Email 370: About HIV/ STD Symptoms and Tests

Dear pozziepinoy

May 1, nang makipag oral sex ako sa isang lalaking nakilala ko sa mall. Pagkatap0s nun May 3 ay nagkar0on ako ng bukol sa ilalim ng tenga ko mumps daw yun. 3 days lang nawala dn agad. Next ay nagkar0on naman ako ng sore throat yung parang hirap lumun0k at may nakita ak0ng parang puti na sip0n na kumakapit sa lalamunan ko. Although nakakalun0k ako ng pagkain eh nararamdan ko pa rin ng kaunti ang sakit sa paglun0k. Mula nung mangyari yun ay nag umpisa na ako mag search sa internet about hiv and std. Dun nakita ko ang mga sympt0ms, mula nun di na ako makakain. Di na rin ako maka tulog, lagi akong pinapawisan at nawawalan ng focus sa mga gnagawa ko. Araw2x na lang pinapakiramdaman ko kung may nag bago sa katawan ko. 3 weeks na ngay0n. Yung throat ko lang problema ko n0w. Ang tan0ng ko po.

Ano kaya yung tumubo sa lalamunan ko? May tulo po ba sa lalamunan? An0ng gam0t dito? 3 weeks na 2 sympt0ms pa lang naramdaman ko. Pareho lang b ang std at hiv test? 

Thanks,

juzt2010

TRANSLATION

Dear Pozziepinoy

Last May 1 when I had oral sex with a guy that I met in the mall. After that , on May 3, I had a small lump under my ear and people said it was mumps. It disappeared 3 days after. I then had sore throat which made it hard for me to swallow and I saw a whitish film like snot that stuck in my throat. Although I was able to swallow food, I still had pain in swallowing.

Eversince it happened, I started doing my research on the internet about HIV and STD. I saw there the symptoms. From that time on, I couldn’t eat anymore. It was also hard for me to sleep, I sweat a lot and couldn’t focus on the things that I need to do. Everyday I check if there is something different in my body. My throat is still my problem up to now.

My problem is this: what do you think is in my throat? Is there gonorrhea in the throat? What medicines should I take? Are the STD and HIV tests the same?

Thanks,

juzt2010

POZZIEPINOY'S RESPONSE

Hi juzt2010.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for finding the blog.

Although I am reiterating that oral sex is a low risk in transmitting HIV, still it is risky if there are open wounds in the mouth or gum problems in the receiver of the oral sex.

Thank you for sharing your story, however, like what I always say, HIV has non specific symptoms. Although it seems to me that you indeed has an infection as you still have throat problems, still, it can be anything.

I am no doctor and I no all the doctors who are reading the blog will agree with me that the best way for you too find out whatever your problem is, is by getting a check up. You can go to the emergency room of any hospital and have an initial assessment so the resident doctor there can give you treatment. Once in the hospital, just be honest and tell everything and if the doctor feels that you need to take both the STD tests and the HIV test, then please do so.

By the way, the STD and HIV test are 2 different tests as they detect different disease entities.

I hope I was able to answer your concern. Please feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy