example

this is just an example for those who are paranoid about ARS

i am a 50 year old woman...married for 22 years...and i use public bathrooms...i am scared i have HIV from this.  my symptoms are as follows:

sore throat...(well, i smoke too much)
swollen lymph nodes...(if i really really push down hard)
night sweats...(menopause)
headache...(stress)
rash...(from the antibiotics i talked my doctor into giving me
  for my sore throat)
achy all over...(arthritis)
tingly feet and hands...(anxiety from believing i have HIV)
can't swallow...(anxiety from believing i have HIV)

what i am trying to show you is that most of your symptoms are just that...everyday things that happen to us...and some brought on by anxiety.  i'm not saying to not pay attention to your body...but calm down...don't go looking for symptoms.  the best way to relieve your fears is to be tested...

[hellothere123]

I agree, I just had a 10 week negative which I understand is very accurate, and I had just about every symptom in the book after an exposure that was low risk to begin with.  I will just list my symptoms in hope that they help the worried wells out there: fever (102F), nausea, vomiting, throat irritation, headaches, cough, white coating on tongue, doctor confirmed swollen lymph nodes in neck, painful armpits, itchy rashes all over the body, myalgia, anthralgia, fatigue, etc etc.  none of this means anything in light of a negative test.  the worst thing i ever did was look for symptoms.  if you look for symptoms, you will find some no matter how healthy you are.  if you look for swollen lymph nodes (this is the one thing i did the most), you will find a few and that is totally natural.  so dont go looking! the only way to know is to be tested.

that being said, stay safe out there.  i am a little concerned with the message conveyed by both the patients and doctors on this site about how low the risk is from all kinds of behaviors, primarily heterosexual sex.  i swear the doctor here thinks the only way you can get infected is if you are gay or an intravenous drug user.  in fact, heterosexual transmission is increasing at a higher rate than any other rate of transmission, both in the US and worldwide.  maybe because people mistakenly believe think you cant get it that way! this doesnt mean you should freak out if you had one episode of unprotected vaginal. the odds are still strongly in your favor, but please for heavens sake, get tested and next time use a freakin' condom!!! dont spread this epidemic any further!

with all that, thanks lizzie and i have high hopes for you and for your son.  be well.

[LIZZIE LOU]

DID ANYONE SEE HOUSE TONIGHT?...IT WAS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT...HOW YOUR MIND CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS APPEAR.  I HOPE SOME OF YOU SAW IT.

KIM