Tested neg 5 weeks after exposure

[infection or anxiety]

This forum is so educating. I am a female and had unprotected sex (July7-9) with a guy friend whom I've known for awhile but don't keep in touch often. He lives in another state. There were about 5 episodes within 3 days. I am also married and was still having sex with my husband after this episode. After my monthly cycle 7/27, I started experiencing intense itching and thought I had a yeast infection. I treated with diflucan. Then on 8/4 I went to the doctor due to still having a white discharge. I was checked for chlamydia/gonorrhea and the test came back neg, but was told that bacteria was in my urine. When I asked the nurse is this transferrable she said no and prescirbed me metronidozole for 7days. On 8/13(5 weeks after exposure), I had my annual pap smear including HIV test and pap was normal and hiv negative. But in addition to that I had yeast again (assuming due to the metronidozole). I was prescribed a cream. Then on the 8/27 I started having sex with my husband again. About a week later I started having pelvic pain as well as middle back pain. I went back to the doctor on 9/8 and was again checked for STDs, but not hiv. All test were neg but as a precaution he prescribed me metronidozole, doxycycline and gave me a shot as well as my husband. I then started having diarrhea (assuming due to the antibiotics). During this time I had a cold and started coughing up greenish phlem. I went back to the doctor on 9/13 and was told that I have bronchitis and to stop taking the doxycycline and prescribed the Zpack for 5 days as well as phenylephrine(decongestion). I have had diarrhea now for a week and has had so much anxiety of hiv that I took another HIV test on 9/14 and are waiting on the results.

My questions are:
1. Why did I all of a sudden get bronchitis?
2. Should the medicine I'm taking cause diarrhea for 1 week?
3. What were my risks of contracting HIV from the July's experience?

Seeking understanding

[infection or anxiety]

I received my results again after 14weeks and 2 days and the results are negative. I hope that my encounter calms the fears of someone in a similar situation. May God bless you all!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Negative at 9 weeks is always completely reliable, and test results ALWAYS are more reliable than symptoms.  It is impossible that your symptoms are due to HIV.  You do not need more HIV testing.

[infection or anxiety]

Hi Doctor, I thought that I was done with the worry of hiv.  I tested negative at 9weeks 4 days but I am still shaken up. My husband has had a rash on his right hand and left forearm. He and I both have been suffering from allergy like symptoms (sneezing). I also forgot to mention before that he had what looked to be a ringworm on his neck 4 weeks after possible exposure. Would you say that this has some relation to the above exposure? Do you think that I should test again?

[infection or anxiety]

Thank you so much for the comfort and support. I received my results today after almost 10weeks after exposure and the test was negative. Once again, thank you and keep supporting others with your work.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional comments do not change my opinion or advice.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You describe a low risk situation for HIV and no symptoms or health problems that suggest HIV is an issue, and a negative HIV test 5 weeks after exposure is strong evidence against it.

1) I haven't a clue why you got bronchitis at this particular time.  It's an extremely common condition and there is no way to predict.  There is no reason so suspect HIV or any STD.

2) Antibiotic-induced diarrhea can easily last a week.  But if it goes much longer, check with the provider who prescribed the antibiotics.  Not because I'm worried about other causes, but because some cases of antibiotic-induced diarrhea can get serious and require treatment, especially if due to the bacteria called Clostridium dificile.  Ask your doc test for it if the symptoms persist, and especially if there is cramping, blood, or fever.

3) Zero risk or close to it, and you already know that your partner wasn't infected and your test result shows with near-certainty that you aren't either.  If you want even more certainty, have another test 8-12 weeks after the event.  You really don't need it, but if you do so, you can be 100% certain the result will be negative

Thanks for the thanks about the forum.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[infection or anxiety]

One last thing Doctor. I have a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck. It's not big but I can feel it and its painless. I have not had a fever but I did have a few chills. And right after I was tested 8/13 and was neg for HIV, I had a stiff, tight neck.

[infection or anxiety]

I have also lost like 7-9lbs and does not have an appetite.

[infection or anxiety]

one more thing. I asked the young man about his HIV status after all of this and he told me that he last took a test in Feb and it was neg.

[infection or anxiety]

I forgot to mention that I dont smoke, so the bronchitis is not due to smoking.