Could I be infected, should I test?

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Hello Moderators and experts,

Thank you for the great service provided on this forum.  After scouring the internet, I realize I am not alone in benefitting from what this website offers.  Sincerely, thank you.

My scenario/ incident:

Approximately 2.5 months ago I attended a buddy's bachelor party at a strip club and to make a long story short, made the regrettable mistake of inserting a finger into a dancer's vagina, twice.  Both insertion period was very brief (less than 10 seconds) and she did not get very excited or (wet).  From what I have read all over the net (doctor google) is that fingering is a neglible risk (theoretical but not realistic) and no HIV or STD testing is really warranted.  Now, what concerns me is I had a quasi-bad hangnail (at the base of the fingernail) which from peeling dry skin and was VERY red at the time, although not bleeding.  After researching through this website and others (POZ Forum) it again seems even with presence of small cuts, hangnails etc. does not change doctor's and experts advice on the risk level, negligible and no need to test.

My symptoms:
Since the incident 2.5 months ago, I've experienced non-stop cold / flu like symptoms.  This includes chills, feeling extremely cold during different parts of the day, sinus congestion problems, EXTREME fatigue and exhaustion (like a bad crash after having too many Red Bulls), small quasi-rash looking skin around temples of my head.  Although no fevers whatsoever.  My wife also is also experiencing similar sypmtoms (we've had sex after reading multiple times that the incident did not and would not place me or my wife at risk of infection)

My Questions:
1. Could I be infected with any STDs including HIV? Yes, I am extremely worried about myself and my wife

2. Does this incident alone warrant testing for any STD?  I understand it is highly recommended by experts and doctors for any sexually active individuals to test.  However, I have been married for many years and this is the ONLY incident that would remotely put me any risk.
3. This question doesn't specifically pertain to my incident, but I am curious what happened to the Ask a Doctor's forum.  From past posts I have read, Doctor Handsfield and Doctor Hook would offer direct advice and that service doesnt seem to be available since a few years ago, just curious as to the reason behind that.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question was fully answered that you had no risk.  No details or reading you do online will change that fact. We are now closing this discussion.

***  thread closed ***

[mike_no]

No one in the history of HIV has contracted the virus through fingering.  You are certainly not going to be the first one to go in to the history books.

The fact of the matter is HIV transmission needs a specific scenario, HIV can only be transmitted when HIV binds to certain immune cells of the body via a specific primary 'receptor' on the target cells surface, called the CD4 receptor. This can only happen when the virus is exposed to your nervous system through contact with your blood vessel.

Paper cuts,  scars,  wounds on finger are not going to be instrumental in exposing the virus to your blood vessel.  The above mentioned cuts expose just the first layer of skin.  Nonetheless, the clot formation post a wound is also an effective barrier to any HIV contraction.

The odds of you dying falling off your chair while reading this post is way higher than contracting HIV from what you mention. I wouldn't suggest you to test, you never had a risk. Testing would mean starting another ordeal for you. Would you believe your test result and stop it at that?  The answer likely is - NO.  Solve the problem from it's core and the problem is OCD. I suggest you to seek help for your OCD. HIV is not your problem. You are not going to acquire HIV from this incident,  I bet my house on it!

[ReallyWorriedSick]

I understand what you’re saying.  I suppose all I’m searching for is that I did not put my wife at risk and can continue making love unprotected with her and just forget about this whole episode.

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Hello CurfewX, Kristie, and all other experts on this forum-

First, apologies on beating this dead horse.  I’ve read and re-read your responses in addition to others about the impossibility to contract HIV from my fingering incident.

However, what has me concerned and reason for my posting again is an expert in the STD forum has recommended to test for HIV amongst other possible STDs.  Now I would like to be clear that the expert did mention that contracting in this manner would be abnormal and he indicated recommending testing for my piece of mind.  However, even the suggestion to be tested has got me even more anxious.  Now I’m thinking ‘what if’.  What if I did contract HIV, and worse yet what if I passed it on to my wife!  I dont think I can live with myself.  

This sounds ridiculous and juvenile on my part, but I’m really just looking for reassurance from the experts in this forum to tell me again with 100% confidence that transmission is not possible.  I’m scared to to death to get tested.

[AnxiousNoMore]

DP told you to take a placebo test because your anxiety is out of control. "but since you are married, for your mental peace, I would recommend you to test".

I would recommend therapy instead since your problem is not disease, it is irrational fear of disease. I doubt you will accept the results of the scientific test since you have disregarded all the science telling you that you had zero risk and only believe your made up science fiction.
You can get E Coli after any meal or cancer at any time but you don't test after every meal or do daily body imaging, so your fear of HIV that you can't get is misplaced but  a therapist might be able to help you to end your misery.

[ReallyWorriedSick]

I appreciate the straightforwardness of your response.  Maybe a slap in the face is what’s needed for me to realize that there was no risk.  I was doing fine until DP’s response ( and yes I read he words for my own ‘mental peace’).

May be it is OCD, anxiety or whatever I’m expericing, but something triggered after reading what to be tested for and at how many days.  Which is why I’m back here looking for reassurance again.

All of your responses have put me at ease, but the what if’s thoughts do return from time to time.  

For what it’s worth, I would believe the test results but just scared to test.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Do you think she would be dumb enough to risk HIV if your science fiction theory was correct?

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Who is the ‘she’ you are referring to?  The dancer?  I don’t understand what she would be risking.  Sorry maybe I just don’t understand your statement.

I suppose that’s not important anymore since everything I’ve read has confirmed that this is a no risk in today

[Chima7]

Fingering is not a risk for HIV. This is true regardless of any hangnails or papercuts or any other imagined what if scenario's. You had no risk and therefore obviously do not need any testing.

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Thank you all answering and the reassurance about HIV.  Could anyone also shed light on the scenario for other, more easily contracted STDs: NGU, chlamydia, ghonnarhea, syphilis, herpes, etc.

Thank you all again.

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

As previously noted: Please visit our STDs forum for questions not related to HIV: https://www.medhelp.org/forums/STDs---STIs/show/98

Since your HIV question has been fully answered, there is no further info our members can add in this forum.

[ReallyWorriedSick]

I’m sorry!  I didn’t even see your last post.  Sorry about that I will post my STD question in the proper forum.

[CurfewX]

1) No.  No one has ever contracted HIV from fingering, and you're not the first person to have fingered with a hangnail - not even the first person in this forum, this week.  It's zero actual risk.
2) No.  "Sexually active" means having sex, not fingering.
3) Site owners decided not to offer the service anymore.  We're all just regular users like you and can't offer you any insight.

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Hi CurFew X,

Thank you for replying and offering assurance.  Your journal entry was one of the first threads I read when I started searching the mountain full of information out there.

Does your answer pertain any all STDs such as NGU, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, etc.  Reason for my asking is in this same forum I have read the small possbility and even remoted incidents for some of these other STDs to be transmitted (say if my hangnail came in contact with the a Syphilis or herpes sore in/around the vagina).  

Also, if I may inquire how the veteran users on this forum is so confident about the answers given about a scenario such as mine.  And please don't take this the wrong way, and accept my apologies in advance.  
I'm certainly no expert on any STD (outside of what I've read on the net).  As you just said, all the users on here are regular users jsut like myself.  So I am curious if the answers given are based on past Doctor responses or new consistent medical research.  The reason for my asking, at the risk of being offensive, is as I am sure you are aware as a veteran on this site most of us who are not experts on the matter rely on your feedback and response to determine if we are at risk.  So when an advice is given such as 'no test needed' I really will not test.  I understand that now the 'Ask a doctor' section has been removed the advice given is not from doctors directly, but I am hoping (inquiring really) that most of veterans providing answers have some relation to medical field and STDs in particular (ie nurses, professors, healthcare workers, etc).  Again, I do apologize if my question sounds insulting or offending, that is truly not my intetion.

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

The people who reply on this forum rely on the factual information provided by health organizations, such as the CDC, and experts in the field.  

Please visit our STDs forum for questions not related to HIV: https://www.medhelp.org/forums/STDs---STIs/show/98

[ReallyWorriedSick]

Thank you Kirstie.
So should I test for any STD?   I’ve read on this site (either doctor hook or Handsfield) indicating reading about rare cars of NGU, gonarrhea, syphilis, heroes.  Concerned if my broken skin had come in contact with an unseen sore or chancre inside or around the vagina.