The guilt and fear has taken over my body

[guilty22]

Here's my story:

I had sex a few months ago with a person I only knew for a few hours.  The sex started with me performing oral sex on her. We then had a few moments of teasing where her vagina came into contact with my penis before I put on a condom.  I then proceeded to put on a condom and have intercourse with her.  I have not been in contact with her since and I don't even know how to get into contact with her.  

It is now 3 months later.  At approximately 5-6 weeks I had very bad UTI issues consistent with gonorrhea and chlymidia.  I went to my Urologist who gave me a shot of Suprax? and a prescription for Bactrim DS.  I took these and my UTI issues have seemed to clear up.  Out of paranoia since I contracted an STI I began to fear I could have contracted HIV.  I went to the STD clinic and tested (again aroudn 5-6 weeks) after exposure.  The rapid came up negative and the test results from the blood drawn from my arm came back negative a week later.  I felt much better.  

Then approximately 9 weeks after exposure I got the worst sore throat of my life.  I went to the doctor and she tested for Strep which was negative.  I had muscle pain and a slight feeling of fever.  She prescribed me a z pack just in case.  My throat took over 5 days to feel better. It was the kind of sore throat where it HURTS every hour of the day.  I couldn't sleep it hurt so bad. Finally after about 5-6 days I started to feel better.

Now, about a week later I notice this feeling that my adams apple was pressed against the front of my throat.  I have very swollen lymph nodes.  I have had off and on fever and these swollen lymph nodes now for about 2-3 weeks.  Then paranoia set it and now my heart is racing every day all day.  I fear I have got HIV somehow.  I've read a lot of information about ARS and Acute HIV infection and I understand it's almost always in the first 4 weeks after exposure.  However, I have found sites that say it can happen up to 10 weeks after exposure and last for a couple weeks.  This is consistent with what I am experiencing.  

I decided to go in to the STD clinic again for an HIV test.  The test was taken at exactly 12 weeks after exposure.  Not sure if it matters but it was a rapid HIV test.  So I should be happy right? I'm at 12 weeks since the exposure and my test came back negative.  Well, I can't seem to get out of my head the fact that there is so much documentation out there that states an HIV antibody test will come back negative during an Acute HIV infection.  
I had the test about 2 weeks after my initial sore throat symptoms.  It is now 3 weeks since the initial symptoms and I still have swollen lymph nodes and a fever seems to come and go. I've lost some weight but I think it's from all the anxiety I've had.  

Is it possible I could have had a false negative antibody test while still having the flu like symptoms?  Or, was the test in fact a reliable test and I am making matters worse by trying to pick it apart?

Thanks for everyone's input.

[scardtodeath]

From everything that I have read for the past 7 months of hell is that at 12/13 weeks results are over 99.99% accurate.  I know its hard to put it out of your mind, but if anything find something you love to do (hobby) and do it!  The stress alone could be causing your problems.  Good luck and God Bless

[guilty22]

It seems reasonable for someone to simply move on and get something like this out of your head.... until it's you.  I've read all the statistics but it does little to quell my fears.  I haven't ever had a time in my life where I had swollen lymph nodes for weeks on end.  Is it just a coincidence that it happened 9-10 weeks after the one time in my life that I screw up?  

I guess I am hoping somebody can help with my fears regarding antibody testing while experiencing symptoms.  I would think that if antibody tests often come back negative during the stage of Acute HIV infection that testing recommendations would be to come back when your symptoms have subsided?  I can't seem to find anywhere that states you shouldn't take an antibody test while experiencing symptoms.  I guess I'd like to hear from some of the experts whether or not there is any truth to this.  If a person is having ARS symptoms 9-10 weeks after exposure and takes an antibody test, is there higher probability of a false negative?

[Teak]

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[guilty22]

I'm sorry if you've mistaken me for somebody else.  I've only made 2 posts in the same thread. Is my question not a valid one?

[Teak]

You were never at risk of contracting HIV.