Acute hiv symptoms 72 hours after exposure?

[MikeS52]

I rarely have sexual encounters because I don’t like the risk but I bottomed for a guy on August 13 and he assured me he had just tested negative a week before our encounter. I made sure he wore a condom anyway. Afterwards I didn’t notice him remove his condom. It was just gone. I could have missed it, I’m not sure. So I asked him to confirm he had it on the whole time and he assured me he would never do such a thing. Exactly 72 hours later I started with severe lower back pain, felt chilled and tired so I went to bed. In the morning I woke up with a fever and still had back pain. Laying in bed totally relieved it so I pretty much slept for 48 hours. The fever was low, usually under 100F. Highest-100.8. Disappeared after 48 hours and I felt fine. Then to my horror I started with what looked like a heat rash on my chest. Over the course of the day it spread all over my torso and arms. It did not itch and disappeared 3 days later. Had a slight headache when bending forward the next few days. No swollen glands or sore throat. I’m petrified and will test when I can. But in the meantime I’m trying to hang onto my symptoms occurring too soon. Can anyone tell me when symptoms occur? Every site gives a different answer. 3 days, several days, not less than a week, starting in two weeks....Please help. I’ve never been this scared in my life. BTW the guy sent me his negative hiv test results dated a week before just as he said, but he could have been in the seroconversion window so that doesn’t totally make me feel better.

[biology2017]

1. Ignore your symptoms.
2. just go get a hiv test.
3. I believe it is no risk as it is protected

[AnxiousNoMore]

I am wondering if you had a typo - does this mean he always used the condom? "he assured me he would never do such a thing. " If he used the condom, you had zero risk, but you can test with a duo after 4 weeks for a conclusive result. Not much chance of him being positive anyway since his window period for a duo is 4 weeks and any other is 12.

Googling for Death will not provide any USEFUL diagnostic info because symptoms are not particular to HIV, so you are best to stop examining your body cold turkey and stop Googling cold turkey. People cough on your lips and door knobs so flu and sore throat is to be expected at any time.

[MikeS52]

Thanks for the reply. He put a condom on but then I remember him pulling out and saying he was taking his cockring off. I couldn’t see what was going on. It was an afterthought that he possibly removed the condom. Short answer...I don’t know.

[MikeS52]

Rereading my original post I see your confusion. I questioned him about if he removed the condom and he said “no, I would never do such a thing.” But people lie, and I can’t be certain. I’ve never had a rash. Ever! I wish I could believe him.

[AnxiousNoMore]

If I get a rash tomorrow on my forehead I can say "I never had a rash there - ever" but medical conditions don't schedule themselves into a pattern so I would also be wasting my time just like you are, thinking the rash meant something special was up. Relax until you test, although it will be a waste of time. But the only reason I am telling you to test is because you are coming up with so many unrealistic scenarios that it seems your mind is made up that you had a risk so I don't think you will stop worrying.

[AnxiousNoMore]

I reread your story, and here is something for you to think about. Why would a guy who was negative a month ago remove the condom at the end and try to get infected by you, a stranger? Try to relax, and I wouldn't even bother testing other than so you have something you can show anyone else you meet in future.

[MikeS52]

Very good point! Thanks for that.

[MikeS52]

Very insightful thoughts. I also need to keep in mind, any doctor or study on the internet says it’s impossible to get symptoms that fast. Thanks again for giving me that perspective. It greatly helped my anxiety. Much appreciated.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Symptom analysis is not useful for HIV diagnosis, so it doesn't matter how many guesses you make based on what you think might be a symptom, the result will just be increased anxiety.