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Avatar universal

3 weeks of worry

Hi, I think I might have contracted HIV exactly 3 weeks ago when I had protected sex with someone which I do not know her HIV status. It’s very likely that she did have HIV, as I found out that she had multiple partners on a regular basis. What is worrying me is that I used my finger in her vagina, and because I bite my nails and fingers ( I know, it’s a bad habit ) I had a small wound ( not bleeding or anything). I know its very unlikely to get the virus this way, but I after 2 weeks, I started getting a dry cough, yesterday a gland under my right arm started paining ( well, I don’t know if this really is a gland as I can’t feel a gland when I press with my fingers, but there’s a fair bit of pain when I lift my arm), and my throat feels a dry. I also get light headaches. I’m a healthy person, and don’t really notice these normally, but because I made this mistake sleeping with this girl, it’s starts worrying me. I went for a test last week, and will receive results tomorrow, but I’m starting to get really nervous. I have to add, I’m a smoker, so that could explain the cough, also get hay-fever, and when they tried to take blood last week for the test, they couldn’t get blood out of the arm ( the one that started paining under the arm yesterday). I’m also under a lot of stress with work. Are these possible signs of an HIV infection? Also, could the symptoms be this quick after infection? And will I feel definite symptoms, or only lightly? Thanks for your help!

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Avatar universal
first all you had no risk at all. second thing its too lkate for ARS at 9 weeks no way its ARS move on with your life and never look back at the past.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hey guys, thanks for your responses. I have one quick question since I haven't been for another test since my last one at 2 weeks which means nothing. It's been 9 weeks since my exposure, and I developed a really bad cold over the last weekend. My chest sings when I breath, my nose is blocked and the usual headace... Is this too late for any symptoms or is this why they have the window period?

Thanks for your answers, i appreciate it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Forget about symptoms. Not all people that contract HIV have symptoms. You didn't have a risk, you had protected sex. Move on.
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Avatar universal
Hi, thanks for your help. I went for my test ( the 2 week result ) and it was negative. I assume that i shouldn't read anything into this, as this can change. The gland dissapeared just before my test results, but I had this very light head ache since Thursday. I'm starting to get doubts if I was wearing a condom with my last exposure. I don't feel tired but my throat is still not 100%. Tell me, will the symptoms be definite symptoms, or will it only be lighly? Thanks for your help, i appreciate this.
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Avatar universal
Too early to get a result, dude you were never at risk, just get your negative tomorrow and move on with your life.  No reason to obsess over this thing.  There are people here who have real risks, the engaged in unprotected sex once or several times, shares needles.  Your behavior is HIV Risk Free, live life, use condoms, and dont give this another thought.
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Avatar universal
Thanks guys, I have more peace of mind... Tomorrow i'll also receive the results from the lab as i did a test on everything. I know it's too early to get a result, but it just gives me peace of mind.
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Avatar universal
Dude, your as HIV free as they come.
Relax.
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Avatar universal
if you are that concerned..with hiv...please go get tested 6 weeks from the exposure and 3 months from the exposure...as im sure it's been said in manyyyyyy threads before.....symptoms mean NOTHING...
=]
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You shouldnt by tring to self diagnose swollen glands anyway. Only a doc can do that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You dont have HIV everyone else has said it, that the girl has multiple partners woohoo welcome to the 21st century.  You used a condom didnt you, kind of gives you the idea that no matter how many partners she has had, she practices safe sex, condom = NO HIV RISK.  That she would have HIV, I highly doubt it, most people do not have HIV, its a rare disease. Get over it, and move on.  Cuts on the finger arent a concern either no one has ever gotten hiv through fingering.
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Avatar universal
Tell me, is 2 / 3 weeks for one swollen gland to quick to be a symptom? My common sense tells me that if it is the case, the there should be more swollen glands in my body, unless the virus is sitting in my arm.

I have some other light body aces and feels like my fingers in the one arm is going numb, but that could be because of the swollen gland. Is it also true that most people don't get any symptoms?
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Avatar universal
When i had blood drawn in April they took 2 full vials and they could only get one vial out of my left arm and had to stick my other arm to get the other vial. I didnt have anything swollen up.

Like was said, no risk.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Whatever your symptoms are, are not an HIV concern. See your doctor if you have a concern.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for you comments. Well, I’m just very concerned with the arm pit which is really sore. The other thing is that the wound on my finger might have been small, but big enough for anything to go through. What I mean with they couldn’t take blood out of my arm is, could this be a reason for the gland swollen under my arm? I appreciate your comments and think this site really give me more peace of mind. Thanks!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Geez, protected sex is just that, protected, that means no risk. Fingering her and biting your nails carries zero risk, its impossible to transmit hiv like that.

Since when do people that have multiple sex partners have a high chance of having HIV? She could have 1000 partners and if it was all protected then there is no risk for her.

Smoking could explain the cough as could hay fever. I dont understand what not being able to to easily get blood out is supposed to mean, whats that have to do with anything?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You were never at risk. So whatever your symptoms are, are unrelated to HIV. If you have anxiety you can go to the anxiety forum, but this is not an HIV concern.
Helpful - 0
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