dry mouth and diarrhea

[dryasthedesert]

dr hhh,
thanks for the great work you do here. I have been following the forum for weeks now. That being said I know the response to some of my questions but i would just like you expert opinion on my situation. I had unprotected vaginal and oral sex with someone i left a bar with. I was drunk and have only a vague recolection of the event. I tested positive for chlmydia and was treated at 10 days after. Here are my questions.
1. I have had an extremely dry mouth since 4 days post exsposure. It is constant and difficult to deal with. Can dry mouth as a symptom of hiv start that soon and persist this long?
2. I tested negative at 42 days (rapid blood test) and i know that this is a good sign but with my dry mouth persisting and i also have bad constant stomach problems (severe diarrhea for weeks) when should i get tested again?
3. At what point can i assume that the dry mouth and stomach issues are due to the extreme stress and anxiety i am putting myself through?
I look forward to you hearing your opinion on this as I consider you the knowledge to be the very best. thank and keep up the great work on the forum. Its a tremendous service.

[dryasthedesert]

I just wanted to come back and post my 3 month negative result. I don't often see people come back to post a negative so i wanted to do so. My symptoms have gotten somewhat better and I am accepting now that anxiety can do almost anything to your body. I am seeing a therapist for the anxiety issues this has caused and I would suggest this to anyone in a similar position, as the good doctor often does.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'll stress it again:  your blood test result proves you do not have HIV and that HIV cannot be the cause of your symptoms.  Period.  

You came to this forum for reassurance you don't have HIV.  I gave it.  Accept it and move on.  See your doc if your symtoms continue to bother you, but just put HIV out of your mind.

[dryasthedesert]

Please, please answer one more question for me and i'm done posting. The diarrhea and dry mouth have progressively gotten worse over the past 6 weeks. Right now is the worst  they have been yet (severe). My questions are:
1. Since these things are getting worse is it possible i just don' t have enough antibodys  to be detectable yet?
2. If my body was fighting back and producing antibodys wouldn't these things be getting better and not worse?
I just wanted one more opinion and i'm done. Thank you for all your work on the forum.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm sure if MedHelp admin says your card wasn't charged, it wasn't.  I'll be happy to answer your question in a new thread. In the meantime, stop trying to post it in existing threads.

[dryasthedesert]

To me it was worth the $15.00 to hear your opinion. I just can't convince myself that the dry mouth could be this bad (sometimes no saliva production at all) without an underlying medical cause. I have been checked for all other autoimmune disorders and was negative. I forgot to mention i've lost 15 lbs in the seven weeks since this happened. The dry mouth has turned into a mild case of thrush (confirmed by my doc) and he gave me Nystatin rinse to use. I know you say I don't need additional testing but i know i'll have to do it for myself anyway. Thanks again for your time and service!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

If you have followed the forum as closely as you say, you know all the answers.  Your questions about symptoms are irrelevant because the test result proves your symptom cannot possibly be due to HIV, no matter what symptoms you have.  And no, your symptoms don't suggest HIV anyway.  Since you yourself suggest anxiety as a cause, that sounds like the best bet to me.  You don't need additional HIV testing.

Was it worth the $15.00 to have me say it all again?  I won't have any other comments or advice.

HHH, MD