Symptoms?

[helpmeplease999]

I finally went to my doctor a couple days ago to get tested for all STD's. My last doctor visit was around January so it has been about 10 months. When I last went, I was under the impression it was for the flu. All my co-workers were sick and naturally I got sick after them. My doctor prescribed me amoxycilin. I had a fever for a few days and also had diarrhea. I did not have a rash on my upper trunk, but I did have a couple red spots on my arm which my doctor believed was eczema. It went away shortly after my visit without any medication or creams. I have not been sick with a fever since then. I do occassionally see some red bumps on my arms, chest, and back but not like a rash that would resemble hives. The only concern I have is that since my last visit I have not been able to get rid of the chronic diarrhea. When I was sick, I would go more than 3 times a day and it would be completely liquid. Since then, I still have diarrhea but it is less than 3 times a day and not as much liquid. I have no fever or rash right now. I have read on just about every website that diarrhea is a sure symptom of HIV. Is it possible that when I went to the doctor for the flu it was ARS? Would it be normal to continue to have diarrhea even afterwards with no fever or rash that resembles hives? The red bumps I am referring to are not grouped together. They are more spread out. Also, I have not lost much weight from the diarrhea. My weight at the last doctor's appointment in January was 240 and when I went a few days ago I weighed 235. I will not get the results back for about another week or so. I am very nervous and have thought for quite some time now that this could be related to HIV. Am I just crazy or is this not related? I would appreciate anyone who has any advice or feedback.

[nursegirl6572]

If you had unprotected vaginal sex since your last STD testing, then it is wise to test.  While the risk is quite low, assuming there have been only a few partners, in an industrialized country, and none of them where significantly high risk (ie IV drug abusers)....unfortunately, you still DID place yourself at risk.

As for symptoms...please trust me that you just simply CANNOT guage a possible HIV infection from symptoms.  There are literally 1000's of reasons a person can get a bout of diarrhea lasting a few days/weeks.  ONE of them is worry and stress.

Try to hang in there until your results come back...most likely they will be negative, and if the test was 3 months after your last unprotected encounter....then you are conclusively negative and can move on.

I hope you start protecting yourself....use a condom each and every time.  Not just to protect against HIV, but also unwanted pregnancies, and other diseases, which are more prevalent than HIV.

Hang in there....and try not to focus on physical symtpoms...they are meaningless.

[helpmeplease999]

I do not know what you mean by "insertive"? If you mean penetration, then yes, I have had unprotected insertive vaginal intercourse. I have not had anal intercourse before. The last time I got tested was a few years ago and was negative for HIV. I did not have health insurance and therefore could not afford to go regularly. I have not been sick or needed to go to a doctor for anything up until my flu symptoms last January. Even since then, I have not been sick with a fever or anything. I do smoke and sometimes I would get a bad cough with congestion. I do not believe that is a symptom. One of the partners I had sex with said she came back negative for HIV. She was in the hosptial for a couple weeks for kidney problems and they did all kinds of tests on her. That was around the time I had the flu like symptoms. I have read on this forum that the ARS occurs 2 to 4 weeks after exposure and goes away in a couple weeks. I did not break out in hives and do not believe to have had swollen glands. Atleast my doctor did not tell me so. Obviously it is over the 2 week time frame so I am overly concerned why the diarrhea still persists. I did not have this problem before and am worried that it is related. I also have read that the diarrhea would be accompanied with other symtpoms but I do not seem to have any. Is it possible to have just the diarrhea symptoms and be positive?

[nursegirl6572]

Have you had UNPROTECTED INSERTIVE vaginal or anal intercourse since your last STD testing?

Symptoms are meaningless.  ARS symptoms can be very unspecific, and can match the symptoms of about a bazillion everyday garden-variety type infections.

[helpmeplease999]

Thank you for your response. I was sexually active before I had those symptoms and had both protected and unprotected vaginal intercourse with 3 different women. I also have had intercourse since then with multiple partners and I did not think anything of it until the diarrhea persisted and the other symptoms went away. My search about the cause of the diarrhea is what has led me to believe that this is what it could be. I told my doctor and he thinks it is something else, although I am still getting tested for it. I have not had any other of the symptoms since then and have not felt sick or ill. I have read other threads on this site related to the this topic. Are the symptoms of the diarrhea usually accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, rash, swollen glands, etc.? I do not seem to have any other symptoms besides the diarrhea but I am still freaking out. Also, when I went to the doctor I thought I may have had a wart from HPV and after showing my doctor he said that it is just hanging skin and not a wart. While that is somewhat of a relief, I am still paranoid and very anxious. Results will be back in about a week.

[LIZZIE LOU]

even though we now know about you and all your co-workers getting sick...that you had a few red bumps...that you've had diarrhea (and exactly how many times you go and what it looks like)...ALL we needed to know was IF you had unprotected sex and when.