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My window period.
Hello all, the site has been an enormous help with the knowledge that is gathered here. Thank you to those who put the time and effort in.
Just got my 8 week test back and it was negative, the following is the story of my window period and what I went through. Hopefully it will put many of your fears to rest.
The incident: A series of stupid drunk decisions. I took home a woman a bit older than I, half way through the condom broke. I thought "well, I'm already screwed if she has something" I finished. The second time that night was start to finish with no condom. She claimed she just had a test and everything came back negative.
A week later I went to the doctor for small bumps appearing in the crotch region. Diagnosed as molliscum, gave me Tretonin cream for that. Because of the area the molliscum was in, he figured it would be a good idea to test for STD's. A week later I was diagnosed with Chalymidia. Got the meds for that. The test for HIV came back negative at that time, but it was too soon because the risk was only 2 weeks prior.
I was sure I had HIV. With the increased risk of transmission because of the chalymidia infection, and the symptoms I 'thought' I had I became a nervous wreck. It's amazing what acute stress will do to you - ironically many of the symptoms ( my timeline and symptoms listed below) of an HIV infection.
Encounter + 1.5 week: Went to doctor, felt fine besides the molliscum bumps which itched like crazy.
Week 2.5: Test came back positive for chalymidia, around this time my penis became extremely dry and cracked skin, it burned severely. The tip of my penis also became infected. Thought for sure I caught a yeast infection from her too. This was not the case, as I had a chat with the doctor and I quit using the Tretonin cream, which caused eczema (dry skin) on my penis. Back of my arms itched like crazy. (assuming now it was from a combination of the Tretonin and antibiotics/stress)
Week 3: I lost about 5 pounds (significant for me as I weigh 160, and hardly ever deviate from that number), had diarrhea and extreme gas/loud stomach growling. Woke up several times drenched from sweat.
Week 4: Got the first HIV test back negative. This somewhat eased my fears and my 'symptoms' seemed to lighten up. I had a suspicion they were from stress, but not knowing is stressful :P
Weeks 4-8: Off and on 'symptoms' occasional, somewhat unexplained muscle soreness and a slight increase in body temp. Things I would have never noticed if I weren't looking for 'symptoms'
Week 8: Took another test.
Week 9: Test came back negative, which I consider conclusive as my immune system is not repressed at all and I've always been quite healthy, the number of infections in my area are extremely low, and even if she was positive still makes my risk somewhat low for a one time deal.
I will however get tested again at 3 months, but now I'm not even the least bit stressed about what my result will be. I fully expect my 'symptoms' to disappear.
If I can offer advice, It would be to stay off the internet. If you're looking for a specific 'symptom' and are worried about it, you'll probably just trick yourself into thinking you have it. Had I done that, I have a feeling I would have never noticed any of my 'symptoms.'
Good luck.
Just got my 8 week test back and it was negative, the following is the story of my window period and what I went through. Hopefully it will put many of your fears to rest.
The incident: A series of stupid drunk decisions. I took home a woman a bit older than I, half way through the condom broke. I thought "well, I'm already screwed if she has something" I finished. The second time that night was start to finish with no condom. She claimed she just had a test and everything came back negative.
A week later I went to the doctor for small bumps appearing in the crotch region. Diagnosed as molliscum, gave me Tretonin cream for that. Because of the area the molliscum was in, he figured it would be a good idea to test for STD's. A week later I was diagnosed with Chalymidia. Got the meds for that. The test for HIV came back negative at that time, but it was too soon because the risk was only 2 weeks prior.
I was sure I had HIV. With the increased risk of transmission because of the chalymidia infection, and the symptoms I 'thought' I had I became a nervous wreck. It's amazing what acute stress will do to you - ironically many of the symptoms ( my timeline and symptoms listed below) of an HIV infection.
Encounter + 1.5 week: Went to doctor, felt fine besides the molliscum bumps which itched like crazy.
Week 2.5: Test came back positive for chalymidia, around this time my penis became extremely dry and cracked skin, it burned severely. The tip of my penis also became infected. Thought for sure I caught a yeast infection from her too. This was not the case, as I had a chat with the doctor and I quit using the Tretonin cream, which caused eczema (dry skin) on my penis. Back of my arms itched like crazy. (assuming now it was from a combination of the Tretonin and antibiotics/stress)
Week 3: I lost about 5 pounds (significant for me as I weigh 160, and hardly ever deviate from that number), had diarrhea and extreme gas/loud stomach growling. Woke up several times drenched from sweat.
Week 4: Got the first HIV test back negative. This somewhat eased my fears and my 'symptoms' seemed to lighten up. I had a suspicion they were from stress, but not knowing is stressful :P
Weeks 4-8: Off and on 'symptoms' occasional, somewhat unexplained muscle soreness and a slight increase in body temp. Things I would have never noticed if I weren't looking for 'symptoms'
Week 8: Took another test.
Week 9: Test came back negative, which I consider conclusive as my immune system is not repressed at all and I've always been quite healthy, the number of infections in my area are extremely low, and even if she was positive still makes my risk somewhat low for a one time deal.
I will however get tested again at 3 months, but now I'm not even the least bit stressed about what my result will be. I fully expect my 'symptoms' to disappear.
If I can offer advice, It would be to stay off the internet. If you're looking for a specific 'symptom' and are worried about it, you'll probably just trick yourself into thinking you have it. Had I done that, I have a feeling I would have never noticed any of my 'symptoms.'
Good luck.
Great! Thanks God u're OK!
Im from Brazil, and like u, we have the same problem with internet and psicologic symtoms.
God Bless u
Lucas
Im from Brazil, and like u, we have the same problem with internet and psicologic symtoms.
God Bless u
Lucas
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/waittest.html
http://www.sfaf.org/aids101/hiv_testing.html#window
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testing/resources/qa/be_tested.htm
http://www.sfaf.org/aids101/hiv_testing.html#window
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testing/resources/qa/be_tested.htm
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