Welcome to the Forum.  I appreciate your looking at other posts.  It is our hope that our responses to folks on  the site will be helpful to others as well as those writing the questions.  There is a lot of confusion about the timing and signs and symptoms of the ARS, much of which occurs because of the misinformation present on the internet.

The signs and symptoms you mention are not particularly suggestive of the ARS and are more suggestive of a viral acute respiratory syndrome than the ARS.  The timing of your illness is in the range where the ARS might be initially considered with most ARS beginning about 2-3 weeks after exposure.  Most such illnesses occurring at that time are coincidental however and not the ARS.  The hallmarks of the ARS are fever and muscle aches, as well as a sore throat and, in some cases diarrhea or a faint to moderate rash on much of the body.  It is described as a "flu-like illness"" and does resemble influenza.  Interestingly, influenza and other related viral illnesses are much more common than the ARS and when studies have been performed, only 1-2% of at risk persons with these symptoms turn out to have HIV, the remainder having the much more common influenza or other non-STI viral illnesses,.   

On the other hand cough and sputum production are not typical of the ARS or the flu but are typical of upper respiratory tract infections and bronchitis.  Similarly, runny nose is not typical of the ARS.

I hope this information is helpful to you. EWH

I can't thank you enough for your help and guidance...I also feel I have learned a great deal of important infomration from your site. I just wanted to commend you folks for your selfless work helping the public out.

And of course, we can close this discussion item if you wish now!  :)

Bill