Dr Cohen,

I have just taken my second antibody test for a possible low risk exposure (receiving oral sex) that took place a month ago. The test at 3 weeks tested negative. I get retested at 4 weeks because I developed muscle and joint ache after the flu was gone. I acquired the flu before the intercourse, and then at 2 weeks after, I get "reinfected" with a flu virus again. But the ache came in after the second flu symptoms was subsiding, which is really weird.

My question is: Is the muscle and joint ache that I am experiencing, which have been going on for three weeks now, a sign of a fastprogressor? I am thinking of not going back to get my second test result, because I fear that the confirmation that I have the HIV virus would wreck my mental health. Yet on the other hand, I wanted to be treated in time, because I have a feeling that I might be one of the fast progressors. I have always had a weak immune system, and there is the additional mylagia and athralgia that wouldn't go away.

Doctor, please advice on when I should face the music. I unedrstand that there is no clear answer, but a certain calrification on issues and possibilities would really help!

Thank you very much!

John

John:

It is difficult, and likely impossible, to catch HIV from having oral sex done to you. So if that is what you did - then HIV is NOT the cause of your symptoms. You are not a fast progressor. You however are a rapid progressor - towards lots of unneeded worry, lost sleep, fretting, and anxiety.

My advice - get the test result. It will be negative based on what you said. Then you can focus on what else is going on for you - like lots of uncertainty/anxiety about what risks you are choosing to take sexually...

good luck. CC