Author Topic: ARS (Read 9561 times)

glamourgirlxox · « **on:** December 03, 2007, 12:11:45 am »

Hi everyone. I am very scared that I may have contracted HIV. About two weeks ago I was at a party and had unprotected sex with a guy who I just met. The penetration only lasted about 10, maybe 15 seconds because I started freaking out since I have a bf and I didn't want to cheat on him. Is 10-15 seconds even long enough to come in contact with pre-cum? Any way, last week I started getting symptoms such as; fatigue, coughing, very sore throat, and slight swollen glands in my neck. I had no fever, rash, nausea, diarrhea, aches/pains, or any other symtoms of ARS. However, it completely freaked me out! I felt sick for about 3 days before I decided to see a doctor. He told me that he thought it was a bronchial infection and he put me on antibiotics. I am almost feeling 100% again, but I cannot let go of the fact that I might have HIV! I am petrified and it is turning into an obsession. I cannot sleep at night, I am up until 5 in the morning. I am constantly researching HIV. I am also becoming very depressed because I have basically convinced myself that I have HIV.

My question is...do you think that I am overreacting and that I am paranoid, or do I have a real risk here? I cannot get tested for another 3 or 4 weeks and I don't think I can stay sane that long.

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2007, 12:29:01 am »

Hey.

Unprotected vaginal sex is indeed a risk for HIV infection, but the chances of you being infected from this brief encounter are actually fleetingly small. In fact your more likely to have been exposed to another STD like chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

Small risk is not the same as no risk and as such you should have an HIV antibody test. In fact a full STD screen would be a better idea. A full screen will include but is not limited to an HIV antibody test. Ask your doctor to arrange this. You will most likely test negative. You should note that there is a 13 week window period for HIV testing. This means you will have to wait 13 weeks from the date of this encounter before you can test.

In future you should only have protected anal or vaginal sex. That means using condom and water based lube every time you fuck.

Your symptoms mean nothing when it comes to diagnosing HIV and my feeling is that are not HIV related.

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2007, 06:41:23 am »

I am getting tested today, eventhough it is still a bit early. I will get tested again at six weeks and then again at three months if it is negative today. I was wondering, if you get a rapid test and it comes out positive, how long does it take before you get the results of your western blot test back? I hope it is not long, I don't think I could handle the stress.

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2007, 07:02:51 am »

someone please reply!!

Ann · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2007, 07:26:11 am »

Glam,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

How long it takes a WB result to come back will vary from place to place, so there's really no way we can answer this question. You'll have to ask where you have your test done - they stand a better chance of knowing than us, don't you think?

You are testing for hiv FAR too early. The earliest you should test is six weeks. However, you CAN test for the other STIs today* and you should because as Matty noted, you were far more likely to pick up something like chlamydia from this brief encounter.

Ann

*all except syphilis, which shares a three month window period with hiv for a conclusive negative result.

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2007, 09:01:42 am »

Thank you guys.

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2007, 09:33:22 am »

sorry about all these questions, i will try to make this my last. although i was going to get tested today, i decided against it as it is too early and would be pointless. i just don't know how i am going to make it through the next 3 and a half weeks. can anyone who has gone through the extreme anxiety of waiting to be tested offer me some advice on how to cope with this. this is taking over my life.

RapidRod · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2007, 09:45:28 am »

Stay off the Internet and find something to keep you busy.

Ann · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2007, 10:09:05 am »

glam,

Don't start viewing your body through the lens of hiv. Nothing you might find will have ANY bearing on your hiv status, so don't even bother.

And as Rodney says, stay off internet hiv sites.

I'd like for you to reconsider testing now - not for hiv, but for the other STIs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea both can be present with NO symptoms whatsoever. That's part of why they're both so prevalent - people don't know they're infected. Women often don't bother getting checked out after unprotected intercourse on the basis of not having a discharge or discomfort, then come to find years later that their fallopian tubes have been damaged by an untreated STI and they cannot have children as a result. This is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. Get checked out!

Ann

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2008, 05:45:07 pm »

Hi everyone. I am very worried about HIV because last night I had sex with a guy of unknown status and we used a condom. However, when he pulled out the condom came off and some of his ejaculation got on my butt and leg. I am worried that some of it may have been able to enter my anus. Since he did not come inside of my anus, but near or on it, what are the chances that it could have gotten into my blood stream. I am concerned. What do you think my risk is?

RapidRod · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2008, 05:54:02 pm »

You were never at risk. Your friend needs to learn how to correctly withdraw when finished.

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2008, 06:41:49 pm »

. . . and more to the point:

Please keep all your additional thoughts, questions and comments in your original thread. This helps us to follow your story and give you the most accurate advice.

If you can't find you original thread click on the red link I've provided above. Alternatively you can click on the "show own posts" link in the left hand column of any forums page.

Your questions will not be answered until you return to your original thread.

MtD

anniebc · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2008, 07:15:56 pm »

Glamourgirl

I have merged your post, please keep all your question in tis one from now on..thank you for your cooperation.

You had protected sex so there is no risk...please read the Welcome Thread and read the lessons on how HIV is and is not transmitted.

Sperm or blood on the outside of the skin dries up, it doesn't soak into the skin.

Jan

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2008, 05:48:19 pm »

Hi everyone. So I heard that giving oral sex (unprotected) is not really a risky behavior for HIV transmission...but I don't understand how it isn't. If the man does not ejaculate in your mouth, is it likely that you would be able to contract HIV? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

RapidRod · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2008, 06:19:18 pm »

Have you taken the time to read the lessons? The lessons link can be found at the top of any page.

Ann · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2008, 06:31:17 pm »

glam,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

Stop starting new threads!

Saliva has over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and render it unable to infect. Hiv can latch onto only a very few, very specific types of cells, cells that are not found in abundance in the oral cavity.

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 with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three 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.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and you will avoid hiv infection.

Ann

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2008, 05:57:29 am »

is it possible that it is purplish color and almost looks like a hickey? plz reply, i am freaking out

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2008, 06:17:09 am »

what color is the rash? is it red or is it purplish? i am freaking out here!

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2008, 06:18:40 am »

Please keep all your additional thoughts, questions and comments in your original thread. This helps us to follow your story and give you the most accurate advice.

If you can't find you original thread click on the red link I've provided above. Alternatively you can click on the "show own posts" link in the left hand column of any forums page.

Your questions will not be answered until you return to your original thread.

MtD

Ann · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2008, 07:13:09 am »

Glam,

Once again, STOP STARTING NEW THREADS!

We cannot diagnose your rash. Go to a doctor. And no, ARS rash doesn't look like a hickey.

It looks to me like you've never tested for the incident you originally came here with. That was the only actual risk you reported. If you haven't tested yet, GO TEST! As a sexually active adult you should be testing once a year anyway.

Please re-read your entire thread again before responding.

Ann

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2008, 11:42:50 am »

Hello everyone. I am posting because I am convinced that 29 days ago, I contracted HIV. I do not know the status of the person whom I had the encounter with, but I am fearing that he was positive. It all started when he began fingering me (sorry about being explicit) and then he wanted to have vaginal sex. We did not have a condom so I said no. However, I had been drinking and due to lack of better judgement, he convinced me to let him insert his penis in me for a short period of time...i would say about 20 seconds. He wasn't really thrusting either. I don't know if this was long enough to release pre cum? Anyway, I was very worried after the incident but I had no symptoms between the typical 2-4 weeks when people develop ARS. I assumed odds were in my favor, but last night I began feeling extremely fatigued...almost like I hadn't slept in weeks. Then later on I developed a sore throat and a slight fever of about 99.7. I totally freaked out. When I went to bed I had severe night sweats. I woke up today with the same symptoms and an even higher fever of 100.7 at its highest. I am petrified because I know that these can be symptoms of seroconversion! Also, it is August and I don't think there's much chance that I could have caught anything else this time of year! I am suffering from severe panic attacks. Honestly, is there a chance that this ISN'T acute HIV? Any help is greatly appreciated.

RapidRod · « **Reply #21 on:** August 03, 2008, 03:36:40 pm »

Test at 6 weeks and then test at 3 months to get a conclusive test result. 3 minutes of pleasure isn't worth a life time of medications and doctor visits. USE CONDOMS..

Ann · « **Reply #22 on:** August 04, 2008, 08:07:59 am »

glam,

There's every chance that what you experienced isn't hiv, BUT the only way to know is to test at the appropriate time. You should test for other STIs as well.

You really need to start carrying condoms with you. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Ann

glamourgirlxox · « **Reply #23 on:** August 06, 2008, 02:32:16 am »

my doctor told me that he believes i have mono, but i told him that i would like to take an hiv test as well. he said it may come up as false-positive if i have mono. is this true? wouldn't the western blot be able to distinguish between HIV antibodies and mono antibodies?

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #24 on:** August 06, 2008, 02:35:42 am »

Yairs.

Various factors can trigger false positive results on ELISA testing, which is why all positive ELISA tests are checked with a another test called a Western Blot.

The combination of ELISA and WB testing precludes false positive diagnoses.

MtD

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Author Topic: ARS (Read 9561 times)