POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: frozenintime on November 27, 2012, 05:43:54 pm
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Hi everyone,
Last Friday evening I met a long time friend for some fun. He was a bit embarrassed about his recent positive status and didn't inform me until after the event, after I have been the insertive partner for oral sex and for a very brief time insertive partner (less than a minute) in anal sex prior to putting on a condom. No blood or seminal fluids were exchanged during these brief unprotected activities to my knowledge. My friend has an unknown viral load and CD4 count at this time, and no knowledge of other STIs.
I understand the risk in this situation is very very low, but at the suggestion of a good positive friend, I started PEP (Kaletra 400/100 and Combivir 300/150 twice daily, started 15 hours post-exposure). I have been having side effects that have been seen in some patients, inclduing diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, fever, fatigue and general malaise; but last night my regular partner had also been exhibiting several of these symptoms.
From what I understand, the HIV virus could not have built up enough strength to make me infectious in such a short period (our only sexual contact was 34 hours after exposure, it was unprotected, I was receptive and had been on PEP for 19 hours - two courses of medication taken [note: my partner is aware of my exposure]) so I think it is almost impossible that the virus could have been transmitted to him (especially given he is exhibiting these symptoms 60 hours after our last contact). As a result, I think that we may both have caught a bug that a few of my colleagues at work have had recently, which is quite aggressive and rips the life out of you for about a week. He also works at a school so there is a good chance the same bug is doing the rounds of the students there too.
My question is: would this bug (that I'm not sure I have) reduce the effectiveness of the PEP course I am on, and would it weaken my immune system at all to afford the HIV (indeed if there is any) an opportunity to gain a foothold in my system, or would the fever I am experiencing be adverse to the virus?
Your informed knowledge is greatly appreciated, and I thank you for your time.
Frozen :)