Possible Broken Condom

[Ransdell]

Hello,

I am a 30 year old male and about 4 1/2 weeks ago I had sex with a CSW woman.  We wore a condom the whole time and it was strictly vaginal intercourse.  Nothing seemed out of place to me, although she seemed very wet but perhaps she used lube beforehand as she used my bathroom before.  I have to also say that I was somewhat drunk so my recollection of the whole thing was hazy.

After I finished, I went to the bathroom, took off the condom, and flushed it down the toilet.  I can't recollect if there was a lot of semen in the condom or not.  Then suddenly she begins freaking out because there are two (probably two-three inch) wet spots on my comforter.  She really began acting freaked that the condom broke.  She kept freaking out and asked for $50.00, for a morning after pill, which I gave her.  However, the whole time I was a little fuzzy as to if this was an act for more money or a legitimate worry of hers.  She also claimed to be STD free. 

I've been with girls before using a condom and things can still get messy - with lube, condom spermicide, vaginal fluid, etc. etc.  I even smelled the freaking wet spots and the didn't particularly smell like semen, but they had a faint odor - nothing serious.  Also, to my knowledge, when a condon breaks, it rips right?  Would that not have been extremely obvious?  I wasn't THAT drunk.

Anyway, of course, two weeks later I get a sore throat, have a white furry coating on my tongue (not normal morning plaque).  I had to get on an anti-fungal med to get it to go away, and I freak out.  My tongue didn't hurt, just white, but my throat sure definitely hurt.  Although I've had some dietary problems even before the "exposure" so it could be totally related.  It could be fillings I got a month ago etc. etc.  Do you think I had a serious risk for exposure here?

I'm getting tested tomorrow at approx. 30 days, and will again at 13 weeks.  My other question is will a standard ELISA or Western Blot test be affected by the fact that I have rheumatoid arthritis?  Also, I am being treated with a drug that inhibits to a degree the immune system.  I will tell the clinic all this, but just wanted to see if you had any input.

Sorry for the long-winded post and any bad spelling!!! 

[Ransdell]

Also as a follow-up...  How accurate are the rapid oral swab tests used in clinics as far as incidence of false-positives?  And if I currently have a virus (like a cold or respiratory infection) does this increase  my chances of a false positive?

Thanks much!!!

[Danny47]

As far as the "fungal" mouth infection...did you get a test done to ensure that it was a fungus or a virus? Where you running a fever? 

Definitely the wait will drive you crazy, but after thirty days after I was infected my ELISA turned out to be " false positive" but I had sex without protection at all. Quite different from your experience.  There is not much that you can do but wait.  You will get a wide array of opinions on when to get tested and how often.  With the new (highly suseotible) tests it is easier to determine if you have been exposed.  The ELISA measures the presence of "antibodies" one has.  a western Blot would be the most recommended test to determine infection.  but one step at a time.  do not take or spend the money on the "swab" testing.  There are also some HIV cliincs that can do the "ten minute" test, but again. It is based on antibodies and not on the amount of infection that you might have.

My opinion is that you will be OK.  I think that you would have noticed if it "broke" and instead of getting freaked out after you went back to the bedroom, you would have freaked right then and there.  I think she got a 50 dollar raised for the night, I sincerely doubt that she went to get the "pill" with that money, I think added to her Piigy Bank to buy her fake Louis voutton in Chinatown the "morning after"

I hope that after this you will not encounter such a doubt ever again, but if it ever happen again, ask your Doctor about the "30 day" preventive profilactic program. It is recommended to start it before the first 48 hours after the "accident" and you will be taking HIV meds for a period of one month.  It seems that it does not allow the virus to infect when this is done.  It has been used for some time now, but it is getting a great deal of respect and acceptance within the medical community.

But you will be OK...more signs of non infection than of infection based on your story.  please let me know what the outcome is, will keep you in my thoughts.  My best to you.

[Danny47]

With regards to your RA meds, do tell your Dictor soon.  my case was similar.  I suffer from UC and was on a prednisone treatment and it really did a number on how the HIV infection messed me up....Talk tou your Doc.  on another note, instead of a sore throat "seroconvertion" is pretty brutal, although it does not seem to be the same for everyone, but it is like a "flu-like" with cold sweats, vomiting, weakness and fatigue....You will be fine....keep us posted....

[Ransdell]

Thanks for the reply!!  I'm going to see my GP tomorrow and my Rheumy on Thursday so hopefully I will begin to get things sussed out.  I took my temp several times and never ran a fever, just the sore throat and white carpeted tongue, which hasn't been confirmed as fungal.  I had my tonsils out at twenty and believe me this was a 4-5/10 on the pain register for sore throats.  I know what a ten is.

I believe my symptoms are more immune-related to the RA meds and malnutrition from a few years a heavy drinking which by the way, led me to make this and many other stupid choices, and which I have been seeking help for.  I am nearly two weeks sober now and counting - this was a bottom for me and I see this as all part of getting my health (physical/mental/spiritual) in check again.

I am worried about a false positive though because of the RA and I could possibly have elevated liver enzymes still - I heard that can affect the test.  I may ask to wait a couple of more weeks for better confirmation.  I'm not walking circles around my apartment thinking about it 24/7.

One day at a time...  Thanks for your support and good luck with your health!!!!

[RapidRod]

Danny47,

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