STI Risk Follow Up Question

[commentatorkl]

Dear Doctor,

I'm writing to follow up my original post  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Potential-HIV-Risk/show/1566013 as I somewhat feel that I have grounds for concern with symptoms.

In brief approximately 20 days ago I slept with a girl whose sexual history I have no idea about - she is extraordinarily liberal [to say the least] to the point that she even admitted to me that she was bi-sexual and had slept with another woman. It is also important to consider that  we both live in NYC which is a hotspot for STDs/HIV.  I used proteciton each time although the oral was unprotected and during the second time we had intercourse the condom was quite far down my penis. She was, also, prone to biting my lip/body during intercourse and also scratched me a few times with her nails.

I recall noticing the day after a red abrasion/mark on my penis although it did not feel or look like a cut and went away after another day or two.

Anyway the initial symptoms I described in my first post soon subsided as I began to relax about the sexual incident. Today and yesterday however, it seems my lymph nodes/glands have been swelling slightly and the inside of my throat/general neck area has felt very itchy and sore - the the point where I had to unbutton the top button of my shirt. Moreover, the muscles/nodes just at the area my armpits/pecs are in have aslo been rather sore. At work today, I even had to leave to go buy some ibuprofen at the pharmacy the discomfort was that troublesome.

Do you think that what I am experiecing would have anything to do with my potential exposure almost 3 weeks ago?

Thanks again for your advice.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No change in my assessment.  Your may have acquired mononucleosis or some other viral illness which is hanging on.  EWH

[commentatorkl]

Hi Doctor,

It's now been 2 days since I asked my original question and the soreness in my neck/lymphnodes and especially my armpits/pecs has increased exponentially. Do you think that these symptoms, now three weeks after exposure, are grounds for concern vis-a-vis an STD infection? I continue to have to take ibuprofen about 3 times a day to cope with the pain and discomfort.  Moreover I have noticed very pale white spots over my hands and arms which are starting to concern me.

Thanks again for your advice.

[commentatorkl]

Thank you again for your reply Dr. Hook.

I am hoping that the tension in the neck/sore throat is due to stress/non-serious infection - however I should point out that I have already suffered quite a bit from a Summer Cold/Flu the first 10 days after the potential exposure. Moreover I don't think my glands/nodes have ever swollen like this in my adult life - the sensation is pretty surreal. Part of my wants to put it down to something psychosomatic but sadly the timing seems to correlate with something like sero-conversion based on what I've read on medical websites..

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum. I'm sorry to hear that you remained concerned regarding this exposure.  Your condom use, as well as the fact that you were given 2.0 grams of azithromycin despite having to indication for infection pretty much rules out bacterial infections.  Similarly, as I told you in our earlier exchange the encounters you described were not associated with any risk for HIV or other blood borne infection s(such as hepatitis).  My advice has not changed.

Further, perhaps as an FYI, I would point out that for women sex with other women is a lower risk activity than sex with men.  thus that she is sexually liberal, including bisexual contacts, does not change things.

The sore throat and swollen glands you've noted in your neck are most likely a summer cold/non-STD, non-HIV viral infection.  I hope it will pass soon.  EWH