Risky business

[SelfdestructIve]

I had unprotected sex with a prostitue who could possibly be injecting drugs. Vaginal penetration was brief,  a minute and a half at most, and I ejaculated after pulling out. The next day I noticed what looked like a dry red patch just under the head of my penis ( circumcised), on the wrinkly part. Then a week and a half later I developed a sore throat. I thought it was from yelling at a football game I went to cause that's when it started hurting, but it hasn't gone away in three weeks. It has been red in the back of my throat and possibly some sores. I have had no other symptoms. Three weeks after possible exposure I had an antibody test, negative. I am going back on the six week mark for another. I have been extremely stressed due to all this. So my questions are :

1) for the short amount of time I was in her vagina am I at a high risk of HIV? And could the red patch be a point of entry for the virus if my skin was dry and maybe cracked?
2) do my symptoms sound like acute HIV infection, or are there typically more symptoms that go with it?
3) can stress and anxiety about HIV cause these prolonged symptoms? (I've pretty much convinced myself I'm infected)
4) how safe can I feel after a three week, negative antibody test?    

[SelfdestructIve]

So I took my six week test today and it was negative. I may have been 48 hours earlier than six weeks, do you think I could still consider that a good six week test or should I go back next week?

[SelfdestructIve]

So I took my six week test today and it was negative. I may have been 48 hours earlier than six weeks, do you think I could still consider that a good six week test or should I go back next week?

[sonic91]

symptoms are listed becuase roughly 70-90% of people will experience some symptoms at about 2-4 weeks after the exposure.

the reason you are not suposed to go on symptoms is that they are general flu symptoms that have thousands and thousands of non serious causes that are FAR more likley that ARS.

there are tones of people here who had risky exposures, then experienced all of the symptoms, then go on to test negative. alot of "symptoms" are self induced by anxiety and stress about the situation also.

[SelfdestructIve]

Thank you for a prompt response. I am mostly worried cause I've had this sore throat for over three weeks now and I might have seen some sores in my throat. I've read about symptoms and a lot of them say a sore throat for more than two weeks is a sign of HIV. I don't think it's a coincidence that it happened to me a week and a half after possible exposure. People say symptoms don't matter because they are non-specific to HIV bit then why do all these medical sites list all these symptoms. It's scaring the crap out of me.

[sonic91]

yes it was risky business not to use a condom when you had sex, especially since it was with a SW.

a 3 week test is very unreliable and you are correct to go back at 6 weeks. you should really go back at 3 months (but its unlikley to change after 6 weeks).

even if she was infected with HIV it is unlikley that your are now infected aswell, but it can happen so be careful next time! post your results if you remember.

[Vance2335]

1) We don't gage high or low risk, it is a risk. Symptom has nothing to do with HIV

2) We dont talk about symptoms because they are general and non-specific to HIV

3) Probably

4) Any negative test is a good test, but 3 month antibody test is conclusive