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Author Topic: Am I infected?  (Read 4213 times)

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Offline Landon01

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  • Posts: 4
Am I infected?
« on: May 02, 2007, 06:48:50 pm »
Good Evening,

1 year ago I had unprotected vaginal intercourse with a very promiscous female acquaintance who I know to have had many many partners. I have since lost contact with her. The duration of this intercourse was 5 mins approx. 2 weeks after this I had some symptoms for 3 days that consisted of the following -

-mid sore throat, mainly when I swallowed
-tightness in neck
-single swollen lymph node under chin (sub mental node)

I didn't "feel sick", wasn't tired, and had no fever that I remember. I was able to go to work, the gym etc... during this time.

I brushed this incident off after doing some research on the risk of one time unprotected vaginal intercourse with an unknown and after paying $15 dollars on another site which told me that I didn't really need testing for this one time exposure but test on a yearly basis.

I have now approached a year and am extremely worried about this! I just bought a Home Access HIV test kit and know I need to do the test but am having a lot of anxiety now.

What are my chances of coming out of this ok based on the one time incident and the symptoms that followed?
Do my symptoms sound like ARS?

Thanks for any insight, I realize this site is much more conservative than others and appreciate your view point.

God Bless,
Landon

Offline hypobass

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  • Posts: 8
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2007, 07:00:02 pm »
As a DEVOTED researcher in all of the HIV forums on the net, your risk does not seem that large.  This is not the advice of a doctor, just a fellow hypochondriac who has been through the same. 

Yes, you did put yourself at risk having unprotected sex, but the odds are in your favor.  The length of time you had sex means nothing.  Also, ARS symptoms do not occur that soon.  You will be told OVER and OVER that symptoms mean NOTHING when it comes to diagnosing HIV.  You could have every symptom in the book, and odds are, you will be negative. 

Another odd in your favor is female to male transmission.  It is more rare than the reverse.  Definitely do the Home Test.  I have done 2 of them in the past, and they are a "life saver".  It is absolute TORTURE thinking "what if" all of the time.  Just get the results, and I'm very confident they will be negative. 

Just learn from this!!  I've been there, and then did the stupid mistake again.  NEVER again will I be unsafe!!  It's not worth it!!!  Be well!! 8)

Offline Landon01

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2007, 07:06:41 pm »
Thanks for the reply and encouragment however my symptoms came a little after 2 weeks after the incident so that to me is impeccable timing...

Offline hypobass

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  • Posts: 8
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2007, 07:15:08 pm »
I'm sorry, I misread the symptoms part.

You had them after 2 weeks.  Even though it is in the so called "time frame" of ARS, symptoms mean nothing.  I freak about about the same thing.

I have always been a healthy guy and active, never sick.  Then, after my mistake, I was sick, feeling VERY different, not like myself.  Got tested, and it was negative.

The mind is a VERY VERY VERY strong thing.  It can make up any symptom you want it to!  If you don't believe me, wait until others post in this forum, they'll tell you!

Odds are greatly in your favor.  Keep calm, everything is cool!  Good luck to you, even though you won't need it!!

Offline Landon01

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2007, 09:33:38 pm »
I never get sick and have these symptoms -

-mid sore throat, mainly when I swallowed
-tightness in neck
-single swollen lymph node under chin (sub mental node)

Can anyone tell me if this could possibly be ARS in the slightest? I didn't have a fever f.y.i.

Thanks in advance,
Landon

Offline ACinKC

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  • Bring it VIRUS! #2 Ranked In-crowd Member!
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2007, 09:36:24 pm »
Hypo you need to not be giving advice in this forum please.  If you have a concern about your HIV status please let us know and start a new thread.  if you are HIV positive could you please post an intro in the living with forum.

Thank you.
LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT A
RIDE!!!

Offline Landon01

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2007, 12:06:02 am »
Can somone please answer my question, could those symptoms possibly be ARS related?

Offline RapidRod

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  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2007, 05:41:47 am »
Symptoms or lack of symptoms is no way of diagnosing HIV. You had an exposure so the only way to know your status is by testing. We don't play guessing games on this forum.

Offline Ann

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  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Am I infected?
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2007, 05:43:22 am »
Landon,

Symptoms, or even the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection.

The ONLY way you will know your hiv status is through testing. You've had unprotected intercourse so that means you must test. The odds are in your favour of testing negative, but the ONLY way to find out is to test. Hiv is nothing to guess about.

Get tested. That's the bottom line.

Ann
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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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