anxious and scared

[djscared]

A 26 year old female at day 27 after unprotected sex with European man of unkown status and I am shaking with anxiety because I cannot be tested yet.

The main symptom I have had for the last 10 days is a stiff neck and severe pain when touching the front of my neck. My neck is also swollen (or at least feels very swollen). I went to the doctor 3 days ago and asked that he take a look at my lymph nodes and he said they actually were not swollen. He looked inside my mouth and said all looked good. This doesn't make sense to me. It hurts to swallow, move my neck, smile, etc. Can you help? Are these signs indicative of ARS?

[canermy]

Dont try scraping your tongue...It will bleed. Your white tongue may be as a result of dehydration.. Drink plenty of water and stop imagining symptoms.

[djscared]

Ok, this is getting worse. The part of my neck that severly hurts to touch is my thyroid gland. And I now have a white, hairy tongue that bleeds when I try to scrape it and have large red bumps at the back of my tongue.

I don't know any reason other than HIV that my tongue would be hairy, white and bleeding. Does anyone else? Could stress cause this? I'm assuming no. It actually looks worse than any pictures on the internet.

I'm so scared and upset with myself, I didn't even know there was such thing as PEP, which I should have taken. Should I be going to the hospital?

[sonic91]

use a condom from now on, test with antibody test after 3 months you did have a risk then.

you are not showing symptoms consistant with ARS anyway if it makes you feel any better.

[VY_Canis_Majoris]

     Yes of course.  A contemporary duo test comprising of a P24 + Antibody would make sense as it looks like its past 28 days now. If this one is negative go for another antibody test @ 3 months. If that is negative too try to smile again and if that still hurts ..then it would mean that your problem is beyond the scope of all HIV studies. :)

  Good Luck...

[djscared]

OK Thank You everyone for your help. So is the P24 Antigen test recommended then?

[Teak]

PCR-DNA test should NOT be considered. They are not approved for diagnosing HIV.

[VY_Canis_Majoris]

     How long has it been since the blunder? If its past 14 days you can get a relatively exy RNA PCR test done. Or after a 28 day period a DNA PCR could be considered.

    Or to calm the anxiety you may  choose to get a P24 Antigen test before seroconverting ( 20 to 28 days ideally) and then a final confirmatory Antibody test @ 3 months. Your symptoms are not ARS specific and seem to have been engendered by the fear rather than infection. This still doesn't mean you are clear of everything. Unprotected sex with strangers is a vice and need to be averted.

    Stop scouting for symptoms as you might get all of em once you know what they are like. Many people anxious about their HIV status experience em and in the end find out that they are HIV negative.


Good Luck.....

[canermy]

Testing This thursday would be too soon. I suggest you test after the 2 month mark. Looking at your symptoms, they cant be ARS. If you dont have a fever, then definitely you are not experiencing ARS.

[djscared]

Yes it could be anxiety, however it is hard to believe that the front of my throat would be painful and tender to even barely touch for so long. But then, I have been touching it a lot for the past week. I have never even heard of anyone experiencing this symtom for any reason.

Would having a rapid test done this Thursday be appropriate? I'm freaking out about getting a positive answer, but at least it would end the waiting time.

[canermy]

Any unprotected sex with a man of unknown status should result in a HIV test at 13 weeks.
Looking at your symptoms, I think they may be as a result of anxiety. Get that test done and ease your mind.