Possible ARS 5 days after risky encounter?

[Kalle]

Hi everyone

I’m writing this to hopefully get some peace of mind or advice.

I had unprotected insertive vaginal sex 9 and 8 days ago with two different girls. Unknown HIV status on both, but this is in a city where HIV prevalence is quite high. There weren’t any blood or friction during the intercourses.

4-5 days after the first encounter I started having dry cough. A few days later (2 days ago) I developed more servere symptoms; very high fever, muscle ache, a pounding headache and a total loss of appetite. I’ve not eaten for the last 48 hours now. The dry cough has now become a wet cough though.

This combination of symptoms are not common for me. If I have a loss of appetite, it’s usually when I have food poisoning.

I have taken two Covid tests, and they were negative.

If this indeed is ARS, is it possible that the first symptom with dry cough started after 4-5 days? The information in the research I’ve done on this is very conflicting.

I feel incredibly dumb not using a condom and after this scare I’ll definitely bag up in the future.

[Jim Allen]

Your cough has nothing to do with HIV from the concerned encounters, and I wish you all the best. See your healthcare provider and treat whatever is making you sick.

Regarding HIV, the only thing that matters are test results post-potential exposure. Ttest six weeks post your last potential exposure with a blood draw (lab) HIV antibody test. The result at this time will rarely change, and retesting at three months generally isn't needed.

Also, consider getting an STI screening for far easier to acquire STIs whilst you are getting tested for HIV.

Unknown HIV status on both

You can never know their HIV status for sure, due to the window period on tests and serval other reasons, instead, presume they are living with untreated HIV and start protecting yourself if you want to reduce your HIV risks.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms, and the only way of knowing is by testing.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, and it will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will removed





 

[Kalle]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I’ve read a lot of your answers and you’re doing a great job helping people here.

How soon do you think it’s  possible to experience ARS symptoms after exposure? The “heavy” symptoms I got appeared after 7 days. I know, I know… the only way to know for sure is to get tested. But I’ve never felt sick like this before, and it seems like it might fit in the seroconversion window. I don’t think I’m unreasonable paranoid because these encounters that I had unprotected sex with are not unlikely at all to be positive.

In a few days when it has been 12 days from the encounters, I will get a HIV PCR test. From my understanding they’re slightly less accurate, but it would provide me with some peace of mind. What’s your take on that?
 

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

Here's the thing, the vast majority of people will experience no symptoms or nothing noticeable, hence you need to test and if they do notice something, it's mild and not specific. Plenty of things that don't happen or never happen, though, and if it happens it's all at once after 10+ days.

Your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV from the concerned encounter. Now, your left arm and right testicle could fall off, it's not to change the answer regarding HIV, and we're not going to discuss your symptoms here any further.

Treat whatever is making you sick instead of stressing about it, and regarding your HIV status test at six weeks post-exposure with lab blood draw HIV antibody test, as mentioned in my first reply to you.  No need for PCR testing; it's simply not needed, and it isn't a shortcut.