POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: js30 on April 07, 2007, 05:31:51 am

Title: Severe Symptoms
Post by: js30 on April 07, 2007, 05:31:51 am
I'm freaking out - I had oral sex performed on me exactly two weeks ago (male to male, my partner's status is undetermined).  starting 3 days ago i developed a sore throat and general aches and pains in my muscles and joints.  Today I woke up and the back of my mouth has raised bumps and i've developed some canker sores, and headache and sore throat persists.  I don't know what to do...I know that I'm not able to get tested this early, but i'm convinced this is it...i know i was at risk through oral sex, but the guy's mouth wasn't dripping with blood and my penis didn't have any noticeable cuts or sores.  Wow, could this really be it??
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on April 07, 2007, 05:40:04 am
You are freaking out about nothing. You do not get HIV from getting a BLOWJOB. Please read the lessons on transmission. The link can be found in the "Welcome" thread. For your symptoms see a doctor, they are unrelated to HIV.
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: js30 on April 07, 2007, 05:47:37 am
I feel like this can't be a more textbook definition of early HIV symptoms...I've read the material out there and acknowledge that the general consensus is that receiving a blow job isn't practically possible to catching HIV, but it's soooo hard to ignore these symptoms as anything but that...the white sores in my mouth was the clincher...i know, i know, i shouldn't be so concerned, but wow - i can't get my mind off it.
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on April 07, 2007, 06:00:24 am
That's why we have doctors.
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: Ann on April 07, 2007, 06:27:34 am
js,

Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection. The ONLY way to know your hiv status is through testing.

Getting a blowjob is NOT a risk for hiv infection. Never has been and never will be. Not one person has ever become infected this way and you will not be the first.

Your symptoms sound like nothing more than an ordinary throat infection. See your doctor for confirmation of this and to get any antibiotic you may need.

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with 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.

Although you absolutely do NOT need to test because you had your dick sucked, 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.

Ann
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: js30 on April 11, 2007, 04:50:58 pm
Quick update - still have lingering symptoms, but they've been getting better - sore throat, aches, fatigue, diarehea, sores in my mouth (week 2 of symptoms, 3 weeks after the unsafe act).  Paid a visit to my doctor, she said it wasn't anything viral, and said everything looked "normal".  Replaying the sexual event in my head, and after visiting the transmissions site, I've also remembered that I had a canker sore in my mouth, and I easily could have gotten pre-cum in my mouth...never inserted the full penis into my mouth, nor did he ejaculate in my mouth, but i did lick it and I'm afraid I could've contracted something this way...trying hard to stay sane, but still quietly freaking out...
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: Andy Velez on April 11, 2007, 04:56:30 pm
Giving a blowjob is way at the low end of the risk scale and particularly if ejaculation did not take place. From what you have described you hardly did anything more than a quick lick at the guy's dick.

I wouldn't even consider that to be anything which required testing.

You need to sort your symptoms out with your doctor.

I don't see any need for testing. However, if you're going to continue to fret over it, then get tested at 13 weeks after the incident and collect the inevitable negative result.

This is NOT and HIV situation. Really.
Title: Re: Severe Symptoms
Post by: Ann on April 11, 2007, 05:05:09 pm
js,

You're more likely - MUCH more likely - to end up with something like gonorrhea or syphilis in your throat/mouth from giving oral than you are hiv. MUCH more likely. With having had a sore throat afterwards, you be wise to check for gono with an oral swab and possibly syphilis with a blood test. Syphilis shares a three month window with hiv - but like hiv, if you actually became infected with syphilis, it would likely show up via the blood test within six weeks.

Ann