i am a male who was recently raped. went to dr. 2 days after got tested for hiv/syphillis. results 2 weeks later negative (obvious) started feeling symptoms 2.5-3 weeks after exposure. Swollen lymph nodes under armpits first right about 1-1.5 cm then week later left, joint aches (my wrists) pained alot, muscle aches biceps and shoulders felt weak, fatigue, when i layed in bed i felt like i couldn't move. lower back pain. mild fever. loss of appetite for a week (maybe because i was scared or stressed) lost about 5 lbs. no diarreah and no RASH. got tested 4 weeks after exposure, negative. when i got my results it was 6 weeks after exposure. doc refused to test again. he said it(hiv) would of showed up by now and assured me i was fine. AT 6 weeks i tested agin at other clinic bcause i thought my doc was trying to brush me off. he's not my family doctor (walk-in).waiting for results and scared shitless because i heard test show positive at 6 weeks. What the hell was tthe doctor talking about!?!?at 4 weeks i;m fine? IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP BY NOW?!? I am also scared because at week 7 no muscle aches, mild fatique, joints feel like they are getting better (lingering pain from first episode). eating well. no fever. NODES STLL SWOLLEN IN JAW NECK ARMPITS AND LEFT SIDE GROIN. and my throat is sore and i get bad tastes in my mouth. almost chemical-like. How ACCURATE IS A ANTIBODY ELISA AT 4 WEEKS AFTER EXPOSRE? 6 WEEKS? Are my symptoms that of early hiv or ars? iscared to death, please help! :confused:

I can totally relate :( who are these people that selfishly ruin our lives. I am no doctor and can't say what you have, I do know that on average it takes 25 days to show, I tested negative after 25days after my rape, but like you am of course conserned. Just wanted to send a note, you're not alone, ands lets both be confident we'll be ok, thats the only thing we have left...hope, people on this board have been kind to me, and at times it helps, 4 weeks isn't defienit you're right, but it is one sigh of relief, the first of many I hope
I wish you nothing but the best and will keep you in my prayers along side with mine.
Good luck to us both :angel:

Granted I don't want to make you even more scared, but to be completely honest your walk-in doctor was full of bull. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) recommends waiting up to 3 to 6 months to get tested so that if there are any antibodies, they will have time to show up. Every doctor and health expert I've talked to says that although a negative test at 6 weeks is hopeful, it isn't certain.

Although "most" people are detected within/by 25 days after the exposure, it can take much longer for others. My advice is to wait until the 3-month mark. Your symptoms are probably not indicative of HIV...everyone on this board including myself thinks or thought they had symptoms and so far I haven't seen one person test positive yet. Try to relax :) Also, when I got tested the first time my doctor calmed me down by explaining that it would be much more likely to have gotten a different STD than it would be to get HIV. Hang in there; I'll be hoping for your peace of mind because you do not deserve such a burden.

Honestly (AND I KNOW AT THIS POINT ITS HARD TO BELIEVE) you can't judge hiv on symtoms . If you're food is smelling and also tasting funny you should get tested for hepatitas (especialy hep b ) a lot of what you're telling us sounds like it could be hepatitas but you should go to you're doctor and get tested for all and every std .
Our gland swell to protect us and fight off infection of all sorts and even tho it is very scarey when they do it shows us that our bodies love us and will do there best to take care of us even when we some times don't take very good care of them . Get tested for hiv 12 weeks after exposure and if you and you're doctor feel it nesasary again at 24 weeks 97% will test posative or negative at 12 weeks .
It was absolutely terrible what happend to you and I hope the best for you and even in you're worst hours remember 1 thing (YOU'RE NOT ALONE ) ;)
When there is no 1 left to turn to ....turn to God
KEEP FIGHTING AND NEVER GIVE UP .......
........... LOST SPIRIT ...................