Continued worry and concern

[veryanxious401]

Hello doctors and thank you for the great service you provide. I have been posting questions on the members forum yet I am still very anxious. I performed unprotected oral sex over five weeks ago with protected vaginal sex. I then started receiving anonymous text messages to get checked for HIV. Needless to say this has frightened me a whole lot. I did a full STD screening at 8 days and Clearview rapid Hiv tests at 17, 25 and 34 days. I had a sore throat, swollen lymph node and a cancer sore develope at 14 days with no noticable fever, rashes or muscle aches.
My question is 1) how confident can I be that I did not contract HIV. 2) Would you say that the above mentioned tests are too soon to tell?  3) My sore throat was on the left side of my troat and looked like a large canker sore. Is this indicative of ARS as I have read ARS usually has more than one symptom and is accompanied by a severe fever? Which I never had. 4) would you recommend that I get tested again?
Thanks Drs. I'm on vacation and cannot stop worrying. Ps Have you looked at 10 year study on oral sex transmission mentioned by member Lizzie Lou? Do you agree with the findings that based on ten years of no transmission through oral sex that it is not possible to transmit HIV in that way.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes,.  My answers from beffore are even more true now.  You do not have HIV and have no need for concern of for further testing related to the evenst deacribe in this post.  EWH

[veryanxious401]

Hello Doctor. Just got my nine week test and it was negative :-)
What do you think?  Can I move on now?
Thanks Doc!

[john_19]

Whoa...someone went off the deep end!

Sarah, I re-read the post but I am having a bit of trouble understanding your position. Aside from the statistical improbability, the 2 scenarios do seem the same. Both patients got blood on a fresh wound. In fact, the delivery man's blood landed on a wound that had been actively bleeding.

I hate to play devil's advocate but I do sense a bit of contradiction.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sarah- thank you.  EWH

[sarahv54]

Dr. Hook is a great doctor. As he has said before, his advice is tailored to each specific situation.

The difference is one is admittedly HIV positive, the other is a random delivery man. One has repeated exposure to vaginal fluid and blood, the other to possibly blood, but maybe sweat or anything else than can make a cut sting.

The odds of a random male being HIV positive in the US are remote. Let's say 1/1000. So if the odds for both transmissions were indentical 1/1000 per contact (likely far, far to high of odds given lack of evidence this has ever happened), the odds in the delivery man case were probably closer to 1/1000000 while the sex would have been 1/1000.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I reviewed your interactions with our friends on the HIV Prevention Community Forum and am in complete agreement with all that they have said.  You really have nothing to worry about.

I'm sorry to hear of the text messages you describe, they are malicious.  

As for your specific questions:

1.  Your risk from the exposure you describe was very close to zero to start with and the negative test you have at 5 weeks (34 days) strongly supports that you do d not have HIV.  While I personally do not feel you need further test to prove anything, if you must and are interested in completely ruling out HIV form the exposure you describe, get tested once more at 8 weeks.  I am confident that you r test will be negative.  At that time, forget about your concerns.
2.  See above.  At 4 weeks the test would detect over 90% of infections acquired 5 weeks earlier.
3.  No, this is not suggestive of ARS. To look for ARS symptoms as an indicator of HIV risk is a total waste of time.
4.  See above.  I see no medical need.

Hope this helps. Try to forget about this and enjoy your vacation.  EWH

[veryanxious401]

Thanks for all your help Doctor. Have a great Christmas.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, an itchy palate and/or red palate is not a sign of any STD.  I agree with your doctor.

I think however it is time for this thread to end.  Take care.  EWH

[veryanxious401]

Hello again doctor.  I have been doing well since my last post and had a quick question.  Even though I can now be certain that I dont have HIV I have started to get an itchy soft palate.  Its only itchy sometimes and it looks slightly red with a few tiny bumps.  My doctor said it could be hayfever and I have had a runny nose for a few days.  Even though HIV is no longer a factor could this be some other sort of STD passed by oral sex and should I test for it (oral Gonorrhea perhaps)?
  I have been trying to gather as much knowlegde as I can about different STDs and intend on passing this knowledge via this forum to other people that are having the same worries as I did.
  Thanks Dr.  I hope I'm not becoming a nuisance.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I would suggest you re-read my earlier replies.  I have nothing more to say and do not wish to repeat myself.  EWH

[veryanxious401]

Doctor how long do I have to wait so that I can be certain. I've noticed a bruise on my lower lip. I know I bit the same area 2 weeks ago and it may have been there before. Also Ive had an itchy soft pallet. Not sever but I read a few weeks ago that this may be a symptom. Of coarse it could also be the change in the weather.
  Im struggling to put this behind me and can't wait to have proof that I didn't get HIV.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I see no medical reason for you to pursue futher testing.  Additonal tests will be almost certainly be negative (in medicne we never say never)  EWH

[veryanxious401]

Hello again Doctor. I just got back from vacation and the first thing I did when I got back is get tested again. I know you said wait until 8 weeks but I had a cold on vacation so the questions in my head began. Anyway it's been 50 days. And the test was negative. I'm so greatful for this site being here. It's been my crutch through this whole ordeal.
  Should I retest at the 56 day mark?  I'm not going to read anymore on the matter for a while and am only going to do what you recommend. It's been absolutely exhausting. What do I do now doc?  Thanks again!

[veryanxious401]

Thanks doc for your time. I guess I'll just move on and try to forget about this ordeal. I'm
sure I speak for a lot of people when I say your work is greatly appreciated.
From a relieved Marine.