Dr. Kull,

I wanted to tell about my experience to you and all people who are very worried about the symptoms related to ARS. I had unprotected sex with a woman I met while I was on work travel. Two days later, I started to feel very warm on my face like flu is coming. A week later after I had sex, my lymph nodes started to swell suddenly. I felt weak for a month. I had diarrhea for a week. My glands stayed swollen especially in neck at fullest for about two months. It started to shrink only about half way after that for four more months. That's very long time! I know how my glands feel because I had mono before. I had headaches all time. I had a burning feel in my throat sometimes. I had a fever only once. I started to think I have mono because I had it before and symptoms were exactly same except I didnt have sore throat. I read that usually we only have mono once. I think I got hiv from that woman after reviewing health websites and books. I talked to the woman in email. She said she is fine and very clean. She said she donates blood regularly.

I was very worried and scared because I can't find other illness that could match what's bothering me. I went to doctor two weeks after sex. Mono negative. I didnt tell him about sex so I took a hiv test at other clinic at two months after sex. Negative. Four months after sex, I went back to doctor complaining about my glands and burning throat. He said my throat is very red. My blood was tested, all perfectly normal. So, at five months, I decided to donate blood at red cross center and see if they reject my blood for any reason. Few weeks later I got the Thank you letter and donation card so negative at five months, I assumed. I still have slight swollen glands and sick stomach that I dont really feel hungry.

Finally, still not feeling normally, I went to a different doctor at seven months and told him about sex. He tested me for hiv. NEGATIVE!! He tested my blood again. NORMAL! He gave me acid reflux meds. He thinks I have a bad acid reflux and allergies. After a week, Unbelieveably, I felt normal now! My glands are coming back to normal. I always touch my neck all time testing my glands! Doctor said leave your neck alone. I touch my neck one more time when I felt normal now and now I know my glands are normal! God bless me! I learned my lesson. Use the protection and get tested. Dont worry about ARS, just get tested and let your doctor know.

Thank you for your time reading this.

Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone in this forum.

RMK