Reading through past posts on this board has actually started making me feel more bad than good lately. I read lots of stories about people having symptoms, but almost all are things that are easily attainable from stress. I, however, have a rash on the trunk of my body (that I started a new thread about a few days ago). I know it could be from somethin else, but a rash is a lot harder to get by stressing than a stomach ache. I have only had one questionable experience (a couple weeks ago), so I realize my chances are low, but its hard to get past how big of a coincidence this rash must be otherwise.

the lack of responses just reafirms the point to me that i am in trouble, because people don't really have anything comforting to say when someone has a situation like me. And it should also make a lot of people who are worrying over normal symptoms feel better that theyre posts are easily answerable.

Go to the message board at {{{REMOVED}}} they have alot more people and will answer you faster.

I know how you feel!
Anyway, stress can cause rashes...since i cant post websites i cant show you the info, but it's very true..
Are you in dry, cold weather? im a new englander and i know that dry cold weather can cause chapped skin and stuff
I'd be more worried if you have had a fever and whatnot, but it's really ALWAYS a good idea to get tested...
We can get sick for a VARIETY of UNEXPLAINABLE reasons...it's insane how many diseases and disorders there are out there....however, for those of us who have an extreme fear of HIV and do way too much research, it seems like the only answer...i've had something going on w/me and im waiting for my test results...it's scary, but just remember that there are VERY VERY many things out there that can be similar to the way we portray HIV in our heads from looking online

the lack of responses just reafirms the point to me that i am in trouble, because people don't really have anything comforting to say when someone has a situation like me. And it should also make a lot of people who are worrying over normal symptoms feel better that theyre posts are easily answerable.

Stress can and is notorias for causing rashes and a variaty of other things . Please calm down. Stop obsessing and reading and believing you have everything on the internet having a nervous breakdown is no solution to anything . I know its hard but you need to keep a clear head and stop relating everything to hiv . The only way to know for sure is to get a hiv test you can talk to you're doctor about a (PCR) or viral load test that's looks for the virus itself or an (ELISA4) test which is a combination antibody and pcr test which can be very accurate within 7 - 8 weeks . Then you will at least have an idea and may be able to let a little bit of pressure of you're mind . Ill pray for you :)
Best of luck ..........
In good health ..........
................ Lost spirit .............

If your exposure was a few weeks ago, isn't it a bit early to be getting an AIDS related rash?? I mean, from everything I have read, alot of the "tell tale" signs that are obvious to others aren't showing until later, much later from the time of diagnosis...am I worng?

My problem is that I do have a clear enough head that I am not getting other stress related symptoms. No headaches, stomach aches, etc.... just a very odd rash that fits the description of acute hiv. It is very hard to deal with. I wish i just had the other symptoms so I could pass it off as stress (a doctor said my rash wasn't from stress, and also said it wasn't likely hiv-related, but the doctor admitted he didnt have much background on the subject). And yes, acute hiv can show up any where from 10 days to 6 weeks after infection.

You're just like me...I know it's impossible to listen to anyone's rationalization when youre very worried, i am the same way...every night i tell my boyfriend why i think i have come down w/hiv etc etc and he tells me that it could be from anything...but do i want to listen? no...however, other times, i calm and okay....take the test..i know it's hard, im sooo anxious right now....
and believe me when i tell you that there are a host of other reasons for rashes:)go to a dermatologist..take a picture of it if you still have it in case it fades

I did go to a dermitologist. He said he didn't believe it was HIV related. However, he admitted he didnt have much background on the subject. I mean was he gonna say, "yeah thats HIV", of course not. I know i sound like a typical horrified illogical irrational person, but I believe i knew more about what a acute hiv related rash would look like than he did. And that is not comforting at all....

Rashes can be a symtom of hiv or many other (std) and a million other things but if you obsess everything and everything can be a symtom the onely way to know for sure is to get tested . Even you're doctor will tell you that sure there not going to say ( it looks like hiv to me ) and thays because its impossable to diagnose by symtoms and if you look any (LEGITIMATE) website it will tell you the same thing . Even tho you think you're keeping a clear head the back of you're mind is already writting youreself off as being hiv positive (LOOK AT YOU'RE POST HEADING) the reality of it is you may or may not have hiv or you may have caught another std (viral/bacterial) or anything else in that matter or it could be nerves stress or just an allergic reaction to something . Hiv is a very scary thing and something very serious to worry about but until you know for a (FACT) you have it don't write youreself off .
Ill keep praying for you .... Be strong .
Never give up ... Keep fighting.....
............ Lost spirit ...................