POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Almost ready on January 11, 2012, 09:47:05 am

Title: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: Almost ready on January 11, 2012, 09:47:05 am

Hello

Firstly I want to explain that I have read a few posts and I know there are quite a few somewhat paranoid scenarios being discussed and I hate to add to them but I have not yet had the chance to get tested because I've been travelling and I know that if the test comes back positive then I'll need to support of my family and friends so I'm waiting until I get back to Australia before I get tested. I will just say that I put myself in a risky sexual situation and have since experienced a number of the initial symptoms.

I am the sort of person who needs to plan for the worst or I will be devastated by news I'm unprepared for so I've done a lot of research and have come to the point where I think I am almost ready to accept a HIV positive finding and i was so happy to see the many dating options for HIV positive people.

My question relates to what symptoms I should expect in the first year of having HIV. I have not been able to find much information about this and because I start work when I get back to Australia I really want to know what to expect in terms of symptoms.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my comments. Again I know I have not had the test yet but please understand that I'm trying to emotionally prepare for anything and if I test negative I certainly won't regret having prepared myself and learnt so much about HIV and the HIV positive community.

Title: Re: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: Andy Velez on January 11, 2012, 11:23:22 am

Neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms will ever tell you anything accurately about your HIV status.

What was the nature of your "risky" incident?

Title: Re: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: Almost ready on January 13, 2012, 07:22:31 am

I do understand that symptoms are not conclusive however I experienced all the symptoms except rash over a 6 week period post the incident.

The incident was sex between myself and a man from Kenya. For the part that I remember a condom was used though I don't remember the whole night. Also the first time I had sex I contracted the herpes simplex virus which I understand increases the chances of contracting HIV.

I know I won't know with certainty until I am tested in Australia but I just want to know what to expect post the acute symptoms. It would just help me feel a little more in control of the situation to know what to expect.

Title: Re: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on January 13, 2012, 07:24:52 am

You had protected sex and didn't have a risk of contracting HIV.

Title: Re: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: Almost ready on January 13, 2012, 07:50:40 am

Thank you for the replies, I will be sure to post the outcomes of my test in a few months. Also I forgot to add that I am female.

Title: Re: What to expect from year 1 - HIV symptoms
Post by: Andy Velez on January 13, 2012, 08:40:42 am

Contracting herpes does not in itself make you more vulnerable to acquiring HIV. It's if you already have an active case of herpes that means your immune system is down and that would make you more vulnerable to other things including HIV.

Good luck with your test.