Aa
Extremely Worried Possible HIV Exposure
A month ago exactly I had sex with a CSW, Protected oral and protected vaginal which only lasted about 3 min each (condom did not break I checked). About 2 days after I noticed a red puffy irritation on the foreskin of my penis (i'm uncircumcised). I immediately freaked out and went to the doctor to get checked up that same day. Doctor looked at it and said it was only a skin irritation and prescribed a topical cream to apply. Just as she said I applied it and it went away. That same day I had a blood drawn HIV rapid test done and results came back negative.
After getting home and doing some internet research I learned about HIV testing and the dreaded "Window" periods. I than realized that the rapid test I had done was of no use to this last exposure and I immediately started having extreme anxiety, stress and depression... Lost my appetite and didn't eat for days, had insomnia, diarrhea for about 4-5 days and felt generally bad. I got what I believe is a sore throat even though it doesn't feel like any sore throat i've felt in the past. No pain when swallowing and eating. just a slight click and minimal discomfort when swallowing.
About 4 days after using the cream I stopped since it had gone away. I played soccer one night and forgot to shower from being so tired. The next morning the skin irritation came back but this time there were also small bumps on the head of my penis. This REALLY freaked me out so I went back to the doctor that same day. When the doctor looked at it that afternoon they were almost gone... She said to not stop applying the cream and it would get better, probably came back due to heat and skipping the shower. She also said that if it was an STD the topical cream she prescribed would not help.
At this point every thing wrong with my body I magnify and relate to HIV, I was so scared I contacted the women and asked her if she had HIV (she wasn't happy) she said no but I couldn't believe her so I took her to get tested with a blood drawn HIV Rapid test. It came back negative... This result made me feel better only for a few hours as I quickly started thinking the worst and the possibility of her being recently infected.
I took an HIV ELISA test at 9 days after exposure and the results came back negative. On the 12th and 13th day I had combo P24 AG/AB test done at a clinic and a hospital. Both results came back negative. I read online these tests are conclusive after 28 days but I couldn't wait that long. I read they can possibly detect the P24 11 days after possible exposure. Does anyone know how accurate these results would be?
During the period in waiting for results more days passed. I have felt almost every symptom possible of ARS, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes (in neck and under jaw but no where else in the body), white tongue (2 doctors said not thrush), night sweats (only 2 nights), extreme fatigue and sometimes very bad muscle aches and sores. The only thing I haven't suffered from is a rash and the big one that usually all people feel the fever. I've had no fever at all this past month, but one odd thing I will point out is that my body temperature has been very low for the past month.
About 10 days after consistently using the cream again I stopped as directed and after about 4 days the foreskin started turning redish again and now pretty itchy. I haven't had any bumps on the head again but I do see small red dots under the skin of the head. What could this be? I'm going back so doctor can take a look at it today.
2 days ago I took the final combo P24 AG/AB test at 28 days, hoping its the last one and I can put this all behind me... My anxiety has sky rocketed and I'm not sure how to live out the next few days.
***Extra Note*** A friend of mine slept with the same CSW that very same night and has felt absolutely no symptoms this entire month... Not only that night but he also slept about 5-6 more times after that and has complete peace of mind. He says he feels fine and that she does also. He says shes clean and he's picky about who he sleeps with. He's also had no red or bumps or irritation on his penis.
1. What are the odds that his condoms on the multiple exposures worked and mine didn't?
2. What are the odds I caught herpes or some other STD with such a brief exposure that was protected?
3. Wouldn't he have also caught herpes after being exposed to her so many times than me if it was herpes?
4. Does anyone have any thoughts with what i've been going through?
5. Why is the expert forum closed now? Would have loved an answer from the doctors.
To help alleviate my stress and anxiety i've read about 200 threads on the expert forum. I know that because of the condom my risk is essentially zero. I also know most CSW's don't have HIV and that even if they did the chance of transmission is 1 in 1000 unprotected and that the condom makes that chance even larger to about 1 in a million. I'm just so scared and I feel like I might be that 1 in a million. I guess what I'm looking for are logical and rational ways to explain my symptoms. I haven't necessarily felt sick like when someone knows they have the flu. the symptoms have been on and off and incredibly inconsistent for the past month (other than the lymph nodes and the white tongue).
Somebody please help me... I wont get the test results back for at least another week...
After getting home and doing some internet research I learned about HIV testing and the dreaded "Window" periods. I than realized that the rapid test I had done was of no use to this last exposure and I immediately started having extreme anxiety, stress and depression... Lost my appetite and didn't eat for days, had insomnia, diarrhea for about 4-5 days and felt generally bad. I got what I believe is a sore throat even though it doesn't feel like any sore throat i've felt in the past. No pain when swallowing and eating. just a slight click and minimal discomfort when swallowing.
About 4 days after using the cream I stopped since it had gone away. I played soccer one night and forgot to shower from being so tired. The next morning the skin irritation came back but this time there were also small bumps on the head of my penis. This REALLY freaked me out so I went back to the doctor that same day. When the doctor looked at it that afternoon they were almost gone... She said to not stop applying the cream and it would get better, probably came back due to heat and skipping the shower. She also said that if it was an STD the topical cream she prescribed would not help.
At this point every thing wrong with my body I magnify and relate to HIV, I was so scared I contacted the women and asked her if she had HIV (she wasn't happy) she said no but I couldn't believe her so I took her to get tested with a blood drawn HIV Rapid test. It came back negative... This result made me feel better only for a few hours as I quickly started thinking the worst and the possibility of her being recently infected.
I took an HIV ELISA test at 9 days after exposure and the results came back negative. On the 12th and 13th day I had combo P24 AG/AB test done at a clinic and a hospital. Both results came back negative. I read online these tests are conclusive after 28 days but I couldn't wait that long. I read they can possibly detect the P24 11 days after possible exposure. Does anyone know how accurate these results would be?
During the period in waiting for results more days passed. I have felt almost every symptom possible of ARS, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes (in neck and under jaw but no where else in the body), white tongue (2 doctors said not thrush), night sweats (only 2 nights), extreme fatigue and sometimes very bad muscle aches and sores. The only thing I haven't suffered from is a rash and the big one that usually all people feel the fever. I've had no fever at all this past month, but one odd thing I will point out is that my body temperature has been very low for the past month.
About 10 days after consistently using the cream again I stopped as directed and after about 4 days the foreskin started turning redish again and now pretty itchy. I haven't had any bumps on the head again but I do see small red dots under the skin of the head. What could this be? I'm going back so doctor can take a look at it today.
2 days ago I took the final combo P24 AG/AB test at 28 days, hoping its the last one and I can put this all behind me... My anxiety has sky rocketed and I'm not sure how to live out the next few days.
***Extra Note*** A friend of mine slept with the same CSW that very same night and has felt absolutely no symptoms this entire month... Not only that night but he also slept about 5-6 more times after that and has complete peace of mind. He says he feels fine and that she does also. He says shes clean and he's picky about who he sleeps with. He's also had no red or bumps or irritation on his penis.
1. What are the odds that his condoms on the multiple exposures worked and mine didn't?
2. What are the odds I caught herpes or some other STD with such a brief exposure that was protected?
3. Wouldn't he have also caught herpes after being exposed to her so many times than me if it was herpes?
4. Does anyone have any thoughts with what i've been going through?
5. Why is the expert forum closed now? Would have loved an answer from the doctors.
To help alleviate my stress and anxiety i've read about 200 threads on the expert forum. I know that because of the condom my risk is essentially zero. I also know most CSW's don't have HIV and that even if they did the chance of transmission is 1 in 1000 unprotected and that the condom makes that chance even larger to about 1 in a million. I'm just so scared and I feel like I might be that 1 in a million. I guess what I'm looking for are logical and rational ways to explain my symptoms. I haven't necessarily felt sick like when someone knows they have the flu. the symptoms have been on and off and incredibly inconsistent for the past month (other than the lymph nodes and the white tongue).
Somebody please help me... I wont get the test results back for at least another week...
Thank you for reassuring me of the truth that's in the back of my mind. It's just incredibly difficult to move on when the negatives and consequences seem to eclipse all hope. Thanks again for your comment. I'm sure my test results will come back fine.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
