other viral illnesses? I also missed my period before the “ars” symptoms. This is still troubling me. I am trying my very best to move on. Have you seen other people with as many symptoms as me also turn up negative in the end? I also was taking a decently high amount of adderall for my sleep disorder around this time. About 90 mg/ day and has been taking that for a year. Could that have slowed my antibody production?thank you, and I will not ask any further questions. Thank you for everything.

39 months ago

One last thing- is it possible to get oral thrush a couple weeks AFTER antibiotics? Thanks!

39 months ago

One very last thing! The “second” window period- does it exist and would it be able to cause a false negative 8 weeks after an exposure? And also, I know you said no, but if someone had multiple “reexposures” could that delay antibody production?

39 months ago

Doctor forgive me please, I’m so so sorry, I keep thinking of new questions in my head. Truly this will be my very last one. When sending me his negative 4th gen test, the man I was with told me he was sick that week during his test. Say if he was positive, and caught hiv right before sleeping with me, could he have been seroconverting just then? 8 weeks after seeing me? Or is the cut off for ARS at 6 weeks? Thanks! I promise I’m done now! Just terrified!

39 months ago

I just saw where you answered this question earlier. I am sorry for repeating myself, this will be my last reply. Thank you for all your help.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

39 months ago

Sigh. You really need to give up on your concerns about HIV. Your partner did not have it and neither did you!!! Brief answers to your rapid fire, somewhat repetitive questions:

1. Certainly persons can loose weight with other viral illnesses. Further, your life stress and raging anxiety can also lead to weight loss and irregular/missed periods.

2. Certainly persons can get thrush weeks after taking antibiotics. Many, perhaps most persons with thrush do not have HIV, nor have they recently taken antibiotics.

3. The “2nd window” is an Internet fueled myth

4. If your partner were seroconverting his 4th generation test would have been positive and 8, or even 6 weeks is too late for ARS - another internet fueled myth

This completes this thread. Further posts on this topic from you may be deleted without a response and without return of your posting fee.

Final advice:

1. Stop searching the internet regarding your symptoms. It is misleading you and worsening your anxiety.

2. Seek counseling

3. Pursue your health concerns with your PCP

4. Set aside your concerns about HIV

EWH

---