Please Help... so many symptoms...Any hope before testing?

[wwUP]

I am writing today to see if there is basically any hope that my symptoms and timeframe are not HIV related.  I feel very sure that they are.  I had unprotected sex with a female (im male) 3 months ago.    Also she sat on top of me and "dry humped" and she was "putting out".  The next day it felt like I had rug burn down there from her grinding hard so possible opening in skin.  Dont know her well and she is known to have many partners.  Her phone is now turned off.  I didnt think anything of my symptoms untill I got a sore throat 2 months later and typed in the search for sore throats and std's and of course have spent the last month looking at everything I can about symptoms of HIV.  I am scheduled for a test in 3 days at the center here that takes an hour and am extremely frightened. 

Let me list my symptoms and timeframe:
31 days after exposure- called in sick from what felt like flu and possible fever.  Next day felt fine and went back to work. 
I would consider this to be day 1 of the ars symptoms.
7 days into symptoms got nasty cold sore on side of mouth.
14 days into symptoms got another cold sore next to same one.
21 days into symptoms started sore throat that lasted 2 weeks.
23 days into symptoms lymph nodes under jaw swolen and still are today.
25 days into symptoms had started sweats at night, just the head, not full body that went on for about a week. Possible fever.
35 days into symptoms groin tender from nodes, never felt that before. Lasted 9 days.
35 days into symptoms, red bumps on back of tongue and 7 days later got worse and further down tongue. Still here today with white coating on front of tongue.
I had diariah here and there as well.

All in all, there is definately something that has been going on with me.  Especially with the visual of the bumps on the back of my tongue (looks very nasty).  The specialist I talked to said my exposure was high.  The only thing she said was not typical was the symptoms continuing and starting up one after another.  I have read so much about all of this and there are many things that say the symptoms will gradually develope and may last for weeks.  Others say its done in 3 to 14 days.  I have dropped 10 pounds and just havent felt real good since the sore throat started.
I know that symptoms are no way to diagnose, but when you have all of them its very hard not to.  Im not even sure you guys will even be able to respond... and understand if you cant but I just would like maybe the slightest bit of hope before I take that dreaded trip to the testing center.  Please help.

Questions)

1) I read on the HealingWell.com forum site that if your going to see symptoms to ars, that 2 to 4 weeks (14 to 28 days) is the key, not a day later, not 5 days later.  I didnt ask the specialist that but have a feeling she would have said thats not true.  Whats your thoughts? 

2) I did get better after the initial flu/fever.  Could i possibly be one of the few that may have Symptomatic Infection right after ARS or have ARS symptoms for an extended/lingering time?

3) My back of tongue and possible throat ulcers are really scaring me, but again started 64 days after exposure, which may be right on...?

I admit that my general health and eating habits have gone down hill because of enormous stress and that is not good for your body.  So all in all at this point the only hope I have is that she wasnt infected, my possible ars symptoms came to late, my possible ars symptoms lasted to long and all of this stress or another disease is causing some bad things.  I just cant denie the facts that I have been sick and did engage in risky behavior, and all of the major signs of ARS have been present.  It doesnt look to promising for me.  If possible, Please send some insight my way with your professional judgement/experience.

[ACinKC]

I am writing today to see if there is basically any hope that my symptoms and timeframe are not HIV related.  I feel very sure that they are.  I had unprotected sex with a female (im male) 3 months ago.   

Anything you post after this fact has nothing to do with HIV.  As others will surely tell you, you need to use condoms each and every time.  Based on this fact alone, an HIV test is recommended along with a full STD panel.

Just my 2 cents.

[Andy Velez]

Since your unprotected incident was three months ago you can get tested now and get an accurate result.

HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It is significantly more difficult to transmit from female to male. Given yours was only a single occasion the odds are in your favor against transmission having occured.

There is absolutely nothing in your report which is in anyway HIV specific. But then symptoms of any kind are never the way to know about your HIV status. Only an HIV test taken at the appropriate time, (now for you), will give you the answer.

Learn from this experience. In the future whenever you have intercourse you need to be wearing a latex condom. NO EXCEPTIONS. You can have as many partners safely as you want to. Just always wear a latex condom.Also, read the lesson on this site about transmission, the link to which is in the first thread in this section.

If any of your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor.

Good luck with your test result.

Cheers,   

[Ann]

ww,

You wasted your time writing out that book of symptoms because symptoms or the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Only the appropriate test at the appropriate time will reliably inform you of your hiv status.

You say this incident happened three months ago and if you mean at least 12-13 weeks ago, you can test now for a conclusive result.

As hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus and more so from a woman to a man, you have an excellent chance of testing negative.

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

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.

You do need to test, but forget the symptoms. They mean nothing.

Ann

[wwUP]

Thank you so much for your replies.  Your site is wonderful and it is very helpfull for people to be able to ask questions especially when they have nowhere to turn.  I am getting tested today and want to send out one last question.  I stated before that I did get an initial flu like illness at 30 days post exdposure.  I totally understand that symptoms are a lously way to diagnose HIV because they are so common with so many other things, which is my only hope to having all of these symptoms.
I have read in many sites that the symptoms of ARS coexist and have an abrupt onset.  My flu like feeling lasted about 24 hours.  Then 3 weeks later all of the others started up.

1) My question is simply from all your experience, have you ever seen symptoms onset again basically 7.5 weeks post exposure? or wouldnt most of these symptoms have coexisted with the intial flu symptom at 30 days?  I have read multiple times that ARS is not ongoing.  I am confused.  Please give me your absolute honesty if you can answer this.  Doesnt sound typical but could happen?  I have read that mono can do this.  Please give me your insite on this. Thank you.

[Ann]

ww,

Symptoms or the lack of symptoms mean nothing.

Just get tested and let the results speak for themselves. Hiv is nothing to guess or speculate about - only testing is definitive.

Ann

[man_apart]

I am not hijacking this thread, but I just recieved a phone call from wwUP and he just got his test results over the phone (home access) and they are NEGATIVE. (that is 15 weeks post his exposure) , I wanted to say congratualtions and realy really I believe now symptoms dont mean anything, WWup will post tomorrow to thank u guys, as for now he told me he is going to PARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ( but in a safe way)........

[Matty the Damned]

Thank you for letting us know man.

MtD

[wwUP]

My 14 week post exposure Home Access test came back Negative!  Thank you guys for your replies to my post.  I really appriciated them.  It was the ELISA test so from everything I have read, at 14 weeks, if it was going to turn up positive it would have by now.  Thanks again.

[wwUP]

Hey guys,

I am writing this morning because I am very scared again.  It has now been 5 months since possible exposure.  I tested negative with the Home access dried blood test at 100 days.  These past 2 weeks have been very hard.  Symptoms have continued.  I am extremely worried that I had not seroconverted when I tested.  1 week ago, my tonsils and throat swelled and became very painful like overnight.  My tongue still looked the  same with little sore spots on it.  I went to the doctor and just wanted him to have a look and not suggest anything to him.  He did a strep test and it came back positive.  He also diagnosed me with swollen glands in my neck and armpit/peck.  What worries me is that months before this strep, my armpits and glands in my neck felt exacltly like they did when he said they where swollen, so they have been for a few months now.  I can also tell you that my inner thighs feel exaclty the same with pea to bean size little hard bumps. 

My question is do you guys think that I am late?  I have extreme floaters in my vision now.  I am on amoxocillin now for the strep and my throat doesnt hurt but my tonsils are still swollen.  My tongue is white and has been for like 3 months with reoccuring sores on it.  I am terrified that I have moved directly into symptomatic hiv!  I really thought that my 3 month test was conclusive, but with all of these symptoms continuing, its hard to think that, mixed with it being a second generation test.  If I where immune defficient, would I know it?  All through childhood and teen years I had cold sores constantly.  I read that is a sign of immune difficency... 

With my glands being swollen so long and still today, what if I just havent produced anitbodies yet- in the eclipse window still? 

Do symptoms keep going like this?  Especially if someone where to convert late?  I thought I read that if you do go through ARS, then you would test positive 1 to 2 weeks after your initial symptoms started.  If these are symptoms of HIV, it couldnt be still ARS could it?

Please help.  This last week I wake up to soked pillows from sweat and have to get up and dry off.  I know part of that is from the strep throat, but I have been on the anitbiotics for a week now and feel better.  I am haveing night sweats!  I have lost all trust in my 3 month test.  I am terrified to retest now.
 

[Andy Velez]

Fortunately feelings aren't facts. And no matter what your head or your feelings are telling you about your symptoms, you have reliably tested negative for HIV.

You ARE HIV negative. Period. End of story.

If you have ongoing symptoms that are troubling you that's something to discuss with your doctor. They do not invalidate your negative test result nor do they mean you are some special case where somehow you're really HIV positive when your test has proven otherwise. Really.

Whatever is going on has absolutely nothing to do with HIV so you need to look elsewhere for an explanation of your symptoms. No kidding.

Congratulations on your happy test result. Make sure you use a condom everytime you have intercourse and you'll do fine as far as HIV prevention is concerned.

Cheers,

[wwUP]

Thank you Andy.  I have been sitting here thinking and I just havent gone to the doctor because I am scared.  After your response, I have courage now.  Thank you very much.  I am going to set up for a full STD panel this week to see if I have anything else.  Thanks again for the response.  Its just so hard when you have litterally had every single symptom related to ARS.  Thanks again.

I have been also worried because it seems like everyone on here tests multiple times, where I have only tested 1 time... I guess that is all you need if its past the window period.

[Andy Velez]

Most of the time when people test multiple times that's totally unnecessary. One of the symptoms of HIV jitters is that feelings and head stuff often take over  and generate more fear -- pretty much almost always unnecessarily.

Cheers,

[wwUP]

I have a quick question.  Would antibiotics affect an elisa test in any way?  I am currently on amoxicillin for strep throat. 

[Ann]

ww,

No, antibiotics (or any other drugs for that matter, or alcohol, or tobacco...) will NOT affect the ELISA test in any way.

You are hiv negative. Get used to that fact and make sure you use condoms for intercourse so you stay that way.

Ann

[wwUP]

Thanks Ann,

Just wanted to check.  I have been on amoxicillin for a week and am still on it and just did my 6 month test yesterday.  I recieve the results today or tomorrow.

Thanks again for the quick reply.