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Serious HIV worries... Please help
I'm only 18 and I've had constant anxiety about HIV since I got sick over the summer - I know my chances are probably low but I can't stop thinking about it.
Over the summer I was in a relationship with someone I've been friends with for years. We started sleeping together on July 27th. We did not use a condom, as he had recently had blood work done by his physician and had tested negative for HIV (this might make my concerns completely unwarranted if he wasn't the most promiscuous person I've ever met, and, as I found out, had slept with almost 100 random girls and hardly ever used condoms).
13 days later, around August 9th, I began to feel sick, perhaps like I had a lowgrade fever. By the night of the 10th, I had one swollen gland on my neck and a sore throat, but these symptoms disappeared by Monday morning (the 11th). However, at work throughout that day, I began to feel more and more noticeably feverish - not so bad that I was unable to work, but enough that I was tired and achy and wanted to go to sleep. When I went to work the next day, I felt sick enough to need a sweater in 80 degree weather. I took a couple of Motrin at lunch and felt totally better until about 5, and by the time I got home I quickly felt sick again to the point of being almost incapacitated.
My symptoms were the worst they had been on that Tuesday night and throughout the day on Wednesday (I was much too sick to work on Wednesday, and had to stay home). They were as follows: highgrade fever that climbed until it reached 103-104 on Wednesday afternoon, somewhat of a headache, extreme fatigue/decreased level of consciousness, sweating because of the heat of my own body, and very very stiff neck. By Wednesday afternoon I thought I would have to go to the hospital. I went to sleep though, and on Thursday morning I woke up feeling completely better. Symptoms never returned.
I last had sex with my now ex-boyfriend on September 15th. It was only when I really learned about his past promiscuity that I though back to my extreme illness over the summer and grew worried.
I went to my physician on November 28th and expressed my worries to her. She told me I was probably fine, but took my blood and tested me anyway. Almost a week later, my results came back negative.
My test was almost 18 weeks after the first time we had sex, but only almost 11 weeks after the last time. I know the "window period" to receive accurate test results is 12-13 weeks.
I guess my questions are: 1) How consistent were my symptoms and timing with those typical of ARS? and 2) Since my test was only 11 weeks after my last possible exposure, I know it was not 100% definite. What are the chances of me having unprotected sex with my ex (if he was actually HIV positive) for seven weeks and not being exposed until the last couple of weeks? More importantly, what is the likelihood that a negative test at 11 weeks could turn positive after 13 weeks?
If this sounds ridiculous, I'm sorry, but my anxiety about this possibility is very consuming and very, very real. Thank you so much for reading.
Over the summer I was in a relationship with someone I've been friends with for years. We started sleeping together on July 27th. We did not use a condom, as he had recently had blood work done by his physician and had tested negative for HIV (this might make my concerns completely unwarranted if he wasn't the most promiscuous person I've ever met, and, as I found out, had slept with almost 100 random girls and hardly ever used condoms).
13 days later, around August 9th, I began to feel sick, perhaps like I had a lowgrade fever. By the night of the 10th, I had one swollen gland on my neck and a sore throat, but these symptoms disappeared by Monday morning (the 11th). However, at work throughout that day, I began to feel more and more noticeably feverish - not so bad that I was unable to work, but enough that I was tired and achy and wanted to go to sleep. When I went to work the next day, I felt sick enough to need a sweater in 80 degree weather. I took a couple of Motrin at lunch and felt totally better until about 5, and by the time I got home I quickly felt sick again to the point of being almost incapacitated.
My symptoms were the worst they had been on that Tuesday night and throughout the day on Wednesday (I was much too sick to work on Wednesday, and had to stay home). They were as follows: highgrade fever that climbed until it reached 103-104 on Wednesday afternoon, somewhat of a headache, extreme fatigue/decreased level of consciousness, sweating because of the heat of my own body, and very very stiff neck. By Wednesday afternoon I thought I would have to go to the hospital. I went to sleep though, and on Thursday morning I woke up feeling completely better. Symptoms never returned.
I last had sex with my now ex-boyfriend on September 15th. It was only when I really learned about his past promiscuity that I though back to my extreme illness over the summer and grew worried.
I went to my physician on November 28th and expressed my worries to her. She told me I was probably fine, but took my blood and tested me anyway. Almost a week later, my results came back negative.
My test was almost 18 weeks after the first time we had sex, but only almost 11 weeks after the last time. I know the "window period" to receive accurate test results is 12-13 weeks.
I guess my questions are: 1) How consistent were my symptoms and timing with those typical of ARS? and 2) Since my test was only 11 weeks after my last possible exposure, I know it was not 100% definite. What are the chances of me having unprotected sex with my ex (if he was actually HIV positive) for seven weeks and not being exposed until the last couple of weeks? More importantly, what is the likelihood that a negative test at 11 weeks could turn positive after 13 weeks?
If this sounds ridiculous, I'm sorry, but my anxiety about this possibility is very consuming and very, very real. Thank you so much for reading.
Thank you =)
Your symptoms are not related to ARS as your test result shows. The likelihood of an 11-week negative turning into a 13-week positive on currently used tests is effectively zero.
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
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