POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: veryworried111 on May 31, 2013, 01:18:20 pm
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Hello
I had a possible exposure 2 months ago with a male. I gave him oral and might have swallowed some ejaculate and he he fingered me anally that's all. Anyway fast forward 2 weeks later I develop diarrhea and mushy stool. I'm not sure if this was from anxiety or not. I went in for a checkup 23 days post exposure and got tested and Hiv, gonorhea,clahmydia all come back negative for throat and anus as well. My stool returned to normal after I got the test results back but then around the five week mark I got sporadic joint pain in my shoulder wrist and ankle randomly. The pain didn't all occur at once but happened at varying times and came and went. I also developed diarrhea again.I had also just shaved my chest and developed red flat bumps on it. Went backin for a checkup was told that i had a case of folliculitus and not to worry and to also just wait for. The 3 month test. In the mean time I took three oraquick advance home oral swabs at weeks 5, 7 and just today at week 9 all negative. I'm not sure if have swollen lymph nodes or notbut might due to seasonal allergies. I haven't had a fever but did have 3 nights of mild night sweats during week 8. But today I'm feeling pain in my right arm at what I think is the epitrochlear lymph nodes so I'm really scared now. My stool is now a type 6 I believe but solidish. I'm not sure if this is all due to anxiety or not or possibly another std
thanks for your response
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None of your symptoms are in anyway suggestive of HIV. That's not surprising since you did not have a for real risk for HIV. Your saliva has over a dozen elements and proteins which form a very effective barrier to the transmission of viable HIV.
Sexually the only confirmed risks for the transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. That's it. As long as condoms are used properly for those activities you will be well protected.
There is no need for further HIV testing. If any of your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. They have nothing to do with HIV. Period.
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Nothing you described sexually put you at risk for HIV.
Performing fellatio with ejaculation has not been conclusively documented to transmit HIV, espcecially not since the advent of serodiscordant couples' studies, which mitigate the inherent bias in patient report after the fact.
There have been no fewer than three separate serodiscordant studies done. One lasted ten years, one five, and one three. In these studies, condoms were used for anal and vaginal sex but no barrier at all was used for oral activity or any kind. These studies followed people on and off meds, with viral loads ranging from UD to the millions. These studies yielded NO infections linked to oral sex. Not one.
If you wear a condom for anal and vaginal sex, you can avoid HIV infection. It really is that simple.
ARS, Acute Retroviral Syndrome, is the illness sometimes associated with the body's initial immune response to HIV. It is NOT specific to HIV, as your body exhibits similar immune responses to other pathogens, allergies, and even stress. None of the symptoms you described resemble this in any way. They do, as you point out, resemble anxiety.
Other STDs, including syphilis, ARE easily transmitted through oral sex. Every sexually active person who is not in a mutually monogamous relationship owes it to him/herself AND his/her partners to get a full STD panel at least every six months. This includes an HIV test, of course.
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Thanks for your response,
so do you think that the oraquick tests and week9 is relable and conclusive? And my symptoms stemmed from anxiety? Also is my test for gonorrhea and chlamydia at 23 days suficieint as well
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Thanks for your response,
so do you think that the oraquick tests and week9 is relable and conclusive? And my symptoms stemmed from anxiety? Also is my test for gonorrhea and chlamydia at 23 days suficieint as well
Your only concerns here would/might be gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and herpes. All but syphilis can be detected within two weeks. Syphilis, shares the three-month testing windoe with HIV.
And, as you did not have a risk, a test for HIV is bothunnecessary and conclusive. You doin't have it.