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HIV Symptoms / My story....

I have read many forums over and through 10,000 times and have read SOO many or stories about HIV scars and different peoples stories. However I would like to share my story and what I am currently going through to hopefully gain some insight about what is going on and  or help others that might be in a similar situation to what I have going on. To start things off I am a 30 year old male who has only had 3 sexual partners prior to this event and have never been the type to sleep around. However on Dec 10th 2017 I had unprotected sex with a high school friend from and didn’t even really think twice about wearing a condom since it was a "friend". Long story short I have been freaking out ever since that even as I have had a nonstop head cold for the last two months on and off headache and it appears that I have swollen lymph nodes in my neck. This is just a guess but a few times out of the day it feels weird when I swallow almost like a click in my throat. I have not had any sort of rash, skin issues, night sweats and the only fever I have had if you even want to call it that was 99.3 and that was last week. I have taken Oraquick at 5,6,7,8 and 9 weeks all of which have been negative. I even went to the extent of asking her to take one 5 weeks after we had sex and she said her last unprotected partner was 5-7 weeks prior to our event. Her results came out negative. She also went to the extent of getting a HIV 1/2 Antigen and Antibody test on Jan 23rd 6 weeks 2 days after our event and anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks after her last event....if she is telling the truth. This also came out negative. I plan on testing with Oraquick again at 11 and 12 weeks and getting a final blood test as well. The chances that I have HIV seem pretty low but my anxiety is killing me, I can’t sleep, function at work or anything else for that matter. The few symptoms that I do have just keep lingering for weeks and weeks…..but after all it is the middle of winter up here in Maine. I learned my lesson and will NEVER have unprotected sex again unless I am fully involved in a relationship and know her status. I just would like to hear a little reassurance from the outside world so I can try and resume my everyday life.... thank you in advance for your time and support
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20620809 tn?1504362969
Well, always good to use a condom.  But, this is not a huge risk because this was a regular lady and not a sex worker which means the odds of her having HIV are very low and it was a one time event, making the odds of you getting HIV from her in the off chance she has HIV really low.  Low.  But a risk.  So, you tested. You've tested a lot.  All negative.  You are negative. It's cold and flu season, and you're stressed making you even more susceptible to it.  Your symptoms are not HIV symptoms.  You are now over reacting and fall into the category of someone who may need to get help with your anxiety.  If you can't believe all those negative results, a friend who says she has tested negative, that your risk was there but low in the first place . . . time to talk to a doctor about why.  Anxiety.  You don't have HIV.
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2 Comments
Thank you for taking time our of your day to read my story and easing my mind. I will need to talk to a consoler in the near future as it has taken over my life and seems to have become more of a mental illness than anything else. Thinking you have something like this is life changing and altering....I have never been one to worry like this but it certainly gives you a new outlook and life and the people around you. Thanks again for your words of wisdom
Seeking help from a therapist/counselor sounds like a really good idea.  When we still worry when faced with facts and to the point it takes over our life, then it's time to get professional help.  
Avatar universal
It's good if you have decided not to have more unprotected intercourses. Condoms do their job, and using them, sex is safe unless they break or move.

Finger-prick test are accurate 3 months after the exposure and duo combo ag/ab test are accurate 28 days after the exposure.

All the best.
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