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Avatar universal

Read many posts concerning hiv , elisa, symptoms, etc

I take full responsibility and know that this whole ordeal is my fault.  Now that that is said, my questions have to do with HIV, home access test, and symptoms.  
     First, I had unprotected sex with a premiscuous coworker about two and half months ago.  Three days after the encounter I developed a sore throat, swollen glands, and a very fatigue body.  At the time I blamed it on myself for leaving the window open at my apt, for sleeping in the cold has given me the same symptoms before.  My mind started racing when I discovered one lesion/sore, not sure what is was, on the shaft of my penis.  At this point I started doing my research and thinking maybe a little too hard.  I also developed more acne, particularly near above my eyes, and on my lips,more then before, which I blamed on stress and lack of sleep due to anxiety/thinking.  I went to the local health dept. at 24 days and got tested for everything but herpes, which I suspected the lesion was from.  
    After about 10 days the lesions/mark, went away and a scar white in color was left on my penis.  Oddly enough, this wasn't my biggest concern.  My biggest concern was my test, which all came back negative.  As time went by, I became more and more worried because I read more and more.  I then decided to get tested again with the home access test, which uses 2nd generation Elisa at 52 days, aka, 7 weeks.  I did this because I lost about 7 pounds, i thought to be anxiety, lack of intrest in eating, and work.  The test came back negative.
   It is now about 80 days since the encounter and have become more worried than ever.  After gaining the weight back, I lost it again.  I also have about 5 days of shortness of breath.  I've experienced shortness of breath before but never that long, one whole day at the most.  Along with this shortness of breath, I noticed yesterday a white, flesh colored rash like development on my arm.  I don't think it's a rash because it's not red, pink or purple.  The development matches my skin tone exactly but I can notice it.  Along with this, I've also had a bump, though small, develop on my lip.  I just purchased another home access test because I can't wait for a doctor apt or planned parenthood apt.  My question revolves around my symptoms, which I know many say can't be trusted, so why are they listed?, and how confident should I be about my 7 week test knowing that it is a second generation Elisa and the window period?
Perhaps I'm just fishing for something that I want to hear, but I could really hear some input from someone who is informed and isn't just speculating from things they've read, because that's all I seem to be doing to myself
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Avatar universal
thank you for your responses, the fact that my post was answered was very comforting.  My 11 week Home Access Express Test came back negative, so I feel pretty confident that I am not HIV postive.  One week under the three month mark seem reassuring to me, and hopefully if anyone reads this they feel the same way for me.  

I've never had anxiety or stress at this level and consider myself a very strong minded person.  But this whole ordeal has been the most challenging thing I've ever dealt with.  So  once again thank you for your replies and the countless other posts on the other forums.  Not sure what I'd do without them.

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Avatar universal
PCR-DNA test are NOT early detection test and are not approved to be used in diagnosing HIV.
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Avatar universal
I AM NOT AN EXPERT

Brick, it sounds like your stress could be contributing to, if not causing, many of your symptoms.  The power of the mind is often under estimated.

There are tests which are considered "Early Detection" tests, such as the DNA by PCR offered by places like AIM Healthcare (http://www.aim-med.org/).  They claim that results can be obtained after 14 days of exposure.  You might consider looking into it.

As far as the people saying "move on" I can only say that I understand that it is not easy to simply move on when something like this is a concern.  I can assure you however that worrying about it to the extent that you are is not going to make the situation any better.  In fact, your stress level can make things worse.

You have two possible scenarios:
1.) You do not have HIV.  All you are doing is worrying yourself to death for no reason.
2.) You do possibly have HIV.  In this case, you are worrying yourself to death.

In either scenario, stress is harmful, and is not going to make your situation any better.  Try to relax.  Calm yourself down, and move forward knowing that you will live a long, happy, prosperous life no matter what.  Stressing yourself out is not going to make the situation any better.  Remember that.
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Avatar universal
only a test after 3 month will give you conclusive results
symptoms means nothing
and are never a away to diagnose an infection however HIV early symptoms show up 2 to 4 weeks after exposure and not after 3 days there for these symptoms are not HIV related

move on
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Avatar universal
I understand that, my concern is the symptoms.  I'm on my last nerve hear and can't handle the stress.  I guess what I want to know is, are the odds in my favor that I am not HIV positive, being that prior to my encounter I was a healthy 26 yr old male and I tested at 7 weeks.  
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Avatar universal
3 months is when you can test and obtain a conclusive result.
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