you say may, then say nay.

[jimpsters]

now i am asking this because about 4 weeks ago, i let a guy give me a blowjob, and yes i have seen that it is said to be a no risk activity, but on the information pages it states that although there has never been a documented case of H.I.V. being transmitted by receiving a blowjob, there is still a risk of it happening.

i am wondering this because i started to develope what could be seen as symptoms of the primary infection of H.I.V. but could also be the symptoms of many other things as well, and there for i will not get into the symptoms i am feeling, because i don't think discribing them would make any difference. but i would like to take the time to inform you that about 8 years or so ago, i developed a medical condition called rieter's syndrome. i am not sure how many of ya all is familiar with the sydrome, and will not get too deep into details of it, but to say that it is caused by a gene in my blood, and in itself is not a infection or a virus, it can not be passed, nor is it fatal, or does it require medical attention or treatment. Rieter's syndrome is a reaction to a infection. number one cause is the infection of Clymidia. anyhows.
mush like H.I.V. Reiters syndrome also effects one's imune system. only instead of weakening it, the syndrom kicks one's immune system into hyperdrive. which in turn can mimic many of the symptoms of H.I.V. i was tested for clymidia and gonerea 5 times during the tests i went through while i was going through the syndrome, and all 5 times they all came back negitive. i also on my own accord waited 6 months and had myself tested for H.I.V. it too was negitve.

now the only real reason i bring up my rieter's syndrom is because it is said that only 10% of the people out there have this gene in their blood, and only 10% of that 10% will ever develope the syndrome. well i am one of the unlucky 10% of the 10% and to make my luck even worse, it happened the first time i was with a girl or anyone for that matter for over 5 years.

 a few years ago. i developed thrush, and got the scare of H.I.V. in me again, for it is also said that if no infection can be found that caused the onset of Reiter's. H.I.V. could very well be the cause.
 so i once again had myself tested, it was once again, negitive. since that test i have done nothing to put my at risk of infection, outside of the recent blowjob. now i got these symptoms again. and once again, has me in a worry. although it is stated to be a low risk, and no documented cases ever been filed. don't forget about my unlucky 10% of the 10%. and i often wonder if the side effects of the rieter's syndrome could some how mask the results of the H.I.V. test. it is said that the syndrome goes away 6 to 8 months after initial onset, and on the whole it does. but it never goes away completely. it always there. as i tell so many it has left me never sick, but always ill.

 so i guess, from what i have told you here, what is your accessment of my risk factor and what is your professional oppinion of the chances of me contracting H.I.V. either in recent event, or could H.I.V. remained hidden and undetected in my system inspite of tests due to my medical condition of the Reiter's syndrome?

[RapidRod]

You were never at risk of contracting HIV from receiving a blowjob. HIV doesn't hide.

[Ann]

jim,

The "theoretical risk" spoken of in the lesson regarding oral is talking about GIVING blowjobs, not receiving a blowjob. Not one person has ever, EVER been infected this way and you aren't going to be the first.

Not only is saliva not infectious, but it also contains over a dozen different proteins and enzymes that damage hiv and render it unable to infect. This is why kissing is also a NO RISK activity.

Illnesses that cause the immune system to go into "hyperdrive" can cause false POSITIVE results, not false negative results. So you're in the unlucky 10% of people who become symptomatic for Reiter's. So what? There is no 10% of people who become infected with hiv through getting a blowjob, so stop equating the two. Reiter's has nothing to do with hiv and visa-versa.

Bacterial STIs are not the only bacteria that can cause Reiter's. Other bacteria include: Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter. source

You don't have hiv. Stop chasing an illness you don't have and concentrate on alleviating the symptoms of the one you DO have.

Ann

[jimpsters]

thank-you Ann and Rod for ya reply, and i knew from what i have read on here, that receiving is said to be a no-risk scenerio. but i guess me is worried even about the theoritical part of it all. because if it can happen,i am just likely the unlucky one it would happen to.

 but anyhows i am prolly gonna be tested anyhows reguardless. i feel when it comes to a H.I.V. test, one has nothing to lose, but everything to gain, and it is always better to be safe then sorry.

 i would like to take the time to clarify perhaps on why i brought up Rieter's, and yes i know there are several reasons it can occur, but the number one reason is Clymidia. which is what the doctors suspected i had, even though i tested negitive, they thinking first test was a false negitive, and by the time all the other tests was done, the meds they gave me cleaned it out, tech, the girl i was with, could have had a yeast infection, and that could have got into me,the cause to this day is unknown,and will remain unknown.

 and i didn't mean to make it sound like Rieters and H.I.V. are related, i was just trying to say that the side effects of the two are similiar. I did read that if one suspects one having Rieter's syndrome and a cause is never found, then one should be tested for H.I.V. for that could be the cause. and i think what they meant by that is, it may not be rieter's syndrome but could be H.I.V. because the symptoms can be very similiar. and i was tested and was negitve.

 As far as treating the symptoms i am feeling, i dunno if they will go away until i know for sure that i am negitive. this all happened to me a few years ago when i came down with thrush. my body worked itself all up thinking i had H.I.V. the side effects i feel from having the reiter's just made it all worse. once i was tested and came out negitve, the symptoms i felt went away with in a few days. i suspect same thing will happen this time too. i came here,because although the internet can be a great place to find information about something, it can also be a good place to become misinformed about a subject. i have read through the staff page, and see that all of you have good creditials and are pretty familair with what you are discussing, and it is a comfort, to hear that you feel i am in no danger.

thank you again for your time, i appriciate your allowing me to ask my question here, it has helped me.
as i said i am gonna be tested reguardless, just because it something i feel i must do. danger or not. i will post my results after my test two months from now. just to bring this whole thing to a closure. thank you again.

[Ann]

Jim,

Regular hiv testing is recommended for all sexually active adults, so testing isn't necessarily a bad thing. It only becomes a bad thing when it is done obsessively, and the results are habitually dis-believed. Since I didn't give you it the first time around, I'll give you my standard spiel on the subject:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Hiv and STI testing should be as routine and done as regular as your once-a-year dental check up. Look at it this way - you don't stop going in for regular dental check ups just because you brush and floss every day and don't think you have any cavities. Regular check ups are just part of what responsible adults do to safeguard their health.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[jimpsters]

heh, well ann using the dental check up as comparison isn't a good example in my case, i got no teeth. he he he he. but i know what you are saying. i have never had anal intercourse with a guy, that just too dangerous for me.  as far and viaginal intercourse i been with the same girl for over 6 years. and as mentioned i tested two years ago and was negitive. the only exposure i could have had since my last test was the blow job, and that is all i ever done with another guy, outside of rubbing penis's together, and from what i am being told here, i was never at risk of exposure which is good to hear. but i feel, for just my knowledge alone, i should be tested. i am not a person to be tested and retested because i didn't like the results. if my test comes back negitive, then i am negitive, and i can find out what is keeping me sick, it been three weeks now that something has been in my system. never gets better, and never gets worse. so i guess it gonna be a process of elimination. and H.I.V. although you say shouldn't be on the list. i have it on there, just because. it wouldn't have been on it, if i didn't allow the guy to blow me. but i did, so there fore, it is.
 Risk, no Risk, or low Risk. it just something i have to do even if it is just to ease my mind.

[RapidRod]

Your problems have nothing to do with HIV and your test from receiving a blowjob will be negative.

[Andy Velez]

Easing your mind is a legitimate decision to make. Your negative result is inevitable.

Although you apparently don't have any intentions to change to other sexual activities, keep in mind that the only confirmed risks for sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. So if you step out from a monogamous relationship to do those things whoever is the insertive partner needs to be wearing a condom. No exceptions.

Cheers.