Very Paranoid

[ScaredGuy6985]

Hello, I recently had unprotected intercourse and oral with a thai chick about a week ago. She worked at one of these outside beer bars. We went to my hotel and it went down. This all mostly happened in the shower. I was quite intoxicated so I had trouble keeping it up, but it was in there mostly when she was on top. I also performer oral on her and her on me. I am pretty paranoid as I was almost half blacked out. I am on a naval vessel so it sucks to have to go to medical to tell them what happened as you see these poeple all the time. I am not sure if she was HIV+ but she was young probaly 18-20 and seemed health but I know that doesn't matter. This is the first time I have done soemthing like this. I am super scared. Just looking for some words of advice as I have already read numerous different stats on the internet. Thank you for your time

[jkinatl2]

ScaredGuy, you mentioned you had unprotected intercourse.

That is considered a risk for HIV. Although HIV is far more difficult to transmit from female to male, it is NOT no risk. I am afraid you will need to test for HIV at the appropriate time.

Six weeks will bring you test results that are considered all but definitive. The global "Golden Standard" for testing is still three months.

Of course the oral sex was immaterial, as it in and of itself is not a risk. I apologize that we initially misread your original post and only caught the oral sex parts of it.

Unprotected intercourse IS a major risk for HIV, and though I sincerely hope that things turn out OK for you this time, PLEASE take this as a learning experience and never have unprotected intercourse without a condom until you and your partner are in a securely monogamous relationship.

You should know that syphilis shares a three-month testing window with HIV, so PLEASE take the opportunity to get a FULL STD panel for other diseases when you test for HIV.

You say that it sucks to have to go to medical and tell them, as you see these people all the time. Sorry to tell you that this time you are "one of those people." People who make mistakes. Everybody makes them. What matters is that we learn from them.

If the coming weeks of anxiety can be of any service to you, let them caution you about losing control of your faculties in a strange place around people you don't know. Let this event increase your awareness of your limits, your boundaries, and please let it help you to commit to protecting your own health from this point forward.

[ScaredGuy6985]

Thank you so much for your response. I just want to clarifiy when I said "see those people" i just meant the people that work in the medical ward in general, not people getting tested. I am paranoid as this is a aircraft carrier which tends to be more like a high-school. This is wake up call for me big time. I have had problems with drinking in the past but this takes the cake. I will probably quit drinking after this no matter what the results are. I am scheduled for my test tomorrow. I know I am at risk but is there any way to gauge the actual risk. One time encounter with a women with a unknown status. I am sure there is no way to really gauge that. I have seen stats or articles online saying it is low risk but i can't believe it. Is there anything i could be feeling or any symptoms this initial week after?

Thank you

[jkinatl2]

Thank you so much for your response. I just want to clarifiy when I said "see those people" i just meant the people that work in the medical ward in general, not people getting tested. I am paranoid as this is a aircraft carrier which tends to be more like a high-school. This is wake up call for me big time. I have had problems with drinking in the past but this takes the cake. I will probably quit drinking after this no matter what the results are. I am scheduled for my test tomorrow. I know I am at risk but is there any way to gauge the actual risk. One time encounter with a women with a unknown status. I am sure there is no way to really gauge that. I have seen stats or articles online saying it is low risk but i can't believe it. Is there anything i could be feeling or any symptoms this initial week after?

Thank you

Hey no worries. Thanks for the clarification!

As to your questions, there are only ballpark averages which do not rise to the level of credible statistics when discussing risk per encounter. Each sexual act is unique enough, even among the same two people, to skew any chance of a real number. What we DO know is that HIV is significantly more difficult to transmit from female to male, thanks to both the concentration of infectious fluid per unit and the very small area of vulnerability on the male penis.

This isn't to say that it doesn't happen. It's simply not likely to.

Of course, we try not to discuss symptoms on this forum because they are often vague and sometimes do not appear at all. They are not symptoms of the virus in the first place, actually. They are symptoms of the body's initial defense against the virus as it recognizes the pathogen and begins to produce antibodies. You can many of the same symptoms with a cold, allergies, the flu, and even stress/anxiety. It's a rabbit-hole we try to avoid.

As for the drinking, that's an extremely personal decision. I would, however, suggest that you don't make sweeping changes while under this anxiety. Time and again I have seen people swear off drinking/drugs/women/men, only to crash and burn when their unrealistic expectations proved unsustainable. If you do decide to stop drinking, I highly recommend a support group of some sort.

I honestly think you stand a great Chance of coming through this OK.  For what that's worth.

You only have one free post left, so if I have answered your questions you might consider saving it for an announcement on your results. People who read this forum like to have closure.

[ScaredGuy6985]

Thank you for the respons jkin. I understand this is my last post but that is ok because I plan on purchasing some more as you have been a great help (which is an understatement). I would like to update you and see your opinion. I went to medical today and they took my urine. Apparently all they can test for this far from port is chlamidya and I have to wait till we get closer to have the rest.

WHen I woke up this mroning I had really dry red eyes. So bad i could barely close them. I thought nothing of it and went to my work-center. This ship was rocking alot tonight. I am not sure if that is what caused me to vomit or if it was the early HIV. I also have had a little bit of Diahhrea. I am also taking "cephalexin" which is an antibiotic they gave me. It was for a bite or something i got in thailand. This think was a huge red welt. It turned purple and swelled up then started getting better with the antibiotics. They gave me "Meclizine" for my vomiting which i think is standard issue for sea sickness. It has mad me a little better. I only vomited the one time and that was when the ship was reallt moving. Medical here doesn't seem to take my concerns that serious. The guy told me it is very small chance I got hiv and that I have to wait because there is a line of people waiting to get tested.

The sickness I have felt today has made my stress and anxiety increase super substantially. The vomiting and diahhrea are making me believe I am infected. They say there is a virus going aroudn the ship but who knows. I have also recently transitioned from day to night shift which is beating me down. Thank you for listening and everything you do for people on these forums. If i hadn't found this place i would be freaking the fuck out rediculously more. My next response will probably bemy chlamidya results as I am not sure when i can get the rest.

[jkinatl2]

You need to trust your ship's medical staff to know the correct timetable for testing, as syphilis does share the three-month window with HV.

As for the nausea and dry eyes, two things:

cephalexin (and most antibiotics) can and usually do cause at least mild diarrhea and nausea as a side effect. Antibiotics can also cause thrush. Hell, Moderator Ann looks at a bottle of antibiotics and gets thrush. None of these are in any way HIV related. Nausea and diarrhea will cause you to dehydrate, which will explain the dry eyes. Drink loads of water! That sounds counterintuitive but it will really help.

The fact that there is a confirmed virus making it's way through the ship should alleviate your HIV-related anxiety. Ships, schools, camps are notorious for viral outbreaks. Also, nausea and vomiting are NOT typical ARS symptoms in any way. Like I said, you are taking a fairly powerful antibiotic which can cause these things, and of course you might have that virus (which the antibiotic won't touch) to make it worse.

My suggestion is that you occupy yourself during this stressful time, and try not to see everything through HIV-tinted glasses.