I am totally paniced. I had unprotected sex after too many drinks in March and freaked out right away. I was looking for signs of infection and read about them all on the internet. I took antibiotics without formal testing just in case I had an STD. My sex was unfortunately during my period. I do not recall if he actually came. I actually think I may have been slipped something. The guy has assured me as I have called twice that he was tested and was negative 1 amonth prior to our encounter and that he uses protection but didn't in our case because I told him I had not been with anyone but my spouse since 1985 when I met him. I had a minor vaginal infection but it probably had to do with the tampon staying in too long. What a nightmare. I went to a tent for two weeks with the Navy in conus and then got a nasty URI the day I returned which was about 21/2 weeks post exposure. This seemed to get a little better but I never was 100% and I thought I had a sinus infection then and was given Keflex which I may have reacted to or I may just have picked up a bug at the time. Since then I have had flushing and feel hot like I guess hot flashes would feel and possibly a low grade temp although this is not documented. I have been obsessing over my neck and palpating it all the time so that I may have caoused it to be inflamed. There are nodes there but all are tiny and probably are always there. I have had diarhea but not consistently and I have felt mono like at times but then will feel ok for a couple of days and flare up again. Right after dicontinuing meds 3 days in I noticed a slight rash on my neck and I still would get a reddening in the face occasionally with these hot flashes. The rash did not itch and was very mild and has gone down 1 week later but there is still a bit of it. Now my armpits and groin area burn at times but there are no palpable nodes and I have been constantly checking these areas so I may have caused the inflammation. I am so stressed out I cannot eat or sleep. I have lost a few pounds but not much and I do think most of it comes from stress. I have not had a sore throatas of yet but my neck does seem full and I have a mild cough at times. My ears were clogged for weeks and I had pain on the side of the neck where they drain. I am terrified to get a test but know I must. Can someone reassure me at all.

I think first you need to be tested. You know since it was unprotected sex you are at a high risk of being positive. Not to reassuring, I know, but if this helps any...My friend has been positive for 6+ yrs and she's only showed signs once. Very high fever and sored throat. Nothing since then. A lot of your symptoms could be stess from worrying. Symptoms from stress are close in nature to symptoms from HIV. Also since you have discussed this with him try to get him to go with you. Then you won't have to do it alone.

No that was not too reassuring. I have not had a high fever or sore throat and today my burning pains are better as after reading alot of this website it made me feel better but I am still worried. the guy does not live here and thinks I am wacko enough. He swears on a stack of bibles that he is clean but he said to just go get tested because he thinks I refuse to believe him. I am terrified as I have a husband that I had never cheated on and 2 children. I will get tested but am still terrified and it is ruining my life.

calm down... Hiv is not something that everyone has. It is the second least common STD in the US (next to syphillis). Your "symptoms" are non-specific and do not mean your are experiencing ARS. The average time to develope antibodies is 25 days.. I am sure your research on the net has told you that... Get tested if it makes you feel better but remmeber 900,000 people in the US are infected and theres like 250,000,000 people that live here.

Thanks. It is just difficult. I confronted my husband with my anxiety but told him it was needle stick in OR. I know this is cop out but he doesn't need to know the particulars and is already dealing with a terminal illness of his own. He is a Dermatologist and thinks I am nuts but then again he doesn't have all the info. He says that I do this when I get stressed and just wants me tested as I will do tomorrow. He did not think I had any nodes worthy of concern and does not think I have a rash of significance. He thinks I played around with my neck so much that I got the rash as a irritation dermatitis. It kind of burns and is not very remarkable interms of amount. I am freaking out still but have tried to calm down a bit. I just had some more diarrhea so that didn't help. These symptoms of intermittant diarrhea (4 times over 10 days) and the flushing and neck fullness sensations started about 35 days post exposure but it seems I had been sick with something since about day 3 and I know the early things are unrelated. I am not usually sick and haven't used many antibiotics in several years but have had 4 since the event. Could these be wreaking havoc with my body? And does anyone know what a rash for ARS looks like. Help!

Stressedoutwoman,

I'll bet dollars to donuts that your worry is for nothing- symptoms sound like everyday problems of "life".
Testing, however, is the ONLY way to be sure (perhaps with a 6 month follow-up). Now that you know the angst your mind can put you through, make sure every future encounter is "SAFER SEX."

I hope, though, that you are using condoms with your husband to be totally considerate of him at least til you get tomorrow's results.

Thanks. I am abstaining from sex with my husband until results are in but it just seems strange that I would get all these symptoms which seem unusual at the right time frame. he thinks its psychosomatic. Believe me I will not be drinking in mixed company and this will never happen again. It might be a lesson I have to deal with for the rest of my life. Your comments help me but I know I will worry until results are in. Last week they did CBC and diff which were normal. Does anyone know if the white cells are often decreased in the ARS; I think I read this happens most but not all of the time. Also they took an immunopanel which hasn't come back. Are there any clues from this.

I believe with any type of infection your WBC, white blood cells, are increased. That's showing they are trying to fight an infection

In one of the other topics someone mentioned that in 85% of ARS there is leukopenia or decreased WBC. Can anyone verify this. I went and got the test today and may go to a counselor this afternoon. I really want someone to check out my symptoms and just reassure me but I know the test will be the only thing that can. I still feel slight pressure under my armpit but no swelling. Is this just stress. I just hope it is all stress and I can go on with life. This has taught me too much and I just want another chance. For 15 years I had never done anything wrong as far as being unfaithful and this is tearing me apart. Anyone out there that travels and occasionally drinks too much please don't do it where you can get in the trouble I did. I still want to believe this young man that he says he is clean. He really seems like a good person from all the times I have talked with him and he had had too much to drink also.

I just woke up with a little night sweat and that nails the coffin on in my eyes. my husband thinks I am nut and I know he doen't take me seriously but he doesn't kknw the whole story. I do not get these symptoms. They fit the picture too well. I am probably getting over the initial illness but I have a life of shame to look forward to and my husband and two kids have to deal with it. I am not sure I can.

I am so positive I am positive and I can't stand the waiting. My guess is the guy didn't know but if he did I am angry. My mouth feels wierd and I seem to have some mucosal changes although not totally apparent. I really just need to be committed I think at this point. has anyone had all these symptoms and ended up having another coincidental virus. i am now at day 47 post and the real symptoms, not my cold have gone on since day 35. Is this typical?

i don't know you but my gut is telling me you don't have it so relax. i'm waiting to take my HIV test in a month (so it will be 3 months) and i have been freaking in the beginning especially since i had a cold for 5 days a month later, my exposure was high, high risk. Now it's like if i have it what can i do?. i don't think i do.. anyways relax because after this is over you don't want to have additional grey hairs, and stress can bring on other illnesses... make your self some tea!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

ok first of all-you need to tell your husband the truth right now! you do not have the right to keep the rest of your family in the dark because you messed up. what would you want him to do if the tables were turned? you have 2 kids-who do you think you are putting 3 people at risk because you were selfish one night? tell them the truth they have the right to know if they are at any kind of risk!!!!! shame on you! I'm glad your'e not my wife! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/nono.gif

and I almost forgot-you are feeling sorry for yourself and worrying that you might have contracted an std-which by everything you have described sure sounds like something! all while your husband is dealing with a terminal illness?! I don't feel sorry for you at all! you made your bed(or should I say someone else's) you lie in it! and your family will be left to clean up your mess-did you stop to think of how this would affect your kids?-oh wait you don't need to answer that-obviously NO. I said it before and I'll say it again your family has a right to know the truth!

Stressout there is absolutely no point in totally freaking out over this. Stop looking up the symptoms on the internet that only makes it worse. Do not assme you are HIV+. Not everyone has HIV. You are assuming this guy has it which might not even be the case. Get antibody test right now for piece of mind, then retest at around the 90 day mark. Having unprotected sex while on your period is not the best thing to do use a condom next time. But freaking out over this will not do any good. Go ot your DR's and get tested or buy the Home Access test.

Good luck to you

I did take the test. it will be back Friday. I did tell my husband prior to the accusational replies I got. Have you ever dealt with a spouce with an illness. You probably are not even married. I have never never ever thought of cheating and honestly do not know how I got from A to B. I confronted the guy and he admitted slipping something in my drink and he was a bartender at the hotel I was staying at for business. Yes I did put myself in the bad situation and will never again. I did not put my husband at risk as I have abstained from any physical activity since. I would never do that. I actually love my husband and kids more than anything and would not choose to have sex on my period after throwing up as I woke up with vomit in my hair and some bruises from falling down. My biggest mistake was not reporting the incident as I wanted it to go away. It was not consenual in my eyes. It was not pretty and I do take responsibility and I am glad I have a wonderful husband who is not you and who does not pass judgement on me. He wrote the chit for my test and took me there nad has been wonderful. Learn some compassion. I do not care how you feel about me but try to see more than one side of things if you ever have a meaningful relationship. I have been with my spouse since 1985 with very few problems other than fate dealing him a rough hand but we are happy. He does not think I have the illness and now I have relaxed. I may even have a strep throat without the sore throat. i started the antibiotics for it before the results and am starting to feel better. I may have the illness but the guy swears he's clean. After the incident I am not sure I believe all he says but I did know him in passing over the last couple of years and do think he is for the most part ok. He did apologize and I did read him the riot act but at this point I just want this over with. If I am positive I will have to deal with it but after talking to a crisis counselor I did feel better about it. To all the comments on the nice side, thank you and this was not directed at you.

Test negative at 7 weeks. A relief so far.

Hi stressedoutwoman,
i am in the same shoes as you. i just took my 3 month test today. i have been married to my wife for 4 years. this last february , i was on a business trip and slept with another woman. she was married also. the best thing for you to do right now is focus on what you have. you have 2 kids right, focus on them give them all of your love, focus on your husband, give him love. focus on your hobbies, intrests etc... i know this may be hard but you will get through it. you are lucky to have been able to ask the guy if he has anyting. i met this woman, in the hotel bar, we kneew each others first names and when she left in the morning that is the last contact i have had. my results are in next friday. try to keep away from the computer. i come here only so often if i need some support. just try and focus on those other things i have mentioned. you made a mistake, move on, we all have made mistakes.
patriot
ps hope this helps

Stressedout, I'm sure if it was stated in your original post that you were date raped-which is what is sounds like-then I'm sure the negative comments wouldn't have been posted. Now we are hearing more to the story. What this guy did was illegal and you have an obligation to report him for yourself, and to prevent this from happening again. Things like this that go unreported make it sound like it was consensual. If what happened was true and your husband knows, he should be furious at this creep. If I was drugged and taken advantage of, that guy would have his ass kicked by about 50 of my closest friends.

At any rate, I hope you didn't contract anything from this loser.