Am I too paranoid? Do I need another test?

[ScandinavianGirl_88]

I opened a thread a little while ago about my having intercourse with a black man of unknown status. I was very drunk so I dont remember much, but most likely he didn't use protection. I live in Norway and the man had a Spanish accent so I doubt he's from Africa, maybe one of the Spanish-speaking islands surrounding it.

Anyways, almost 4 weeks have passed since the intercourse. Since it was not voluntary (it wasn't rape in the traditional sense but I was too drunk to be able to say no), I was taken care of by a sort of "department for sexual abuse" at the hospital, and they have a policy of testing for HIV at three weeks after intercourse and then again after three months.

The test at three weeks turned out negative (as did tests for pregnancy, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis, chlamydia...basically everything they tested me for). But I know the test is inconclusive so I'm wondering why they would chose to test at three weeks after intercourse and not later?

They know of my circumstances there and have classified my case as "low-risk" when it comes to HIV-infections, but I'm still paranoid and nervous.

Should I follow their advice and just test myself again in three months, or should I go somewhere else and get tested in the meanwhile?

I should note that I to this date, almost a month after the intercourse, have felt absolutely none of the flu-like symptoms that many HIV-patients have described, but perhaps it's a little early on for such symptoms? The only thing that sort of bothers me is that my tongue appears to be a little white...but for all I know it could just normally be like that, I haven't looked at it before (and this time I looked specifically at that, since I had read that a white tongue could be indicative of HIV).

Am i irrational in being as scared as I am for HIV in this case? Should I get tested yet again some other place before the new obligatory test they will give me at the hospital in three months?

[ScandinavianGirl_88]

Thank you guys for your comments. I've decided to wait for now until the three months pass and just be on the lookout for ars symptoms. And of course refrain from sexual intercourse in the meanwhile.

Now six weeks have passed since the intercourse and I can't say I have felt anything. At about 4 weeks my throat was a little sore but that happened immediately after the weather started getting very cold. As soon as I turned on the heat in my apartment, this soreness went away.

I remember reading many HIV patients describing their symptoms as feeling like the "worst flu ever", but I've not experienced anything close to that.

So I think I'm just going to wait until the three months have passed.

[chipdawg]

most people experience ars symptoms, but not all, so you still need to test. i really think you are not at risk here. it's a tiny chance that the guy was hiv and a tiny chance that if he was, he infected you. please calm down. you are going to be fine, trust me, but take the test - and be liberated by the result.

[nursegirl6572]

You don't need to test beyond what's been recommended.  Over-testing is never a good idea.  For one, it actually will FUEL your anxiety, and two, it increases your chances of getting a false + which is an awful thing for an already anxious person to have to go through.

If you want, you can get a DUO test at the 4 week mark.  If negative, you really won't NEED any further testing, but of course, you're still going to adhere to the facility guidelines.

In the meantime, keep yourself busy and distracted, so you're not just sitting around thinking about this.