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Author Topic: Symptoms but the circumstances seem so unlikely?  (Read 2468 times)

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Offline Breakofdawn

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Symptoms but the circumstances seem so unlikely?
« on: May 13, 2013, 05:55:43 pm »
Hi, all,

I'm a little bit terrified right now. For quite some time (I'd say the past 3+ years), I've been having muscle spasms, bouts of swollen, painful lymph nodes, muscle pain/aches, and a few brown spots appearing on my leg that look much like the spots I see in the usual "HIV symptoms" photos. I have a lot of trouble sleeping and I'm often quite drowsy. The thing is, I'd consider myself very, very unlikely to be at risk -- I've had 3 partners total, and I've used condoms with all of them, so it didn't even occur to me to get tested until today (I just went in for a blood test; they'll have results in 8 days). I've done unprotected oral as well, but that seems very low risk from what I've been reading.

On the other hand, my symptoms seem pretty reflective of HIV... however, I have had a rather poor immune system since I was young, plus I have HSV-1 (oral and whitlow), so I'm hoping these symptoms are due to a combination of those two. On the other hand, these brown spots look exactly like what I see in pictures of HIV brown spots, and when I scratch at them they come away a little pink underneath...

Sorry about the paranoia, but I'm quite anxious right now. Any insights would be really appreciated.

Offline jkinatl2

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Re: Symptoms but the circumstances seem so unlikely?
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2013, 06:28:59 pm »
Well, if your sex has all been protected. So there has been no risk for HIV.

In addition, none of your symptoms seem at all unique to HIV infection.

HIV brown spots are, I assume, referring to Kaposis Sarcoma, a type of cancer that sometimes appears in later-stage untreated AIDS. Those spots are not brown, but rather a reddish-purple. You would not have them for three years without becoming deathly ill from that spreading cancer. Likely if it was untreated KS you woulda be dead.

I find it odd that, given your poor immune system, you would fixate in what seem to be very mild and vague symptoms and even think to assign them to a pathogen to which you have no chance if being exposed. It might be a good idea to seek out therapy to understand and develop better control over these irrational thoughts.

"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

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Offline Breakofdawn

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Re: Symptoms but the circumstances seem so unlikely?
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2013, 01:37:20 am »
Hi,

Thank you for your reply and reassurance. I definitely tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac, which probably only accentuates the issues with my immune system and my HSV outbreaks.

I will still go for my test results, anyway, since I haven't done a thorough STD checkup anyhow, but I feel much less stressed about this. Thank you again. :)

Offline jkinatl2

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Re: Symptoms but the circumstances seem so unlikely?
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2013, 02:23:12 am »
You are most welcome. I always recommend that ANY sexually active adult who is not in a mutually monogamous relationship get a full STD screening, including an HIV test (of course) every six months. While HIV is very difficult to get, other STDs such as syphilis are not. And if left untreated, syphilis (which often shows NO noticeable primary symptoms) is fatal.

You owe it to yourself, and to anyone you love (romantically/physically or otherwise) to do this. I sincerely wish you the best.

"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

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