Risk, long term symptoms

[Medscared]

Hi all,

5 months ago I had a risky situation: I had sex with a woman and I used a condom all the time, except from one moment at the beginning, where we did some frottage. She also stayed on top of me without condom. However, in that moment I was not hard, so I´m sure there was not a full deep penetration, but I´m not 100% sure if there was some dipping or not in her vagina.

The nightmare began 1 week after that. I started to have the following symptoms: dizzy feeling, headache, hot forehead, dry mouth, fatigue, and light and noise sensitivity. Really weird.
What´s even more surprising is that all these symptoms have lasted until today, persistently, for 5 months!!
I was waiting for feeling better to go to the doctor, and then have a more positive attitude towards going to test myself from HIV, but when you don´t feel well, it´s really hard, because you start to think something is really wrong with you.
Also, after 4 months a rash has appeared on my stomach/belly area (not on other areas). It looks like red pimples. Now I have 12 of them. They are small but some of them seem to contain a little bit of liquid inside. They are not itchy, except from when you touch them (then they become itchy for a while). It´s been some days that I have them. Some of them heal quite fast, but then new ones appear.
Now finally I´m starting to feel a bit better. I still have a dry mouth and the rash, but the hot forehead, headache and the dizziness seem to have improved. So, I will call the doctor and ask for a HIV test.
Meanwhile, what are your thoughts about all this? Besides having to test because I had a possible risk (I know), do you think my symptoms and duration correlate with ARS symptoms? Does the rash sound to you similar to the ARS rash? Thank you very much!

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question was answered to the best of our members ability. Please speak to your doctor.

***  thread closed ***

[GuitarRox]

You've posted here under another name, correct?  You didn't have a risk. As we told you before.

[Medscared]

Hi GuitarRox, it is my first time on this boards (and my first post). I think there was some risk: IF there was dipping. The risk is small, but there is some risk if I´m not wrong.
Could somebody help me with the symptoms? I know I still need to get tested, but at least, maybe I can be more optimist...Thanks.

[GuitarRox]

hm, your story sounds familiar so will look through posts to see. But frottage is not a risk. The only risks are unprotected vaginal intercourse, unprotected anal intercourse and sharing IV needles to inject drugs. Air and saliva inactivate the virus just as you have read on all the posts here. Your situation is not different. HIV is NOT diagnosed by symptoms. I'm sure you've read or been told that before as well. The first thing that is done is determination of risk and it has to be one of the three and after that, only testing is used to discuss if someone has hiv.

[Medscared]

Hi again, you can search all you want. I´m a new user and it´s my first time posting here, although I´m sure that you can find similar cases, but there will be some differences. I know frottage is not a risk, but if you read my message carefully, I also said that maybe there was also dipping, although I´m not 100% sure about it. If there was dipping, I´ve read in other posts that this can be risky. Not a huge risk, but you can theoretically contract HIV by dipping.
About the symptoms...would it be possible for ARS symptoms to last for so long? I would say no, but everybody is different, right? So, I´m still very scared. Supposing it´s not HIV, what kind of illness have I caught that gives me headaches, dizziness, a hot forehead, fatigue, noise and light sensitivity for 5 months persistently? Really really weird. Maybe chronic migraine? Maybe that.
About the rash, does it sound to you like an ARS rash? It´s located in the belly/stomach area.
I want to get tested. I just need someone to tell me what are my odds, and if my symptoms are compatible or not with ARS. The reason? At this moment I´m too pessimistic and scared about my odds...
Thank you!

[CurfewX]

You wouldn't get an ARS rash after 4 months.
This is an HIV forum only, so we can't diagnose the possible causes of your medical issues. You should discuss those with your doctor, but none of those have anything to do with HIV.
You can test any time for your conclusive result if you have concerns about HIV. No one here can help you with your fear of testing.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Test and get on with your life, instead of wasting 5 more months (and maybe years)  subconsciously thinking you have any clues what the result will be. What if cancer ran in your family, would you avoid cancer tests because of the "cancer symptoms" you listed until it got to stage 4?

[Medscared]

@CurfewX Thank you for your answer. Yeah, I agree, I also think the rash can´t be related...it´s too late for that. But what about ARS symptoms lasting 4 or 5 months? Not typical either, right?
@AnxiousNoMore I know, and I´m risking my health by not testing, because what if my headaches are cancer related? (as you said). But I have so much fear to test that it´s difficult, especially when you don´t feel alright and your mind is telling you that you have to have HIV. Reading all my post...what do you think are my odds? Are the odds on my favor? Thanks

[AnxiousNoMore]

You make zero sense. The advice above it makes sense.

[Medscared]

Ok AnxiousNoMore, I just wanted to know if my odds are on my favor or not just from this low-risk situation. What should I expect from the results? Do you agree dipping is usually low risk? Thanks