Acute HIV syndrome/ I'm a hyponchondriac

Former Member

I love the site. Ever since my early teens I have come to you guys for questions on those tricky topics. Well now I'm all grown up, but still have questions on those tricky topics.

This weekend I learned I have hypochondriac tendencies, and due to them, am still not fully convinced that I don't have HIV.
Six Weeks ago:
Got my wisdom teeth out.
Two weeks later, very drunk, kiss an unknown girl. Girl happens to suck so hard on my mouth (she was a leech) that she dislodged my blood clots. Being drunk, I went to the bathroom, spat out the blood, and realized that they weren't bleeding anymore, so I drunkenly assumed it was ok to continue. We went back to her place and continued. I fingered her and gave her oral VERY briefly (but with the open cuts in my mouth this is where I suspect possible infection). There was no sex. I don't know if she is HIV positive.

The next day I realized what an idiot I had been.

Last week:
I've been training for triathlons, and last week I was exercising 2+ hours a day on 5-7 hours of sleep. For the past 6 days I have been experiencing brutal dehydration during the night, a stiff/painful neck, enlarged lymph nodes, a bit of mucous in the throat, migraines, and fevers. I stopped exercising last Saturday (2 days after the beginning of the symptoms), and started worrying that these might be Acute HIV snydrome symptoms. I have since gotten better with only my painful neck and lymph nodes almost gone.

Unfortunately I have normal answers to all the symptoms, but most of the symptoms also match HIV. I understand my chance of catching HIV from the drunken hook-up is very low, but hey, I'm a hypochondriac, everything matches.

Explanations:
Dehydration/fatigue/migraines: Over-exercising, not enough sleep, body fighting a virus
Stiff/painful neck: The awkward position of riding a road bike and/or sleeping in a bad position
Fever/Lymph nodes: Caught a virus, probably due to pushing my body so hard.
I did not experience other hiv symptoms such as a sore throat or a rash, and my actual symptoms have almost all disappeared within a week

But when I read Acute HIV syndrome information, they always say "often mistaken for a regular virus" and that I won't test positive for antibodies for another 2-4 months. So here I am mr. worry wart, matching all my symptoms with Acute HIV syndrome symptoms, unable to get tested because the test won't be truly effective until 6 months after infection. I can't talk to any of my friends, because frankly, I don't consider any of them good friends enough to understand and help. I can't talk to my family because I don't want to put them through unnecessary hardship. So, I come you, as I have in the past, for your help.

Thanks a bunch,
Mr Anonymous.

Former Member

The only way you can be sure is if you get tested or mention the symptoms to your GP.

Former Member

Mr Anonymous wrote: »

I love the site. Ever since my early teens I have come to you guys for questions on those tricky topics. Well now I'm all grown up, but still have questions on those tricky topics.

This weekend I learned I have hypochondriac tendencies, and due to them, am still not fully convinced that I don't have HIV.
Six Weeks ago:
Got my wisdom teeth out.
Two weeks later, very drunk, kiss an unknown girl. Girl happens to suck so hard on my mouth (she was a leech) that she dislodged my blood clots. Being drunk, I went to the bathroom, spat out the blood, and realized that they weren't bleeding anymore, so I drunkenly assumed it was ok to continue. We went back to her place and continued. I fingered her and gave her oral VERY briefly (but with the open cuts in my mouth this is where I suspect possible infection). There was no sex. I don't know if she is HIV positive.

The next day I realized what an idiot I had been.

Last week:
I've been training for triathlons, and last week I was exercising 2+ hours a day on 5-7 hours of sleep. For the past 6 days I have been experiencing brutal dehydration during the night, a stiff/painful neck, enlarged lymph nodes, a bit of mucous in the throat, migraines, and fevers. I stopped exercising last Saturday (2 days after the beginning of the symptoms), and started worrying that these might be Acute HIV snydrome symptoms. I have since gotten better with only my painful neck and lymph nodes almost gone.

Unfortunately I have normal answers to all the symptoms, but most of the symptoms also match HIV. I understand my chance of catching HIV from the drunken hook-up is very low, but hey, I'm a hypochondriac, everything matches.

Explanations:
Dehydration/fatigue/migraines: Over-exercising, not enough sleep, body fighting a virus
Stiff/painful neck: The awkward position of riding a road bike and/or sleeping in a bad position
Fever/Lymph nodes: Caught a virus, probably due to pushing my body so hard.
I did not experience other hiv symptoms such as a sore throat or a rash, and my actual symptoms have almost all disappeared within a week

But when I read Acute HIV syndrome information, they always say "often mistaken for a regular virus" and that I won't test positive for antibodies for another 2-4 months. So here I am mr. worry wart, matching all my symptoms with Acute HIV syndrome symptoms, unable to get tested because the test won't be truly effective until 6 months after infection. I can't talk to any of my friends, because frankly, I don't consider any of them good friends enough to understand and help. I can't talk to my family because I don't want to put them through unnecessary hardship. So, I come you, as I have in the past, for your help.

Thanks a bunch,
Mr Anonymous.

1. I'd say you were overdoing it on the exercise with not enough rest.

2. Why the hell haven't you been to the doctors to chat with them if you're concerned - all we can give you is conjecture and guess work.

Blunt but honest.

Former Member

I would say your anxiety and paranoia is more of a concern than any possible HIV infection and it may be worth seeing if your GP can refer you to a counselling service as it appears to be getting in the way of normal life for you.

Former Member

Yes, you may have been unfortunate enough to catch HIV on this occasion but unless you have a blood test soon, you may not have any physical symptoms for a long time yet. Go to a GUM Clinic for an anonymous blood test.

Former Member

Hey Mr Anonymous

Teagan's right, the only way to know for sure is to get tested. It's a scary thing to do, but it's worse not knowing and worrying.

If you've never been to a GUM clinic before and you're worried, check out this FAQ about what it's like:

http://www.thesite.org/sexandrelationships/safersex/sexualhealth/faqvisitingagumclinic

Also, if you don't know where your nearest clinic is, you can search here:

http://www.fpa.org.uk/finder/

Good luck

Bunnie

does it not have to be a certain amount of time after you think you have been infected? say 3 months, otherwise the results could still come back as negative?

Former Member

What's 'acute HIV syndrome' ? New one on me, or is it the new name for sero-conversion ?

Yes Bunnie, you're advised to wait 3 months from the date of possible infection until you're tested as they test for the anti-bodies not the virus.

Some places do do a viral load test (where they actually look for the virus) for diagnosis but they're few and far between.

Former Member

Well I tested positive for mononucleosis, which explains all the symptoms. And yeah, I can't get a worthwhile HIV test until 3-6 months after suspected infection. I still plan on getting one, but all the symptoms line up to a wonderful case of mono :yippe:

Former Member

ah poor you. Hope it goes away soon