ARS symptoms and testing accuracy

[sissyphus]

two weeks ago received protected anal sex from someone who said he was HIV negative. Can't shake off the feeling that he removed the condom during sex. He made *** sounds but the condom had no *** in it afterwards. Since then I have developed sore throat, pains in armpits and groin area.

Does anyone know if I can test as soon as two weeks because I have possible symptoms?

[worried826]

Spoken like a real conservative, good stuff. :)

[worried826]

And in the meantime go see your doctor about your symptoms, you probably have a plain old virus or bacteria infection.

[Teak]

HIV tests aren't free. Taxes pay for those tests and the situation you described required no testing.

[sissyphus]

Thanks for the insights, I think I'll go for both 3 and 6 week tests - they're free after all.

best,

[worried826]

Dont bother with the 3 week unless it will help relieve some anxiety. Surely go at 6 weeks though.

[avisg]

Wait the six weeks your symptoms can point to many different illnesses. How big are your lymph nodes ?

[sissyphus]

Forgot to mention that I have  joint pain as well - concerning testing will a test at three weeks be meaningless? According to Dr. HHH 75% of people with early HIV will test positive then.

[worried826]

No those arent classic symptoms, the clasic symptoms come together all at once from 2-4 weeks post exposure and are high fever, swollen glands, and rash. Along with that, joint pain and muscle ache are comon too. Its basically a flu like sickness, which you do not show symptoms of.

Wait until at least 6 weeks if you feel you really need to test.

[sissyphus]

Actually, sore throat and pains in armpit, groin and neck are classic ARS symptoms (and could be due many other things) - you may be right about the blocked ears though. I don't have a fever though.

My main question is whether, once you've developed symptoms - will a test detect (or not) the antibodies?

[worried826]

Sore throat, bocked ears, and gland pains arent even classic ARS symptoms anyway. Sounds more along the lines like a sinus infecion or something like that.

[sissyphus]

I guess it's also possible that he didn't actually ***. I've just been freaking out about this though. And although I know about the symptom thing being meaningless developing sore throat, blocked ears, glandular pains, etc. that I've never had before are very scary.

[worried826]

I doubt he took the condom off in the first place, maybe he just didnt have much semen at the time. Symptoms are meaningless when it comes to HIV.

If it worries you a lot go in at 6 weeks for a rapid test.