could this have been ars? hours after an oral sex encounter without ejaculation in my mouth and I saw no precum. I contracted what appeared to be the stomach flu with slighty loose stool, something like stomach ulcers, no diarea and no vomitting white tongue and slight throat irritation. That lasted for about 2 weeks and I started to feel better and then a little after 3 weeks after the encounter the throat irritation came back and felt more like it was swelling. At the same time I got what appeared to be a very small case of geographic tongue which did go away after swishing with hyrdogen peroxide several days. Then I started feeling tired. The swollen throat turned mildly sore but it felt more like a gland than the throat itself. That whent away in about 3 days but there seems to still be irritation at the back of my throat left and right of my tonsils. its not sore, just an irritated feeling and red. Throughout this secon bout I've also had what seems to be muscle spasms at the base of my neck and sholders in the back. My mouth has been slightly dry at times but I think thats more related to anxiety because geographic tongue is related to anxiety as well. Every since I had this encounter Ive been under extreme metal stress and anxiety. A few days before the second bout, I was feeling a little better but I was also doing some heavy phyically stressful yard work. maybe a weakened immune system after battling a stomach flu combined with extreme stress and physical stress casued me to get a typical throat infection. I've had no fever with the second bout, no rash, no swollen glands, no nausea and no diareah. does this sound like it could be ars or is this more likely because of extreme worry and anxiety? I've read everywhwere on the internet that anxiety lowers the immune system making it very easy to get throat infections, colds and flus. Also is it possible having a dry mouth/throat due to anxiety would cause throat irritation at the back of my throat. As I said its not sore and there are no white patches or anything like that, just irritated like.

I would suggest that these issues are related to your anxiety and worry. I don't know of a case where ARS occurred within hours of the contact. Besides, everything that you listed could be a dozen other issues from stomach flu (sometimes the flu is just the flu) to anxiety. If you are so concerned, however, the only way to reduce that anxiety is to get tested. Usually the best time to determine sero-conversion is three months after contact. chris

Thanks. I just wanted to see if what I've been experiencing could be hiv. Its really freaked me out and the stress is draining all the energy out of me. The 3 month mark for me would be late July and i'm trying to calm myself down until then.

Just keep yourself calm and focused. THis is also an opportunity to interact (at this post) with people who are going through the same stress and anxiety, or have been through it as well. Hang in there. chris

It is scary, but you just have to remember, what's done is done. The best thing you can do is keep your mind off things,talk to people who support you, and try not to go voer in your head what happened obbsessivley. Just try to take it easy, and if it's summer where you are, enjoy it while you can. NOthing's worse then wasting away a summer with stress :)
-S-

Thanks for all your support and pray for me. At times I feel like i'm going off the edge and I break down and cry thinking about my family and and dying at an early age. In my head I know my risk was extremely low but that small risk is blown up as a great risk in my head and I think everything that happens has to be hiv. I've been having icepick headaches which are those very sharp head pains in the brain. I realize I have to calm down because if I don't I could have a stroke or heart attack or something. My blood pressure is already high for someone my age. I just pray for the moment that the nurse will say NEGATIVE so I can live with joy again. This has been hard for me and I think the anxiety may have moved on to early stages of depression.

Gboro please try to stay calm and not have a nervous breakdown .
All our prayers are with you :angel:
Just be as strong as you can :angel:
And don't give up hope :angel:
And most of all .......................
THINK NEGATIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
............... Lost Spirit ......................

gboro - you must remember that you are stronger than you are giving yourself credit for. You have inner strength and beauty that will bring you through the most awful of times and therefore, because of who you are, and because we are all here thinking and praying for you, you will be OK. please don't hesitate to contact us here when things look the bleakest - we are all here for you. chris

Thank You all for your support and prayers :)