Panic - Typical ARS Symptoms

[hellogiggles1234]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. Approximately three weeks ago I had a sexual encounter with a person I did not know well -- was unaware of their sexual history or their STI status overall which I know was a careless move on my part.

This male is not considered part of a "high risk" group from what I KNOW but again I understand that HIV does not discriminate and that I cannot assume someone's status based on that information.

I was intoxicated when it took place and from what I REMEMBER we had used protection... however it would be dishonest to say my memory is 100% from that night, another regrettable error on my part.

Monday of this week (essentially exactly two weeks from the date of encounter), I began experiencing the following symptoms:

-Persistent Fever (unsure of the exact temperature as I did not have a thermometer previously. But it has been 4 days now)
-Swollen Lymph Nodes
-Muscle Aches (which I initially attributed to a workout I completed on Monday but now I am questioning that, although the muscle aches have mostly persisted now)

I went to a walk in clinic today to see when I could go back to work and the Doctor actually brought up wanting to test me for HIV based on that I have a fever of an unidentifiable source which she said is out of the blue. She asked a bit about my sexual history and I have been HIV tested in the past and try and be responsible with my sexual health going for STI testing routinely, but I have to say her bringing this up on her own threw me for a loop and has sent me into a spiral of worry.

What are the transmission rates as a receptive female without protection or if the protection failed? Are my typical ARS symptoms something to be concerned about?

She did take blood for HIV testing but at this point I know it would come back negative -- it has not been 3 months since this last partner and like I said I THOUGHT we had used protection, but looking back now with this new worry I am second guessing myself.

Thank you,


Thank you

[Jeff G]

You did have a risk if you had unprotected vaginal sex so testing is in order .

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. Most who are infected will test positive by 6 weeks. For various reasons a small number will take longer and that is why we follow the CDC recommendation to test at 3 months for a conclusive negative result.

A negative HIV is a good thing at any point but be sure to discuss this with your doctor and make a plan to follow up with testing a 6 weeks or 3 months past any possible exposure . We do not discuss symptoms or odds of being infected because the only way to know your status is to test at the appropriate time . ARS symptoms are the same for many medical conditions so guessing or discussing what is causing them isn't helpful or productive .

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

[hellogiggles1234]

Thank you for your lengthy response. In my original post I stated I was not aware of having had unprotected vaginal sex however I acknowledge it is a possibility based on the state of inebriation I was in. (I remember using a condom however now I am doubting that).

Regardless, nothing left to do but complete the appropriate tests at the appropriate times as you've identified.

Thanks

[Ann]

Giggles,

Don't read too much into your doctor being the one to bring up hiv testing - I wish more doctors would be that proactive where encouraging their patients to test is concerned. It sounds to me like she's a good doctor who has a genuine concern for her patients' well being and isn't judgemental where things like hiv is concerned. It's the judgemental ones who tend to assume women aren't in a "risk group" (any sexually active adult is technically in a risk group) and don't encourage them to test. In my experience, that is.

If your symptoms have anything to do with hiv, and given your time line, I would expect your result to be either "indeterminate" (neither poz nor neg) or outright positive (pending of course the result of follow-up Western Blot* testing). The symptoms that some people may experience are not due to the virus itself, they are due to the process the body goes through while producing antibodies.  A negative result at this point would be a very good indicator, but must be confirmed at the three month point.

*Any positive antibody result must be confirmed with another test called the Western Blot. Your doctor must run this test before she can confirm that you are hiv positive.

Take heart - if your memory serves you well and condoms were used, you will test negative.

Please be aware that you only have one free post left; please use it wisely.

Ann