Could I still have hiv? Worried about girlfriend.

[Lost_man]

Hi

On the 14th of December I had an encounter with a sex worker, she performed unprotected oral sex on me and we engaged in protected sex. I had shaved my pubic area roughly 2-3 days before ( possible scratches/cuts but not open)  The next day I experienced tingling on my penis and over the following days I developed sore testicles.  My GP provided me with some antibiotics and the pain appeared to subside for roughly ten days. It then came back and this time my groin was also sore.

roughly 4 weeks since my encounter I developed an excruciating headache which I have had for 21 days now, from when awake to when I sleep. I have had some tingling in my limbs and 2 sore throats (with white tongue) within 10 days of each other. my muscles have been achey and oddly enough they are spasming, including my forehead muscles, this has been going on for a week now.  I am certain my lower back (kidney area) is painful and tense as well as my lower neck, this has also gone on for a week roughly. My glands are rather swollen and although tender under the arms I cannot feel enlarged glands.

I was tested at 10 days, which was negative and on 43 days I had the p24 antigen and HIV 1 & 2 antibody test, I believe this is sometimes called a duo or combo test. My results were negative again, and although I have some relief I am still suffering from headaches, muscle pain, sore throats and muscle twitches/spasms.
My questions are, is the 43 day test a good indicator of my status, do I need to retest and are the symptoms I am experiencing relative to hiv?
To make matters worse, my girlfriend has been complaining of headaches daily for the last 4 days, roughly 3-4 weeks since our last sexual acts. Today, she has also had an upset stomach.
I am now very worried. I am more concerned about her than I am myself as that would be unforgivable.

Please could provide me with some information.

Thank you

[Lost_man]

Great thank you very much. Apologies for anxiety driven questions. You have been a wonderful source of information.

Thanks again,

Adios!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your HSV tests indicate that you have HSV-1 and likely have had it for some time. The variation of values is not clinically meanngful- these values vary from day  to day.

No, your test results have nothing to do with whether or not you used a condom.  They are conclusive.

you need to relax and move on. EWH

[Lost_man]

Hi,

Sorry my last question, I totally forgot to mention.

On my ten day test I was also tested for hsv1 with an index of 3.12 my 43 day test had an index of 4.53 is this a worry?

Finally, for arguments sake, if the condom had come off during intercourse ( we used two, I was very drunk unfortunately so I can't remember and she took one off for oral and replaced with another ) would you have advised me any differently with regards to my conclusive results.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care. EWH

[Lost_man]

Yes, I will do. You are so right, it has created a nightmare for me.

Thank you for words and advice along with the approach.

All the best

Chris

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As I said above, your 43 test is CONCLUSIVE. That means it will not change with further testing. That is the reason I told you that there was no need for further testing.

I would however sugest that you stay off the internet. This will only fuel your anxieties with misinformation.  EWH

[Lost_man]

Thank you for your reply. It means a great deal to me, you're right I am feeling guilty and certainly anxious, and since googling a few symptoms I guess I have panicked. I've convinced my self that contracted hiv. I shall do my best to forget the anxiety and try to move on.

My primary concern was my partner and since she has developed daily headaches I was most concerned.

For the record, how likely is it for a negative at 43 days to become a positive at 84-90?  

I appreciate your response, thank you kindly Dr.

All the best!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. let me begin this reply by telling you that there is no risk to you of HIV from the exposures you describe.  Condom protected sex is safe sex and no one has ever been shown to acquire HIV from receipt of oral sex.  Further, it is statistically unlikely that your CSW partner even had HIV.  Thus had you asked me if you needed testing at all, I would have replied that this is not needed.  Now that you have tested with a DUO test 43 days after your exposure, you have conclusively proven that you were not infected.,  There is no reason to worry further about HIV, no reason to test further, and you can be confident that the symptoms you report, which are not typical of those caused by HIV, are not due to HIV.  

I understand that you are probably feeling a bit guilty over this exposure and may have some anxiety related to it.  Be confident that you did not get HIV.  I hope my comments are helpful to you.  EWH