Aa
Hoping to get your perspective
Hi Doctor,
A little over a year ago, I had a one night stand with a man I met at a bar. This was very uncharacteristic behavior for me, as I had only had 2 partners prior to him and both were long term serious relationships. Obviously, I regretted this decision instantly and have been pretty miserable over this situation ever since then. He was a tourist visiting from Israel, but other than that, I really knew nothing about him. He didn't ejaculate in me, but it seemed suspicious to me that any guy would be so willing to have unprotected sex with an intoxicated stranger he meets in another country.
I won't go into symptoms that I speculated I might have a few weeks after the incident, because at this point, that is neither here nor there. What has been concerning me lately are the health issues that I've noticed that seem to come out of nowhere. At the doctor's recently, it was noted that I have nail psoriasis in some of my toenails and might be exhibiting symptoms of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. When I searched these conditions online, it seems that both can be attributed to HIV. I have never had any type of psoriasis before in my life, and I read conflicting reports about psoriasis occurring early in HIV disease, perhaps even as a first outbreak. I know that the only way for me to move forward in my life is to get tested, but I have always had severe OCD and hypochondria related to health issues. For most of my life I have always felt healthy, so these new symptoms definitely have me on edge. It has been a hard year for me and not a day goes by where I don't think of the exposure I had. In the past year I have read a lot of literature on this disease, but if you could give me your perspective on things, I would be very grateful. Thank you.
A little over a year ago, I had a one night stand with a man I met at a bar. This was very uncharacteristic behavior for me, as I had only had 2 partners prior to him and both were long term serious relationships. Obviously, I regretted this decision instantly and have been pretty miserable over this situation ever since then. He was a tourist visiting from Israel, but other than that, I really knew nothing about him. He didn't ejaculate in me, but it seemed suspicious to me that any guy would be so willing to have unprotected sex with an intoxicated stranger he meets in another country.
I won't go into symptoms that I speculated I might have a few weeks after the incident, because at this point, that is neither here nor there. What has been concerning me lately are the health issues that I've noticed that seem to come out of nowhere. At the doctor's recently, it was noted that I have nail psoriasis in some of my toenails and might be exhibiting symptoms of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. When I searched these conditions online, it seems that both can be attributed to HIV. I have never had any type of psoriasis before in my life, and I read conflicting reports about psoriasis occurring early in HIV disease, perhaps even as a first outbreak. I know that the only way for me to move forward in my life is to get tested, but I have always had severe OCD and hypochondria related to health issues. For most of my life I have always felt healthy, so these new symptoms definitely have me on edge. It has been a hard year for me and not a day goes by where I don't think of the exposure I had. In the past year I have read a lot of literature on this disease, but if you could give me your perspective on things, I would be very grateful. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, that's what I mean.
As I understand it, heterosexually transmittted HIV is rare in Israel, so this information reinforces my opinion and advice.
As I understand it, heterosexually transmittted HIV is rare in Israel, so this information reinforces my opinion and advice.
And when you say "assuming you aren't otherwise at risk," do you mean that if this is the only unsafe exposure I've had since then with someone of unknown status? I have not had any unprotected exposures since this incident.
Yes, I'm a straight woman. I assume the male was straight, and he was from Israel on holiday to the city where I live. Thank you for the response, Doctor. I will try to make an appointment this week for testing.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw this before replying above. These symptoms also are not suggestive of HIV, and this information doesn't change my opinion or advice.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
I believe you're a woman, correct? And your partner thus a (mosty?) straight man? While his bar pick-up behavior may indeed indicate increased risk for HIV, in fact in the US very few men like that have HIV. And even if he did, the chance of HIV transmission for a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex averages somewhere around 1 in 1,000. So even in the highest risk scenario that can be envisioned, the chance you caught HIV is extremely low. Almost all heterosexual HIV transmissions occur after months or years of unprotected sex when one of the partners is infected -- not after one-off, casual encounters.
More to the point, HIV never causes skin problems as the only symptom. I suppose it's possible psoriasis can appear in HIV infected persons, but it would never be the only manifestation.
But no matter how much reassurance I (or your own doctors) can provide, you correctly state the solution to your anxieties: "I know that the only way for me to move forward in my life is to get tested." So just do it. Assuming you aren't otherwise at risk, the result will be negative.
Do not tell me you are afraid to test because of the result. I have no patience for such thinking -- whether it's for HIV testing, mammography, or any other test for a potentially life threatening condition. If you happen to have HIV, your survival depends on knowing. And research has proved many times over that when people fear having an HIV test, anxiety declines when testing is finally done -- even if the result is positive. In other words, the bad news is less stressful than the worry about it before testing.
So stop speculating, searching online, or hoping for a magic answer to your fears. Have an HIV test. I'll be happy to comment again if and when you return with a follow-up comment with your test result. But not until then.
Really, just suck it up and do it. Everything will be all right.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
I believe you're a woman, correct? And your partner thus a (mosty?) straight man? While his bar pick-up behavior may indeed indicate increased risk for HIV, in fact in the US very few men like that have HIV. And even if he did, the chance of HIV transmission for a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex averages somewhere around 1 in 1,000. So even in the highest risk scenario that can be envisioned, the chance you caught HIV is extremely low. Almost all heterosexual HIV transmissions occur after months or years of unprotected sex when one of the partners is infected -- not after one-off, casual encounters.
More to the point, HIV never causes skin problems as the only symptom. I suppose it's possible psoriasis can appear in HIV infected persons, but it would never be the only manifestation.
But no matter how much reassurance I (or your own doctors) can provide, you correctly state the solution to your anxieties: "I know that the only way for me to move forward in my life is to get tested." So just do it. Assuming you aren't otherwise at risk, the result will be negative.
Do not tell me you are afraid to test because of the result. I have no patience for such thinking -- whether it's for HIV testing, mammography, or any other test for a potentially life threatening condition. If you happen to have HIV, your survival depends on knowing. And research has proved many times over that when people fear having an HIV test, anxiety declines when testing is finally done -- even if the result is positive. In other words, the bad news is less stressful than the worry about it before testing.
So stop speculating, searching online, or hoping for a magic answer to your fears. Have an HIV test. I'll be happy to comment again if and when you return with a follow-up comment with your test result. But not until then.
Really, just suck it up and do it. Everything will be all right.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
I have also occasionally noticed small blood blisters in my mouth when I don't recall biting down or having any trauma occur. These normally last for less than a day, but I have never had one prior to my exposure a year ago. Also in the past year, my left armpit will occasionally feel swollen and fatty for several weeks then go back to normal. I'm not sure what to make of this because it normally never lasts long enough for me to get it checked out.
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