POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: almost on September 21, 2006, 11:08:39 am
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I recently moved in with a new roommate whom I know nothing about..By mistake, I used his toothbrush instead of mine almost 1 minute after he used it. I am really scared now....am I at risk...and if n, please explain why not??
Also, I wanna mention that sometimes I use his towel also....is that risky???
Thanks
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No risk. Read the Lessons link above.
best, mike
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Hi mike..
Why is it no risk?
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OK. You need to read the lesson on this site about HIV transmission. There's a link to it in the first thread in this section.
The only risk in what you are concerned about is that it reveals you haven't got the basics down about HIV transmission. This epidemic is going to be around for a longtime to come so that's a lack you cannot afford. Knowing that information and consistently following safer sex guidelines will allow you to protect your health and spare you the kind of unnecessary worry you have been experiencing over these incidents.
HIV is not easy to transmit. The real risks are unprotectec vaginal or anal intercourse. Your roomie's toothbrush and towel do not fall into those risk activities. Really.
Read the lesson, please.
Cheers,
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I dont understand why this is not risky, I mean everybody bleeds while brushing their teeth, so my roomie must have had some of his blood on the toothbrush, and I used it directly after him...and I also bled while brushing my teeth....so this is like blood to blood contact
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I don't bleed when I brush my teeth. The deal with using others tooth brushes and razors is theoretical. You are more apt to get gum disease before you would ever get HIV. No one has ever got infected by the use of anyone Else's tooth brush. Just thinking of it is kinda of gross.
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I know it is gross...but it was early in the morning and both our toothbrushes have almost the same color so I got mixed up....
Rapidrod, so there is a risk since he may have bled while brushing his teeth???
I am so freaked out now....
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When you find out someone has got infected by using another's tooth brush you let me no. As of now it has never been documented to have happened.
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As others have advised, please read information about basic transmission modes of HIV. Sharing a toothbrush can transmit other diseases, like hepatitis, but in over 25 years there hasn't been one case of HIV transmission via casual contact. My advice is to splurge on a new toothbrush that doesn't look like his. I have a visceral aversion to using someone else's towel (god only knows what orifice it may have touched!) so when I have houseguests or had roommates my towel goes on the right hand rack the the guest towel goes on the left one. If in doubt grab a clean towel. But that's just me...
Boo
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There is no risk, but the best thing to do is.......Change the color of your toothbrush.
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so the only reason this is not a risk is because it has not been documented before??? Is there any scientific explanation as why this is a no-risk situation? I would appreciate a scientific explanation as it will help me put my mind to ease
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For one thing saliva does not transmit HIV and the other you would have to have more blood than tooth paste to even give you a low risk.
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so the only reason this is not a risk is because it has not been documented before??? Is there any scientific explanation as why this is a no-risk situation? I would appreciate a scientific explanation as it will help me put my mind to ease
Numerous studies of transmission risks have universally ruled out casual contact as a transmission mode. Out of millions of infections not one has been caused by sharing a toothbrush. That explanation isn't sufficiently scientific? You're obsessing over nothing. A meteorite might come crashing through my roof in 10 seconds and kill me but I'm not going to worry about it.
Boo
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Guys, I really thank you for your help and I'm sorry if I am pushig this any further but I just wanna relax and get this over with...
The time between me and my roomie using the same toothbrush is not more than 2 minutes. This may not be enough time to inactivate the virus completely (if present)...but the fact that he rinsed the toothbrush after he used it with water and then I rinsed it also with water before use should be enough to inavtivate any hiv particles present...is my analysis correct? Does tap water deactivate hiv this fast?
am really sorry guys for asking too much questions but I wanna feel relaxed with this whole incident.
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Yes water will inactivate it.
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I have read in many places that sharing toothbrushes is a route for HIV transmission, and this is freaking me out..what makes u say with such certainty that HIV cannot be transimitted this way
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almost,
Can I ask why you are using different usernames while posting to our forums? Thus far, you have also used horrifiedandscared (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=2617.0)
Please realize that this kind of activity is disrespectful of other forum members, as well as our moderators. People spend a considerable amount of time helping others in these forums. Using multiple accounts is at the very least annoying, if not deceiving and disrespectful of others. It is also against our Terms of Membership (http://forums.poz.com/Terms.htm) which you agreed to when you became a member. This information is also contained within the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), which you should have read by now. So really, you have no excuse.
You must realize that the answers won't change, no matter how many names you post under.
I would appreciate a reply to this message, and I hope you will commit to using just one account - preferably your original one. If not, you will be banned from further access to the forums.
Ann
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Ann,
I am sorry of using both usernames..I totally forgot about my previous username and password.
I will stick to this one from now on.
Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience..
Can you please comment on my risk?
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Almost,
You didn't have a risk.
By the way, I know about your other two accounts as well. Create another and be banned, permanently, no questions asked.
Ann
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Ann, why are u saying that I didnt have a risk? What if traces of his blood were on the toothbrush. I used it directly after him. The time frame was not more than 2 minutes,,,
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You used it directly after him after it was rinsed off. Which didn't matter, there have never been a documented case of contracting HIV by that manner in 25+ years and you won't be the first.
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I recently moved in with a new roommate whom I know nothing about..By mistake, I used his toothbrush instead of mine almost 1 minute after he used it. I am really scared now....am I at risk...and if n, please explain why not??
Also, I wanna mention that sometimes I use his towel also....is that risky???
Thanks
Wow, you've got to be kidding me!
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just one last question and I am outta here...
how long does the HIV virus (at the best given conditions) survive andbe able to infect on a toothbrush??
Thanks
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Since there has never been a confirmed case of transmission in this manner we can't answer that question. It's in the category of theoretical risk instead of an actual risk.
In general I would say do yourself a favor and only use your own toothbrush. And on a day when you don't have your own use your finger or skip brushing until you can get one.
This is not and never was a situation in which you were at risk for HIV.
Get on with your life. No kidding.
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I just wanna add that th ewater I used to rinse the tooothbrush was warm and not cold...will this be enough to kill the virus?? Or cold water should be present??
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Just water, hot,warm or cold doesn't matter.
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Guys, I woke up today with a very sore throught and some fever.. I am really scared now..could I be seroconverting????
Many people are telling me that since there might be some blood on the toothbrush, I may have been infected with HIV...
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Oh gee. NO you are not seroconverting. You are not going to get infected, from a tooth brush incident.
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Have you actually listened to anything that has been said to you? Or read the lesson on transmission?
Or are you going to simply ask the same questions again everytime you (mis)interpret something physical as another "symptom" of something you don't have?
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guys..sorry for being herer again but I have a different question...
yesterday I french kissed a girl deeply. There was no blood involved so I am not really concerned about that. What is concerning me though, is that during making out, she bit my cheek pretty hard. It hurt so I quickly asked her to stop. I didnt see any blood on my cheek so I think I can assume that she didnt break the skin...
Was I at risk of HIV infection??? and why??
Thanks
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NO you were not at risk from "French Kissing" or getting bit on the cheek.
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When does the bite become a risk? I have read of some cases of transmission via a bite....so when exactly is a bite risky??
I am almost sure that she didnt break the skin, although her bite marks were visible....
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Never....
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so Rapidrod, how come there were documented cases of HIV transmission via a human bite, from the biter to the person being bitten??
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Show me the document case that someone was infected in that manner and don't give me the case of two brothers. You are not going to get HIV through a bite, saliva is not infectious. There are a lot of other infections you can receive by a human bite but HIV isn't one of them.
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There are two documented cases. One of a son biting his mom and infecting her, and one of an AIDS patient biting a neighbor that was helping him.
I understand that these are severe and rare cases but still.....it gets me worried....
I know that salive is not infectious, but blood is....and in case blood is presesnt, then why is the bite still a no-risk?
I am really sorry for asking all these questions but I really dont want to go through a window period and test...I just wanna be 100% sure.
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How about if I told you they weren't true. You do not get infected from a bite. Other infection are possibe but not HIV.
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Guys...i am so sorry to be back again but another incident has happened that is concerning me and I wanted your expert opinion on it.
I was eating a sandwich yesterday and while I was biting it, I noticed a red spot on it that I was certain that it was blood. What I am not sure is weather it was my own blood or somebody else's. Anyway, I took the bite and chewed a little and then realizing what I have done, I quickly spitted it. The bite was in my mouth for 10 seconds at most.
If the blood was the blood of somebody else. could I be infected in that manner??
Sorry if the question may seem silly but I really cant take another window period ...
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You don't and can not get HIV from foods or drinks. Please take the time to read the "Welcome" thread at the top of the forum and read the transmission lessons.
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even if the food had blood on it?? How does this differ from actually swallowing infected blood?
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Read the lessons come on.
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Maybe it's just me but how many times do you have to be told hiv can't be passed through a toothbrush. Then you go on to talking about kissing a girl. If you were so concerned about getting it thru a toothbrush and if you could (which you can't) but if you thought you could then why the hell would you kiss a girl? I'm just saying. The final straw was the supposed blood on a sandwich. If it was a sandwich that didn't involve ketchup or something that would make it look red then wouldn't you take the sandwich back and ask questions? It sounds like to me you got the wrong sandwich.
I mean honestly, you have been told a few times to read the tutorials and not once have I seen you reply that you did. Because if you did, you would be asking more intelligent questions than making up stupid questions to get attention..... >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
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I have read the tutorial many times but still I have questions and doubts. I am sorry that my questions sound stupid to you...I guess we all arent as smart as you. I dont need the attanetion in these forums and trust me, if I had one wish it is that I wont need to visit these forums ever again and get this HIV shit outta my head...
For your info...the kissing incident happened before the toothbrush incident but it just happened that I posted it later. I am now convinced that neither these incidents carry a risk for HIV because of the tap water and rinsing effect in the first case, and the saliva in the second. This is how my mind works. I need to undestand why this is not a risk.
As for the sandwich incident, I noticed the red spot when I was out of the store and in my office. It may have been my own blood and it may not have been. I am sure it was not ketchup because no ketchup was with the sandwich this type of sandwich comes wrapped and ready to eat. The only thing that I am sure of is that the sandwich was prepared earlier (maybe an hour or two) then wrapped then placed for sale.
I am sorry for asking too many questions in this thread
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I have read the tutorial many times but still I have questions and doubts. I am sorry that my questions sound stupid to you...I guess we all arent as smart as you. I dont need the attanetion in these forums and trust me, if I had one wish it is that I wont need to visit these forums ever again and get this HIV shit outta my head...
For your info...the kissing incident happened before the toothbrush incident but it just happened that I posted it later. I am now convinced that neither these incidents carry a risk for HIV because of the tap water and rinsing effect in the first case, and the saliva in the second. This is how my mind works. I need to undestand why this is not a risk.
As for the sandwich incident, I noticed the red spot when I was out of the store and in my office. It may have been my own blood and it may not have been. I am sure it was not ketchup because no ketchup was with the sandwich this type of sandwich comes wrapped and ready to eat. The only thing that I am sure of is that the sandwich was prepared earlier (maybe an hour or two) then wrapped then placed for sale.
It's not the fact that you are asking too many questions but to me what seems to be the same question over and over. And another thing, how am I suppose to know what incident came first, I don't live with you nor am I a mind reader. Not to make your situation sound trivial because to you I know it is not. Another thing, I do not claim to know it all or have all the answers but has gained plenty of knowledge from this site.
Honestly, it just irritates me when people ask the same question over and over. The time the moderators take to answering repeat questions could be used to answer another person's question. Forgive me but I am a person who believes time is valuable....I also think some of these questions should be answered by a doctor.
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almost,
Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.
When hiv finds itself outside the human body, it quickly becomes damaged and unable to infect. Small changes in moisture content, pH level and temperature damage the outer surface of the virus, including the little "plugs" it uses to attach itself to a host cell. It cannot infect once there is damage. This is why you are not at risk to hiv found outside the human body.
I would suggest you get yourself some counseling. You do not have to live your life consumed by the fear of hiv. We cannot help you with your deep seated fears here - that is outside the scope of this forum.
Ann
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Thanks Ann....
I already saw two counsellers and both dont seem to be fully understanding my problem.
Anyway, I am now sure it was my own blood on the sandwich....since I had the same incident at lunch and I saw the blood again. I guess I must go to a dentist to deal with my bleeding gums :)
I hope this will be my last question in these forums.
Thanks
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deleted
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I have been trying to resist the temptation of posting here and asking any more questions but at the ends I felt it is better if I posted my questions because I need your experienced thoughts.
I went to the dentist last week. It was a normal dental procedure that included gum cleaning and ofcourse lots of bleeding. I saw the dentist assistant change the drill burs and disinfect the hand piece of the drill with bleach. But I saw that she didnt replace the solid piece that the dentist uses to clean between the teath. It is like a hook with a sharp end. Assuming that this piece was used on the patient before me, was I at risk of infection considering that about 6 to 7 minutes passed before the doctor used that piece on me???
Thanks for your patience
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I STRONGLY suggest you get some mental health help. I also don't see why there is a 47 post thread on getting HIV from a toothbrush. Those questions have all been answered a long time ago.
This site is for you to ask questions about possible HIV transmission. The transmission of HIV via food and toothbrushes have been explained to you. So don't use this website as an emotional crutch everytime you get worried about HIV from a dentist etc. I suggest you do something about the underlying cause, rather than worrying about infection from the dentist.
R
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I recently had sex with a sex-worker (2 weeks ago). The condom broke during the sex and I felt it break so I directly pulled out. I didnt get any concern at first because I know that this is a very low risk event but yesterday I had a mild case of diharrea (not severe), so I was afraid that this can be ARS. I didnt have any fever or any other symptoms....only this mild diharrea. Should I be worried?
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....is that risky???
*posting deleted*
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You've been here long enough to know the answer to that. If you are wanting to test so bad then do the test. You've got 11 more weeks before you can test and get a conclusive test which will be negative. Why? Because you withdrew when you heard it break. So after 11 weeks come back and give us your negative results. We don't want you to come back and tell us how worried with anxiety or stressed out you are waiting. See you in 11 weeks or so.
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I dont really intend to test. I have one more question though. My diarrhea cleared away on its own the next day (so it only lasted one day and it was mild)....that couldnt be ARS right?
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You are correct. It is NOT ars. Probably whatever you had for dinner or lunch.
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I went for a test today just for peace of mind and as u predicted it was negative. The S/Co value was 0.53 and they told me that since it is less than 1, then it is considered negative. My question is, since this test looks for antibodies, why would the value not be zero if no antibodies are found. I mean this value is always fluctuating, but shouldnt it be constant all the time if no antibodies are present?
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The tests can not measure any lower.
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Rapidrod, I didnt quite understand ur reply. Was this the minimum value that the test could give?
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Tests can only read to a certain level.
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So now you're going to obsess about the structural design of the test when you have tested negative?
You tested negative. Period. Your risk was very low to begin with so that's no surprise. Re-test at 13 weeks to confirm the earlier result.
How about getting productively busy in your life? You'll find the waiting time will go much more quickly than you imagine. And yes, I do expect you will continue to test negative.
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So did the test prove that I have no antibodies, or did the 0.53 value mean that I am in the process of producing antibodies but they are not at the detectable level yet for them to say that I am HIV positive?
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So did the test prove that I have no antibodies, or did the 0.53 value mean that I am in the process of producing antibodies but they are not at the detectable level yet for them to say that I am HIV positive?
can anybody please answer me
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It meant that you are HIV negative period. Which you were told already.
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If I have no antibodies, how come the test gave this high value? I have tested several times before and the value was always between 0.2 - 0.29. Could it be that my body has started prooducing antibodies and these were caught by the test but their number is still low and that is why the test didnt come out completely positive ??
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Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
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No need to get all worked out over this rapidrod....take it easy man :) :-*
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Enough with the questions. You had your test for a non risk issue now you are doubting your test. You've gone on long enough with this. You're negative and that is final.
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No need to get all worked out over this rapidrod....take it easy man :) :-*
Thats a little pot calling the kettle black isnt it?
It should be US telling you (which we have been and continue to do) to take it easy and not get all worked up. But you keep coming back with irrational fears which is common around here and its what we do. But please DO try to put this behind you, you are negative!
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Hiv is a very fragile virus. there is very low risk that brushing your teeth would get it into your bloodstream. Besides that the fluoride in the toothpaste would kill the virus. but it would probably ease your worries to go get tested while you are there take the time to learn about transmission risks. BTW brushing your teeth should not cause your gums to bleed go to the dentist and see whats up with that.
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Donin, as we know nothing about you I would say its not overly helpful when you post in the Am I forums.
This is a NO RISK situation not a low risk. YOU HEAR THAT ALMOST!?? It is a NO RISK. You had no risk for HIV in this situation. Please seek the help of a mental health professional if your anxiety continues.
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Donin, you're brand new to this site. Please don't take it upon yourself to start answering questions in this section. Those who are answering people's questions are members who have been around for a while and whom we know.
The kind of response you gave is likely to further stir the anxiety level of an obsessive person.
Thanks for your cooperation.
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Almost, it's time to call a halt here. You've been at it with non-risks for over four months.
If this continues I will give a you a time out and you can potentially be banned from the site.
If you can't let go of your unwarranted concerns about HIV then you need to see a mental health professional to deal with the emotional aspects of whatever is going on.
You've been given solid information and responses here and yet you continue to come up with yet another question and another worry. Enough is enough.