Forgive my anxiety-driven questions but I'm at the end of my rope here and would appreciate a little more reassurance.  Again, I hope I k ow these answers already, but...

Sorry to see you back. I'm afraid you're barking up the wrong tree, though. As you recognize in your opening words, your problem is one of anxiety, i.e. an emotional reaction to no risk situations.---

I can't thank you enough for your quick and helpful reply.  This isn't the first time you have probably saved my life, but I'll try to make it the last time!  You and Dr Hook probably don't realize the blessings you guys are, and as I told him, I thank God for you both every day.  I do feel better after hearing from you.  I agree I need help, and I'm not opposed to seeking it out.  I just wanted to make certain there was nothing at all to worry about on the hiv front first.  My logic was that if I had hiv, then the counseling would be a waste since that's my main concern.  Of course it's regret, guilt, etc, but it's an abject fear of hiv more than anything else. I figure I deserve whatever happens to me due to my foolish actions, but I just had to know my wife is okay.  I'm rambling here, so forgive me.  I do feel better and am trying my best to convince myself not to test, bother you again , etc.  Oh...side note and I'm sure it makes no difference, but I meant to ask if the symptoms were ARS or hiv...not just hiv.  I don't know how to thank you enough, but please know there's a guy out here feeling considerably better thanks to your taking your time to save him!  You're a saint, and I mean that sincerely!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to have helped. But if you find these worries creep back, please do talk to your primary care provider about referral for counseling.---

Last one I promise!  I keep forgetting to add what I'm scared now may change yours and Dr Hook's opinion of my risk.  For quite a while, I've had what appear to be zits on my scrotum. They come and go and I never give them much thought but I just read that "lesions on the genitals increase hiv risk."  I do shave my genitals weekly, but I don't know if that causes this or not.  I'm just worried that I should've included that info in first threads to see if that would make a difference.  Also, while I don't think I had cuts in my hands, I have lousy cuticles and frequently t hangnails.  I had also just shaved before the incident. Would that provide a risk?  I guess I'm just asking if there's ANYTHING that would change your assessment regarding my incident?  I don't know why I keep forgetting about the zit-like bumps, but after thinking about it, I'm worried again.  If they were present, which they probably were, would this make he incident a risk??  Are bumps like that signs of hiv?  Sorry to be such a pest but I guess I just want to know if there are any factors that would change your opinion?  I'm sorry if leaving out that zit part makes a difference and apologize for not thinking of it sooner.  Thanks as always and please don't be angry for my error here!

No STD causes the sorts of scrotal skin bumps you describe. My guess is they are either folliculitis from shaving or entirely normal skin glands, which are easy to see on every man's scrotum, especially if the skind is stretched. Whatever the cause, nothing like this would increase the risk of HIV or other STDs.---