broken condom and ars symptoms worried

[joools]

sorry bout last time didnt no the rules i thought i would be charged for every question . u sed 4 weeks 85 percent i got tested at 3 only due to my previous exposure . not this incident im so worried about my diarrea and aches and pains also bad head do u get fever with ars or not and can u plz explain wat it is and how ill would sumone feel with it also would pain killers take pain away then *** bac wen theve worn of plz answer . i had aches and pains start 3 and a half weeks after exposure and sore throat at 4 weeks no fever and wen i take immodium it stoped diarrea at 3and half weeks that wen i had it. and wen i take iburprofen for aches an pains it stops for 4 hrs then *** bac . would i get all symptoms same day or spread out like mine thanx for ur time .

[Edward W Hook, MD]

First of all, at three weeks, while the figure is not 85% it is certainly 75% or more, making it very unlikely that you have HIV.

As for your symptoms, You seem to have missed our repeated statements that the symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection.  When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes.  In addition, it is also important to realize that many person who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS.  For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.

Thus while some of your symptoms are PART of what is seen with ARS (but not all), they are almost certainly not due to ARS.  It is far more likely that you caught the flu or some other viral illness which is making you feel badly.  As for what is causing your problems, that question is far beyond what we can do on this site.  There are just too many possibilities.  My advice is to see a health care provider to seek assistance so that you can get evaluated and taken care of--this is not HIV or the ARS.  I hope you'll be feeling better soon.  EWH

[joools]

thankyou very much for ur help x

[needadvice578]

Your statement that a 3 week test is 75% or more is great news to me as I had a negative oraquick test at 20 days as I feel that I have further lowered the statistical chance of having cought HIV from my already low risk incident. I am waiting 2 more weeks for a 6 week test to be sure. But the STD clinic told me when I tested that I would definitely test negative at 20 days because it was too early and that I was wasting my time. Are they misinformed or are they being overly careful?

Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

They are being conservative.  EWH

[joools]

sumone is asking u questions on my thread not me under name need advice578

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I noticed that and decided to let the answerstand after making it.  Hope that's OK./  No further answers to them however - its your thread.  EWH

[joools]

i no ur gonna think im a pain but very worried over pains in my bac and around my knee caps like aching pains they move to diffrent places through the body throughout the day still concerned i only had sore throat for one day iv had these pains for a week getting worried as no obvious long sore throat or cold with it or fever . i take ibuprofen then the pain comes bac do u think i should test at six weeks and would u say i should worry over pains as no other symptoms are there to suggest flu thanx and sorry for bein a pain

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Please read my earlier comments.  This is not HIV/ARS.  As far as what it is, that is beyond the scope of this thread.  You need to see your doctor.  EWH

[joools]

to dr im thinking of goin to london for a duo test it will be 5 weeks since exposur how accurate is that my pains seem to be goin and its making me more worried cos they say ars last for 2 weeks and my pains in joints are easing and it been 2 weeks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You do not have HIV.  Traveling to London for testing is a waste of your time and money.  Furthermore and more importantly, it will keep you from addressing the true nature of what your problem is.  EWH

[joools]

ok thankyou

[joools]

to dr well my pains went exacly 2 weeks since onset wich makes me worry even more because wat they say about ars mine came at 3 and half weeks and i had them exactly 2 weeks then they left i had a elisa test done at 5weeks 2 days neg what do u think and would there be much diffrence in that test and the six week one should i test at 6 weeks thanx sorry for bein a pain

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No change in my assessment.  There will be no more answers to this post.  Future questions will be deleted.   EWH