Aa
Ars
I have been extremly sexually active with both men an women. Having a large amount of partners. I have never had sex without a condom though, not once. I have given and received oral sex without condoms or barriers though.
Recently i caught a cold, the symptoms were just like the flu, I was extremely sick for about a week maybe a little longer. I know that this could be the flu or a cold but it occurred during the summer. I dont know anyone who catches a horrible cold like this in the summer.
The only thing that keeps me with a little bit of peace and mind is that i did not have a rash or noticeable swollen lymph nodes. I did however, have a soar throat, a fever, headache, chills and those white things in my throat.
Is my risk considered high?
Do you think that this is an instance of ARS?
Is a rash and noticable swolen lymphnodes an important part of ARS,
Recently i caught a cold, the symptoms were just like the flu, I was extremely sick for about a week maybe a little longer. I know that this could be the flu or a cold but it occurred during the summer. I dont know anyone who catches a horrible cold like this in the summer.
The only thing that keeps me with a little bit of peace and mind is that i did not have a rash or noticeable swollen lymph nodes. I did however, have a soar throat, a fever, headache, chills and those white things in my throat.
Is my risk considered high?
Do you think that this is an instance of ARS?
Is a rash and noticable swolen lymphnodes an important part of ARS,
A related discussion, hiv with condom use? was started.
MY 6 week test was negative!
I'm happier than the day i got into Columbia
Thanks Doctor
I'm happier than the day i got into Columbia
Thanks Doctor
Thank You
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Could it be HIV? Yes. Is it likely? No, for the reasons discussed above.
Until you report the outcome of professional evaluation, I won't have any further comments. Good luck.
Until you report the outcome of professional evaluation, I won't have any further comments. Good luck.
Thank you much for your response
but just for a little bit of comfort, can you awnser one thing
Do you think it could be ARS without the rash or the swollen glands?
but just for a little bit of comfort, can you awnser one thing
Do you think it could be ARS without the rash or the swollen glands?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
Given the lifestyle you describe, there is some possibility you could have been infected along the way. However, the odds are strongly in your favor, if your condom use for anal sex has been as consistent as you say.
As for your symptoms, they really don't mean very much; testing tells the truth about having HIV and symptoms usually do not. Even with the most classical symptoms, ARS is a less common cause than other viruses, even in people at high risk, and you are correct that absence of rash and lymph node enlargement argues against HIV. Although colds and flu indeed are most common in colder months, they are not rare in the summer.
In any case, you need HIV testing to know for sure, and you should not wait to do it. By the time ARS symptoms occur, generally the standard HIV antibody tests are positive -- certainly so within 7-10 days after the symptoms start. You should seek out a provider who understands HIV such as infectious diseases specialist or other doctor with substantial personal experience in HIV/AIDS management. If you need help finding someone like that, phone your local health department or a community agency that deals with HIV and/or health issues in men who have sex with men; they likely can recommend somebody. Then follow that person's advice about likely causes of your symptoms, specific HIV tests, and when to do them.
In summary, most likely you don't have HIV, but you should get examined soon to check it out along with other likely causes of such illnesses.
And now comes the lecture. You are to be congratulated for your understanding of the mechanics of safe sex and your consistent use of condoms. But that's only half the story. All non-monogamous sexually active MSM (and many who are monogamous) should be having regular HIV tests at regular intervals; given your lifestyle, something like once every 6-12 months would be about right. And most important, you should never, ever have sex with another man without first asking about his HIV status and discussing your own, and avoiding anal sex (or avoiding sex at all) with men who say they are positive, don't know, or are evasive about it. It's not foolproof, but neither are condoms. In the long run, "do ask, do tell" is just as important as consistent condom use for anal sex in protecting MSM from HIV. Please think about it. If the only thing that comes from your current scare is that you learn this rule, probably it will have been worth it.
Please report back after you have seen a health care provider about all this.
Best wishes--- HHH, MD
Given the lifestyle you describe, there is some possibility you could have been infected along the way. However, the odds are strongly in your favor, if your condom use for anal sex has been as consistent as you say.
As for your symptoms, they really don't mean very much; testing tells the truth about having HIV and symptoms usually do not. Even with the most classical symptoms, ARS is a less common cause than other viruses, even in people at high risk, and you are correct that absence of rash and lymph node enlargement argues against HIV. Although colds and flu indeed are most common in colder months, they are not rare in the summer.
In any case, you need HIV testing to know for sure, and you should not wait to do it. By the time ARS symptoms occur, generally the standard HIV antibody tests are positive -- certainly so within 7-10 days after the symptoms start. You should seek out a provider who understands HIV such as infectious diseases specialist or other doctor with substantial personal experience in HIV/AIDS management. If you need help finding someone like that, phone your local health department or a community agency that deals with HIV and/or health issues in men who have sex with men; they likely can recommend somebody. Then follow that person's advice about likely causes of your symptoms, specific HIV tests, and when to do them.
In summary, most likely you don't have HIV, but you should get examined soon to check it out along with other likely causes of such illnesses.
And now comes the lecture. You are to be congratulated for your understanding of the mechanics of safe sex and your consistent use of condoms. But that's only half the story. All non-monogamous sexually active MSM (and many who are monogamous) should be having regular HIV tests at regular intervals; given your lifestyle, something like once every 6-12 months would be about right. And most important, you should never, ever have sex with another man without first asking about his HIV status and discussing your own, and avoiding anal sex (or avoiding sex at all) with men who say they are positive, don't know, or are evasive about it. It's not foolproof, but neither are condoms. In the long run, "do ask, do tell" is just as important as consistent condom use for anal sex in protecting MSM from HIV. Please think about it. If the only thing that comes from your current scare is that you learn this rule, probably it will have been worth it.
Please report back after you have seen a health care provider about all this.
Best wishes--- HHH, MD
Very concerned
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
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.
