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Avatar universal

high risk / ars symptoms

Good evening to all of you.  I am really nervous right now.  I can' stop thinking about it, can't sleep.  I was in the Philppines 4 weeks ago ( June 12, 2009) and had unprotected sex with a prostitute for about 1-2 mins.  She said she was disease free, and I believed her because I was alcohol-impaired (stupid me). I went back to the US a week after possible exposure.  Here is what has been going on since having unprotected sex.

Day 8 - diarrhea
Day 12 - fever (not sure because I did not get my temp, felt like it though)
Day 13 - malaise or fever ( not sure, no temp)
Day 14 - malaise or fever (not sure, no temp)
Day 15 - soaking night sweats, drenched my bed (I know this would be weird because I am pretty sure I did not have fever)
Day 16 - soaking night sweats, drenched my bed, got my temp but it was on C and I converted it to F came out 100.6
Day 17 - soaking night sweats, slept with towel under me, shirt and undergrament wet, no fever, bought a F thermomter, checked my temp this time 98.6 F
Day 18 - soaking night sweats, slept with towel under me, shirt and undergrament wet, no fever 97 to 98.6 F
Day 19 - soaking night sweats, slept with towel under me, shirt and undergrament wet, no fever 97-98.6 F
Day 20 - night sweat stopped
Day 21 - resumed soaking night sweats, slept with towel under me, shirt and undergrament wet, no fever
Day 22 - mild night sweat, only pillow was wet

Since after Day 22, the soaking night sweats are gone, some days my pillow would be wet, sometimes I would sweat but not enough to soak pillow or shirt, sometimes no sweat at all.  And also since Day 8 or 9, I feel a little pain on my abdomen or diaphragm when I breathe deeply.  I also had dry mouth but no thrush, and no appetite from Day 14- Day 20.

On Day 14, I saw my doctor and told him I want an HIV/STD check.  He had a clinical laboratory done.  Everything came back negative but the HIV test has not come back yet.  It's really making me anxious.  I know a 2 week test is not reliable.  I will have another checked done 6 weeks post exposure.  I made a mistake of having unprotected sex with my wife 4 days after exposure, how reckless.  She is not having any symptoms like me.  Hopefully I am HIV-, it would crush me if I infected her.  This is the only time I did this, and I learned my lesson quick.  I love my wife and I would never do what I did again.  

What are your thoughts about my symptoms?  I would really appreciate your comments.  I am really freaking out about this.  Thank you.
16 Responses
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Avatar universal
Thank you Sir. I will move on and put this behind me.
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Avatar universal
Move on.
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Avatar universal
put myself in that situation before,,,stress my friend ..get tested at 3 months
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Avatar universal
Yes...
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Avatar universal
My test today at 86 days post exposure was negative. Does this test confirm that I do not have HIV?
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Avatar universal
A three month test is conclusive. It hasn't been 6 months since 2004.
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Avatar universal
I tested 41 days post exposure with an oral swab test, came out negative.  The counselor told me to come back in 6 weeks, which would make it 3 months, then she wants another test 6 months post exposure.  I am really a nervous wreck.  

I know night sweats can come from anxiety, but are they the soaking / drenching type that goes through the sheets?  
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186166 tn?1385259382
anxiety.

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Avatar universal
Hi all!  Has anyone in here experienced soaking / drenched night sweats?  
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Avatar universal
Thanks.
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Avatar universal
1.)  Generally speaking, antibodies would already be detectable by your 33 day test if you were experiencing ARS two weeks prior. However, you still need to test as advised.

2.)  Your doctor is not up to date on HIV.
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186166 tn?1385259382
who knows why your doctor told you one year...but he is DEAD WRONG ! ! !

a test at 3 months is reliable and conclusive.
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Avatar universal
My worries have been affecting my life so I went in for a rapid test at a local HIV/AIDS organization on July 15, 2009 (33 days post exposure).  Results came back negative.  The next day my doctor also called me and said the sample they took 2 weeks post exposure was non-reactive.  I have 2 questions:

1.)  If the symptoms I had 2 weeks post exposure were of ARS, would the HIV antibodies be present already to be identified as positive?  

2.)  My doctor told me the window period for testing is 1 yr.  From reading the posts on this forum, 3 months would be conclusive.  Just wondering why my doctor would tell me it is a year.

Thanks for your input.
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Avatar universal
A negative test result 6-8 weeks after exposure will be a good indication of your status and highly unlikely to change; a negative test at 3 months means you are officially okay.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your comment.  So if I am negative in 3 months, it means I am ok?
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Avatar universal
Symptoms won't tell you anything. You can test at 6-8 weeks and if that test is negative retest at 3 months for a conclusive test result.
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