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Author Topic: PEP after high risk  (Read 46370 times)

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Offline Ann

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #50 on: May 05, 2011, 08:30:56 am »
Brighton,

Good lad. It's nice to have a clean car, yeah? Mine was always a mess back in the days when I had one. Now go clean your room! ;)

I wish more people would do what you did and visit their GP for whatever symptoms they're having instead of automatically insisting it's hiv. I bet a lot of the posters in this forum miss something important due to their hiv tunnel vision.

And yes, stay away from Google. However, I can tell you that if you google "causes of b12 deficiency", you won't find any mention of hiv. For example, click here.

Keep busy and the four weeks will go by before you know it.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #51 on: May 30, 2011, 03:20:46 pm »
So, tomorrow is my 3 month post-PEP test.

Hopefully, my 6 week negative wont change - can't decide whether to opt for the fast test and find out in 20 minutes, or go for the lab test which will take most of the day but maybe more accurate?  I've been suffering from random stuff, hip pain at night, bad skin, lymph nodes in neck ... I know none of this is indicative of HIV, but it is stuff that has only happened to me since this episode and seems to be getting worse.  Despite the risk, and despite these random symptoms, I'm obviously hoping that the result is negative.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #52 on: May 30, 2011, 03:30:08 pm »
Your symptoms are something to discuss with a doctor. They are not in anyway HIV specific.

Good luck with your test. The quick test is reliable but do whichever one will give you the result you will feel most comfortable with. Personally I expect you to test negative.
Andy Velez

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #53 on: May 31, 2011, 05:56:43 am »
I did the 20 min fast test - tested negative.

Obviously i'm happy to have come out of this negative, and feel very lucky, they said at the clinic that as long as I don't get a positive on the hep c test then that is conclusive.

Thanks Ann and Andy (and the others on here) for your help and advice.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #54 on: May 31, 2011, 08:26:32 am »
You're welcome. Congrats on that very happy news.

Keep using condoms everytime for vaginal/anal intercourse and you will not have any problems about risks sexually for HIV.

Cheers.
Andy Velez

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #55 on: June 18, 2011, 03:19:48 am »
Sorry to be back so soon.

I finally decided to start dating again after going slightly nuts over my last incident, and I ended up sleeping with a guy last night.  i obviously made sure he wore a condom (he was top) but after a short while I went to the bathroom and he took it off, when i came back he had a condom on and he topped me.  I presumed it was a new condom, but afterwards i realised he re-used the one he'd taken off.  Now, my main worry is what if he had put on the condom the wrong way round, i noticed he had lots of pre-cum.  Basically am I at risk from this?  I know that HIV is right at the front of my mind after what happened, and the fact i'm stressing over this shows im probably not ready to start having sexual relationships at this moment without some help, which I will get, but how risky do you think this was?  I can't go through PEP again, and I think that it would not be advised for this anyway. 

Offline RapidRod

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #56 on: June 18, 2011, 04:15:38 am »
Seek the advice of a mental help professional. You can't keep coming back to this forum every time you have sex.

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #57 on: June 18, 2011, 04:35:34 am »
I am seeking the help of a mental health professional, I was refferred to her during my course of PEP.

I was asking a question about the risk associated with what happened.

I don't want to go into graphic details but when i went to the toilet afterwards it was as if id had unprotected, but I deffo checked he had a condom on at all times, though i did notice it was riding up and seemed loose at front, though it was intact at all times.  Could it be lube that i passed?   Im hoping thats the case, though i cant see how it could be semen as he took the condom off afterwards, unless some leaked out at the base of the condom?  Why did he reuse the condom? What an idiot, i had a drawer full of them, I just presumed he'd put a new one on.  I certainly wont be having sex again thats for sure, its not worth this.  
« Last Edit: June 18, 2011, 05:09:31 am by brighton33 »

Offline Ann

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #58 on: June 18, 2011, 07:53:49 am »
Brighton,

Have you ever tried to put a condom on inside-out? It's way too fiddly. There's no way in hell he would have messed around trying to put it on inside-out. And anyway, even if by some freak chance he did, the precum was exposed to the environment. Hiv is a fragile virus that cannot be transmitted once it is outside the body.

Yes, it was most likely lube that you passed, and likely a combination of lube and your own anal fluids/mucus. Don't let it panic you.

While re-using a condom is not a smart thing to do, the important thing is that it did not break. It didn't break, so you were not at risk.

I would suggest that you keep your own supply of condoms with you at all times. If this incident occurred at your home, you could have reached into your bedside cabinet and given him a new condom - which you should do anytime you take a break for a few minutes. If you were at his house, you could have had a few spare condoms in your jacket and given him one of those.

As for carrying condoms with you when you go out, do not keep a supply permanently in your wallet. The constant heat of your body can degrade the latex over time. Either keep some spares in your jacket where they'd be cooler, or put some in your wallet or trouser pocket when you leave your house - but remove them at the end of the evening and only put them back in your wallet if you are going out hoping to get lucky. Do NOT store condoms in your car because the extremes in heat and cold will degrade the latex.

You should also keep a supply of lube. There are plenty of brands available both in Boots and online. You can also purchase sachets of lube online for those nights out, and occasionally you can find them at the chemists.

It's always better to be safe than sorry and yes, I do follow my own advice. I keep spare condoms in my jackets and also in my handbags, along with sachets of lube. It's what smart girls do. ;)

Once again, the condom didn't break, therefore you were not at risk.

Ann

PS - if you want to keep a few condoms in your wallet as insurance against times when you're caught by surprise or just plain forget to take some with you, you can buy some Avanti polyurethane condoms. Polyurethane condoms, unlike latex condoms, will not degrade with heat. Polyurethane condoms are also effective against hiv infection. Polyurethane condoms also have the advantage of being able to use lubes other than water-based ones. You must ONLY use water-based lube with latex. The main drawback to polyurethane is that they are pricey.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2011, 08:03:55 am by Ann »
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #59 on: June 18, 2011, 08:09:50 am »
Thanks Ann

Yeah, was slightly worried this morning so rang THT and they said the same thing.  Yes, the condom deffo did not break, can't believe he re-used it but there you go, its happened.  It was at my flat and i'd put out condoms on side table, so i just assumed.... I knew brighton was big on recycling  ???.  Anyway, im hearing what you say - no risk, i've seen what happens when people on here dont take that advice and it isnt pretty.  Thanks again.


Offline Ann

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #60 on: June 18, 2011, 08:27:14 am »
You're welcome, Brighton.

If you see this lad again, you might want to explain to him that there are times when recycling is the right thing to do but when it comes to protecting yourself and others, it's not a good idea. When you bring someone else home, point out that you have plenty of condoms and tell him to feel free to use as many as may be needed.

Also, I don't know if you noticed, but I edited my post and I think it may have been while you were responding to me. You might want to re-read my previous post.

I know it may take you some time to get over the incident where you needed PEP, but it will get better in time and you will regain confidence. Keep working with your therapist and try to relax. Make sure you get regular, routine check-ups at your GUM and you'll be just fine.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #61 on: June 19, 2011, 03:58:17 pm »
Thanks Ann

Its true that the whole pep thing threw me off the edge, I know this will sound completely paranoid but it may have been possible he removed the condom at the end, it's weird, the more i look back the weirder the whole situation seems, at the end he made a big deal about "where shall i put this condom" but hadnt mentioned anything the first time he took it off and threw it down - I was in a position that meant he could have done anything too without me noticing.  But this all sounds like complete paronia....it was the feeling afterwards on the toilet that has me worried.  Ok, like you say I'm going to need to work with my therapist and I sure need to relax, but the more I think back on what happened the more questions I have and the more it doesn't make sense.  I will go for a routine check in 6 weeks, and they will do a HIV test then, so if anything has happened at least I will know.  

edited to add
I know the above sounds like i'm properly mental, but I'm not going to go too graphic but I also know the feeling afterwards when going to toilet after unprotected (dont want to gross people out but I want you to know I have some rational behind my thinking) - anyway, there is nothing that can be done now, they wont give me a course of PEP unless I can say for certain I had unprotected which I cant (and anyway i'm don't want a course of PEP again it was bad enough once) - I've heard of people doing messed up things like removing condoms, I knew its rare but there are some bad people in the world.  This is sounding totally messed up even for the "am i infected" forums, I just have a real bad feeling about what happened.  I really wanted things to go right, I made sure he put a condom on, and yet im still going to have to get tested again in 6 weeks after i thought i was done with HIV testing.
« Last Edit: June 19, 2011, 05:49:26 pm by brighton33 »

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #62 on: June 19, 2011, 06:02:17 pm »
All this speculation about what ifs and what may have happened gets you nowhere good.

You're going to test and given all that you have reported I do expect you to come through ok.

Now you really need to make a serious effort to focus on other matters in your life. And please don't bother saying you are too worried to do that. That kind of response is not going to fly here. Just do it.

Again, I think all will be well ultimately.
Andy Velez

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #63 on: June 20, 2011, 04:22:38 pm »
I am worried, but like you say its important to try focus on other things.  Wish I wasnt having to face all this again, I thought I was doing everything right, and then...  Looking on the bright side, on PEP I had to wait 16 weeks from the start to all clear, on this I'm going to have to wait 6 weeks to test, as I don't fully know what the risk was - im hoping that my assumptions are wrong about waht happened, like you say the what ifs are horrible.  

edited -
Just spoke to him on the "app" that we met off, he said he didn't even think he came, didn't notice any prolems with the condom (i didnt mention that he reused it) and that his last test was negative - he also gave me his mobile number.  I guess those aren't the actions of someone who would remove a condom during sex - I think I need lots more work with my therapist obviously this PEP thing has properly messed me up, sorry and thanks for your help.
« Last Edit: June 20, 2011, 05:34:04 pm by brighton33 »

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #64 on: June 28, 2011, 08:47:07 pm »
Well after my last update all has been well, until today, looked in mirror and have a horrible rash covering my chest :(  maybe my worries were justified, I know well enough that symptoms mean nothing but this has me totally worried now

Offline Ann

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #65 on: June 28, 2011, 09:32:18 pm »
Brighton,

Rashes can happen for all sorts of reasons. Your skin is the largest and most sensitive organ in your body. Yes, it is considered an organ and yes, it will respond to stress in adverse ways. And you mister, are one stressed out person and you have been for months now. If you're worried about your rash, see a doctor.

We all think that you did not have a risk for hiv infection. I expect your testing to go well (but please wait for six weeks and don't start testing compulsively either).

Get productively busy, stop micro-examining your body or thinking every little thing you notice is a "sign", and time to test will be here before you know it.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline brighton33

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #66 on: June 29, 2011, 07:01:53 am »
yeah, funnily enough I've been totally non stressed about that incident, after speaking to the guy I just put it down to my imagination and wasnt even going to test over it.  Was just a shock to see this rash yesterday, but Im hoping its not related, I got b12 injections last week so maybe its a delayed reaction to that? If it was ARS i think id be experiencing more symptoms if a rash was present, and also 11 days is a bit early?  Anyway, im not going to micro examine my body like i did when on PEP, I spent 12 weeks noticing "new" things so ill just get on with things but think I will test because of this at 6 weeks.

Offline Ann

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Re: PEP after high risk
« Reply #67 on: June 29, 2011, 10:31:45 am »
Brighton,

B12 injections can cause a rash - it's usually more of a "flush" (a reddening) than a rash. Maybe you did have some sort of reaction to the injection. If it persists, see your GP. It could have been anything but I really rather doubt it has anything to do with hiv. I still do not think you've had a new risk.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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