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Avatar universal

Neck stiffness leading to shoulder

I have searched thouroghly before deciding to post and come up with nothing close to what I'm going through.I am a 32 yr. old female,married,and experience blackouts during drinking.On Sept.16,2006,I experienced a alcohol blackout at a party and felt like I had been taken advantage of the next day and deecided to get tested at 12 weeks(negative)and then a few weeks ago I started experiencing neck stiffness.On,Feb.2,2007,had another blackout at a bar,same feeling of taken advantage of,then 6 days later had aches,still neck stiffness,stiffness in shoulders,sensitive ear and jaw,stuffy nose,slight headache,no fever at all,one night woke up sweating,cannot sleep throughout night,morning dirreah(sp?),chills for 2 days,tiredness,anxiety,lost appetite,dry mouth.My lymph nodes don't feel swelled and I keep checking my mouth for thrush and don't see anything.Could this be HIV/STD related or anxiety about the possibility.I have been scared to death because I have been put in the situation of someone putting something in my drink and taking advantage of me.This neck stiffness is only on my right side running straight down to my shoulder.Is it too soon for ARS symptoms?Thank you for any response...
14 Responses
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239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Others have responded before me (below); on quick scan their comments seem to be pretty much on the mark.  By far the major health problem you face is your alcoholism.  HIV symptoms cannot come on so soon, and might be due to alcohol and the effects of passing out; or a garden variety virus.

However, you clearly are at risk for HIV and other STDs by virtue of your alcohol-related sexual behavior.  (You cannot blame it on the men 'taking advantage of you'.  The responsibility for your sexual safety is entirely yours.)  It would be a good idea to have an HIV test 4-6 weeks after the last possible exposre.  But don't wait that long to seek professional care for the underlying problem. Somewhere along the line, you also should be tested for common STDs like chlamydia.  Your HIV test will be negative; I'm not so sure about other STDs.

Best wishes--  HHH,MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You cannot possibly have HIV if you tested negative after 12 weeks.
As the doc says, 90-95% of people test positive within 4 weeks of new HIV infection.
He will say you have no chance of being HIV +
Relax.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your quick response.I have already ruled out the first "experience" in Sept.,but I'm really scared about 2 weeks ago.All of these symptoms seemed to have popped up last week.It was almost "flu-like",but without the fever.This stiffness,achyness,runs from my throat area straight down my arm and across my shoulder blades.The only time I get relief is with pain meds.These blackouts really scare me because the days afterwards,I picture sexual things happening and locations,but not a particular individual.The "way" I woke up the next morning is what scares me.Naked,sexual evidence,etc.My husband and a friend of ours was in the house.I'm not getting many answers from either of them.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This truely is a bizarre situation.

For starters...

(A) Avoid places/alcohol if you are indeed prone to getting blackouts. This/These places and/or drugs are leading you into situations you do not need nor want  to question days, weeks, nor months later.

(B) Why have you not had an open-conversation with your husband? (If you have not already)
If you were "taken advantage of" maybe it is time you contact the authorities.

(C) The first incident proves (after 12 weeks) that you did not contract HIV.

(D) The second situation (on Feb 2nd) would require you to test...if you feel that something had happened. Because no one person online can pull out a crystal ball to see if you had been violated on 2/02, you may want to test @ 6 weeks to know your HIV test result.  Other than that, in the future be careful which environments you place yourself in; fearing that you place yourself in jeopardy for something dangerous.
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Avatar universal
I already have an appt scheduled for March 5th for a test.A little early,I know,but it will help some.I have also discussed with my husband that I'm not going out anymore(those places).I'm not going for,"third time is a charm".I just don't know why I feel like this.I hurt,I'm confused,don't know if my mind is playing tricks on me and making me feel as if I'm sick,or what.All my husband tells me is that nothing happened to me,but I have a gut feeling that it did,and usually I'm right.I keep telling him is all it takes is 5 minutes for something to happen.Surely I didn't dream all of this up.
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Avatar universal
I think you should inform the authorities of your suspicions.
This all sounds a bit too wrong.
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Avatar universal
Does these symptoms mean anything,or could it all be anxiety related.I have checked everything continuously....throat,see if there's any sign of rashes(none),white spots,temperature,everything.I have an assaulted feeling,not neccesarily by my husband,but by another.I even checked the pants I was wearing that night(no evidence there).I haven't washed them since.This has affected me so bad that I haven't been to work in days and it's getting worse.I just feel as if I have contracted something and when I search for symptoms on-line it points to ARS.I'm scared to death.I have a 10 year old and I haven't even been able to focus on him these past 2 weeks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im afraid you will have to wait 4-6 weeks and get tested to be confidant you do not have HIV.
You cannot rely on symptoms alone.
I believe you have another 2 weeks to wait for a highly accurate indication.
Almost everybody with new hiv infection tests positive within 5 weeks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your responses.I'll try to calm down a bit and not obsess.It's just hard when I don't have a clue.I'm just trying to get prepared on what to expect...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know its hard.

I had a protected sex encounter and had been worried sick.
I had a negative Insti test after 5 weeks from exposure and even after the doc told me this is conclusive enough i still feel i need to retest.
The anxiety gets the to us all.
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Avatar universal
I will hope for the best for you.I was feeling quite alone until I found this website.My husband doesn't seem all that concerned about me at all.I was in tears yesterday and he told me if I didn't straghten up he was putting me in the nut house.I just can't ignore a situation like this or forget about it and move on like everyone tells me.This is my health and I'm worrying myself sick.I have thought about going to the authorities,but don't know what to tell thim,especially without proof.
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad you find this site useful and supportive.  But that is not this forum's main purpose.  If you have a brief follow-up question about the HIV risks and symptoms, feel free to ask it.  Otherwise, you and the other respondents need to take the discussion over to the HIV Support forum.

HHH, MD
Helpful - 0
79258 tn?1190630410
I'm deeply concerned by the things you've written. It's clear that your life is completely out of control right now. You're in tears. You're suspicious of your husband, his friends, strangers. You're having blackouts. Your husband feels you need to be hospitalized. You're anxious, you're miserable. You feel the people around you don't understand and don't care about you, and it sounds like you're feeling very alone and afraid right now.

These are classic signs that alcohol is a problem for you. I know it's not easy, I know it takes a lot of courage to reach out for help--but you had the courage to reach out here on this board. I hope you will take the next step and consider going into treatment. You'd be able to get the medication you need to get stabilized emotionally and physically. You'd also have individual and group therapy, both for support and to help you learn new ways of coping with the stressors in your life. Help is available--you are not going through this alone.

You can do this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sounds like you more likely fell and hurt your self while drunk.  

I know people that black out (my wife included, occasionally). It is shocking however that you go out drinking and think that your husband would allow something bad to happen to you?  

You need to talk to some one about your drinking and your marraige.

As you will read on these forums, most people on here have problems that are far different from what brings them here.
Helpful - 0

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