Dear Doc: My story would really bring to life how worrying can take off months and much much more out of one's life. I had a high risk exposure(providing oral sex to a unknown woman) and then my tonsils swelled up within a week with serious infection in throat. Major symptoms followed- Rash at all over the upper body about 45 days after exposure, a cyst on my hip that developed pus around 90 days after, intermittent stomach upsets, herpes cold sores on my mouth, ulcers on the inside of cheeks, gingivitis etc. I "diagnosed" myself with HIV! The testing, though, went like this- ELISA negative at 45 days and again at 3 months BUT WBlot Indeterminate at 3 months with "Core antigen" detected. However ELISA at 6 months showed negative. I still could not believe it! Due to SEVERE depression I could not function at work and quit, felt suicidal innumerable times, troubled my parents and friends ENDLESSLY due to depression, could not sleep for 4 or five months without Alpazolam and what not! Somehow I did hang on and at the end of 9 months now, BOTH ELISA and WB have turned up NEGATIVE. I have now decided to get over this and go on with my life even though I still have the horrible cough and the tonsils. I wanted to tell people not to "diagnose" themselves and believe in the tests which are good and reliable. Else they stand lose so many months out of their lives due to panic. I also hope people practice "safe sex". I thank you for this forum which HAS provided me and many with a lot of knowledge about STDs and HIV. Thanks and Regards

consider it posted. MH