1 week ago from today (Thursday), I had an encounter in which right at the end, the condom had broken at the tip. This happened on my last few hours on my vacation in Cancun, Mexico. The lady I had been with was an older woman 38 year old from Montreal and afterwards she told me not to worry. I am a hypochondriac so I kept asking her OVER N OVER are you sure you've never had any sexual diseases are anything...She said NO and told me Not to worry...I arrived home later that day. The next day (Friday)I was at my friend's house and she had told me that a couple people over their were a little sick with colds or whatever...Anyway...by Saturday night I got a sore throat and on Sunday I got a bit of a mild fever that came on and off for a little bit but went away...Until now (Thursday, 1 week from my encounter)..I have a bad sore throat that hasn't really gotten any better. I've drank medicine and a lot of tea but still no improvement. I've had a little runny nose and can spit out mucus here and there But i'm so worried that this is all happening because my encounter. I was thinking maybe I got sick that night at the party but ARS is creeping in the back of my head. I saw a doctor on Tuesday, and he said it would be a remote chance that it's HIV and more likely to be a cold. I know ARS symptoms take 2-4 weeks but I have seen some people say on these boards that they got symptoms within days. Anyone who has an opinion on my situation please share. Thanks in advance.

I think you probably just have a cold. If there were people around you who were sick, on top of that shortly later you went on a plane where it's usually freezing cold. You probably have a cold.

I flew down south last year, and was fine before the trip. I got on the plane in shorts and 2 shirts but no sweater. I covered myself with 2 blankets and once I got to the resort I got SO sick right away I thought I'd be done for the week. my friend had some pills which I took for flu.. and neocitrin for flu and next day I woke up as if nothing!

But remember this, for piece of mind go have a test and that way you'll never wonder about it. Be safe! Next time don't go too long on one condom or try a different brand.

I'm a hypocondriac too. And I've had a weird sore throat.. swollen for over 2 weeks and thought I have it. I don't. I haven't had an unprotective encounter since July 2006. They dont know what it is, but its likely stones.. or STRESS!! I stress a lot and it can do you like nothing else!

don't stress!

I took the test on Tuesday while I was at the doctors...But I'm stressing now because I noticed I've also lost weight...

lost weight in a week? possible.. when i went on my vacation i lost weight.. heat... can do that to u.. so can a sore throat. whenever u have one u lose your appetite. i lost mine. i went sometimes a whole day on 1 banana because i didnt feel like eating. test in 3 months to confirm. then at 6.. up to a year is best. but dont stress or read up symptoms.

Trust me i did that and it made me more sick. now, after i found out my result. and school ended.. so I'm relieved and less stressed.. and my throat literally felt better over night.

get rest. dont worry.. and PLEASE DONT read into symptoms. IT will believe me drive u crazy and make u feel more ill.

Thanks for your comments DANCING4...you make me feel a lil better! I'll try not to look into the symptoms..it just feels weird because I've been eating normal with a good appetite since I came back from my trip..but still happened to have lost weight

Hi Vazken,

I would like to endorse exactly what as already been said to you. Stress and anxiety can really make your mind work in different way and equally so can cause your body to react.

My experience was somewhat similar to yours, I was very drunk one night and awake the following morning along side a prostitute demanding money for sex. I was in West Africa at the time.

Within days I was on the net looking for signs and symptoms of HIV. Over the following couple of weeks I had a lot, sore throat, swollen glands, dierria, a cold and I ached all over. I went for a test at four weeks and it all came back negative.

I endured the thoughts you now have for over a year before I finally went back for my confirmation test. I foolishly tried to put it out of my mind, but it will not go away. The signs and symptoms keep coming; I believed it was actually confirming what everybody fears. You simply paint the worst case scenario possible and look for signs that will confirm your fears. Believe me, please symptoms and signs although they are recognised are never a reliable indicator of your HIV status. There is only one way to find this out and that is to have a blood test. This I did, eventually, I am negative. I literally put myself through a year of fear and stress, constantly self examining myself, constantly looking for the one sign that I believed would confirm what I had convinced myself I knew.

Everyday, normal events, that everybody gets, spots, sore throats, colds will become a big issue, where under normal everyday circumstances you would not even give them a second thought are suddenly playing on your mind.

It would be foolish of me or anybody to second guess the outcome of anybodies blood test but from what you have said your risk is very low. I have read studies that show the odds of transmitted HIV from one person to another through full unprotected sex at between 500 and 1000 to one. You had to all intense and purposes protected sex, all be it the condom split at the end, with a person who you don't know for sure was HIV positive. I should equally imagine that the lady in question is fully aware of the risks she takes and goes to great lengths to protect her from such an infection. So the odds are stacked greatly in your favour.

I can offer you many words of comfort, but ultimately the only way, if you are really concerned about your HIV status, to ease your mind is to go and have a blood test. If in any doubt, please don't do as I did and freak yourself out, continually looking for signs and symptoms, you will find them. They are there all the time, most people never even notice a sore throat, a little weight lost or a cold, because most people are not stressed out about it.

We all make mistakes,mate, we all screw up, and just because we do does not mean there has to be dire consequences.

Take care, look after yourself and please don't take any symptoms you now have as a sign of anything. Symptoms alone are never a liable indicator of your HIV status.

Kevin

Thanks for the optimistic words BLOKECALLEDKEV....Just a little update on my situation. Last week the doctor told me I had a cold and tested me for HIV/Chlamydia/Ghonorreah and everything was negative. I know it doesn't mean much since it is not 3 months after exposure just 5 days. This Tuesday I went to see a different doctor because I felt the first one didn't know much. (Don't forget I'm a hypochondriac so I just had to go back) This time, the doctor told me that it looked like an upper respitory infection. My sore throat has barely gone away just the last 2 days but I've lost a lot of weight. Before my trip on March 29th, I was around 210 pounds and on Tuesday I weighed in at 197. I've been eating healthy and a lot so I don't know why the weight has significantly dropped. Maybe because of stress/depression but I don't have any lack of appetite. I have aches in my knees, lower back, and have developed a little cough. I heard that ARS symptoms usually if they are going to occur, will occur all together at the same time??? anyway thanks to those who bother to read and respond to my posts. I appreciate it and wish you all the best.

i will say i agree with what you have been told so far. btw so you know a early test result is a very good indicator of your results at 3 months so things are really in your favor!
so don't worry,the odds are more then good that you are ok!
good luck :cool:

i hope your right SMITELER...thank you for helping me stay positive. It feels weird that a few words from a stranger can make me feel like I am bonding with people on here...i love you guys!