HIV scare

[rcewa2012]

Just over a year ago I had anal sex with a male sex worker.  I was the top.  I was very drunk.  While at the time I was positive I was protected, over time I may have convinced myself that I may not have been protected.  At this point I'm not sure.

I have had a sinus infection since late November of this year, constant post nasal drainage, very fatigued, ringing in the ears and some minor joint pain.  I have had very bad allergies and also oral herpes for several years now.  The oral herpes have been flaring up constantly since late November.  I also have swollen lymph nodes.  I'm currently on antibiotics for the sinus infection.  A few nights I have had some minor night sweats.  

I feel very stressed and anxious and this all seemed to start on December 1 when I read about world AIDS day and looked at all of the symptoms.  

Could all these symptoms be allergy/sinus related?  Could it be due to my stress and anxiety?  

[rcewa2012]

Lizzie,

I can't tell you how much comfort your words bring. I am glad you are so confident. I, on the other hand still am not. I felt much better for several days after your words but today my feet have tingled most of the day, my ears are still clogged and ringing and I still have a swollen gland in my neck.

I'm almost positive that the insert ice anal sex I had over a year ago was protected. I was very drunk. Lets assume however that it wasn't protected. If that is the case would it change your evaluation given these symptoms?

I'm grateful for your service.

[LIZZIE LOU]

may be "overwhelming" but not related to hiv.

[rcewa2012]

Thanks - I appreciate this.  But the symptoms are overwhelming.  No?

[LIZZIE LOU]

nothing that you've described put you at risk for contracting hiv.

[rcewa2012]

Vance,

Thank you for your reply.  I very much appreciate this.  I wanted to provide a bit more detail on my specific case and my symptoms.  

I have read and read and read over the last several weeks on the internet and in forums about HIV, Symptoms, etc.  Frankly I have spent untold hours every day through the holidays researching the issue.  Once I think I've convinced myself I'm ok another "symptom" pops up and I go back to researching.  

I want to add some more information to my previous post that may be helpful.  I'm a 40 year old male.  About two years ago I started seeing some sex workers when traveling out of town on business.  I know - not very smart.  I saw female SW, Transexual SW and one male SW.  This probably happened at most 8 times over a year period ending in February of 2012.  The first few times were just them masturbating me or a covered blow job.  I did perform both covered and uncovered oral on one Transexual SW and was the receiver of covered anal (about a minute) with one Transexual SW.  In October of 2011 I performed uncovered oral on a male SW and then I covered up for anal sex with him.  I do not know his status.  

As I stated in my previous post I have had difficult allergies all my life and live in an area of the country where pollen, cedar and mold are prevalent year round.  I always have a stuffy nose and frequently get sinus infections.  I also have been getting cancor sores (herpes) around my mouth for years.  

My problems started around thanksgiving this year.  FYI - I don't ever recall having early HIV symptoms after any of my previous encounters.  Of course having frequent sinus problems I could have mistaken one for the other.  

Around Thanksgiving I got a really stuffy nose which eventually went away but turned into a constant post nasal drip.  I also started getting a few cancor sores during this time (I take valtrex).  On Sautrday December 1st I stumbled on a story on world AIDS day on the internet and it seems that my anxiety has gone through the roof ever since.  In the middle of a very busy time for me I have wasted countless hours searching for symptoms on the internet and I seem to have run through them all now.  They are as follows;
1) stuffy nose
2) post nasal drip
3) clogged ears - eventually resulting in tinnitus (still have ringing in the ears).  Have been on amoxicillin since mid december
4) severe fatigue - some days very light headed and out of it.  Some evenings can't keep from falling asleep on the couch at 8pm - severe yawning (just since mid december)
5) continued cancor sores
6) itchy eyebrows
7) loss of appetite
8) lost about 5 pounds over the last week
9) loose stool in the am
10) very thirsty the last few days
11) minor thrush one day
12) sometimes feel like I have a tingle or burning on the bottom of my feet and in my pinky fingers
13) about 6 nights had some minor night  sweats
14) also some frequent urination
15) sometimes sore finger joints
16) swollen lymph node on back of neck
17) have very very high blood pressure when I went to doctor and now taking blood pressure meds.
18) also had prostitus in March and took cipro to heal.  

I'm a basket case to say the least.  I know that you say symptoms can't predict HIV and that testing is the best way to tell.  Problem is I am scared to death of the results of the test because I am so convinced I have HIV.  

Any help would be appreciated.  

[Vance2335]

Symptoms have nothing to do with HIV. Since you used a condom you had no risk, anxiety probably getting the better of you. It is recommended to test yearly, so why not just test and you will have an answer.