Risk with a Ukranian CSW

[aa554t]

Hello,
I had an encounter abt 7 weeks ago with a ukranian CSW. Iam a male who engaged in protected vaginal sex with that women. After 10 days or so i started feeling very weak, and extremely tired with a sore throat and started thinking that i might be infected with HIV. I had a rna pcr test at 18th day post exposure and it came back negative, then a fourth generation combo test at six week mark which also came back negative. However, i still feel very tired and the sore throat persists, and i feel a lump in my throat. About a week back i started noticing rashes in my pubic area and today there was one on my chest and shoulder. Iam very worried because all these symptoms represent acute hiv. Please let me know what was my risk and whether i can take solace in my negative rna pcr test and the negative hiv combo test. Thanks.

[RapidRod]

You had protected sex and didn't have a risk of contracting HIV.

[Andy Velez]

Risk is not about whom you are with. It's about what you do. It's about always using condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse. No exceptions.

Guys seem to think they are automatically at greater risk with a sex worker. The truth is sex workers want to stay alive and healthy and they are often more careful than "civilians" about using protection.

That's a longwinded way of saying that you used a condom and you weren't at risk in this recent incident. Whatever is causing your symptoms has nothing to do wtih HIV. If they continue you should discuss them with your doctor. There is no need for HIV testing.

Cheers. i

[aa554t]

I know you would say that I am being paranoid, but what if the condom had malfunctioned and that the CSW was positive, what are my chances of getting away with a negative rna pcr result at 18th day post exposure, and then again with a 4th generation hiv1&2 combo at six weeks mark? Also i went to see a doctor today and he told me that these tests were too early and that i should wait for six weeks. Please help me out in this situation as I am losing my mind and sleep and constantlly having a headache.
Thanks.

[RapidRod]

 We don't do what ifs. Had the condom failed you would have known.

[Ann]

aa,

The only type of condom malfunction you need to worry about is breakage. When condoms break, it's very obvious. You would have known without doubt.

And anyway, even if your worst-case scenario is true (which I assure you it is NOT), that RNA PCR test would have picked it up if you were indeed positive. You are NOT positive.

You didn't have a risk and you do not need further testing. You ARE hiv negative! Keep using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will continue to avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[aa554t]

Hi,
I hate to bug the experts on this forum, but since yesterday I have started having headaches, and a rash on the back of my shoulder and irregular bowel movements. Also today i notice that there is a light purplis spot on my belly near the bone that covers the kidney and it stings when i touch it. I wonder if this could be the rashes that are generally referred to in the acute infection time period. Please tell me if this is hiv related and how long after the infection do these symptoms appear. Also I am planning to take a rapid hiv 1&2 test at 9 weeks mark with a capillus second generation test. How accurate would that be? I would be grateful if you take out time to reply to me query.

Thanks,
AA.

[Andy Velez]

If you are going to continue to misinterpret everything that happens to you physically as yet another sign that you are HIV-infected, man! you are seriously going to drive yourself nuts.

You had protected sex. Condoms are very effective. Go ahead and test as you plan to and collect the inevitable negative test result.

We can't help you about symptoms. Those are something to discuss with your doctor. There is nothing even remotely HIV-specific about any of them. And we don't get into discussing them. We focus on risk level. In your case there wasn't any risk. Period.

Cheers.

[aa554t]

Today i got my 8 week rapid test with a 2nd generation test and it is negative. Now i know that my risk was very low exposure, what are the chances that the result will remain negative till the end of the thirteen week window period. I am thankful and waiting for your reply.

[Ann]

aa,

We've already told you that you didn't have a risk and therefore, you ARE hiv negative. Your results aren't going to change no matter how many times you test over this incident.

Ann

[aa554t]

Ann you are great!!!

[aa554t]

Guys,
Could recent vaccination(against Hep B) cause a false positive on an HIV test? The reason why I am asking this is that i got the first shot of the vaccine about a month ago and yesterday I gave blood for HIV test. I would be grateful if you could reply back. Thanks.

[Ann]

aa,

No, a hep B vaccination is not going to give you a false positive.

For the last time, you didn't have a risk. It's high time you stopped testing over and worrying about having sex with a sex worker. Get over it already.

Ann