HIV or anxiety?

[softballplayer117]

About a month ago, I had unprotected sex with a guy that I didn't know very well. A week before we had sex, he had told me he had been tested for STDs and that he didn't have anything. He even offered to show me his paperwork. Since I trusted him, we had unprotected sex and I never asked to see the paperwork. Now it is one month later and my armpits feel fat. I had an HIV test on October 1st and it came back negative but that was only about a week and a half after possible infection. He says he is 100 percent sure he doesn't have HIV and does not seem concerned when I say I think I do because I am feeling that my armpits are swollen. I don't feel any lumps but they just feel uncomfortable to me. Can extreme anxiety cause this feeling? I am also experiencing pains that come and go and burning behind my eyes, shakiness when I think about the possibility of having HIV. Do I have an anxiety problem?

[softballplayer117]

Thanks for the advice. I hope that this is the case. I seem to be developing new symptoms all the time, especially when I read about them. Obviously, I know that I may be creating the symptoms myself, but I am just so anxious right now that I cannot think clearly at all. This guy has offered to send me his paperwork showing his negative results. That will make me feel a lot better I think. But I am sure I will still worry. Thank you for the advice, though!

[JeanClaude]

Obviously, you are suffering anxiety. Whether or not it's pathological, remains to be seen. You should NEVER attempt to judge your HIV status by that of another person. Your health is YOUR responsibility. This means you should be using condoms EVERYTIME when engaging in vaginal/anal sex when not in a monogamous relationship.In most cases a person's status claims mean nothing, however, in this setting, the guy's claims of being NEGATIVE seem assertive, so that is quite reassuring. The odds of him being POSITIVE are actually very low. That said,because you did have unprotected sex, you need to have an HIV antibody test @ 6 WEEKS , if NEGATIVE( I fully expect it to be) retest for CONCLUSIVE @ 3 months. As I've said, the chances of you being NEGATIVE are overwhelmingly good.

-JC-