extremely scared

[julia538]

Ok, so I was dating a guy that I worked with over the summer of 2010.  I am 21 years old and so is he.  We are both not promiscuous and besides eachother we have never had sex with out a condom.  I used to always give blood and was tested for HIV september 7th with a negative result.  I have had no other symptoms besides a sore neck and two pea sized lymph nodes on the left side of my neck.  I have been searching symptoms and have been poking and feeling around my body for something.  I cant really feel them unless i move around my neck and search for them.  Besides that i threw my back out the beginning of this school year so my back has been hurting a lot.  im a very paranoid person but I dont want to think Im paranoid and end up getting HIV.  Our first sexual encounter (no condom) was around July 22-30 (somewhere inbetween there) and numerous sexual encounters between then and September 7th when I was tested.  I've freaked out to him and I know he wouldnt lie to me (he said I was the only girl he hasnt used a condom with and he was tested in March) I just keep thinking about "what if's" and it freaks me out, my anxiety is killing me.  I know I should probably get tested again just to "double check" but I'm scared.  Someone help me and no mean comments please.

[jose883]

Go a see a doctor, so he can tell you about them.

[julia538]

another question, i have about 3 painless pea size (what i think are nodes) on the left size of my neck.  is that normal? i dont have any other symptoms

[jose883]

If you do not want to worry any more, test at three months after your last exposure.

[Teak]

3 months post exposure is when you can obtain your conclusive result.

[julia538]

thank you for answering.  i appreciate it a lot.  Do you think I should get tested again? or just try to relax and not worry about it anymore?

[jose883]

HIV can't be diagnosed through symptoms. If you tested negative as well as your partner, then that means you don't have HIV. Don't rest on symptoms.
Maybe my experience can help you. I had unprotected sex five months ago (with a no risk person). I have had all kind of symptoms (enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain, neuropaties in legs, some rash, night sweats, mouth infection) but all my tests (3rd and 4th generation ELISA, PCR) have been negative. I have asked to several doctors and experts, and I have retrieved always the same answer, HIV can't be diagnosed through symptoms, only through tests. Besides you tested two months after your first non protected encounter (three months is definitive but most people develop antibodies earlier than three months). I'm not an HIV expert, but I really think you don't have to worry about.

[julia538]

also, my last "possible exposure" was the 15th of October.