Am I at Risk? Lots of symptoms..

[scaredd4]

Hello,

Thank you so much for your help. 8 weeks ago I saw a sex worker. There was NO insertive vaginal or anal sex but she grabbed my penis and also performed oral sex on me with a condom. I came inside her mouth (with the condom still on) and then took it out and removed it.

Earlier that same day, (about 6 hours prior to the encounter) I injured my right index finger (I accidentally peeled off my finger trying to get the keys out of my trousers to put them in my coat). The injury was not big, but there WAS definitely some blood that came out and the skin was exposed (as it was not really a cut but the skin got peeled off). If I fingered her with my finger, what is the transmission risk? I remember squeezing her boobs a lot, and i am scared that she may have had some secretions coming out of her breasts that may be infectious? Also i grabbed the top of her head while she was down on me and don't know if this increased the risk as well?

I have been having the following symptoms since then:

- 5 days after exposure: I had nightsweats 2 or 3 nights consecutively
- about a week and a half after exposure: i had tenderness on my chest on the side of my right breast. I believe that it may have been a swollen lymph node? This lasted for about 10 days.
- about two weeks after exposure: I developed a stubborn cough and a (mild) sore throat (scratchy throat, but i could still swallow without hurting). This lasted for 3.5 weeks.
- I also had nightsweats for 4 or 5 days consecutively around week 3 after exposure, which is the period in which I had the ongoing cough.
- on the 4th week I also started having a runny/congested nose that has lasted for 3-4 weeks. Now it's finally gone, but it lasted a long time. Also, I took antihistamines which helped, but it just came on coming back. I dont think that I had any allergies since i didnt have any other symptoms related to that.

- Back/Leg pain:  more worrying still, on the 5th week, my lower right back began to hurt a lot and feels very stiff. This later spread to my leg (it hurts a bit everywhere: the back, side and front of the right leg). Both my lower right back and my right leg are still hurting, and I have had this pain for 3 weeks now. The pain can be quite strong at times. I have taken paracetamol and ibuprofen but it doesnt help much. I am also doing stretches and no help whatsoever. I am now also having mild elbow discomfort/pain (although this is not constant).

- For the past couple of days (it is now the 8th week after exposure now) I have had AGAIN night sweats. Before going to bed on both occasions i had  Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, and I've read that it could cause nightsweats, but i am just not sure anymore....

I have NOT had any of these symptoms:
- No fever
- No diarrhea (just a few irregular trips to the toilet but nothing major)
- No skin rashes
- No nausea or vomiting
- No pins and needles sensations
- No major headaches.

I have been extremely stressed for the past few weeks and any new symptom that I get freaks me out even more. I have gotten to the point that I am scared to go to bed and wake up in the middle of the night with yet again more night sweats and more back/leg pains.

Please let me know what your thoughts are regarding any infection risk and if I should be worried? I can't concentrate at work and cant stop thinking of all the symptoms that I am getting.

Apologies for the long post and thanks for your help!

[Jim Allen]

Read your post three times; Receiving a blowjob and fingering isn't an HIV risk.

Your left testicle and right arm could shrivel up and fall off, but it will not change that you didn't acquire HIV from receiving a blowjob and fingering

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

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[Jim Allen]

P.S

I hope you have not been taking ibuprofen for three straight weeks. Go to your healthcare provider and let them treat whatever is making you feel unwell, and I hope you feel better soon.

[scaredd4]

Hello Jim and thanks for your answer.

May I ask why you are certain that this may not have any risk?
Perhaps I was not fully clear but I am worried that my freshly injured/cut/peeled off finger got in touch with any of her body fluids and there could have been a potential risk of the virus entering  my bloodstream via this injury? (Her vagina/boob secretions or anything else)

Sorry if it sounds basic but I am freaking out after all these symptoms are showing up (especially the night sweats and back/leg pain) and I can’t seem to get ot out of my mind.

(Btw I’ve been on ibuprofen just a few days.. but it doesn’t help much with the pain!)

[Jim Allen]

Your symptom have nothing to do with HIV from this encounter. See your healthcare provider so they can treat whatever makes you feel unwell.

Perhaps I was not fully clear but I am worried that my freshly injured/cut/peeled off finger got in touch with any of her body fluids and there could have been a potential risk of the virus entering  my bloodstream via this injury? (Her vagina/boob secretions or anything else)

You were clear, and I thought I was as well., I read it three times, now six times, and nothing has changed.

The fingering, it lacks the conditions, including the route needed for you to acquire HIV; hence nobody has acquired HIV through fingering or day-to-day cuts or wounds, regardless of what fluids they touched with their fingers or hands.

As for secretions from her boob, this is only an HIV concern for infants with developing tissue and systems drinking large volumes directly from the breasts and you are not an infant.

Relax, move on with your life, get whatever is making you sick treated and use condoms for any intercourse and as you are sexually active, get a yearly STI & HIV screening out of standard routine.