new ars question!

[worriedalice]

Hi Dr. HHH and Dr. Hook,
Like so many other worry-wells on this site, I had an either near zero, or zero risk exposure (receiving oral sex). I'm sure at this point I'm just looking for reasons to worry, but I was wondering if the following was possible.
I had symptoms that did not line up with ARS during the window period (the only thing that lined up was a bit of a scratchy throat). I know that my low risk exposure combined with one symptom means that this is not ars (or the odds would just be too crazy for it to be).
I went to a walk in clinic today, and the doctor told me that I have an ear infection in one ear, a bit of an inflamed throat/tonsils/ a likely infection in my wisdom teeth (indeed they are impacted and I have been told that I should get them removed). The doctor checked me over and I have NO (or maybe one) swollen lymph nodes. The doctor wasn't too specific about what he thought caused the problems, but he told me that he was going to do some bloodwork on me (indeed they checked me today for CBC, Hba1c, mono, and strep). He asked me if I had ever had mono before (I haven't).
My symptoms have lasted for 2 1/2 weeks already, and a few have been on and off for a while. So I have accepted the fact that I'm not suffering from ars symptoms, but could the ear infection be caused by HIV in some other way (ie, the HIV has weakened my immune system during initial infection and, while I am not showing symptoms of being infected with HIV, be co-experiencing a wisdom tooth infection without ANY ars symptoms and yet still be "having ars" but the other sickness masking the HIV one), or would it make sense that if I was sick and one lymph node was swollen from something else, that I would probably be sick (in all honesty, while there is some soreness, I don't feel bad) and that ars would be more likely? Thanks in advance!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Rare,  EWH

[worriedalice]

Thanks again! Are false positives common, or  rare?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Antibiotics will not change your test results.

The false positive rate is slightly higher with the rapid tests than the standard "send out" blood test but not too much.  I am comfortable suggesting you have a rapid test.  EWH

[worriedalice]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I do agree, my worries are irrational. I think a test this week should do the job in eliminating any residual fear.
I am planning on getting a rapid test (blood drawn) done, but am unsure if a traditional test would be better.

I am not realistically worried about getting a real positive, since pretty much everyone told me it's not possible, but I am a bit worried about getting a false positive. Are they common with the rapid tests these days at all? I am also sick and am taking amoxycillin and nystatin currently. Would being sick or on antibiotics cause an increased potential for me to test positive?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

uou are not at risk.  Your continuing questions strongly suggest that there is more going on here than HIV risk related questions.  You are giving the answers to the questions you are asking, acknowledging that you are not at risk.  While I cannot sort out the basis for this, it appears that my answers are not helping and may be making things worse.  There will be no further answers and further questions will be deleted.  I would suggest you consider seek help in sorting through the basis for your concerns.  You need not worry about HIV from the exposure you describe.  EWH

[alienshadow]

You need to forget about this and move on . You are just putting more fuel on the fire you have burning. You did not get HIV from an oral exposure MOVE ON !!!!!!!

[worriedalice]

I should have also added that I had a couple of sores near my anus (probably a few pimples separately for a few days each. I'm assuming this isn't ARS connected either?

[worriedalice]

Thanks for the reassurance Dr. Hook! I forgot to add that I was also put on nystatin for a mild case of thrush, but I read the other day that it's not statistically related to ars anyways, so I'm assuming your verdict obviously doesn't change at all... I think I just need to forget about this all, put it behind me, and stop worrying...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

None of what you suggest, from the exposure to your symptoms suggests that you have ARS or for that matter are at any meaningful risk for HIV.  HIV does not "ask" other infectons, nor are other infections "masked" by HIV.  You need to stop worrying or, for that mattter, looking for reasons to worry.  There is nothing in your history to even suggest a reason for you to be HIV tested - period.  EWH