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My story / Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpa and other ??
Looking for any other the doctors to respond, but here is my story and my questions:
Dear Doctors
My last possibly risky encounter occurred on September 23rd (approximately 13 weeks 91 days ago from this email). At that time, I recovered protected anal sex and gave/recovered unprotected oral sex with another male.
A few days prior (September 19th) to that, I had have protected anal sex and gave/received unprotected oral sex with the same individual.
On September 27th (a week post the first encounter and aprox 4 days post the second) I had unprotected oral sex with the person I currently still seeing. After that initial experience with this individual, I awoke the following day to discover a single, pinhead size red mark on the head of my penis. It did not hurt. It did not itch. I immediately saw my GP the following day who assured me it wasn't genital herpes.
Around October 6th I noticed that I was coming down with a cold. I took zinc am in order not to get sick but I felt run down as one does with a cold and I had a single, very swollen, painful lymph node in the back of my neck that persisted for about 3 days.
I had a second encounter with the individual I am currently with on October 17th (approximately 20 days after our first encounter) and he informed me that he had red sores on the head of his penis.
On October 21st (aprox 28 days post my last experience with an unknown person) I had a complete physical with an HIV test that came back negative. The test was a rapid antibody test for hiv 1/2.
Around October 25 (aprox 28 days after my boyfriend and I had our first encounter on Sept 27th) my current partner developed an extremely itchy skin rash. On November 3rd, he saw his doctor and was told he had genital herpes and was prescribed valtrex.
Around this time, approximately November 5th (approximately 44 days, 6 weeks, after my encounter on Sept 23rd) I too developed a very itchy skin rash. I saw my doctor who sent me to a dermatologist on November 13th and I was diagnosed with folliculitus. At this time, I also had 3 more tiny red spots on my penis. The dermatologist said these were not an std.
Around November 25 (approximately 58 days or 8 weeks after my partner and my first experience on Sept 27th) my current partner received his physical results back in which he also tested negative for HIV.
A little while later on December 1 I noticed two very odd blisters on my feet. I also noticed around this time a red splotch in my groin area that turned black and blue and disappeared in about 2 days. I was able to see my dermatologist for the blister but the bruise had already gone away. At this time they also took a biopsy of my foliculitis, because I was still suffering from the itch and antibiotics and steroid cream did not help. The biopsy came back later that it was a typical presentation of folliculitis. She did not know what to make of the blistering.
Around the beginning of December, I started to notice another cold coming on. For the next 2-2.5 weeks I would fight this and it included a horrible sore through. I still feeling the symptoms of it now (on December 23rd).
At this point, I was very anxious about everything. My partner had been taking valtrex for over a month and his penis sores were not improving. Both of us had a very itchy rash that no one could explain as to why we both had something that in my diagnoses was not contagious. He had been to an allergist who said that he had excema, which again wouldn't be a reason why I had a similar condition. I wasn't feeling myself, I was not interested in good, I felt constantly run down and depressed.
Sunday, December 7th came and I had to go take another test. I went to a testing clinic where again they used a rapid antibody test for hiv 1 and 2. It was a finger tip prick test that took about 15 minutes to come back. The test came back negative. This was approximately 75 days or 10.5 weeks after my last experience with the person on September 23rd.
On December 11th my current partner saw a dermatologist who told him he/we had scabies. She did not see me, just him, but we were both prescribed scabies treatment and started it later that evening. We took our second dose of the medication on Sunday 12/14. It is a little less than two weeks away and we are still itching. The doctors said it could take up to 2 weeks for the itching to stop, but I guess I skeptical of this diagnosis to begin with.
On the evening of December 14 I noticed the 3rd bruise on my leg. This time is was rather large. I had not hurt myself. It lasted for about a week. I showed my doctor who said it could have resulted from the condition of my skin and the amount of itching I have been doing. When I consulted another doctor, he said I could simply be having an allergic reaction to something.
A few days ago, I noticed another bruise on my leg which has mates for about 3-4 days and just this morning I have another some size bruise on my left bicep.
I understand that all of this makes me sound like a lunatic. I am just confused and looking for answers.
A few specific questions:
1) How common is folliculitis in an early presentation of hiv? I have read many articles (one being: http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-00&doc=kb-04-01-01) that state this is the case as opposed to Eosinophilic folliculitis which seems to present in more HIV advanced patients.
2) In regards to the bruising I am experiencing. No where have I heard that bruising is a symptom of HIV infection, as the blisters on my feet are not necessarily either, but paying attention to skin changes seem to be important. I have recently read about Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura which again, while not common, can demonstrate in early HIV infection:
(http://www.ashm.org.au/images/publications/booklets/isithiv/chapter_8.pdf). Is this something that can present 2-3 months after infection?
3) Between an HIV rash being misdiagnosed at times as scabies, excema, folliculitis, and an allergic reaction, all things I/we (my partner and I) have been told, I am hopefully, understandably, nervous. I took my second rapid test at 10-10.5 weeks (75 days) after my last situations that has made me uneasy. I have read so many things on line regarding these antibody tests. Most being that they are not conclusive till 3 months, but other reputable doctors saying 6-8 weeks is conclusive. Can you explain? The doctors siting 6-8 weeks seem to believe there is a legal or government scenario that is based on being overly conservative than the time it actually takes to detect antibodies.
Thank you for indulging this insanely long, paranoid history of my situation. I plan on taking another test on a few weeks when I am able to as I traveling, but every day it seems like my body is demonstrating odd things (ie bruising) or not getting over something that is abnormal to me (ie the folliculitis). Thank you for your consideration and reply.
Dear Doctors
My last possibly risky encounter occurred on September 23rd (approximately 13 weeks 91 days ago from this email). At that time, I recovered protected anal sex and gave/recovered unprotected oral sex with another male.
A few days prior (September 19th) to that, I had have protected anal sex and gave/received unprotected oral sex with the same individual.
On September 27th (a week post the first encounter and aprox 4 days post the second) I had unprotected oral sex with the person I currently still seeing. After that initial experience with this individual, I awoke the following day to discover a single, pinhead size red mark on the head of my penis. It did not hurt. It did not itch. I immediately saw my GP the following day who assured me it wasn't genital herpes.
Around October 6th I noticed that I was coming down with a cold. I took zinc am in order not to get sick but I felt run down as one does with a cold and I had a single, very swollen, painful lymph node in the back of my neck that persisted for about 3 days.
I had a second encounter with the individual I am currently with on October 17th (approximately 20 days after our first encounter) and he informed me that he had red sores on the head of his penis.
On October 21st (aprox 28 days post my last experience with an unknown person) I had a complete physical with an HIV test that came back negative. The test was a rapid antibody test for hiv 1/2.
Around October 25 (aprox 28 days after my boyfriend and I had our first encounter on Sept 27th) my current partner developed an extremely itchy skin rash. On November 3rd, he saw his doctor and was told he had genital herpes and was prescribed valtrex.
Around this time, approximately November 5th (approximately 44 days, 6 weeks, after my encounter on Sept 23rd) I too developed a very itchy skin rash. I saw my doctor who sent me to a dermatologist on November 13th and I was diagnosed with folliculitus. At this time, I also had 3 more tiny red spots on my penis. The dermatologist said these were not an std.
Around November 25 (approximately 58 days or 8 weeks after my partner and my first experience on Sept 27th) my current partner received his physical results back in which he also tested negative for HIV.
A little while later on December 1 I noticed two very odd blisters on my feet. I also noticed around this time a red splotch in my groin area that turned black and blue and disappeared in about 2 days. I was able to see my dermatologist for the blister but the bruise had already gone away. At this time they also took a biopsy of my foliculitis, because I was still suffering from the itch and antibiotics and steroid cream did not help. The biopsy came back later that it was a typical presentation of folliculitis. She did not know what to make of the blistering.
Around the beginning of December, I started to notice another cold coming on. For the next 2-2.5 weeks I would fight this and it included a horrible sore through. I still feeling the symptoms of it now (on December 23rd).
At this point, I was very anxious about everything. My partner had been taking valtrex for over a month and his penis sores were not improving. Both of us had a very itchy rash that no one could explain as to why we both had something that in my diagnoses was not contagious. He had been to an allergist who said that he had excema, which again wouldn't be a reason why I had a similar condition. I wasn't feeling myself, I was not interested in good, I felt constantly run down and depressed.
Sunday, December 7th came and I had to go take another test. I went to a testing clinic where again they used a rapid antibody test for hiv 1 and 2. It was a finger tip prick test that took about 15 minutes to come back. The test came back negative. This was approximately 75 days or 10.5 weeks after my last experience with the person on September 23rd.
On December 11th my current partner saw a dermatologist who told him he/we had scabies. She did not see me, just him, but we were both prescribed scabies treatment and started it later that evening. We took our second dose of the medication on Sunday 12/14. It is a little less than two weeks away and we are still itching. The doctors said it could take up to 2 weeks for the itching to stop, but I guess I skeptical of this diagnosis to begin with.
On the evening of December 14 I noticed the 3rd bruise on my leg. This time is was rather large. I had not hurt myself. It lasted for about a week. I showed my doctor who said it could have resulted from the condition of my skin and the amount of itching I have been doing. When I consulted another doctor, he said I could simply be having an allergic reaction to something.
A few days ago, I noticed another bruise on my leg which has mates for about 3-4 days and just this morning I have another some size bruise on my left bicep.
I understand that all of this makes me sound like a lunatic. I am just confused and looking for answers.
A few specific questions:
1) How common is folliculitis in an early presentation of hiv? I have read many articles (one being: http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-00&doc=kb-04-01-01) that state this is the case as opposed to Eosinophilic folliculitis which seems to present in more HIV advanced patients.
2) In regards to the bruising I am experiencing. No where have I heard that bruising is a symptom of HIV infection, as the blisters on my feet are not necessarily either, but paying attention to skin changes seem to be important. I have recently read about Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura which again, while not common, can demonstrate in early HIV infection:
(http://www.ashm.org.au/images/publications/booklets/isithiv/chapter_8.pdf). Is this something that can present 2-3 months after infection?
3) Between an HIV rash being misdiagnosed at times as scabies, excema, folliculitis, and an allergic reaction, all things I/we (my partner and I) have been told, I am hopefully, understandably, nervous. I took my second rapid test at 10-10.5 weeks (75 days) after my last situations that has made me uneasy. I have read so many things on line regarding these antibody tests. Most being that they are not conclusive till 3 months, but other reputable doctors saying 6-8 weeks is conclusive. Can you explain? The doctors siting 6-8 weeks seem to believe there is a legal or government scenario that is based on being overly conservative than the time it actually takes to detect antibodies.
Thank you for indulging this insanely long, paranoid history of my situation. I plan on taking another test on a few weeks when I am able to as I traveling, but every day it seems like my body is demonstrating odd things (ie bruising) or not getting over something that is abnormal to me (ie the folliculitis). Thank you for your consideration and reply.
I just noticed that my setting is set to female when I am actually a male. I am referring to male to male oral and anal sex in this post. Not sure of that changes anyone's comments.
(If anyone knows how to change one's settings, I would appreciate it knowing how!)
(If anyone knows how to change one's settings, I would appreciate it knowing how!)
From my understanding skin changes are something to be aware of if HIV infection is suspected.
I was curious if anyone could explain the likelihood of foliculitus and/or the possibility of something like ITP being present in early HIV infection or if these generally are present in later stages.
The itchy skin rash that my BF and I have has been independently diagnosed as many different things and the lack of an answer is obviously concerning. On top of that odd skin manifestation where I never had before, I am now seeing these bruises that come and go, hence my question on of or how ITP May or may not present itself early on in HIV infection.
Lastly, and this is totally beating a dead horse, is a RAPID antibody test at 10 weeks conclusive as doctors on this site have said or is the governmental 3 month guideline really the date to realistically stick to (with the acknowledgement that more time is obviously always more desirable).
I was curious if anyone could explain the likelihood of foliculitus and/or the possibility of something like ITP being present in early HIV infection or if these generally are present in later stages.
The itchy skin rash that my BF and I have has been independently diagnosed as many different things and the lack of an answer is obviously concerning. On top of that odd skin manifestation where I never had before, I am now seeing these bruises that come and go, hence my question on of or how ITP May or may not present itself early on in HIV infection.
Lastly, and this is totally beating a dead horse, is a RAPID antibody test at 10 weeks conclusive as doctors on this site have said or is the governmental 3 month guideline really the date to realistically stick to (with the acknowledgement that more time is obviously always more desirable).
Totally appreciate the reassurances from both Vance2335 and also Life360, but I'm curious regardless of the risk or not, if there is anyone who can comment on foliculitis and/or the immune thrombocytopenia purpia conditions as they may or may not relate to the first 3 months or so of early HIV infection (specifically ITP).
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks for the reply Life360. I appreciate the rational explanation that oral sex has no real risk or at the very least very low risk of HIV transmission, but I guess concerned of there was a sore or lesion present at the time of oral sex.
Secondly, while the sex was protective, is there still a risk...again rationally, I appreciate that it would be low, but still concerned.
Lastly any advice or input on the testing clarifications and/or folliculitus and especially the Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpia condition that causes ripple to bruise easily due to low platelet counts.
Sorry to be paranoid, but I understand the low risk (or no risk) of oral sex, what I can understand are these weird skin manifestations in and my boyfriend.
Sorry.
Secondly, while the sex was protective, is there still a risk...again rationally, I appreciate that it would be low, but still concerned.
Lastly any advice or input on the testing clarifications and/or folliculitus and especially the Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpia condition that causes ripple to bruise easily due to low platelet counts.
Sorry to be paranoid, but I understand the low risk (or no risk) of oral sex, what I can understand are these weird skin manifestations in and my boyfriend.
Sorry.
Hi, the bottom line is that you had no risk to contract hiv from your oral affairs.
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