Possible exposure, wanting to have sex again

[wantanswers835]

On June 28th 2008, I had unprotected sex with a man for about 5 minutes...but there was no ejaculation. About 10 days later I had a high fever that lasted about 48 hours, a sour throat and very swollen neck lymph nodes. As far as i noticed, no other nodes were swollen. I had had tonsillitis earlier in the year, so the doctors just said that the swollen neck nodes were a result of my tonsil infection that never fully recovered and that I needed to get my tonsils taken out...I have gotten them removed since, however after researching I started to be scared that I might have had ARS..I took the PCR DNA test about 27 days after the possible exposure (end of July) that came back negative, but I was still worried about a possible negative as it had only been 27 days. I continued to not have sex, and got the ELISA test done at the 5 month mark that came back negative as well...I now have a boyfriend and am scared to have sex with him (protected or not) because I am worried that the 2 tests were not reliable. Is it true that ELISA can take up to a year to show positive? I really just need the someone else besides myself to tell me that I can truly rely on these tests. Thank you!

[LIZZIE LOU]

your 5 month test was reliable and conclusive...proving that you do NOT have hiv.

[wantanswers835]

Ok, I try to tell myself that too, however how would you explain my symptoms beings the same things they describe in ARS-10 days after the possible exposure?? I just don't understand it...and are you sure 5 months is definitely conclusive? What about the PCR test i mentioned?

Sorry for the questions, i appreciate the support-

[jhguy011]

5 months is DEFINITELY conclusive.

ELISA is an antibody test; 99.8% of infected persons show antibodies at 3 months.  By 5 months, it would be 99.9999%

Your symptoms were a coincidence!  ARS symptoms do not occur that soon anyway.

Accept your negative result and move on with your life...

[LIZZIE LOU]

i have 5 little words for you...

YOU
DO
NOT
HAVE
HIV

[wantanswers835]

Ok thank you both....i feel a littler better!! anyone else have input?

[LIZZIE LOU]

you do not need more input to keep your anxiety riddled questions going.

accept your status and move on.

[wantanswers835]

hello again, so I just wanted to say that I took your advice and am now having sex again with my boyfriend...howeverr, from time to time I get anxiety that there is still a chance I have HIV as I did not know the status of the possible exposure....i'm sorry to keep bothering but I just wondered if you had any advice as to how I can move on and have an anxiety-free relationship? i really love this man and want to probably have kids with him, but the other day when we were discussing that kind of stuff, the only thing I could think of in the back of my mind was the possibility of hiv....anyways, I appreciate it.
take care.

[LIZZIE LOU]

this is not the appropriate forum.  try the anxiety forum.