Started to show some symptoms after tested negative

[mcsk8er]

Hi everyone,

So here's my situation.

I had my first unprotected sex with my guy about two weeks ago, and then another time with him one week later. He swore to me that he was all clean, and I got tested this Monday for HIV and the results also came out negative. But since this Thursday I started to have some symptoms which lasted for three days now and I'm a little worried. It's probably that I'm just being paranoid. I've been having this low-grade fever for days, and headache, and feel tired and sleepy all the time. I took some DayQuil ad Advil and they only assuaged the symptoms for a while. I also have night sweat these days. But no sore throat or inflamed lymph glands yet.

So my question is is it possible that by the time I got tested, the HIV didn't show up, but two days later it started to show symptoms? Do I need to get tested again?

Also I have some tear and hemorrhoids around my anus since that sex, and they're still there after two weeks, is it possible that the fever is caused by that?

I would appreciate your opinions!

Thanks!

[Ann]

MC,

You need to STOP having unprotected intercourse on the basis of what they CLAIM their hiv status is. And by the way, to use the word "clean" to describe a person's hiv status implies that those of us living with hiv are dirty somehow. I resent that, quite frankly, and on World AIDS Day no less.

Wise up. In more ways that one.

If you've been listening to ANY news reports in just about any part of the world today, you'll be hearing how many people have NO IDEA they're hiv positive - they only ASSUME they're hiv negative.

YOU need to assume that ANYONE you have sex with is hiv POSITIVE and protect yourself accordingly by using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse.

We do not address symptoms in this forum. Neither symptoms nor the lack of symptoms will ever tell you a single thing about your hiv status. ONLY testing at the appropriate time will.

You have had a risk and you do need to test - regardless of whether or not you have symptoms.

The earliest you should test is at six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. Two weeks is too early.

A six week negative is highly unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at the three month point.

In the meantime, you need to START USING CONDOMS!!!

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!

Ann

[mcsk8er]

Thank you Ann for your prompt reply! And I am so sorry for using the C word. I did not know about that! My deeply sincere apologies if I offended anyone!

My guy swore that he last got tested HIV negative and that there was no way for me to worry. And when I went to test this Monday, the doctor told me to come back in three months because, as you said, it was too early to tell. And as someone at high-risk, I know I need to get tested, just not sure about the time frame of it. It's just this fever and night sweat thing is really bothering me. I guess I should go back in three months to confirm the results of this test.

Thanks!

[Ann]

mc,

Like I told you before, the earliest you can test again is at six weeks past the last incident of unprotected intercourse. This will give you an excellent indication of your hiv status. If the result is negative, you must confirm at the three month point, but it is highly unlikely to change.

You really don't have to sweat it out without any answers for another ten weeks. Another four will pretty much tell you one way or the other, because if you have been infected during either of the two unprotected incidents, you'll more than likely test positive by then. (I'm taking into account the two weeks that have already passed when I say four and ten weeks - just to be clear.)

You really, really, really cannot go by what anyone tells you about their hiv status. It's the worst way to try to protect yourself. I cannot impress this upon you enough. Just use condoms until you've been together with a person for at least three months, have been monogamous during that time, and test together before the condoms come off.

Unprotected intercourse lasts only a few minutes, but hiv is forever. Is a few minutes of bare really worth a lifetime of meds and quarterly doctor visits? Not to mention the expense....

Just start using condoms, ok?

Ann