I am new to this board and do not know what this stands for. ??

Also, I have a question about the posts I have read on ARS symptoms...I am assuming that ARS is some type of infection that you get after you were exposed to HIV. I found out 6 weeks ago saturday about his affairs. The last time he had sex with her was 8 weeks ago. I have had a sinus headache (I have alot of allergy problems) for about a week now, and today my throat has been getting sore. I feel like this is due to the drainage I have, as one side of my nose is stuffy and my head feels plugged up, like I do when my allergies are bothering me. I am concerned that maybe I have ARS symptoms....I also was extremely tired all last week, but the weekend before I had been 2 hours away from our home with my daughter at a softball tournament, and sitting around all day watching games and then driving back home has always worn me out. I didn't sleep good that night due to my allergies (that is when they started acting up because the wind was so bad where they were playing at and everyone was getting watery eyes and itchy noses) and was tired all day sunday and a few days into the week. It went away wednesday, when I finally got a real good night's sleep tuesday night. Am I just worrying myself until I call and get my results from the Home Access Test on wednesday? I haven't had any other symptoms...I have felt warm the last couple of days, but my period is about to start and that happens to me alot right before. I took my temp this weekend, and it was normal the times I actually felt like I was warm. Also, the weather in our area has been up and down...it was cold a few days last week, then it warmed up into the low 80's over the weekend, and now it's back in the 50's again. Thanks so much for reading. :-)

I am new to this board and do not know what this stands for. ??

Also, I have a question about the posts I have read on ARS symptoms...I am assuming that ARS is some type of infection that you get after you were exposed to HIV. I found out 6 weeks ago saturday about his affairs. The last time he had sex with her was 8 weeks ago. I have had a sinus headache (I have alot of allergy problems) for about a week now, and today my throat has been getting sore. I feel like this is due to the drainage I have, as one side of my nose is stuffy and my head feels plugged up, like I do when my allergies are bothering me. I am concerned that maybe I have ARS symptoms....I also was extremely tired all last week, but the weekend before I had been 2 hours away from our home with my daughter at a softball tournament, and sitting around all day watching games and then driving back home has always worn me out. I didn't sleep good that night due to my allergies (that is when they started acting up because the wind was so bad where they were playing at and everyone was getting watery eyes and itchy noses) and was tired all day sunday and a few days into the week. It went away wednesday, when I finally got a real good night's sleep tuesday night. Am I just worrying myself until I call and get my results from the Home Access Test on wednesday? I haven't had any other symptoms...I have felt warm the last couple of days, but my period is about to start and that happens to me alot right before. I took my temp this weekend, and it was normal the times I actually felt like I was warm. Also, the weather in our area has been up and down...it was cold a few days last week, then it warmed up into the low 80's over the weekend, and now it's back in the 50's again. Thanks so much for reading. :-)

Well, the most important question you should be asking your significant other is if he uses protection at all times when having sex with the other woman. If he does, then there is no risk for him (or you) to be exposed to HIV. There is however, a greater chance of being infected with other STDs, such as herpes and hepatitis, which can be transmitted even with protected sex.

In regards to your question about ARS (Acute Retroviral Syndrome), it is the body's initial reaction to being infected with the virus. This is the time when your body begins producing antibodies against the HIV in an attempt to fight off the virus. Of course, it is a losing battle, but the body will still go through a period of viral reaction where it is converting the blood from HIV negative to positive. This usually occurs 2-6 weeks after transmission and can be mistaken for a simple flu, with symptoms being fever, rash on the upper body, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, etc. The main way you might be able to distinguish ARS from a regular viral infection, is that there will most likely not be any respiratory or nasal infection, no coughing or runny nose, etc. But it's really important to remember that just because you have some or all of these symptoms, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE HIV. Some people may not even have any symptoms or become ill when seroconverting.

If you are concerned that your husband is putting you at risk for contracting HIV or other STDs, you should STOP having sex with him immediately (or at least be protected at all times) and demand that he get tested. You yourself should also wait about 13 weeks from your last sexual encounter with him and get tested.