Question: Hi following an unprotected heterosexual exposure to a female of unknown status, I've noticed various symptoms that may or may not be connected to the event. Weeks 1-5 Diarrhoea after drinking alcohol one evening. Week 7 Small lump popped up directly behind ear lobe on one side only. Unable to confirm if it was. Benign cyst or lymph node. Had mixed opinions, became more anxious and unsettled. Can feel them in groin and both sides of jaw, unable to confirmed enlarged as I've heard checking them can cause monitor swelling. Week 9 Diarrhoea without any alcohol consumption, just once. Week 10 Diarrhoea once and woke up a couple of times in a sweat. Week 11 Tongue appeared to have a white coating, constant salivation. Not painful and seemed to clear within two weeks. Not confirmed as Thrush but a noticable change that send me into panic. Week 12 A few pimples on but cheeks Week 14 White coating appeared again, doctor said it didn't look like oral thrush to him. pimples confirmed as a mild case of folliculitis by doctor. No medication given, he wasn't overly concerned. Week 15-16 occasional cramps in muscles behind thighs and buttocks Week 15 various muscle twitches in arms and legs, especially when resting. Not as many now but still from time to time. Week 22 Folliculitis appears to be clearing with use of anti bac soap and head and shoulders. Not quite gone but better. Week 22 slight cold, chesty cough and coughing up mucus for 5 days. Through this whole time, I don't recall fever and didn't have any flu like illness between 2-4 weeks. However the ongoing symptoms seem to happen link in to HIV from what I've read online. I have been under chronic stress about this, so my immune system will be weakened anyway, I just don't know if it's anxiety or there is genuine cause for concern. I'm told that my exposure, even if the person was confirmed would be quite a low risk 1/1000 and quite often symptoms mean nothing. This is hard to understand, when a few things out of the usual have happened. What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

No test as yet, which is why I enquired about the possible symptoms. I would like a more personal reply based on your experience of people with similar issues. Although helpful most of the information provided can be found online. If I'd tested I'd have no reason to ask the questions. I'd like to know if my symptoms fit with Ars? How often do you see straight male with one exposure test positive? If not HIV what could cause such symptoms? The mild folliculitis and possible lymph node scare me the most. Of course I will most likely test, I'm just trying to work out if the things I've had could be completely unrelated to exposure, as I've researched online and still left very confused. Apparently after ARS 2-4 wks symptoms go away for quite a while most the time. I never had fever of any sort, no sore throat until week 13 and nothing I would call a rash. I was never really ill, just extremely anxious to the point it became chronic anxiety / stress.

I would just like to ask a few more questions. When it comes to HIV the web is the most confusing place to go I realise. I've seen many cases of numerous symptoms like ARS and other things but the person test negative, quite often this happens. After ARS is it fair to say generally people don't experience symptoms in the first year? Could worry and fear of infection cause the immune system to be lowered? Is Mild Folliculitis a massive concern? Have you ever treated a heterosexual male that only had one vaginal exposure? To begin with it was just a case of test quickly and it will be ok, but the mind has switched to worst case scenario, so I'd just like a bit more info to know where I am. Thanks in advance