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ARS Symptoms?
Dear community,
Thank you for the work you do on this forum. It is truly valuable.
While I mostly participate as a reader and have occasionally helped answer questions, now it's my turn to ask for advice.
Male, 30 years old, Colombia, South America.
May 8th:
Had vaginal sex with a friend using a latex condom. Received unprotected oral sex.
I'm not sure about my friend's current health status, but she has never mentioned any STIs. We are very close friends.
May 20th:
Started experiencing diarrhea, which has continued until today, May 22nd. I've had stomach discomfort, stomach rumbling, and burping since today. This morning, I ate an apple, and it immediately caused pain. The diarrhea has lessened in intensity, now it's just watery.
Context:
Five days after the sexual encounter, I had to travel to another city for work. I've been staying in hotels and eating mostly junk food like burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and fries.
I have always had a sensitive stomach, with frequent gastritis and stomach aches.
What triggered my anxiety is that my diarrhea coincides with the ARS timeline for HIV, exactly 12 days. Once I made that connection, I fell into a rabbit hole of worry that I can't get out of.
1. Does this sound like ARS?
2. Is diarrhea alone a symptom of ARS?
3. How risky was my sexual encounter for HIV?
4. According to Doctors Handsfield and Hook, it's very difficult to get HIV from a protected sexual encounter (if your partner has HIV). Is this still true?
5. Should I get tested now to see if my diarrhea is ARS?
Thank you very much.
Thank you for the work you do on this forum. It is truly valuable.
While I mostly participate as a reader and have occasionally helped answer questions, now it's my turn to ask for advice.
Male, 30 years old, Colombia, South America.
May 8th:
Had vaginal sex with a friend using a latex condom. Received unprotected oral sex.
I'm not sure about my friend's current health status, but she has never mentioned any STIs. We are very close friends.
May 20th:
Started experiencing diarrhea, which has continued until today, May 22nd. I've had stomach discomfort, stomach rumbling, and burping since today. This morning, I ate an apple, and it immediately caused pain. The diarrhea has lessened in intensity, now it's just watery.
Context:
Five days after the sexual encounter, I had to travel to another city for work. I've been staying in hotels and eating mostly junk food like burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and fries.
I have always had a sensitive stomach, with frequent gastritis and stomach aches.
What triggered my anxiety is that my diarrhea coincides with the ARS timeline for HIV, exactly 12 days. Once I made that connection, I fell into a rabbit hole of worry that I can't get out of.
1. Does this sound like ARS?
2. Is diarrhea alone a symptom of ARS?
3. How risky was my sexual encounter for HIV?
4. According to Doctors Handsfield and Hook, it's very difficult to get HIV from a protected sexual encounter (if your partner has HIV). Is this still true?
5. Should I get tested now to see if my diarrhea is ARS?
Thank you very much.
COMMUNITY LEADER
The only risks for HIV in adults are:
1) Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles with IV drug users.
The rest of your questions are unnecessary. As long as the condom did not VISIBLY break, exposing the full head of your penis during intercourse, you had no risk for HIV. No test needed.
If you continue to experience gastric issues, see your doctor about the non-HIV related cause of those symptoms.
1) Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles with IV drug users.
The rest of your questions are unnecessary. As long as the condom did not VISIBLY break, exposing the full head of your penis during intercourse, you had no risk for HIV. No test needed.
If you continue to experience gastric issues, see your doctor about the non-HIV related cause of those symptoms.
6 Comments
Thank you very much for your response. So, can I relax about HIV?
If you can't relax, then see a therapist.
Don't be sarcastic, the anxiety is real.
You were told it is a straightforward situation, XERO risk. Yet you asked after if you can relax?
You should not torture yourself with anxiety when you've been told you had zero risk. So, see a therapist if you can't accept that.
You should not torture yourself with anxiety when you've been told you had zero risk. So, see a therapist if you can't accept that.
You also said you participate as a reader and even give advice here, so you must have read lots of the same answer, because every thread states there are only 3 risks for hiv. Do yourself a favor and accept that you have an hiv fixation problem, then see a therapist. That is better than wasting any more time worrying that what you read many times about the 3 isn't correct.
You're right. Sorry about my commentYou're right. Sorry about my commentYou're right. Sorry about my comment.
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
