very scared i have hiv

I recently visited Thailand and drank to much one night and had unprotected sex with a bargirl. It started to hurt when i went pee and there was some discharge also a few days later. I went to the doctor and got some medicine and was told i had gonorrhea. I am at home now and got a rash on my chest, back and a little bit on my arms two weeks after my unsafe sexual contact, the rash is pinkish red and slightly raised. I am very scared this is hiv rash and i have hiv now, could someone please respond to my question. I went to the hospital yesterday and got tested for everything but the test won't be ready for a few days the doctor told me..........

[FrostyG]

Hello there... hellothere!

I went through a similar scare recently.  The God's honest truth is that no one here can tell you whether it "sounds" like you have HIV or not; the only accurate, reliable way is to be tested at 6 weeks on.  I know what you're going through right now, constantly checking symptoms, visiting sites like this for some reassurance... but I can truthfully tell you that you're chasing ghosts.

You want someone with credibility to say "it's all good man, there's no way you have it."  But in reality, you'll never really be at peace until YOU'RE convinced you're negative.  The mind is an incredibly powerful instrument, and factors like anxiety and stress test its limits, particularly if you (like me) are already predisposed to worrying about things like this.  If you search for symptoms of stress/anxiety, I'm sure you'll find plenty of the same symptoms you're experiencing (sans ghonorrhea).  Your illness is more than likely due to a weakened immune system from obessing/worrying about having HIV rather than the virus itself.  Like I said, I was in your position not 4 weeks ago myself.

My solution?  I got tested at 3 months.   Guess what-- NEGATIVE!  And I had "ALL" the symptoms.  The symptoms of HIV are so non-specific that it would even be hard (or impossible) for an expert to diagnose you based on symptoms alone over the internet.  Just get tested at 6 weeks, then at 3 months.  The worst thing you can do for yourself right now (positive or negative) is "symptom surf" on the internet.  I promise you'll have every single one of them by the time you're done searching-- and you won't feel any better about your HIV status.  That's just the game your mind plays on you.

Please use this as a learning experience-- you'll likely find that the change in your habits that comes from this will make you a better person in the long run.  It's just not worth the mental torture.  You'll be fine, just relax.

[hellothere222]

I have been also feeling very tired the last couple of days and feel dizzy and light headed also

[LIZZIE LOU]

SYMPTOMS dont diagnose hiv.  

you can test 6-8 weeks post exposure for a good indication of your status, but follow up at 3 months for a conclusive result.

[hellothere222]

I know the only way to get accurate result is a blood test but does this sound like i have contracted hiv> the rash and feeling tired all the time

[FrostyG]

Hello there... hellothere!

I went through a similar scare recently.  The God's honest truth is that no one here can tell you whether it "sounds" like you have HIV or not; the only accurate, reliable way is to be tested at 6 weeks on.  I know what you're going through right now, constantly checking symptoms, visiting sites like this for some reassurance... but I can truthfully tell you that you're chasing ghosts.

You want someone with credibility to say "it's all good man, there's no way you have it."  But in reality, you'll never really be at peace until YOU'RE convinced you're negative.  The mind is an incredibly powerful instrument, and factors like anxiety and stress test its limits, particularly if you (like me) are already predisposed to worrying about things like this.  If you search for symptoms of stress/anxiety, I'm sure you'll find plenty of the same symptoms you're experiencing (sans ghonorrhea).  Your illness is more than likely due to a weakened immune system from obessing/worrying about having HIV rather than the virus itself.  Like I said, I was in your position not 4 weeks ago myself.

My solution?  I got tested at 3 months.   Guess what-- NEGATIVE!  And I had "ALL" the symptoms.  The symptoms of HIV are so non-specific that it would even be hard (or impossible) for an expert to diagnose you based on symptoms alone over the internet.  Just get tested at 6 weeks, then at 3 months.  The worst thing you can do for yourself right now (positive or negative) is "symptom surf" on the internet.  I promise you'll have every single one of them by the time you're done searching-- and you won't feel any better about your HIV status.  That's just the game your mind plays on you.

Please use this as a learning experience-- you'll likely find that the change in your habits that comes from this will make you a better person in the long run.  It's just not worth the mental torture.  You'll be fine, just relax.

[NickOne7]

does this sound like i have contracted hiv> the rash and feeling tired all the time - Unlikely, But possible. Get the test as advised above and stop guessing- Your symptoms could be from a thousand different things other than HIV.

Hope this helps

[hellothere222]

it does help a little, im just really scared i have hiv and keep crying like a big baby and i feel so alone right now, thanks so much 4 your comments

[FrostyG]

You're welcome.  You're not alone, I know what you're going through.  Arguably, not knowing is the worst part.  Just try to keep a positive attitude and test in the times we've talked about.  I'm glad I could at least help a little.

[kantotsupa]

you do not have FEVER..so its not HIV...

But the risk is still low...1 to 2000 but the risk is still there... be tested after 3 to 6 months...

[Teak]

Your advisement was incorrect.

[hellothere222]

What are your thoughts about this, or are you not going to answer because i most likely have hiv and don't want to scare me just like i think my doctor is doing!

[as1979]

Symptoms are very poor indicators of HIV. You can not say it conclusively that one if HIV+ based on symptoms. Get yourself tested at 3 month mark. Nothing can be more reassuring than the test.
Trust the test, not the symptoms.

[jose883]

HI, I think FrostyG give you a good advice. Do not do "symptom surf" on the Internet, because you will find all the symptoms you need to think that you have HIV. I also had "all the symptoms" and all my tests have been negative! I know it is very difficult to avoid looking at Internet. But if you can't, at least stay in this forum (go to HIV anxiety and support). Hope this helps!

[hellothere222]

I wasn't really worried about hiv when i got gonorrhea untill i got a rash on my chest and back. I have never had a rash before and only worried sick because of the rash. Why else would i get a rash like this 2 weeks after unsafe sex, all i can do now is wait and i all cried out now anyway

[hellothere222]

Did you also get a rash on chest, back and torso? My rash is almost gond now after 4 days

[worriedbutnotfreakedout]

hellothere.... I also had many ARS symptoms and convinced myself that I was infected.  Happy to report that my first test at 4 weeks came back NEGATIVE.  Now, I realize that I have not been given the all clear at this point, but I can tell you that I am feeling MUCH better about my situation.

My symptoms included a raging sore throat (felt like a knife blade twisting) for a solid month, a splitting pounding headache for a solid month (and I never get headaches), loss of appetite, loss of a few pounds, rashy hives, etc.  I had convinced myself that I was infected since I rarely get sick.  After visiting my doctor and learning that I had a whopping sinus infection (Zithromax cleared it right up) I felt like a complete idiot.  Take Frosty's advice... stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your health and actually CAUSE many of the symptoms you are describing.  Like you, I was wringing my hands, near tears, and filled with worry.  

Reading Dr. HHH's many posts about how remote my chances were (and yours too since most CSWs don't have HIV) really helped me get a grip and get through this.  Little by little I began to see how my fears were causing all this stress.  The day I got tested I wasn't even nervous.  I just walked into the health clinic convinced that it would be negative.... and it was!

I will test again in two weeks at the 6 week point, and then I'm done.  Find a hobby or a loooooong book to read and put this out of your mind until day 28 -- then go get tested.  Then test again at 6-8 weeks for peace of mind. This too shall pass...

[jose883]

Hi, I got rash but after four or five months, don't know exactly. And it was very strange. A single spot in one arm, very itchy, and lasted for only two or three days. I have never had something like this. But I have had a lot of other symptoms. It has been terrifying. However, my emotional health was also a disaster. Anxiety can led to rash. If you read the posts here, there is a lot of people that develop rash, however they have negative tests. That is way symptoms can't be used to diagnose HIV. If it has been a month since your exposure, you can ask for a 4th generation test, or a 3rd generation test plus a p24 ELISA test. It won't be conclusive, but will be a very good indication of your status. These test look for antibodies against HIV, as well as for viral proteins (the p24). This can help you to reduce your level of anxiety.