Not sure if I should be worried.

[orionsbelt]

Hello.  I was on here previously, but I could not remember my ID and password as this was approximately one year ago. 

I was worried previously b/c I had unprotected sex with my bf at the time, and was having some swollen glands.  I tested negative at 4 months, and have been really careful since then.

approximately 5 weeks ago, the same person and I were fooling around.  While this was going on, he inserted himself two times, but then pulled out, and did not ejaculate.

A few days ago, I got some swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and also got a cold sore and a runny nose.  I have been really tired, and am hoping that this is just a cold, but I still can't help but worry. 

Was this incident enough to get tested again?

Thank you very much.

[Ann]

orion,

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse with someone whose hiv status you are not 100% sure of, you need to test.

You also need to STOP having unprotected intercourse. You're playing roulette with your health. No kidding.

As you've been here before, you know the drill. A three month test is conclusive.

Ann

[orionsbelt]

Dear Ann:

Thank you for your advice.

I am going to go get tested, I just wanted your advice if there is a point of testing at 5 weeks or if I should just wait for the 3 months?

Thanks

[Ann]

orion,

If you want to test sooner rather than later, wait until six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. A negative result at six weeks is a very good indication of your true status, but MUST be confirmed at three months.

Ann

[orionsbelt]

Thank you Ann.  I hope you have a nice day.

[Andy Velez]

I just want to add one further caution. Practicing safer sex is not something you do just when it's convenient or when you "feel like it." We're talking about protecting your health and your life here. Unprotected intercourse is the riskiest sexual act whether it's vaginal or anal. It's somewhat less risky for the insertive partner but it's high risk for both.

You can have all the anal sex you want to and with as many partners regardless of their HIV status as long as the insertive partner is always wearing a condom. No exceptions.

Good luck with your test result.

[orionsbelt]

Dear Andy:

Thank you for your advice, but just for clarification purposes, I had told him that we could not have sex unless we had a condom.  Without getting into specifics, the second I realized that he was inside, I made him get out.. Trust me, from how much anxiety I got last time I had unprotected sex, I have learned that it is just not worth it.

It has been 5 1/2 weeks now, and I still have pretty swollen lymph nodes in my neck.. I called a place around here today and they're doing free oral swab testing tonight.  Ann, I know that you said that 6 weeks is indicative of what the final result will be (and that i will have to confirm at 3 months).. this is just killing me right now, and i cant stop thinking about it, and its seriously interfering with some responsibilities that I have.  So,  i know its not exactly 6 weeks, but I feel like I need to get the test for my peace of mind, and then will test again at 3 months.   

They said that they automatically make you come back to give you your test results, so hopefully early next week, I will know.

Thanks.

[Ann]

Orion,

five and a half is near as damnit and will still be a good indication as the average time to seroconversion is 22 days.

And yes, feel free to let us know your results. Think good thoughts while you wait and expected a negative - and keep yourself busy. All the fretting in the world won't have any effect on your results.

Ann

[orionsbelt]

Hi Miss Ann:

I just went and got my results and they are "non-reactive".. Thank you again for helping me through this.