I think I'm an AIDS phobic.

[frostythespider]

After an unprotected encounter in May, I became extremely concerned about my possibilty of having HIV.  After about a month of stressing it, I went in to get tested, using the rapid HIV anitbody test, considered extremely accurate (also, this was almost 5 months after the encounter).  I tested negative and explained my deep concern with the Dr.  I explained to her that as soon as I started stressing out about it, I began experiencing strange symptoms similar to those described in early HIV patients.  I didn't have diarreah and my lymph glands only got swollen after I had a light  head-cold.  I experienced mild nausea, and some loss of appetite, which she attributed to the stress I was experiencing. Also at this time, I was being screened for testicular cancer after finding a mass on one of them, causing even more stress.  I have begun to read up on AIDS-related phobias and the anxiety it causes some people.  I live in a relatively small mountain city so there are very few confirmed cases of HIV, but I just cannot seem to calm myself down.  I don't want to keep wasting money on getting tested either.  Is this relatively common?

[boyblue]

If you took the rapid test- 5 months after the incident and it came back negative then you are NEGATIVE... if you want more peace of mind go get a blood test to re-verify your negative status... on the other hand- the next time you think about having unprotected sex, think about the mental torture you are going through from this experience and maybe that will stop you...  the next time the test may not come back negative... everyone thinks that it will not happen to them.. if that was the case there would be no HIV cases... don't be follish buddy- PLAY SAFE !  Would it really be worth it if you became HIV positive just becuase you didn't want to wear a rubber ?!