Aa
Extremely scared of HIV - PLEASE READ
I'm going crazy worried about having HIV right now. I'm 23 and after one stupid drunken night where there was a brief moment of unprotected sex (She pushed me down there and I stopped once I realized what was going on) with a female one night stand, I'm now convinced that my life is over.
My timeline:
Oct 25th - The night of the incident
Two days later - Slight burning when I peed. Possibly out of fear/regret I went to urgent care. Was tested for gonnorrhea and chlamydia, negative. Given a z-pak and shot anyways and sent on my way. The burning eventually goes away a few weeks later.
Three to four weeks later - I start to experience a burning sensation in my groin area and the tops of my feet along with intermittent tingling. Found out this was "peripheral neuropathy". Putting the initial burning with the neuropathy and convinced myself I had contracted herpes even though I'd had no kind of breakouts. Too scared to test at this point though.
Dec. 1st - I can't put it off any longer and go see the doctor. He seems skeptical of herpes self-diagnosis but tests me anyways along with running a CBC and urinalysis.
Dec. 4th - Everything comes back normal and the herpes tests are all negative. I'm relieved but confused why I'm still experiencing these symptoms so I return to the doctor. He decides to check me for prostatitis and reports that my prostate is extremely enflamed and this is definitely prostatitis. Says it explains my symptoms and prescribes me cipro and an anti-inflammatory.
Dec. 25th - Finished the course of medicine and the improvement is dramatic. I feel like a new person. Symptoms mostly gone. I'm told prostatitis can take months to get over so I'm pleased with my progress.
Dec. 26th - The sore scratchy throat starts. Keep in mind, I've been checking my temperature regularly since I first suspected herpes and to this point have never registered a fever. After about a week, the sore throat goes away but my neck still has a fullness/swollen feeling to it. It's almost like its on the outside of my throat though. I start reading about swollen lymph nodes and realize that the ones under my chin on both sides feel swollen.
Since the beginning of January - The lymph node swelling around my neck has seemed to go down, although it's still there. However I've noticed a swollen node in my armpits and I think my groin lymph nodes may be a little swollen too as sometimes I find myself getting uncomfortable laying down to bed?
I know I should go get a test but I'm so afraid. Everything I've looked up seems to indicate this is either mono or HIV. And with all of the other stuff that's happened since October, I've convinced myself this has to be HIV. Am I onto something here or is my brain just desperately trying to connect the dots where they're aren't any? Could this be something else? Does the timeline make sense though? There were many symptoms I never had like fevers, night sweats, weight loss, vomiting, etc.
I know this was long and I know people will obviously tell me to go get tested. Just looking to see what others think
My timeline:
Oct 25th - The night of the incident
Two days later - Slight burning when I peed. Possibly out of fear/regret I went to urgent care. Was tested for gonnorrhea and chlamydia, negative. Given a z-pak and shot anyways and sent on my way. The burning eventually goes away a few weeks later.
Three to four weeks later - I start to experience a burning sensation in my groin area and the tops of my feet along with intermittent tingling. Found out this was "peripheral neuropathy". Putting the initial burning with the neuropathy and convinced myself I had contracted herpes even though I'd had no kind of breakouts. Too scared to test at this point though.
Dec. 1st - I can't put it off any longer and go see the doctor. He seems skeptical of herpes self-diagnosis but tests me anyways along with running a CBC and urinalysis.
Dec. 4th - Everything comes back normal and the herpes tests are all negative. I'm relieved but confused why I'm still experiencing these symptoms so I return to the doctor. He decides to check me for prostatitis and reports that my prostate is extremely enflamed and this is definitely prostatitis. Says it explains my symptoms and prescribes me cipro and an anti-inflammatory.
Dec. 25th - Finished the course of medicine and the improvement is dramatic. I feel like a new person. Symptoms mostly gone. I'm told prostatitis can take months to get over so I'm pleased with my progress.
Dec. 26th - The sore scratchy throat starts. Keep in mind, I've been checking my temperature regularly since I first suspected herpes and to this point have never registered a fever. After about a week, the sore throat goes away but my neck still has a fullness/swollen feeling to it. It's almost like its on the outside of my throat though. I start reading about swollen lymph nodes and realize that the ones under my chin on both sides feel swollen.
Since the beginning of January - The lymph node swelling around my neck has seemed to go down, although it's still there. However I've noticed a swollen node in my armpits and I think my groin lymph nodes may be a little swollen too as sometimes I find myself getting uncomfortable laying down to bed?
I know I should go get a test but I'm so afraid. Everything I've looked up seems to indicate this is either mono or HIV. And with all of the other stuff that's happened since October, I've convinced myself this has to be HIV. Am I onto something here or is my brain just desperately trying to connect the dots where they're aren't any? Could this be something else? Does the timeline make sense though? There were many symptoms I never had like fevers, night sweats, weight loss, vomiting, etc.
I know this was long and I know people will obviously tell me to go get tested. Just looking to see what others think
HowardH: Thank you for your input. Like I said, I'm aware that I could obtain a conclusive test result by this point and I plan on doing so once I get up the courage. It's been a long psychological battle with myself since October and I just wanted to see what others thought about my situation since I've been unable to talk with anyone else about what's going on.
You are overreacting to a very low risk situation in regard to HIV, and despite what you think you have learned by over-searching the web, your symptoms are not suggestive of HIV.
And indeed your closing statement is correct. Enough time has passed for a conclusive HIV test result. It is pointless to speculate and worry when definitive answser is so easily available. Feel free to post your HIV test result if and when you have it. But until then there will be no further comments, at least not from me.
And indeed your closing statement is correct. Enough time has passed for a conclusive HIV test result. It is pointless to speculate and worry when definitive answser is so easily available. Feel free to post your HIV test result if and when you have it. But until then there will be no further comments, at least not from me.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
