Last year I had unprotected sex with two different men (I'm female). They were both monogamous relationships and in September I had an HIV test and it came back negative. But I'm still concerned. For over a year I've had a continual sinus headache, since last July - pain in my arm (the inside of the elbow on the left arm) and my tongue and mouth have different issues all the time (eg. white tongue, red spots, cracks in the roof of my mouth, feeling like there is a hair or something I can't swallow). Due to all the anziety over the year caused by a number of things including my fear of HIV, I started smoking again and don't know if that could be the cause of anything. I don't want my doctor to think I'm a hypocondriac so I don't know if I should ask for another HIV test. Please help.

If your HIV antibody test was negative three months after your last sexual encounter, then you have solid evidence that you are HIV negative. The symptoms you are experiencing are most likely to be related to something else that is going on for you.

It is important that you can talk to your doctor about anything and everything that is going on with you. If you leave things out of your relationship, your doctor may not be able to deal with your problems appropriately and accurately. If you are a "hypochondriac", your doctor should be the first to know and may be able to refer you to a professional that can help you with your health-related anxiety.

RMK