Unprotected Sex and ARS Symptoms - HIV Prevention Message Board

05-04-2003, 12:13 AM

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.

normorcrazy · 05-04-2003, 03:17 PM

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.

05-04-2003, 05:02 PM

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.

besafe20 · 05-04-2003, 08:41 PM

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.

05-05-2003, 04:07 AM

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!