POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: panicmode on August 19, 2007, 08:02:50 pm

Title: terrified about testing
Post by: panicmode on August 19, 2007, 08:02:50 pm
i had unprotected sex about 6 weeks ago after a night of drinking....
last week i started feeling really anxious about having HIV , and i know i may have done one of the dumbest things in my life by sleeping with someone unprotected.

i have some questions?
what are my chances of getting HIV... it was lots of oral mainly him to me and some intercourse.

I feel tightness in my chest and neck....and no fever but whenever i think about it i get really hot my face and neck.....
im scared to get tested how can i get over it and just get it done?

my lower back also hurts and i feel really tense around my neck and chest area i feel like something is putting pressure on my chest.
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: jedispider on August 19, 2007, 09:03:25 pm
for a guy i think chances are 1 in 2000 or 1 in 1000, thats wat dr hunter handsfield said, women however have 1in a couple 100 i think since ur a guy u have an advantage, test in 2 months u most likely wont have it though. Well please anyone correct me if im wrong but Dr hunter handsfield stated that most people who have hiv test possitive at 6 weeks, umm and for a test thats 90 percent reliable its 4weeks. im not sure if im right about that but hopefullysomeone can correct me.
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: panicmode on August 19, 2007, 09:05:44 pm
i am a girl....please explain your answer again please
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: jedispider on August 19, 2007, 09:13:26 pm
doh ok well its still 1 in a couple hundred there is more risk in having anal sex. your symptoms seem to be coming from anxiety but dr handsfield who is an std specialist in washington university said that most people tested positive at 6 weeks if they had an exposure, but im not sure if thats right i think its 90% reliable or somethin, hey dont worry though do u know if the guy had hiv?
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: panicmode on August 19, 2007, 09:35:56 pm
no i dont know if he has anything but i started feeling anxious and just felt like crap.....im planning to get tested in two weeks which it will be 8 weeks i hope i can rely on the results cause i dont know if i can muster enough to do it again.... im very scared of a positive result
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: anniebc on August 19, 2007, 09:37:12 pm
Jedispider

While I'm sure you mean well please do not post advise to others in this forum...please leave it to the experts....thanks for your cooperation.
Please read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0)under posting guides Paragraph 4.

Panicmode... please do the same and read the welcome post and follow the guide lines to the lessons and HIV transmissions.

Jan

Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: jedispider on August 19, 2007, 09:42:21 pm
u most likely wont, u can go ahead and test now for the result to be 90% reliable :D, i doubt u have hiv all your symptoms seem from stress, good luck and just chill is there a reason why you think your partner has hiv? even if he did as i said 1 in like 300-400 chance of u getting hiv.
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: jedispider on August 19, 2007, 09:43:09 pm
thanks annie just trying to help out :)
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: Andy Velez on August 19, 2007, 10:44:10 pm
Panic, your symptoms mean absolutely nothing in terms of telling you anything accurately about your HIV status. There is nothing HIV-specific about any of them. I would hazard a guess that stress is playing some part, but if they persist you should discuss them with your doctor.

Ultimately you need to test at 13 weeks for a definitive result. The average time to serconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure to the HIV virus. Should you decide you want to test now at 6 weeks and hopefully test negative, the likelihood is very strong that you will continue to test negative.

You do need to learn from this experience. Mixing excessive drinking and casual sex is a mighty dangerous combination. Hopefully you will make it through safely this time. Don't let it happen again.

Good luck with your test(s).

Cheers,
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: panicmode on August 20, 2007, 11:59:36 pm
thanks
but im also terrified of the testing and the waiting
any advice for me? im so scared about the ordeal
Title: Re: to many questions
Post by: panicmode on September 12, 2007, 06:06:19 pm
hi again,
its been 11 weeks since posible exposure. im so scared of taking the test. any words of encouragement?  just thinking about makes my heart beat faster anxiety is killing me is stoping me from living life but im just so scared please help
Title: terrified about testing
Post by: panicmode on September 13, 2007, 09:19:17 am
11weeks since possible exposure and im terrified to get tested
im feeling so anxious i cant sleep at night or live my daily life
any words or encouragement, i wanna get tested but thinking about it makes my heart beat faster im terribly terrified. please advise
Title: Re: terrified about testing
Post by: Ann on September 13, 2007, 09:48:29 am
Panic,

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.

Which is better, testing and most likely receiving a negative result, or if you do happen to be hiv positive, finding out years down the line when you're in hospital with a possibly fatal case of PCP pneumonia?

Your chance of testing negative is MUCH higher than your chance of testing positive. Go have the test done at the appropriate time - and I suspect you'll find you've been stressing out for no good reason. The ONLY way to find out is to test.

You CAN do it. You can be frightened as all get-out, but you can still go in there and test. No matter what the result, it's the best thing you can do for you. You NEED to know one way or another. This is not negotiable.

Good luck with the testing, and let us know your result. I'm expecting a negative after this one-time incident and so should you.

Ann
Title: Re: terrified about testing
Post by: panicmode on October 04, 2007, 06:00:02 pm
well i finally did it. it was negative i promised to change my life and i will. im not having sex until im ready and is 100 percent safe.  i wanna thank the moderators for all their advice. you guys are really doing a great service.  thanks again.   
Title: Re: terrified about testing
Post by: anniebc on October 04, 2007, 10:54:10 pm
Well done..I'm glad you took Anns advise.

When you are ready to have sex again just remember...CONDOMS AT ALL TIMES...NO EXCEPTIONS.

Stay well and take care.

Jan