Infectious Disease Specialist Questions HIV

Do I have hiv?

So the end of 2020 I went through this small stage of having encounters with other guys. Which is not like me! However I wanted to get over my breakup. I had sex unprotected. Then months later around march the following year it happened again with someone else. Then it happened again. That time I had a condom! However the condom broke and we stopped immediately. The rest of the next few hook ups were just oral. But I asked each Individual their status and they all said they were negative. Am I still at risk? Early last year I experienced diarrhea, muscle aches. Then my feet and hands started peeling badly! Although those situations resolved I still wonder! I don’t know if the diarrhea came from all those sleep aids I was taking to cope! Around that time my skin was peeling, my tub needed to be fixed! The water wouldn’t drain as I showered. I’ve been celibate for over a year now! Which I plan to keep that way (until I know my status) My only problem today is headaches and recurring pain on my tongue! That hurts especially when I’m talking.

Male | 27 years old
Complaint duration: 1 year 1/5
Medications: Pain pills for headache
Conditions: N/a

2 Answers

Hi!
Yes you are at risk anytime you have unprotected intercourse.
most people lie about their HIV status and do not want to disclose
My best recommendation is for you to get tested with HIV P24 antigen/ antibody test
Always a good idea to have your partners get tested and VISUALLY see their tests being negative
Always ask for syphillis and HSV 1 and 2 test as well as herpes is passed even when they dont have outbreaks
You shoudl get tested with following:
HSV 1 and HSV 2 Igg and Igm in blood
RPR (treponema antibody is ok as well)
HIV P24 antigen/ antibody
chlamydia and gonorrhea in urine PCR
Thanks
Good luck
Thanks for the question. The peeling hands were not due to HIV. There are a few possible causes, from eczema to post-bacterial, to a few odd but not rare syndromes. However, you should test for HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis due to the past unprotected contact. If negative, it will also help reduce any sense of anxiety. And please, no guilt. You are cared for!