Sorry to bother you with another question:
The unprotected encounter was on 9/22. I took PEP from 9/23 through 9/25. You said above that I should get tested 28 days after I stop PEP. So it's not 28 days after possible exposure, but 28 days after my last PEP dose? Or did I misunderstand you?
I've read about the chances associated with a single unprotected act. But taking everything into consideration, including my cold-type symptoms, her negative result, the nature of the test she took, etc., how likely is it?
If you were in this situation, would you worry at all? We have a non-zero chance of getting killed by lightening every day, yet most never think about it. Should that be my attitude right now, or is it more serious than that?
She did meet me in front of a clinic on 9/26, 4 days after the unprotected encounter. We went in together, she took the test. We asked for the result in writing. Some time later, as we were sitting in the waiting room, an employee of the clinic gave us the result paper. It said that the rapid HIV (1+2) test was negative.
I was relieved of course. Stopped taking PEP meds.
15 days after the encounter I got the common cold. I think. Of course I've read about acute HIV symptoms, and I'm a worrier by nature, so this made me wish I went through with the full course of PEP meds. There's been no rash, just regular cold symptoms: sore throat, fatigue, malaise, nasal congestion, coughing, etc.
I will get an HIV test after 28 days, then after 3 months. The rational (I think) part of my mind tells me "she tested negative, stop thinking about this". Other parts tell me "I chose the test after a 5-minute search online, I don't know anything about HIV tests, what if this was some cheapo half-fake marketing-gimmick test that no one takes seriously", etc. They advertised results in 15 minutes, but it actually took about an hour.
Oh, and I do know that PEP should be taken for 28 days. I was told to make an appointment at the hospital to get a prescription before my 4-day pack ends.