Back again

[worriedxo]

Hello, I'm a 31yr old heterosexual single male and I have a question for the group.

My question relates to ARS and symptoms of acute HIV. Six weeks ago I was having intercourse with a girl who said she had been tested and was negative. I used a condom to be safe but unfortunately the condom failed halfway through the act and I pulled out immediately. I decided to put on another condom on and finish. After I finished I started asking more in depth questions about her tests and drug use. She said she had been tested and was negative but she said she had used iv drugs on two occasions in the past.

5 weeks later (last monday) I began to have what I though was a sinus infection, lots of sinus pressure and runny nose. It may have been a cold, I'm not really sure. There was no cough, fever, diarrhea, or anything really out of the ordinary from the run of the mill cold/sinus infection. I didn't feel weak enough or tired enough not to go into work which I've done all this week. Last night (going on 6 weeks now) when I got home from work I went to change clothes and when I took off my shirt I noticed a rash on my abdomen just below the breast. I freaked out.

I know symptoms are nothing to go by and realize I've put myself at risk and need to get tested. I'd like to know anyone's opinion on my risk based on what I've described both with the encounter and with my symptoms. I have a home saliva test coming tomorrow. It will be at six weeks and not conclusive, but it'll help put down some anxiety if negative.

Thanks for any responses.

This is not related to my last post. I was tested again after what I thought was an exposure and was negative.

[worriedxo]

Thanks Hope. I thought it was a sinus infection because it felt like I had a clamp on the bridge of my nose and my head just felt conjested in general. Nothing so bad I couldn't get out of bed.

The rash I described came on when I started feeling better last week and thought I was over whatever it was. Then the rash disappeared the next day. When I saw the rash I went out and got a digital thermometer and my temp and I wasn't running a fever.

Just waiting on my test now.  

[Hope242]

...respiratory infections are not generally considered symptoms of ARS and the rash is typically a body rash in addition to a severe sore throat, high fever ect...occuring 2-4 weeks post exposure and lasting 1-2 weeks. Your test at 6 weeks will be a good indication of your status, just follow up at 3 months for a conclusive result.