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HIV-type symptoms mirrored by wife...
I had unprotected sex with a sexually active woman while on a business trip 3.5 weeks ago. Since then I have had several ARS type symptoms such as sore throat, lymph swelling, headache behind the eyes, nausea, diarrhea, rashes on face, neck, and upper back and chest. The worst symptom was thrush... I got an anonymous email from the girl telling me to "get checked for STDs" I went in and was given Zithromax and Flagella as precautions--leading to a nice case of THRUSH in my mouth. The Dr told me that thrush after broad spectrum antibiotics isn't uncommon, but it's RARE. He said that thrush in adults is usually caused by HIV, not the anitbiotics. I just bought a rapid kit, but it's still posibly too early to get a positive result...if I/we am/are.
Week 1-- swollen glands on left side of neck for 24 hours, sore throat for 48 hours, diarrhea for 48 hours
Week 2-- thrush after antibiotics, muscle aches in neck and foot/leg cramps, slight fatigue
Week 3-- rash on sides of neck, upper chest and back and on sides of face--pimple like bumps and a few flat ones
Week 3-- fatigue 3 days straight. 1 hour after sleeping 8-9 hours feel as if I stayed up all night with no energy all day. Rash happened during this fatigue, but not sure if I had a fever. rash on neck started to clear after 48hrs, but then rash got worse on face and spread further. rash has been present 3 days now but seems to change areas and severity.
My wife has had all the symptoms above almost exactly 3-5 days after I had them and with similar severity except the thrush and her rash is on her forearms. We had sex 3 days after my encounter. I have not told her about the encounter and she thinks the antibiotics were for a UTI.
Is is possible that we are HIV infected?
How long does the ARS rash usually last?
Week 1-- swollen glands on left side of neck for 24 hours, sore throat for 48 hours, diarrhea for 48 hours
Week 2-- thrush after antibiotics, muscle aches in neck and foot/leg cramps, slight fatigue
Week 3-- rash on sides of neck, upper chest and back and on sides of face--pimple like bumps and a few flat ones
Week 3-- fatigue 3 days straight. 1 hour after sleeping 8-9 hours feel as if I stayed up all night with no energy all day. Rash happened during this fatigue, but not sure if I had a fever. rash on neck started to clear after 48hrs, but then rash got worse on face and spread further. rash has been present 3 days now but seems to change areas and severity.
My wife has had all the symptoms above almost exactly 3-5 days after I had them and with similar severity except the thrush and her rash is on her forearms. We had sex 3 days after my encounter. I have not told her about the encounter and she thinks the antibiotics were for a UTI.
Is is possible that we are HIV infected?
How long does the ARS rash usually last?
I went back today and the results were inconclusive.
I tested pos for HepB but they believed that is because I had a partial immunization years ago. (I only got the first shot) They checked the surface antibodies and antigens to see if the antibodies I have are from current/past infection or immunization, but the results were inconclusive because of the antibody level present. They are afraid of HepB antivirals because of it's effects on my HIV testing and liver function.
I still have weeks until my 12 week HIV test...
My WBC count was higher (3000) but my liver enzymes JUMPED up since the week before. The doctor said she had discussed my case with 2 infectious disease specialists and they couldn't make a ruling based on my results.
She is torn on whether to send me to a GI doctor or Infectious Disease specialist because the GI will neglect future HIV tests and the ID will neglect the liver issue. She is letting the WC insurance decide where I go next unless the results of todays tests show my liver enzymes to be worse than today.
They drew more blood today and now I have to go in for a Vitamin B12 shot daily at the doctors request to help with the fatigue. I got the first one today. yippee...
I tested pos for HepB but they believed that is because I had a partial immunization years ago. (I only got the first shot) They checked the surface antibodies and antigens to see if the antibodies I have are from current/past infection or immunization, but the results were inconclusive because of the antibody level present. They are afraid of HepB antivirals because of it's effects on my HIV testing and liver function.
I still have weeks until my 12 week HIV test...
My WBC count was higher (3000) but my liver enzymes JUMPED up since the week before. The doctor said she had discussed my case with 2 infectious disease specialists and they couldn't make a ruling based on my results.
She is torn on whether to send me to a GI doctor or Infectious Disease specialist because the GI will neglect future HIV tests and the ID will neglect the liver issue. She is letting the WC insurance decide where I go next unless the results of todays tests show my liver enzymes to be worse than today.
They drew more blood today and now I have to go in for a Vitamin B12 shot daily at the doctors request to help with the fatigue. I got the first one today. yippee...
"I don't understand why you don't just go to a more knowledgable Doctor, maybe someone who is actually specialist in infectious diseases, such as, oh I don't know, an Infectious Disease doctor? "
--because that's all the workman's comp is paying for right now.
"Why is a biohazard exposure handling this? How on earth did you get to see him / her? If it's through work, what's to stop you going to your GP and getting a decent referral?"
--because I had a biological exposure 3 weeks before the unprotected sex incident at a medical lab. My GP is an internal medicine doctor. I was told by my manager not to get him involved unless I had to so that workman's comp would foot the bill and not think I was being treated already for something already because my GP was involved also.
--because that's all the workman's comp is paying for right now.
"Why is a biohazard exposure handling this? How on earth did you get to see him / her? If it's through work, what's to stop you going to your GP and getting a decent referral?"
--because I had a biological exposure 3 weeks before the unprotected sex incident at a medical lab. My GP is an internal medicine doctor. I was told by my manager not to get him involved unless I had to so that workman's comp would foot the bill and not think I was being treated already for something already because my GP was involved also.
I don't understand why you don't just go to a more knowledgable Doctor, maybe someone who is actually specialist in infectious diseases, such as, oh I don't know, an Infectious Disease doctor?
Why is a biohazard exposure handling this? How on earth did you get to see him / her? If it's through work, what's to stop you going to your GP and getting a decent referral?
Alternatively ask one of the Doctors on this site for some advice / clarification.
There are many things that can cause low white blood counts - from infectious processes to autoimmune disorders and beyond.
Are you sure that it is them who are so certain that you have caught it, or is it you? I understand your anxiety and predicament. The fact that your wife had exactly the same symtpoms would probably be more of a good sign in my opinion.
Has she been to the Doctor / tested?
Finally - maybe they are wearing masks because they think it is something else?
Why is a biohazard exposure handling this? How on earth did you get to see him / her? If it's through work, what's to stop you going to your GP and getting a decent referral?
Alternatively ask one of the Doctors on this site for some advice / clarification.
There are many things that can cause low white blood counts - from infectious processes to autoimmune disorders and beyond.
Are you sure that it is them who are so certain that you have caught it, or is it you? I understand your anxiety and predicament. The fact that your wife had exactly the same symtpoms would probably be more of a good sign in my opinion.
Has she been to the Doctor / tested?
Finally - maybe they are wearing masks because they think it is something else?
**They seem so determined that I am infected--to the point that the lab tech wears respiratory protection when drawing my blood**
Which even further cements my belief that you need to seek a second opinion as you are getting bad info. HIV is NEVER spread via droplets where resp protection would EVER be needed. These people are poorly educated, ignorant, or both.
Wait for your 12 week test.....that will be conclusive. Again..."delayed seroconversion" is a myth.
Which even further cements my belief that you need to seek a second opinion as you are getting bad info. HIV is NEVER spread via droplets where resp protection would EVER be needed. These people are poorly educated, ignorant, or both.
Wait for your 12 week test.....that will be conclusive. Again..."delayed seroconversion" is a myth.
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