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Terribly scared due to Symptoms
I am terribly scared and need your advice.
I have had what I imagine are three risk exposures but first allow me to give you a brief background about myself.
I am in my late 40s and live in West Africa and just recently started spending considerably more time in the sun than before due to a new sport that I picked up in May 2010.
In late February 2010, I met a female whom I had, an oral sex and a sexual intercourse (vaginal) with using a condom. After the session, she said she only got aroused by having her clitoris rubbed with a penis (without a condom). I stupidly obliged and thought very little about S.T.D exposure at the time. Shortly after (about two weeks) I started feeling a burning and excruciating sensation in my urinary tract, and the lymph gland in my right groin became swollen. That was when my fear began. I went to see my doctor who prescribed some antibiotics for me and assured me that the swollen lymph was due to an introduction of a foreign body into my system through my penis and that my exposure to the HIV virus was close to nil.
Around May, out in the hot sun I suddenly noticed about six to eight pinkish/purplish blotches (not more than 4mm in diameter) under my skin on my right leg. That gave me concerns. Also around the same time, I started developing bumps on my face which I thought at the time was due to the body cream I was using and my suddenly increased exposure to the sun. I changed the cream and noticed a reduction in the severity of the bumps but they still appeared intermittently. Also, I started developing discharges from my eyes for which my doctor prescribed eye drops. I have also had slight irritation on my throat (no serious sore throat) which has also resulted in phlem but this has now since gone.
In early June, I had another risk exposure with another lady, this time the condom broke during a (vaginal) sexual intercourse and I immediately rinsed my penis and did not see any bruises on it upon examination. I got worried about this exposure when I realised that the lady was taking medication for thrush. I got her to do an HIV test which came out to be negative. She told me that she had been battling with thrush for over two years.
My last exposure happened in September 2010, again the condom broke twice as I was inserting my penis and I immediately withdrew my penis in both instances and went for a rinse and also did not observe any bruising on my penis.
My greatest fear came when in the 1st week of November I had a burst of bumps on my forehead and I quickly went to see my doctor who said they were acne / folliculitis and prescribed a small dose of doxycylin (one a day) and advised me on facial cleansing.
I also noticed two pimples on my scrotums which I showed my doctor and he said they were of no significance.
I have been very scared ever since as I have read on the web that folliculitis is one of the symptoms of HIV. I need to also mention that I tested negative for HIV in December 2009 and have been having pimples on my scalp for about four years now.
I intend to go for an HIV test in December – three months after my last exposure, but right now I live each day in terrible fear and it is beginning to make my blood pressure rise.
I need your advice badly and would also like to know how early the symptoms of HIV begin to manifest?
Sorry for the lengthy information, I just wanted to make sure I covered all in order to give you a near accurate picture of my situation and experiences.
Many thanks for reading this.
I have had what I imagine are three risk exposures but first allow me to give you a brief background about myself.
I am in my late 40s and live in West Africa and just recently started spending considerably more time in the sun than before due to a new sport that I picked up in May 2010.
In late February 2010, I met a female whom I had, an oral sex and a sexual intercourse (vaginal) with using a condom. After the session, she said she only got aroused by having her clitoris rubbed with a penis (without a condom). I stupidly obliged and thought very little about S.T.D exposure at the time. Shortly after (about two weeks) I started feeling a burning and excruciating sensation in my urinary tract, and the lymph gland in my right groin became swollen. That was when my fear began. I went to see my doctor who prescribed some antibiotics for me and assured me that the swollen lymph was due to an introduction of a foreign body into my system through my penis and that my exposure to the HIV virus was close to nil.
Around May, out in the hot sun I suddenly noticed about six to eight pinkish/purplish blotches (not more than 4mm in diameter) under my skin on my right leg. That gave me concerns. Also around the same time, I started developing bumps on my face which I thought at the time was due to the body cream I was using and my suddenly increased exposure to the sun. I changed the cream and noticed a reduction in the severity of the bumps but they still appeared intermittently. Also, I started developing discharges from my eyes for which my doctor prescribed eye drops. I have also had slight irritation on my throat (no serious sore throat) which has also resulted in phlem but this has now since gone.
In early June, I had another risk exposure with another lady, this time the condom broke during a (vaginal) sexual intercourse and I immediately rinsed my penis and did not see any bruises on it upon examination. I got worried about this exposure when I realised that the lady was taking medication for thrush. I got her to do an HIV test which came out to be negative. She told me that she had been battling with thrush for over two years.
My last exposure happened in September 2010, again the condom broke twice as I was inserting my penis and I immediately withdrew my penis in both instances and went for a rinse and also did not observe any bruising on my penis.
My greatest fear came when in the 1st week of November I had a burst of bumps on my forehead and I quickly went to see my doctor who said they were acne / folliculitis and prescribed a small dose of doxycylin (one a day) and advised me on facial cleansing.
I also noticed two pimples on my scrotums which I showed my doctor and he said they were of no significance.
I have been very scared ever since as I have read on the web that folliculitis is one of the symptoms of HIV. I need to also mention that I tested negative for HIV in December 2009 and have been having pimples on my scalp for about four years now.
I intend to go for an HIV test in December – three months after my last exposure, but right now I live each day in terrible fear and it is beginning to make my blood pressure rise.
I need your advice badly and would also like to know how early the symptoms of HIV begin to manifest?
Sorry for the lengthy information, I just wanted to make sure I covered all in order to give you a near accurate picture of my situation and experiences.
Many thanks for reading this.
Hello All,
I took your advice and took an HIV test and I'm pleased to say that it came back negative. I would like to thank you all for your contribution and would also like to seize this opportunity to wish everybody looking to take an HIV test a favourable result. Symptoms, I can tell you, don't seem to mean anything as I have found out in my case. As the doctors in this forum often say - stay away from the internet, it contains several information that are taken (or may be read) out of context.
Best wishes all.
I took your advice and took an HIV test and I'm pleased to say that it came back negative. I would like to thank you all for your contribution and would also like to seize this opportunity to wish everybody looking to take an HIV test a favourable result. Symptoms, I can tell you, don't seem to mean anything as I have found out in my case. As the doctors in this forum often say - stay away from the internet, it contains several information that are taken (or may be read) out of context.
Best wishes all.
Your symptoms do not indacate ARS - they would not be happening this late after exposure
Apologies for bothering you again, I have been going through a lot of emotional trauma and stress. I have about two weeks before going for the test. I would be most grateful if you could tell me from your wealth of experience about my chances given the information I have provided. Can one link my symptoms to early symptoms of contraction of the HIV virus? I still get the odd pimple appearing on my face every other day but not as before. I say sorry again for asking, there have been nights that I have found it difficult to sleep.
Many thanks, Bozack and Teak, for your replies. I just have to wait...
Much appreciated.
Much appreciated.
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