HIV WORRIED

[elchiko787]

Hello Doctor,
Im a male, 27 yrs old. I live in the US
I had unprotected sex on AUG 28-2012, which someone I did not know. About 2 weeks later, I started to have a sore throat, and also a weird intestinal movement and stomach ache. I visited the doctor and explained to him about having unprotected sex and he sent me for a blood work for the regular test, I was also given antibiotics for sore throat and omeprazole for stomach. Results for HIV were negative after 4 days of waiting.This stomach ache kept on but sore throat had gone away.

I went back to my doctor and he suggested me to go see a gastroenterologist, in which I did and he performed a endoscopy and results came back having a bacteria called helicobacter pylori, for which I took antiobiotics for 10 days. I went back to gastroenterologist and told him that I was having still symptoms and he said it sounded strange because the bacteria did not show too strong in me and also that its pretty common. He didnt really know why it was bothering me..so he sent me for a abdominal sonogram, in which the radiologist nurse told me that she was able to see a gall bladder. I havent visited the specialist again since.

I also had a test where they pinched the tip of my finger to get blood and perform another HIV test, (not sure the name of this test) I was given results in 30 minutes and it came out negative. This was about a month after exposure. Then I asked my doctor to send me for a western blot test and results came out indeterminate, (not sure if this result was because I decided to get flu shot OCT 1st and I had my blood test for the western blot test on OCT3rd). Then on OCT 10th I also got a test called  HIV-1 RNA BY REAL TIME PCR and results were HIV NOT DETECTED!  and then yesterday I had a oralquick hiv test done with a swap that I purchased at walgreens and it also came out negative!

I have a sore throat again, or I should say the uvula feels enlarged, my doctor prescribed me with CEFDINIR 300MG about 2 days ago and uvula still the same, and also at times I feel like my armpits or groins are being poked! Please help me find some guidance!!!!! I was also reading about MONOCluosis, and im not sure if this has something to do with that, since all these symptoms started happening ever since I had unprotected sex! I havent had fever or dont feel pain around my neck. THanks so much

[elchiko787]

Hello Doc Edward

Thanks so much for your response. What scares me the most is to know that I did have unprotected sex. I penetrated this guy with no condom and we both had oral sex with condom. So I know I put myself at risk, then on top of that my symptoms began 2 or 3 weeks after this encounter. I'm still wondering why my uvula is enlarged and I feel that I have a very dry mouth. Also at times I feel that my armpit and groin are being poked. Would it have something to do with my gallstone or maybe H Pylori they found in me....PCR test was performed OCT 9TH,2012 and my sexual encounter happened on Aug 28th, 2012

I will try to wait the whole 3 months which is due NOV 28th, 2012 to have another PCR test done.  I'm a flight attendant for a big airline in the US, so my flights overseas real long sometimes and sore throat bothers a lot when I fly for a long time. THanks again for your input!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I hope that you will allow me to help you.  In preparing to answer your question I have read your interactions on the HIV Community site as well as your post above.  Having done so, it is my conclusion that your anxiety and perhaps your guilt over the unprotected encounter that you had 2 months ago is putting your health at risk by leading you to have unnecessary procedures and tests.  

You did not get HIV from the exposure you describe!  The exposure itself was low risk from a statistical basis and the testing you have had now PROVES that you did not get HIV and that the symptoms you are experiencing are not due to HIV.  If your symptoms were due to HIV, your HIV antibody tests would have been positive within a week after your symptoms began, as would your recent PCR test. Further, HIV tests are conclusive at 8 weeks after an exposure, providing furtehr assurance that you were not infected.  

KNOW that you did not get HIV form this exposure.

As for what might be causing your sore throat, this is difficult to say.  As you suggest, it could be a mononucleosis syndrome but, even if it is, there is no reason to think that it came from the sexual encounter in August that you mention.

My advice- stop testing and try to stop worrying.  EWH