Doctor please help!

[extremeworry123]

Hi Doctors,

I am a 30 year old male. My story is unprotected vaginal about 7 weeks ago. At about 16 days post exposure, i had a mild diarhea, about a week after that, there was a 2 days period where diarrhea got worse. I had 3 'enlarged' lymph nodes on my neck, one on my right armpit. I cannot tell if they were swollen or not, but it caused no pain. One neck node (near the acne) went away during the 4th week, armpit node went away around 5th week, but 2 on side of neck still persist till today. At 4 weeks, I got a negative elisa (should be 3rd generation), which relieved me a little. At 5 week mark, mild diarrhea came back for 1 day. At 6 week, I got another negative elisa test. At 43 days, I started checking my chest for rash, and I found a small patch of redness on my middle upper chest, just below my neck, I would say about 5cm in length and 2cm in width. It is flat and not raised, no pain, no itchiness, no irritation, infact it feels the same as normal skin. It could have been there before but i never noticed. It is still there today. However I looked at pictures of myself from a year ago, there were no redness on my chest. At 45 days, I got up in the morning with bad stomach pain and diarrhea. It went away after 2 sessions in the toilet. I am now at 7+ week mark. Fatigue, stiff neck, slight sore throat, slight joint pain, all were lingering around during these few weeks, but nothing major. I usually feel this way anyways due to my lifestyle


1) If diarrhea at 16 days were due to ARS, my 6 week test would have showed?
2) Regarding my rash, I cannot tell when it came about, if it is related to ARS, would it have shown in my 6 week test? Would it have persisted till now (close to 8 weeks since exposure)? For example, if my rash actually came during 2nd week along with diarrhea, could it have last till now?
3) Should I get a test at 8 weeks? or wait till the 12 week mark.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. EWH

[extremeworry123]

Dr Hook,

Thank you so much for your explantion. I feel much more at ease now. I will definitely get a test after 8 weeks to confirm it.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The appearance of yoru rash i late for ARS.  Further the rash you describe does not suggest ARS.  As I said before, you really have no meaningful reason for concern.  EWH

[extremeworry123]

Dear Dr Hook,

Thank you so much for comments, your words has really made me feel better. Just 2 more questions regarding my rash/redness on chest,

1) You say rash typically last for less than 5 days. If my rash really appeared last week (when I first noticed it), would it have been possible due to ARS (6.5 weeks after exposure)?

2) My small amount of research shows that ARS rash are always slightly raised, associated with maculopapular rash. While my 'rash' is only redness on small part of the chest that are flat and unraised, feels like normal skin. Does this mean it is most likely not related to ARS? I know its hard for you to diagnose what my rash is, but just need an expert opinion whether there is a chance such 'redness' can be associated with ARS.

Thank you so much again Dr Hook!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I can see that this has you worried by reviewing your multiple earlier posts on the HIV Prevention Community site.  I am confident the your symptoms are not due to HIV.  If your symptoms had been a manifestation of HIV, your HIV blood test would have been positive within 4-5 days after the beginning of your symptoms.  In addition, when people have the ARS, all symptoms occur at about the same time, not some at one time and others at another.  If your diarrhea, which seems to be your major concern, is a problem for you beyond your concerns about HIV, you should seek the advice of a doctor who can look for other, non-HIV problems.

In answer to your specific questions:
1) If diarrhea at 16 days were due to ARS, my 6 week test would have showed?

Yes, absolutely.

2) Regarding my rash, I cannot tell when it came about, if it is related to ARS, would it have shown in my 6 week test? Would it have persisted till now (close to 8 weeks since exposure)? For example, if my rash actually came during 2nd week along with diarrhea, could it have last till now?

Yes, your test would be positive. Further, when people have a rash due to HIV, the rash occurs at the same time as other symptoms and typically lasts only a few (less than 5) days.

3) Should I get a test at 8 weeks? or wait till the 12 week mark.

I have little concern that you have HIV.  For you (or anyone else) a standard HIV antibody test will be definitive at 8 weeks following your exposure and I am confident a test at that time will be negative.  When it is, there is no reason for further testing.

I hope my comments are helpful. EWH