Is this just yeast infection or hiv infection or both??

[iampeter]

I was HIV-negative before 6/8. On 6/8, I received half unprotected and then half protected oral sex (with condom) from a lady. I also licked her clitoral hook (upper part of vagina) a few times and sucked her nipples hard a few times (not sure why I did these...I knew it is bad….). Before leaving, I used month wash on my month. She also told me that she has a teeth problem and I was her 1st customer on that day.

Few hours later, my tongue started to burn and I got a mild sore throat next day. My tongue turned red and bleeds easily when I brushed it. It seemed to have some small cut (or crack) on my tongue. I also had a mild headache for half a day on 6/10. My shirt was wet for couple nights but not soaking wet (there is no A/C in my apartment in hot weather…). I was not sure if I had any mild fever because the weather was so hot.

On 6/17, during my travel from ASIA back to USA, my low arms and low legs started to have some type of rash, look like insert bite, (about 5mm) on both lower arms and low legs. Only a few on arms and more on legs. Some bumps have clear discharge after I scratch them. None on the hands or foot, and none on my body, neck or face. When it was hot, I have to use ice to cool them down.

I saw my doctor on 6/17 after back to my home town. He told me I have yeast infection in my month and gave me some medicine for 14 days. Some web sites said yeast infection can also be a symptom of primary HIV infection. So it made me worry. Doctor also said my "bumps" could be insect bite (but I was indoor most of the time.). Can oral yeast infection caused these bumps on my arms and legs ? Today, my tongue and soar throat seems to be a little better and some white coating is back on it now. But my month gets dry easily. The bumps on my arms and legs are mostly flattened but the red marks are still there. My body has a general itch.

Most web sites said HIV symptoms won't show until 2 weeks to 4 weeks, or even few months. And some said it could also be few days in rare cases. So I wonder if my symptoms are HIV related? Or should I expect more to happen in next 2 weeks? I am on day 17 now.....

Should I go for a DNA PCR test now? Or should I wait until 4 or 6 weeks and do a hiv anti-body test? I just want to know sooner. People keep asking me why I look sad these days…

I do feel lucky that it is not herpes infection...

Please advise. Many thanks.

[Andy Velez]

You are worrying needlessly about HIV. Nothing you are reporting would have put you at risk for HIV transmission. In fact the only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal sex. So there is no need for HIV testing.

As to what is causing your symptoms, that is something to discuss with your doctor. We focus solely on HIV-related issues here.

Again, you are worrying without any cause as far as HIV is concerned. In general we do recommend that anyone who's sexually active ought to have a full STD panel done at least once a year. Other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV. Happily, HIV is not your problem and if you continue to use condoms for intercourse, it won't be in the future.

Cheers.

[iampeter]

My other concern would be sucking the nipples. If there is milk or blood discharged from them and if the lady is hiv infected (really hope not), can I be infected easily ? But I don't see both milk or blood at that time, however, light was dim there..... Thanks for quick reply.

[Ann]

Peter,

Unless you're a tiny baby who is totally reliant on breast milk for your sustenance, you are not going to become infected from breast milk.

As for blood, unless she was bleeding heavily and you ingested large quantities of blood, you're not going to become infected that way either. You would have known if she were bleeding this heavily as you both would have been covered in blood.

Not only is saliva not infectious, but it also contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and render it unable to infect. Hiv infection just doesn't happen through the oral route aside from breast-fed babies.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[iampeter]

You are making me very happy today.... 

Anyway, I will do a test at 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months just in case.

Thanks again.

Peter

[Ann]

Peter,

The window period for hiv testing - where there has been a risk and you have NOT had a risk - is three months, not six.

You don't need ANY testing over this incident. End of story.

Ann

[NYC_GUY]

Hello, dear Iampeter!

The fact that you have found the community forums and are asking for information here is a very good sign. It shows that you know where to seek out good information for maintaining your physical and psychological health. You’ve come to the right place.

Now, please understand that my response is not meant to cause you anxiety but to ultimately alleviate your fears. The fact is that it is impossible for anyone to give you a definitive answer about your HIV status simply based on what you've described. There are just too many variables. The bottom line is that although the sexual activity you engaged in should NOT put you at high-risk for contracting HIV, it’s possible that the situation you describe does not present all that actually occurred and only an experienced health care professional could uncover any of these other factors, if they exist. For example, is this the only sexual encounter of this type (which seems to have been with a sex worker) that you have ever had, and what other risk factors may exist through other sexual encounters?

So, my advice would be to simply go to an HIV testing site where an experienced health care professional can give you personal counseling and ask you a series of questions that would determine all of the risk factors involved, and then administer the proper STDs tests, if appropriate. This would be to your benefit in several ways: First, it will most likely confirm that you have not contracted the virus, as you will receive a complete assessment of your STDs status, including HIV. Second, you would also receive information about how to avoid exposure and/or transmit the virus in the future, which would be tailored to your own specific needs. Finally, in the event that you were exposed to any STDs at some point in the past, you would then be in the best possible position for maintaining your own health and that of others.

Think about it, and if you decide to get tested then please continue to use your excellent information searching skills to find the best place for you to get counseling, support, and any tests that may be needed. http://www.poz.com/hiv_testing.shtml

Please let us know how you are doing, and stay healthy. We need you!!

[RapidRod]

NYC_GUY,
 
Only those Moderators and members who are authorized to answer questions in the Am I Infected? forum are permitted do so. Unauthorized responses may be deleted without permission of the poster. Repeatedly posting replies of this nature may result in a Time Out or permanent ban, at the discretion of the Moderator Team.

[NYC_GUY]

@RapidRod
Thank You!!

[Andy Velez]

NYC Guy, only those who are authorized to do so should be commenting in this section. However well intentioned your motive is, I think your remarks would unnecessarily stir up further anxiety. 

Thanks for your cooperation.

[iampeter]

Hi Ann

My anxiety dropped a lot after reading answer from an experience adviser like you. But I will do a 6 weeks test and then a 3 months anyway. It is better to be safe than to sorry. I will tell you the test result few weeks from now.

This site is the best site on the internet !!

Have a nice day.

Peter

PS: Thanks to NYC_GUY too  

[iampeter]

Hi Ann....

I know you told me the answer but I just come across this at the Aidmeds.com website...

"In HIV-positive people, oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections can occur at any time, regardless of their CD4 cell counts."

So I like to know if you know anyone with oral thrush during the initial hiv infection ? Like the first few weeks of infection ? But with no other obvious symptoms.....

Sorry if I am too annoying......

Peter   

[Matty the Damned]

Hi Ann....

I know you told me the answer but I just come across this at the Aidmeds.com website...

"In HIV-positive people, oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections can occur at any time, regardless of their CD4 cell counts."

So I like to know if you know anyone with oral thrush during the initial hiv infection ? Like the first few weeks of infection ? But with no other obvious symptoms.....

Sorry if I am too annoying......

Peter   

What you are overlooking is that thrush (of the mouth or the vagina) can occur in HIV negative people as well.

Oral thrush is not a feature of the acute phase of HIV infection.

You were not at risk and you do not need to be tested.

Please be aware that you will not be allowed to post obsessively about non risk situations.

MtD