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Author Topic: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused  (Read 3862 times)

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Offline AnxientillyNervous

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Hi everyone, I think I stalked this forum long enough in silence. So here goes . My 1st question to the forum. Yes I have had unprotected sex and I tested pos for genital herpes, I noticed a blister went to the doc and yes it was herpes. I freaked out and left without getting tested for HIV ( this is very hard and I will be tested in the next month, working my nerves up) I have 2 boys that I want to live for so ill test soon. Ok, I'm rambling sorry! I know u guys don't do symptoms but help, herpes (test 3wks ago) and now my bones aches soo bad my arms are tender periodically throughout the day and my hands go numb, a couple of months ago is had tingling in my fingertips. I'm a 34yr old female and so far I had 1 herpes OB, I believe I contracted Herpes summer of 2012. I'm so nervous I'm rambling. Do u have most symptoms all at once are do they attack at different times, is possible my body aches because I have AIDS. I haven't had the flu symptoms yet. Sorry for my stupidity I really don't know and u guys seem to know it all. I'm really nervous sorry.

Offline Jeff G

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  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2013, 06:18:37 pm »
Hi Nervous , the only way to know if you are HIV positive is to test at the appropriate time . You will need to test as early as 6 weeks and again at 3 months past any possible exposure to confirm your results .

Im not overlooking your questions about symptoms but as you probably know from reading the forum that we do not discuss symptoms because symptoms are not HIV specific and testing is the only way to know you HIV status .   
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline jkinatl2

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Re: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2013, 06:22:36 pm »
Hello!

First off, deep breaths.

You did have a risk, and you do need to test. If it has been more than three months since the last time you had unprotected sex, then your test will be definitive.

None of the things you mention sound anything at all like the acute viral response that many, but not all people experience when seroconverting. In addition, most people seroconvert within 21 days past exposure.

HIV does not make a person sick all at once, past the initial seroconversion. It can take a long time for an impaired immune system to manifest. Years past infection for most people, actually. However, it is important that you be tested. And if it happens that you are HIV positive, you might need to start treatment. Rest assured, HIV in 2013 is nothing whatsoever like HIV in 1990. There are literally hundreds of combinations of medication choices, many of which have few of any side effects.

But chances are good, in a one-off episode, that you won't need that information - because you will likely test negative. But you really should test, and not just for HIV. A complete STD panel would be a terrific idea, as several STDs such as syphilis and chlamydia can go unnoticed and do a great deal of preventable damage.

Of course, you don't need me to tell you that the way to avoid HIV and drastically reduce your risk for other STDs is to use a condom for penetrative sex.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline AnxientillyNervous

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Re: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2013, 08:20:27 pm »
Thank u guys both for your replies . And I know MUST get tested or ill drive myself crazy. Thanks !

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2013, 08:36:05 pm »
Nothing you are reporting symptomatically is HIV specific. But as has been suggested to you already, have a full STD panel done when you get tested. That way you can get on with your life with hopefully an all-clear on all the other STDs.

In the meantime while waiting to test, make a real effort to focus on other things in your life. With two kids to look after that shouldn't be hard. By doing that you can be surprised at how much more easily the waiting time to getting tested will pass.

Good luck with your test and keep us posted.
Andy Velez

Offline AnxientillyNervous

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Re: anxious , nervous, scared, doubtful, concerned and confused
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2013, 11:22:34 pm »
Thx for the great advice Andy .

 


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