Worried about HIV - hoping it's all just anxiety

[TaleOfWoah]

Today is Dec. 17th.. and I'm sorry for the length of this post.

On November 9th, I stupidly had sex without a condom with a woman who I barely knew (but my cousins have known her all their lives).  The day after, I started to have pain in my urethra.  This lasted for about a week until I decided to go to the emergency room and see what was wrong.  They couldn't pinpoint specifically what was wrong, so they just gave me some antibiotics and a needle shot and said if there is anything wrong, std's, etc, then this will take care of it.  I took what they gave me and went home.
Around 2 hours later, while I was trying to fall asleep, my stomach started hurting A LOT, and I ended up puking.  By this time, probably due to anxiety, I hadn't eaten that day, which may explain the bad reaction to antibiotics, as you are supposed to take them with food.

Another thing that happened the day or 2 after the event was that my throat started to hurt A LOT.  It hurt to swallow food and water.  For the next week, I was consuming strepsils and drinking tea a lot - trying to subdue the pain until it went away - but it didnt.  So I decided to go to the walk in clinic.  He said that I had swollen lymph nodes in my neck, and that they should go away within a week with tylonel or over the counter stuff.  So I did like the doctor said and took the tylonel.  I felt better within a week and I could swallow food and water without a problem again.  I went back to confirm with him that everything was good and that they were no longer swollen, and he said that everything is fine and it was just an infection.

Fast forward to a few days ago.  Suddenly, I can feel something moving in my neck when I swallow, and especially when I put my fingers on the underside of my chin (where you feel your pulse in your neck) and swallow.
These sensations are not painful at all, but I am aware of them, which makes me extremely scared, being a hypochondriac and all, and having all this stuff happen to me after having unprotected sex.

So I go back yesterday to the clinic, and see a different doctor this time.  He said that although they are a bit enlarged (and not painful), that it is a good thing, and that my body is just working to fight off infections.  Alright then. Good news right? But what infection could I have that is consistent with my symptoms and lymph node problems? It's been 5 and a half weeks.. they came right after, then went away with tylonel, then came back to fight off an infection.  This is so weird to me, and scary.

My cousins assured me 100% she is clean - she has a good job, and has her life together, and my cousins have known her forever. And I know that I am clean because I got a clean result a few months ago, and since then I haven't been with anyone, just this girl.

Also, not sure on the relevency, but i'll add a few more details. Both of us are white, non drug users. I can say that with 100% certainty about her, and obv. about me too.

I am having extreme health anxiety here, and I'm hoping its all in my head. Here are a few more things that have been happening to me that are alarming:

-I've been constipated for weeks, and haven't had a normal bowel movement since I have started to worry about this situation
-Mild headaches
-Haven't been able to have a good night sleep (probably anxiety related)
-Mild chills - although I can attribute that to the fact that I sleep in an extremely cold room with no heat.

I think I am having a lot of anxiety related symptoms to this situation, because I believe that I am very very low risk.. My demographics say i'm fine, but my symptoms tell a different story.

I am going to get blood work on the 23rd (which will be 6 weeks and 2 days post-event), so i'll probably know the result before the new year starts.  Even if it is negative, I still will go at 3 months and probably 6 months as well just to make 100% sure.

But please, some second opinions here would be great - especially if it seems like it's all in my head..
Wish me luck

[simpleman00]

Recognizing that the symptoms that you are experiencing are due to anxiety rather than HIV is a first step in getting better. Below is a list of common symptoms of anxiety. More detailed information can be found in the link to the source page:

http://www.npadnews.com/anxiety-symptoms.asp

Anxiety Symptoms

    * Smothering sensations and Shortness of breath
    * Racing heart, slow heart beat, palpitations
    * Chest Pain
    * Lump in throat & Difficulty swallowing
    * Skin losing colour (blanching)
    * Sweating
    * Shaking or shivering (Visibly or internally)
    * Neck & shoulder pain & numbness in face or head
    * Rapid gastric emptying
    * Indigestion, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea
    * Symptoms of urinary tract infection
    * Skin rashes
    * Weakness in arms & tingling in the hands or feet
    * Electric shock feeling anywhere in the body
    * Dry mouth
    * Insomnia
    * Nightmares
    * Fears of going mad or losing control
    * Increased depression & suicidal feelings
    * Aggression
    * Symptoms like 'flu'
    * Distorted vision
    * Disturbed hearing
    * Hormone problems
    * Headaches & feelings of having a tight band around head
    * Sore eyes
    * Agoraphobia
    * Hallucinations
    * Creeping or pins and needles sensations in the skin
    * Increased sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell
    * Hyperactivity
    * Dramatic increase in sexual feelings
    * Pain in the face or jaw that resembles a toothache
    * Derealisation and depersonalisation

[TaleOfWoah]

nope didnt have rashes

[simpleman00]

did you have rashes? well  getting tested with in 3 months  and 6 months will be valid enough =d