Oral Thrush

[Ben83]

Evening all,

Thank you for offering this service. Me: Male heterosexual.

Aug 05 - Unprotected vaginal sex
Oct 06 - Protected vaginal, but minute scratches remained uncovered.
Both partners status unknown

Amongst many symptoms (skin rashes, ongoing bowel problems, loads of colds) I have had oral thrush for coming up for two years (I first noticed it a month or so after the Oct 06 "exposure", no other predisposing factors). I never went to the Doctor for it, but did so recently. It is on the tongue only and hasn't spread to any other parts or got any better or worse. 

I tested negative outside of the window period from the last exposure, but am concerned that the persistent thrush (in conjunction with the other symptoms) may indicate an immune problem that may invalidate the test. I also read here and elsewhere, stupidly, about people who haven't ever developed antibodies.

Despite the calm nature of this post I am, to be blunt, shitting it!

Any advice?

Cheers in advance!

[RapidRod]

See your doctor or dentist for thrush. Thrush is not indicative of HIV and you have a conclusive negative result.

[Ann]

Ben,

I rather doubt you have oral thrush. It hurts like hell and there's no way you would have waited two years to get it checked out.

You've tested conclusively hiv negative - your only risk was the UNPROTECTED intercourse. You don't have hiv.

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 with 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.

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

Ann

[Ben83]

Thanks for the replies.

That first exposure was the only time I have never used a condom.

Why do the scratches not pose a risk?

[Andy Velez]

HIV is a fragile virus. It's not easily transmitted such as via "scratches" because the virus needs the kind of receptive setting which unprotected intercourse provides all too well.

You need to be discussing your symptoms with your doctor. You're HIV negative and you can keep it that way by always using condoms for intercourse. No exceptions.

Stop self-diagnosing. That's bad for your health and will only make you crazy. 

[Ben83]

I have been doing a bit of reading, hoping to find out and ease my mind about the whole "scratches" issue. With regards to Andy's post above, what is the difference between a scratch and, say, a concurrent STD (say syphilis or herpes) that actually increases the risk of infection? Is it that the cells that HIV need are only present because of the concurrent infection itself as opposed to a mechanical scratch?
 
An what if the "scratches" were in fact something like herpes (which I don't think they were)? Do these concurrent infections HAVE to be at the head of the penis?
 
Any advice or clarification would be greatly appreciated.

[Andy Velez]

Buddy, I say scratch the scratches issues. It's totally irrelevant in your case. You're continuing to indulge in getting caught up in minutae and ignoring the basic fact that you have reliably tested negative for HIV.

Period. End of story.

We're not here to go back and forth with your HIV equivalent of how many angels can fit on the head of a pin.

As long as you consistently use condoms for intercourse you will be well protected from HIV sexual risks. Everything else is strictly only theoretically risky.

And you're HIV negative. Period. Keep it that way by using condoms.

[Ben83]

Thanks. The reason I'd like to know these things is because I'm trying to talk myself OUT of this mindset, not further IN. It helps by knowing about such things. I've just had so many problems over the past couple of years, that it's difficult to not associate the co-incidence of "symptoms" with the timing of the "exposures". All people like me see is a before and after pattern.

[Andy Velez]

Yes, I hear you. But what you need to do is to concentrate on other productive areas in your life. In my experience it's a mistake to focus on "just one more piece of information" because it just feeds the addiction of anxiety.

Scratches on your penis or elsewhere do not put you at risk. Period. Sexually the risk is all about unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse. The rest is essentially theoretical and if you get yourself wound up in those possibilties there's no end to the torture. Give it up and get on with your life.

Cheers.

[Ben83]

Hi,

I found this quote from Moffie65.

"One must remember that even a pubic hair cut is the equivalent to an 8
lane highway to HIV.  This viral protein dosen't need much more than
an open wound of any size, to come on in and have it's way with us."

Is he right? He obviously knows his onions.

[RapidRod]

You were never at risk of contracting HIV.

[Ann]

Ben,

No, he's not right. He may know his stuff when it comes to living with this virus, but that doesn't necessarily mean he knows his stuff where transmission is concerned.

You tested hiv negative far outside the window period for your only real risk - unprotected intercourse. You don't have hiv.

If you're still worried about your mouth, see a dentist. If you're worried about other physical problems, see a doctor. Whatever is going on has NOTHING to do with hiv. You don't HAVE hiv.

Ann