POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Nervouswreck2006 on June 13, 2006, 08:10:59 am
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Hello All! I am prepared to get tested but wanted to see if you think I should. I have read through this site recently about symptoms are I see some people also mention numbness/tingling as a symptom. My wierd sensations are mostly in my feet and a tad bit in my hands. It usually is bothersome when the temperature changes but its an all day occurence. Should I be concerned about this? My only possible exposure would have been unprotected Oral Sex. I recently had some blood work and it all came back fine. I have never had an Hiv test. Based on my exposure and my symptoms should I go and get tested. I have read about PN and I wonder if that is what I have. It seems like PN is usually accompanied by other symptoms as well so I am rather confused.
Besides this symptom I feel perfectly fine. I am a male and my partner was a female if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
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If you are sexually active, it behooves you to get a full STD panel, including an HIV test, at least once a year. My vote is twice a year.
That having been said, I assume you have read our replies to those who mention/discuss symptoms. Under NO circumstances can you diagnose HIV through symptoms. And "regular" blood wortk is all but useless in determining your HIV status (or any other STD for that matter. Has EVERYONE forgotten about syphilis?). Only an HIV test and an STD panel can give you the information you require.
As a sexually active adult, you owe it to yourself and your partner(s) to maintain an accurate knowledge regarding your sexual health.
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Thanks for your quick response! Based on your knowledge of Hiv do you see many people who have it come down with Numbness or tingling as a symptom? I plan on getting tested this week. I also have gotten tested for all other STD's which came back negative.
Thanks again!
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nervous
Peripheral neuropathy is not an ARS symptoms. PN is caused by damaging of the nerves very late in the disease (Aids) or can be caused by antiviral medications.
Tingling in hands and feet can be a sign of anxiety or if one is using antidepressiva or tranquilizers (i.e Benzodiazepines, for example Xanax, Valium etc.) because they involve the GABA neurotransmitters.
Anyway, symptoms are never a way to diagnose HIV, only a test after the 3 months period can.
Hope this helps.
Best regards
Darkfiber
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I suffered from tingling hands, arms, burning legs, muscle twitches, eye twitches, irregular bowel movements, 4 months of insomnia, floaters in my eyes, urinary infection, fatigue, depression, raised hairs on arms & hands.
I experienced this for 18 months after I experienced some tingling in my hands and became obsessed with the thought that I had MS.
Since I recently had a potential exposure go HIV (albeit very slight) and I focused and obsessed on the possibility of getting HIV guessed what happened to my MS type symptoms...... :P
All MS type symptoms disappeared and I start feeling like I've got sore throat (Globus Hystericus most probably), Ear Ache & Jaw Pain (Bruxism most likely) and Fatigue (Stress most likely) yet I will almost try and create a link between these symptoms and ARS.
Anxiety/Hypochondria is an immensely powerful thing.
Trust your doctor. They may seem aloof at times but they very often know what they are talking about ;)
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Nervous,
While any sexually active adult needs regular sexual health care check ups, you don't need to test over this specific incident.
Getting a blowjob is not a risk for hiv infection and neither is going down on a woman. You didn't have a risk with either of these activities. Hiv is primarily transmitted through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse and very rarely through giving blowjobs. Getting a blowjob is absolutely not a risk for hiv.
Please read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) at the top of this forum and follow the lesson links.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple! Have a look at the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use those condoms with confidence.
Ann
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Thank you for all your assistance! I went this morning to my local clinic for an HIV test. I believe they used ELISA and the results wont be back for 3 weeks. That seems like a long time as I was hoping to find a place that gave them to me in 30 minutes. I know Anne and many other experts on HIV stand by and say HIV cant be transmitted via receiving a BJ. I asked the same question at the clinic and they said it is possible and got me very nervous as this was my only exposure. He also said 20% of people that are diagnosed don't have any symptoms at all.
The reason for my concern is that the Numbness or Tingling in my feet started after I received Oral sex from this women. MY Neurologist and Dr. found nothing wrong and for whatever reason couldn't help me. They never mentioned Hiv and I was to scared to bring it up. Are you sure I have nothing to worry about??
Thanks again!
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Nervous,
I'm sorry you happened to get a clinic worker who isn't educated on what actually constitutes hiv transmission risks. Maybe you should print out a copy of our hiv transmission lesson and take it with you when you return for your results.
Your result will be negative - getting a blowjob is absolutely NOT a risk for hiv infection. Saliva is not infectious.
Ann
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I stand with Ann, this site, and the science I have spent hundreds of hours to research regarding oral sex.
No risk in insertive oral sex.
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Hi There! I am looking for some reassurance. I posted back in late June and went to get tested. I finally got back into town after being out of the county for 4 weeks. I plan on going to the clinic later this week to get the results but I am quite nervous. My only risks that I ever recall putting myself in are unprotected Oral Sex. I know youll say there is a slight risk to receiving Oral but I am think the news will be bad.
For the past year or so I havent been sick and the only thing wrong with me is this numbness/tingiling feeling in my feet that never goes away. I have read that sometimes the first symptom of HIV is Neuropathy. Should I be concerend. I have had a CBC done and also was tested for Lyme and Diabeties. all my tests came back negative for any diseases. The MRI of my brain also was normal. This leads me to think that its HIV since everything else came back normal.
Thanks for your help!
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I have read that sometimes the first symptom of HIV is Neuropathy
You read incorrectly.
You do not get HIV from insertive oral sex (receiving a blowjob). It appears that you MIGHT be able to get HIV from performing fellatio on a male, but even that is an exceedingly small risk, if at all.
Other STDs? Sure. Not HIV.