Absolutely terrified

[redskin786]

Hi Doc,

I am a 27yr old heterosexual male living in the states and I am terrified that I contracted the HIV virus.  10 days ago, I engaged in unprotected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex (both giving and getting) with a female I just met.  We have been in contact with each other for some time now prior to this sexual encounter and after as well.  I havent asked her what her status is regarding HIV but Im hoping for the best.  But exactly a week later, I experinced swollen nodes everywhere.  Definitely in my neck, both sides and a chain of them running down both sides, as Ive had them before and were confirmed by a doc and nodes swollen in the armpit and I beleive the groin area, as well as my leg.  I am def about the neck and Im pretty sure about the groin and armpits but would say only 60% sure on the parts other than the neck.  What Ive read on the net is that if nodes swell in more than one place, its a virus of some sort and they def list HIV as a possibility.  Since I felt my first node, I got tested today at the 10 day after exposure mark and it was negative.  I know that its too early but I was freaking out and I just had to go check for some calmness for my mind.  I am waiting to see any other symptoms that may occur but the nodes swelling is scaring the life out of me.  Couple of questions I had.

1) Have you ever had anyone test early, as I did, and then at a later mark turn positive with a later test?  Or ever heard of it?  Have studies been done regarding this grey area, if it is a grey area?

2) The numbers associated with contracting the virus are in my favor but these early symptoms/signs are freaking me out.  I guess my concern is, how worried should I be?  Cause Im completely terrified at this point.

3) Any words of advice at this point besides stop being so stupid and protect yourself?

I sure hope to god that I get another chance to live my life.

Thanks for taking time out to read my concerns.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

People other than health professionals are notoriously unreliable in judging their own lymph node enlargements.  Your description is pretty clear and it seems likely, but you need to see a health care provider to know for sure, and to have a general physical examination and perhaps lab testing.

The risk that you happened to select an HIV infected partner is very low, and if she had HIV, the likelihood of getting it during any particular episode of vaginal sex is very low, estimated to average no more than 1 chance in 1000.  Together these factors probably come to an overall risk of you having HIV somewhere in the range of 1 in 100,000 to 1 in a million.  And symptoms never are a reliable indicator for or against a new HIV infection, especially in low risk settings.  If you do have lymphadenopathy (the medical term for lymph node inflammation), there are non-HIV causes that are statistically far more likely than HIV.  Mononucleosis, which is sexually transmitted (certainly by kissing and probably by intercourse), is far more likely, for example.  You don't mention fever, which almost always is present in symptomatic early HIV infection (but it's also the rule for mono).  

1) I have not personally had any such patients, but that doesn't mean anything.  Ten days definitely is too soon for the HIV antibody test to become positive.

2) See above.

3) See a health care provider for proper diagnosis and ask your partner her HIV status.  In the meantime, don't freak out.  The chance of HIV really is extremely low.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[stupidtoni]

i am in the same situation as you had my first sexual experience with a female about 4 weeks now, i used a condom but after 4-5 minutes of vaginal sex, when i pulled out i noticed that one part of my condom mid-shaft was broken not the top bit, and i have ever since been freaked out i did a chlamadya/gorth? test and havent recieved my results yet its been 10 days going nuts. waiting for the three months mark to get my HIV TEST DONE but after reading many threds here i am sure that a single episode of vaginal sexual is 1-1000 chance of you chatcing HIV and the doctor will be telling you that female to male transmission is very low in a meantime try not to worry, the doc will also be telling you that at 4-6 weeks test will be about 95-99% correct.

[sparkeler]

If I was a betting woman I would bet my life u dont have hiv.  Try and go running or watch a funny movie b/c if u keep obsessing about it your probably going to think u have a hundred other symptoms.  The odds are greatly in ur favor.

[redskin786]

Hi Doc,

Another question regarding not having fever at this point w/ my swollen nodes...is it likely that I can get fever later, say a week down the road with the nodes still swollen?  Or is it something that a fever is present and everything else follows with it?  I guess what Im trying to ask is if symptoms, even though you said that they are not a good indicator, but in this case, can come one at a time within the ARS window but a day or two after one another?  Hopefully that makes sense.  Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Typically fever and other symptoms start simultaneously.  But believe me when I say that the symptoms make no difference whatsoever in assessing the likelihood have HIV.  None, nada, zilch, nichevo--regardless of the details of their timing.

HHH, MD

[stupidv]

Doc is right talking about the symptoms. I had most of them starting about a week after contact and all I did was put my self in hell for a few weeks. Don't do this to yourself believe me. Unfortunataly you have to go through the agony of waiting for the test results but thats the price we all have to pay for putting ourselves in this situation.
But symptoms mean nothing. I think that hiv should be declared a desease without symptoms since you can have any of one hundred of them or indeed none of them and still mean nothing. Good luck through your struggle of waiting till the first negative...

[scred1]

I justwant to add my lil tid bit on how symptoms are not a good indicator...

I had unprotected anal and oral sex with some chick like 6 months ago.  About 2-3 weeks after i had diareah for 7 days and major fatigue.  Right before any of itcleared up i ended getting a swollen occipital node, axilla node, groin node and subclavicale node.  All confirmed by my doc.  Man i was freaking out like uwouldnt believe considering anal sex is the riskiest and this girl has BEEN AROUND!  Anyway after all that about a month later i got a damn rash and major headaches.... I dont think i need to go on but as u can see "i was doomed"

but 6 months later i tested negative

Moral of the story no matter what symptoms u get dont panick too much until ur tested because there is alot more thatcan be wrong

[redskin786]

thanks for the comments everyone...but what about the timing of my nodes to be swollen...is it too soon or right on?  Just today, I got a bloody nose, not dripping, but bloody inside.  And what defines diahrrea?  Is is something that everytime you go to the bathroom you have loose stools or something like you have to go so often and everytime you go, you have watery stools coming out?  I ask cause I had diahrrea yesterday but only went to the bathroom once.

Im a nervous wreck right now and Im just waiting to get tested again but its only been close to two weeks after the fact

[sparkeler]

Listen I think u know when u have diarrehea, but please believe me when I say U DONT HAVE HIV.  I'm going to say a little prayer for you to calm down b/c your mind is in overdrive.  I think your obsessed.  Some people may disagree but when we're so scared about something that it is actually consuming your daily life, I would ask the doctor for an anxiety pill.  Like xanax or something.  It may be something you need just to get over this hurdle.  Your so funny when you said I hope God gives me another chance at life.  You are fine and I will ask God to help you know that while you await the unknown.

[redskin786]

Thanks for the encouraging comment sparkeler...I truly hope you are right...yet I still had a risk and have to get tested but I cant stop noticing symptoms you know...I hope it all works out.

[sparkeler]

I only speak from experience.  I too used to be obsessed w/having hiv.  Hell I even got tested before I was ever sexually active.  So you can only imagine how it worsened after I started doing the deed.  I actually had to go in to counseling for it among other things.  I think I've been tested like 30 times and I've had very few partners.  I have my ocd under control and now am able to look objectively at things including myself.  Re read your questions and pretend you arent the author.  What would you say to that person?  Would u honestly believe they got hiv?  If the girl u slept with wasnt an iv drug using hooker, or sleeps unprotected w/ bisexual drug using men then u have no chance.  If she did and this was a one time sexual UPNPROTECTED encounter than your chance is 1 in 1000.  I doubt ur that unlucky.

[redskin786]

I tested at the 3 week mark and it was negative...has anyone heard of someone testing pos after a neg from 3 weeks onwards?  I still feel the nodes are swollen and they arent going away.  Please let me know.  Thanks.