POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: yoshi on July 13, 2006, 02:46:27 am
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Hi All,
I am a 23yr old male from Australia. I had a risky exposure and will be taking a blood test tomorrow. This will be a 4 week test and then I will re-test in 3 months.
I have a question regarding ARS. I've done some research but chose not to dig in to much for fear of panicking myself to much. My question is, with ARS, does the symptoms of ARS "normally" occur all at once/together, or can they happen apart from one another. IE: Would someone be in bed, sick, aching, fever, sorethroat, etc, or could they experience just bits and pieces of symptoms over a period of time.
The reason I ask this is because, I came down with a mild fever/sore throat, I felt weak and unwell, it cleared. A few days later, my muscles have been aching for days, especially in my legs and back, to a point where it's hard and uncomfortable to sleep. It's came out of no where.
These did not all happen at once, it kind of came one after the other, but this feeling is very real. It could just be cold weather, or something else buggin' around. Can someone tell me more about ARS, being realistic and honest, as I find reading on the Internet can be very dangerous to ones mental health and sometimes the information is out-dated. Any details would be great.
Thanks.
Yoshi.
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Yoshi,
A description of the details of your perceived risk would be helpful.
Morgan
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Hi Morgan,
My risk was related to IV drug abuse. It appears I may have injected drug solution of an unknown source, where I have been told the person whom sold the drug to me is HIV+ and there is a possibility that blood could have been inside the drug solution, since it was mixed up where I could not see, in an environkment I was not in when the drug was mixed in the water. If the water came out of a syringe that had been used previously (which people often do) then it could very possibly have blood in it and then I injected it.
I cannot tell but I am working on worse case scenario, since I only started feeling ill approx. 2 weeks exact after this incident.
Please, don't tell me how stupid and foolish I am, I am already living the nightmare of my actions, feeling the guilt and depression and realise more then anything how idiotic I have been, especially since I know very well the risks.
All I know is that 2 weeks after this incident, I started feeling hot at work, in the face, for approx. 3 days. Then I had a sore neck and sore throat. At day 5, I've started to feel leg muscles aching and back aching. I've kept calm about it all, since I can't change it, but I am told the person is HIV+ and now I believe there is a real chance I could be infected.
Keeping it real down-under.
Thanks.
Yoshi.
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Yoshi,
You can have some, none, or all of the symptoms usually associated with primary hiv infection and be hiv positive or negative.
This forum focuses on risk assessment and proper testing.
As your risk COULD be significant, as you know, you'll need to test at 13 weeks for a conclusive result.
That said, symptoms, if they occur at all come all at once 2-4 weeks post exposure, and then clear up all at once a week or two later.
Do yourself a favor and don't focus on your symptoms, just bide your time and test out. I would suggest waiting at least til the 6 week mark before your first test as most people would receive an accurate result at that time. You would still have to follow it up with a 13 week to be conclusive but it will be an excellent indication of your status.
Hang in there,
Morgan
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Yoshi,
If you've been using drug injecting equipment that you are unsure of, you do need to test for hiv and you also need to test for hep C. Hep C is much more likely of the two to be transmitted in the "worst case scenario" you describe.
Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus and in a drug setting, it is transmitted when the syringe is used immediately after a positive person. Hep C is another matter and can be transmitted via not only shared needles, but also shared cookers, filters, water source and even tie-offs. Hiv is only transmitted in a drug setting via directly shared needles.
Nothing you report sounds like primary hiv or hep C infection, but both can be present without symptoms. The only way to know if you are infected with either is to test at the appropriate time.
At the end of the day, you don't know for certain if this guy is infected with anything. You are going on hearsay and rumour, so try not to get too worked up while you wait for your test results. Make sure you also talk to someone at the testing center about hep C testing.
Ann
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Hi All,
Thank you for the informative and much appreciated replies.
Ann, Great info on Hep C. I will be asking for a test on that too, since I know Hep C is much more prevaliant in our community then HIV is. We are lucky to have a good health system which provides users free syringes, spoons, swabs, spoons, etc, so MOST people stay safe, but you always have the ones who dont!
I had one more question which I would like to ask since I don't know if this will in fact work for / against my odds but I thought someone who is more knowledgable on the virus might be able to answer this for me.
The drug I took was "home bake heroin" Basically, when they do is crush up morphine tablets, such as oxycontin for example then add water and cook the solution for 20 minutes. However, when they take the finished cooked heroin out, they added (what seemed to me, to be either vinegar OR some form of acidic product) When I tasted the solution before injecting, it tasted very very much like vinegar to me had been added.
Let's say blood was mixed in with vinegar/water and the morphine and was left sitting in a syringe, would HIV have more chance of dying being exposed to such material as vinegar? I know this cannot be answered exactly but I'm curious if the HIV would have a much harder time surviving in such a condition?
I really appreciate your responses on this, as I do know for a fact that it had this in it.
Thanks again.
Yoshi.
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Yoshi,
Blood left sitting in a syringe in any circumstance greatly reduces the risk of hiv transmission. As I said earlier, hiv is primarily transmitted through syringes immediately shared. Hiv is a very fragile, difficult to transmit virus (but difficult does not mean impossible). It quickly becomes damaged when exposed to any environment outside the human body.
Hep C is another matter - it's a robust little bugger. That is the one you really need to be wary of in a drug use setting.
By the way, the vinegar (and sometimes ascorbic acid) is used to help the materials dissolve in water. This method is also used with brown heroin.
I used to have some links somewhere for safer injecting information. If you're interested, I'll dig them up in the morning. (I'm in the UK)
Ann
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Hi Ann,
Thanks for the response, much appreciated and yes, I would like to read the links you mentioned. The good news is that I am now on a Methadone Treatment Program and trying to beat my addiction. It's an awful awful drug to me addicted too, it literally takes over your life and everything in it, in a big big way.
I've been coping very well considering my risk and hearing that the person is HIV+. I've been keeping calm and feel ok. The only thing that is really upsetting/scaring me at the moment is this joint and muscle aching. It's really bad and certainly not just a "head thing", my legs/knees have been in pain and my feet seem to become burning hot. It feels exactly like heroin withdrawal aching but I'm on Methadone so it shouldent be a problem. It's my main concern but I know I know, only testing will tell :)
Thanks again Ann for the reply!
Yoshi.
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Hi All,
I had an enjoyable and relax/calm weekend. I'm anxiously waiting for the 6 week period to come so I may test and have some indication as to what my luck is. The support on these boards does really help a lot, without it I don't know where I'd turn too.
I've been a little stressed out, trying not to focus on symptoms but I am still suffering from these dreaded muscle aches/pains in my arms/legs and back. It's the only thing really teasing my emotions, as normally I never have any problems like this previously. It's been about 3 weeks now since my symptoms inititally started and everything has cleared up except for the muscle aching/pain. I try not to focus to heavily on it but it can be hard sometimes when you keep feeling it at all the time.
I really appreciate the support here. I don't know where else to turn and it helps to be in the company of people who understand and can educate all of us here.
Thanks for listening, and replies and support would be great.
Thanks
Yoshi from Oz.
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Yoshi,
Try to keep busy and keep your mind off the incident and any "symptoms" you may be having.
Just to second Ann's remarks, I would definitely screen for Hep C.... it's a lot easier to contract and if I were you, I'd be more concerned about that in this situation.
All the best,
Morgan
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Thanks Morgan.
I am trying to keep busy by looking for a new apartment and with my work.
I have a question, does ARS symptoms come and go? ie, can one week you feel ok, then the next week you feel sick, then a few days later, feel fine, and then sick again?
I know I'm most likely stressing but It seems all these little things keep happening, like today I feel really hot in the face, it came from nowhere. I wish I understood what was happening to me. I've been staying calm and not thinking about it, but sometimes it just jumps into me and scares me.
would fever just come and go? would my lymth nodes go up and down day by day? like one day they are fine, the next they are up? is this ARS?
Thanks heaps. Sorry for being such a worrier.
Yoshi..
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Yoshi,
ARS symptoms do not come and go, if they come at all. Some people experience nothing. When a person does experience them, they come on all at once and go all at once.
Hang in there.
Ann
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Hi Ann,
Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to stay strong and realistic.
Since this incident, I've realised how truly powerful our brain is, in the sense of the anxiety and irrational fears and thoughts it can bring to you. As though, your brain could have the power to destroy you when used in the wrong way.
I've felt a little crazy at times. Is it's symptoms, or is it simply my brain manifestating would I believe I'm feeling? That's a scary question.
I feel really lucky to be able to come here and recieve support and information, without it I'd be feeling very lonely and lost. You guys do a great job here, thanks again for everyones input.
It's quiet upsetting for me at the moment, since because I'm worrying so much and so anxious, My Girlfriend is becoming frustrated and annoyed with me. She doesnt understand why I'm acting the way I am, calling me a hypocondriact, etc, because I've been telling her that I'm unwell. I do feel unwell though, such as feeling hot, achy, and lethargic, though now it's impacting on our relationship... What can I do? ... I dont like seeing her upset but I can't change the way I'm psyhically feeling. (I wish I could, I really do!) She doesnt seem to understand, she thinks Im just putting it on, or not really sick and making myself sick.
Anyway, I hope to hear from you all soon.
Thanks for the support!
Yoshi.
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Yoshi,
You may have more control over how you are feeling than you think. The "symptoms" you are experiencing can all be caused by stress, via a prolonged "fight or flight" physical response to your worries. Instead of Googleing hiv, try looking up "fight or flight" and see what it does to the body. It's meant to be a short-lived response to danger, but when a person becomes chronically anxious about something, this response stays switched on. Maybe if you understand the physical response to the fight or flight mechanism, you will be able to relax more and the "symptoms" may well disappear.
Again, hang in there.
Ann
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Hi All,
Well the last few weeks have been up and down for me. I really cant wait till 3 months and have this all over and done with. I'm really scared of testing. I know I need to face reality and do it but I'm having a lot of troubles convincing myself to go. One part of me says I don't want to go and would rather live as happy as I can not knowing, and the other half says not knowing is not living because my days are full of constant fear and worry about every single little thing I feel.
Please, someone help me to get through this period. It's eating away at me.
When I wrote the first entry, I thought I might be sero-converting, but today I again feel hot, achy, and I'm worried my nodes are up but I cannot tell, so I don't know, maybe now I'm sero-converting. God this is an awful feeling. I'm so worried all the time.
Ann, Your so right. I understand more then ever how anxiety makes the brain go completely crazy. I've suffered from anxiety for such a long time. Half of me believes this is all anxiety and the other half believes I could really possibly be infected due to my extremely high-risk exposure. IE: Injecting myself with tainted blood.
I really am trying to be realistic as I can be. I am book in to see a counsellor this week. I need to discuss and get professional help because I really do fear being tested, I'm so scared to be tested because I feel if the news is bad, I won't handle it well at all. My life hasnt been the easiest and I've struggled through so many things, especially with drugs, and only recently now ive got my life on track and Im so scared to loose it all.
I really feel I could be infected. I know I wont tell without testing but I need to find the courage to do it. I'm 23, still consider myself a baby to so much of the world... Any words of advice and encouragement could really help at this time, since I have no one else I can talk to about this...
Thanks.
Yoshi.
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Yoshi,
Knock it off. You're working off a worst case scenario. You don't know for certain this dealer is even hiv positive. You are going on hearsay and rumour. You don't know for certain that he makes his pre-mixed fixes using used rigs. And think about that for a minute, a dealer is in the business of building up trade and making money. Why would he do anything that might make his punters sick?
And as I've told you before, hiv is the least likely thing you'd be infected with, considering the time frame involved in getting a pre-made fix. You - if anything in your worst case scenario is true - are in far greater danger of being infected with hep C. Seriously.
I'm glad you're seeing a counselor because that is something we cannot offer you here.
Hang in there and let us know what your test results are - for both hiv and hep C.
Ann
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Hello.
I have a question.
Do people with HIV+ infection often become Lactose Intolerant? Is this a common occurance is a newly infected individual? Is it something that is known to occur often/regulary in infected individuals?
Many thanks.
Yosh.
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Yoshi,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Lactose intolerance has nothing to do with hiv infection.
Ann
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Hello.
I have a question.
Do people with HIV+ infection often become Lactose Intolerant? Is this a common occurance is a newly infected individual? Is it something that is known to occur often/regulary in infected individuals?
Many thanks.
Yosh.
Yoshi
Lactose intolerance has absolutley nothing to do with HIV infection. In fact the ability to digest lactose into adulthood is really only common in western caucasian populations - that is most of the world begins to lose the ability to digest lactose shortly after they're weaned from their mother's breast. White westerner's are the mutants when it comes to being able to drink large quantities of milk and not feel sick and even among this population the ability to digest lactose drops significantly with age.
Again lactose and HIV have absolutley nothing to do with one another.
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Hi All,
Thanks for the replies above.
I am very scared at the moment and trying to build the courage to re-test.
I have finished ARS awhile back and now I appear to have permanet swollen nocdes in my neck. Its a constant numb pain feeling always in my neck and I'm certain it's my nodes swoillen, I have not been touching them, just are just always sore and up. I'm very worried.
Has anyone else had problems getting themselves to re-test in fear? Whst hsve you done to get over that fear?
I'm so so scared because I feel like I honestly have ths virus this time. I just know it, since the person whom I got this needle from originallyg is HIV+ as far as I know, so I'm really scared so much.
Any feedback or support would help me a lot.
I have no one to talk to about this or help me face it.
I appreciate your support and help so much.
thanks
Yosh..
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Yoshi,
You do NOT know the dealer's hiv status. You only know unsubstantiated rumour.
You can be as scared as you like and still go in to test. It won't change your results. As I've told you over and over again, it's very unlikely you would have become infected with hiv through this experience, however hep C is a real possibility.
Just go get tested and get it over with. If by chance you are positive for either hiv or hcv, not testing will not make it go away. The only thing that will happen is that you will run the risk of becoming sicker than you may have if you learned your status and were therefore able to look after your health. Not testing is just silly - especially when I'm fully expecting you to test negative for hiv.
As Andy says, feelings aren't facts. Your feelings will not reliably inform you of your hiv - or hcv - status. Only testing will do that. Now go test and put this issue to rest.
It's the adult, responsible thing to do.
Ann
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And Yoshi, you don't have to wait until you feel braver about getting tested. You can go in there crapping in your pants and still get the test done. You won't be the first to do with heart thumping and hands clammy.
After all what is the alternative? To obsess about whether you are or aren't and totally muck up your life in the meantime? I don't think so.
Get your frightened butt in there and get it done.
Keep us posted. Good luck.
Cheers,
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Your both right.
I need to be tested.
You see, Just recently I got engaged and now I feel like my life is moving forward and Im happy, I cant see that blow up in front of me.
I'm so scared of loosing everything I have right now, it's so good.
Yoshi :(
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Yoshi,
If this woman you're engaged to is really the right person for you, she'll stand by you no matter what. Your life will go on no matter what your test results are - life is what you make of it and it is entirely possible to be happy desite hiv or hcv. I very much doubt that hiv will be a part of your future - especially now you know how to protect yourself - but make sure you also test for hep C.
Now go get those tests done and let us know how it all turns out. Good luck.
Ann