POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: baijin201099 on June 12, 2012, 10:03:47 am
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I have a potential exposure to HIV virus two weeks ago, and I'm really worried about infection right now. I've done many research by myself about the acute infection symptoms, but all the information is inconsistent. Then, I'd like to seek some help here.
What does the acute HIV infection rash look? Are they a cluster of small bumps or apart? Three days ago, I got about 8 red rashes on my left arm. They are red spots, sparsely distributed, about 2 inches away from each other. Now, they disappeared. Are these possibly caused by HIV infection? What do the acute HIV infection rash look? They they appear in big amount and multiple areas? Do they keep growing and spreading out? How long do they last? BTW, I don't have a fever, if I do, I'll be scared to pieces :)
Thank you very much,
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baijin,
What do you believe put you at risk for hiv infection? Unless it was unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, you're worrying for nothing.
The rash that sometimes (not always) accompanies hiv seroconversion is not raised, bumpy or itchy. It is similar to a meningitis rash - a reddening of the skin. It normally occurs on the torso (back and/or chest), not the arms.
If you have actually been at risk, the earliest you should test is at six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.
Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
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 the 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
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Hey there,
Three weeks ago, I went to Mexico and had an oil massage. I'd been naked during the massage. I was facing down. At the end of the massage, I was offered either a hand job or sex intercourse. Then, I realized it was also the bed for commercial sex. Now, I'm concerned that they didn't change the bed sheet at all. If other HIV positive bodily fluid or semen were in the bed, my penis might have contact with these fluids. BTW, I didn't accept the hand job or sex. I didn't let the lady to touch my penis. The only potential contact is between my penis and the sheet.
I recently developed some ASR symptoms, like rash. Therefore, I'm really scared. Is it possible to get HIV from this situation? Or is there any HIV infection case like this?
Thanks a lot,
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Baijin,
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 everything in one thread. It doesn't matter how long it has been since you last posted in your thread or if the subject matter is different.
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.
You have not had a risk for hiv infection.
The sheets could have been dripping in someone else's semen, sweat or other bodily fluids and you would not have been at risk for hiv infection.
Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.
Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, hiv CANNOT be transmitted from objects in the environment, including cum-soaked sheets.
You could have had the handjob - hiv is NOT transmitted by handjobs. Handjobs are one of the safest things you can do where sex is concerned. You could also have had intercourse, provided you used a condom. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection.
Many things can cause a rash. If yours doesn't go away, see a doctor. It has NOTHING to do with hiv.
You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection.
You do not need to test over this specific incident.
Please re-read your entire thread (make sure you read my first reply to you), and keep any additional replies in THIS thread only. Do not start another new thread and do not post in other people's threads. Thank you for your cooperation.
Ann
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Hey Ann,
Thanks a lot for your reply. That helps me a lot release my concern.
Actually, I have an HIV phobia. I wish this is the last time I have it. I understand what you say, and I know the chances are very very low, something like 1 out of 1 billion, but just couldn't help myself from thinking of it.
Anyway, I found your replies in all the posts very helpful. You're doing something a physician cannot do, and sometimes this is even more important than treatment itself.
I hope I can stop thinking of this anymore. It's killing me. I haven't had a good sleep for quite a long time. Is there anything I can do to get out of the phobia?
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Baijin,
Sorry, we cannot help you with your hiv phobia here, apart from giving you the scientific facts of hiv transmission. It's a scientific fact that you absolutely cannot become infected from hiv on a sheet. No way, no how. It's impossible.
I suggest you seek out the services of a mental health therapist to help you with your phobia. You need to see someone face-to-face for this. You won't get any help from an internet forum. You might ask your regular doctor for a referral to a qualified therapist. We can't do that for you.
You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection.
Use condom for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!!!
Ann
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Well, Ann, I would say you have already helped me with my hiv phobia here. Reading the scientific facts again and again will eventually get rid of my fear. If we don't trust science, what else can we listen?
Thanks again,