Hey all,
I had a very risky encounter on 3/2 when I engaged in unprotected receptive and insertive anal sex with someone when I was very drunk. It was a one night stand. Afterwards, I asked him if he had been tested for HIV, and he assured me he had tested negative six months prior. Initially I felt relieved, but then he kept sending me annoying/creepy text messages, so I began to panic that he was of bad character and was lying.
As a result, I began to become extremely anxious. I stopped eating, got terrible abdominal pains, lost weight, and eventually broke down emotionally. I was so convinced that I had HIV that I even came out to my parents for the first time. They are extremely supportive, but it was still very difficult for me because this was not the way I had imagined coming out to them.
About 3 weeks after the incident, I got a cold (bad sore throat, no fever) that went away after a few days with some antibiotics (the doctor knew I didn't have strep, but prescribed them anyways since my throat was really red). I had a pro-viral DNA by PCR done at 23 and 31 days, and OraQuick Advance tests at 6, 9,12, and 13 weeks. Everything has been negative.
I'm still super worried though because I have a very palpable lymph node on the right side of my groin and a smaller (yet palpable) under the left side of my jaw towards the back. I noticed these at around week 6. I'm not sure if they have always been present or not. They don't hurt at all, and they are not visible to an outsider. To feel them I have to use one or two points of my fingers.
I saw a case on the internet in which a guy in 2002 reported that it took him 113 days to finally show up on an antibody test. I thought that that type of late-detected seroconversion only happened in the 80's! Do you think that I have any more reason to worry? Dr. HHH says no, but I'm still scared. I took my life for granted before this incident, but I have learned so much in the last 3 months. I will NEVER have unprotected sex again. I urge all to do the same, despite any temptations! You WILL regret it later. Please let me know what you think! Thanks!
John