Please read and comment...Thank you so much...

[smoothstylez]

Hi All:

Here is my story…
This is my first post and I am in need of great assistance.  I stupidly had intercourse with a sex worker almost 8 weeks ago.  I am a male in great shape and no specific illnesses before this experience.

Week 1:
Few Days after encounter I had tiredness for like 3 days with red skin on my scrotum.  Got a rash cream from a doctor that relieved the irritation.

Week 2:
Had a mild fever and was bed written for a few days.  Didn’t think much of it all was good as I still went out.  Headache began and persisted for a few days but Advil helped.

Week 3: 
Traveled to South America (no sexual encounters there) and a day after I arrived began to feel pain in the back of my head and neck.  Headaches got worse and neck was burning to the point were I had to put an ice pack.  I was worried sick so I decided at that point to see a doctor.  He told me not to worry about the lump on the back of my head, which began at the back of my head as it was nothing and I requested a HIV antibody test, which was negative!  He also mentioned that there were no abnormalities with my blood and to relax as my stress levels were really high.   During my travels I also had an earache which started and cause me great pain.  I believe the flying did not help my situation.

Week 4:
Decided to return to the country, as I was really exhausted with a dry throat. It really scared me so I went to the hospital.  After an analysis the doctor tested me for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and a chest X-Ray.  He then said all looks good and that my blood looks great (CD4).  The chest X-Ray showed that I have pneumonia in my lungs.  He prescribed an antibiotic for 10 days, which I took and laid in bed sleeping for most of the week.  During this week I had a loss of appetite (maybe due to the pills).

Week 5:
At this time, I noticed a painful bump under my neck and still feeling weak so I went to a family doctor who decided to do further tests on my liver, kidneys and chest.  All came out clean and doctor said that my blood levels look great.  He also said that I would need to come back for a blood test when the time was right.  The also said that the back of my head swelling was a muscle and not a lymph node.  The bump under my neck was a BLOOD CLOT.  So he advised me to keep calm and that I should take Ibuprofen daily for a few months.  After taking Ibuprofen for a few days that painful bump was gone.  The doctor did mention that
something must of changed in my blood to cause this blood clot though.

Week 6:
Returned back to work, though I had lower back pain and joint muscle pains.  Tried to keep my cool during this week and get back to normal life.  Noticed that my groin was slightly in pain on the side.  Didn’t know if this was lymph nodes or not so I did see my doctor and he said looks like a pulled muscle.  My question is but on both sides???  Could have been the lack of movement?!  Not sure … started to feel tingling sensations on my body and had trouble sleeping.  During this I had 2 nights of night sweats.  Though, I was not drenched in sweat rather I woke up sweaty.  Took my temperature right away and it was normal.   Also, I asked my doctor about HIV again and he said that he does not believe that I have anything Acute due to my blood work that was done.  Zits also began on my face and head more than usual over the last year.

Week 7:
Over the week, I feel much stronger though I’ve noticed red spots appear and go mostly on my left arm and left hand.  They are itchy and burn like I’ve been burned slightly or a small cut but disappear shortly after. They do not remain there though some times leave a dark red mark for a few hours or days. My skin seems to turn red extremely easily after pressing or scratching it.  Its been itchy all over as well.  Yesterday, I noticed a sore inside my mouth (just one) inside my cheek.  Also, a tingling sensation inside my lips though there are no signs of anything abnormal.  I still have a hard lump of the back right side of my head were your skull meets your neck.   Under my nose seems to be slightly red or irritated.  Within my body I get heat sensations over my body as well.  I did lose a little weight ( <5lbs) but have regained all of it back already.

I’ve seen a HIV concillour this week and he advise me that he doesn’t think I have HIV due to the likelihood of the chances and after reviewing my symptoms.

I’ve been pretty healthy all this time until the last 2 months from hell.  I need advice so I just a couple of questions.

Is this all a coincidence?  Am I being paranoid?

Are these common ARS symptoms?

What do I do from here?

Please HELP and thank you taking a moment of your time to respond to this.

 S

[Andy Velez]

You've left out an important detail regarding your intercourse with the sex worker. Were you wearing a condom or not?

If you were wearing one then you have no cause for concern about HIV. If you were not wearing one then you need to take an HIV test at 13 weeks after the most recent unprotected incident. HIV is a fragile virus. It is significantly harder to transmit from female to male. So if you had unprotected intercourse the odds are still in your favor that you will test negative.

All of your symptoms don't mean anything in knowing your HIV status reliably. When there has been risky behavior ONLY an HIV test at the appropriate time will tell your HIV status accurately. And none of your symptoms are in any way HIV specific.

[smoothstylez]

My apologies as I didn't mention that the condom was removed by her and I was really drunk.

Thank you for the note.

Is there any point in getting test now at the almost 8 week mark.

Thanks again!

[RapidRod]

You did not have a risk by having protected sex and you don't need to test over that situation.

[Andy Velez]

As long as the condom remained on during intercourse there's no need for testing over this incident.

You do need to take note that mixing excessive drinking with casual sex often leads to unsafe sex so avoid that in the future.

If any of your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. They have nothing to do with HIV.

In general we do encourage anyone who is sexually active to have a full STD panel done at least once a year. Other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV.

This time I don't see any cause to be concerned about HIV.

Cheers. 

[smoothstylez]

To clarify, the condom was removed and we continued on without protection with intercourse. I'm thinking of going to get tested this week.

In ur expert opinions do u all still feel that my symptoms don't have to do with ARS?

So scared that I cannot even think straight.

Thanks to all who responded and follow up.

[anniebc]

The earliest you can test is six weeks past the last incident. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. A six week negative result is unlikely to change, but has to be confirmed at the three month point.

Glad to hear you have had your STD panal done because they are easier to transmit than HIV, just remember that syphilis shares a three month window with HIV.

As Andy said symptoms are nothing to go by so keep checking with your Doctor if your symptoms are worrying you.

Jan

[smoothstylez]

Hi - any further comments on this now that i've mentioned it was indeed stupid unprotected sex?

I'm only asking as I have burning sensations in my hands, feet and sometimes face that come and then go away within seconds to minutes.  On my hands they show up like a red small mark, they burn and itch though don't remain. 
The blister on my mouth seems to have been a burn from eating something hot as its truthfully almost gone with no pain.

I'm at the 8 week mark today.

Thanks so much.

[Ann]

smooth,

Symptoms or even the LACK of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv. Nothing you are reporting is hiv specific anyway. The ONLY way to determine your hiv status is through hiv antibody testing at the appropriate time.

Your chances are very good that your three week negative will not change. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus and more so from a woman to a man. However, you must learn from this incident and make sure you keep the condom on in future.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Please remember to confirm your negative status at the three month point.

Ann

[smoothstylez]

Thank you and I will report back to this board.

Appreciation to all who took the time to reply.

Wish me luck.

S

[smoothstylez]

Okay, I am now waiting for my results.

Since my test I now have joint and muscle pains on my hands, forearms, knees and feet.  Does this have anything to do with HIV from anyones experience?  Please note I am now at the 8.5 week mark since my encounter.

Thanks again!

[Ann]

Smooth,

As you've already been told, symptoms or even the LACK of symptoms will never tell you a single thing about your hiv status. We don't discuss symptoms here. If you feel unwell, see a doctor. NONE of the symptoms you are reporting are hiv specific.

Ann

[smoothstylez]

Hi All:

I just got my results back and at 8 weeks the antibody test was negative.

At nine weeks today, I had a quick test anti body test which was also negative as I didnt know the first results were in.

I am extremely relieved at this time and will retest at 3 months.  Though, this is extremely positive according to both doctors.

A good lesson to not focus on symptoms or the internet.  Practice safe sex is most important to live a healthy life.  Your advice was appreciated and I will never forget this day.

Thank you all for reading.

S