SOMEONE PLEASE HELP...IM SCARED

[LonelyGirl]

color=pink]Hello everyone,
 I'm here today for some advise and because I'm scared and lonely and have no one at all to talk to. So here's my story i had sex with this guy twice, the first time was in January and the second time was in September both times were protected. I had been tested for HIV after the first time we had sex and the test was negative that was in April. I always get tested once a year. But after this second time, which was in setember we had sex and the condom came off as soon as i realized this i told him to stop. A week later is when i started having these strange symptoms. Symptoms i had never felt in my life.

A week after we had sex i had a sore throat and ear, so i took some antibiotics for it. Then a couple days later i had diarrhea and bad stomach pain, so i went to the hospital. About a week later i started having really bad muscle twitches Manley in my legs non stop it go so bad i could barely sleep. Since i couldn't sleep i was tired all the time and could barely make it through the work day.Two weeks later the diarrhea had started again and and my stomach was making these very loud noises so i stoped eatting because of the pain and diarrhea, so i lost about 10pounds. After a week i was feeling better and was eatting again, but it seems like im not gaining any weight. I started having pain in my feet like they were fallings asleep and they were very cold and my muscles in my leg would hurt so bad when i walked. I had a white toung and my eyes were red and swollen and i think i had a yeast infection. I had all these symptoms but no nausea, vomiting or fever.This has been going on since September and now its December. My body feels like its been to HELL and back.

Since all these things have been happening to me i have been so depressed. I went to the doctor and they gave me pills for depression but I'm scared to take them because of all the side effects. The thing that hurts the most about this is i have no one friends or family to talk to this about . I want to get a HIV test but I'm so scared. Getting tested was never a problem for me before, but now I'm scared to death. This has been on my mind for 2 1/2 months all day non stop. Some days i cant wait to get off work so i can get into my car and cry. What makes me so sad is that everyone around me seems so happy and i feel sad in thoughts that i may have messed up my life.

[Andy Velez]

Your risk when the condom slipped off was a low one since you report that you stopped intercourse virtually immediately.

You can get tested at 13 weeks post the incident and you are very close to that time now. And you should get tested if only to relieve your mind. Given what you have reported I see it as likely that you will test negative.

There is absolutely nothing that is in any way HIV specific about your "symptoms." You should be discussing them with your doctor if they persist.

Good luck with your HIV test. 

[LonelyGirl]

I just went and got tested now i have to wait for my results. But my question is do people that are infected have early symptoms all at once or does it happen in series, meaning week after week? I don't know what my results are yet but i have been having new symptoms one after another. I have talked to a doctor about this and a HIV mental health counselor about this and they said they never herd of my symptoms being HIV related. I tested for std's and they all came back negative. But i did have a uti and the doctor game me antibiotics for it. But my main question is if someone did test positive for HIV and had other infections/illnesses such as a cold if they took medication for it would it even work? Can HIV change the effectiveness of different medications?

[Andy Velez]

The bottom line in all of this is that I think you have a good chance that you are going to test negative. During the second incident you were protected until the condom came off. So it was a single and apparently brief possible exposure.

There is nothing HIV specific about the symptoms you are reporting. And if ARS symptoms occur, they come all at one time and not in the sequential manner you have described. And no, HIV would not affect the effectiveness of medications for other situations.

I expect your result to be negative. Just remember in the future to always continue to have the guy were a condom everytime you have vaginal or anal intercourse. No exceptions.

Good luck with your result.

[LonelyGirl]

So I'm back with the update on my results, they came back nonreactive, which the lady said that means its negative. Do you think i need to go back in a couple months to make sure? The lady that tested me said no i don't need to retest. But i think i want to because i have gone so many months thinking i had HIV that the results don't seem true. Only because I'm wondering why and how someones body can go through so many changes after having sex and have these symptoms and not be HIV related. I'm thinking this because of a websites i saw about early HIV symptoms. Even after testing negative I'm still having problems with my health.

[jkinatl2]

I cannot imagine you being infected with HIV in the manner you describe, especially after your testing.

If you want a sure thing, test at three months past the condom slippage. Moreover, HIV infection does not "set in" in the manner you describe, at all.

[LonelyGirl]

I got another test done at the 4 month point last week and i came back negative. I also went to the er because i still don't feel good. The er couldn't find anything wrong with me they only said that i have a upper respiratory infection and gave me pain pills and antibiotics.

I don't mean to keep bothering people with my guestions but i just keep getting different information about HIV testing. Some say 3 months is accurate but other HIV test site workers say it can take up to 6 months to produce antibodies and that i need to retest at 6 months. This whole process is driving me crazy. My question is, is it 3 months or 6? Is it possible to have the virus and symptoms but no antibodies? And why do testing sites only test for the antibodies and not the virus itself? Does the virus cause different health problems as if a person was sick but when seeing a doctor they don't really find any thing wrong because the symptoms just have to run there course or until someone starts HIV medication.

I'm just asking because i don't know whats wrong with me. I never been sick this long. I feel like I'm going to be one of those people that i takes 6 months to find out.

[RapidRod]

I got another test done at the 4 month point last week and i came back negative. I also went to the er because i still don't feel good. The er couldn't find anything wrong with me they only said that i have a upper respiratory infection and gave me pain pills and antibiotics.

I don't mean to keep bothering people with my guestions but i just keep getting different information about HIV testing. Some say 3 months is accurate but other HIV test site workers say it can take up to 6 months to produce antibodies and that i need to retest at 6 months. This whole process is driving me crazy. My question is, is it 3 months or 6? Is it possible to have the virus and symptoms but no antibodies? And why do testing sites only test for the antibodies and not the virus itself? Does the virus cause different health problems as if a person was sick but when seeing a doctor they don't really find any thing wrong because the symptoms just have to run there course or until someone starts HIV medication.

I'm just asking because i don't know whats wrong with me. I never been sick this long. I feel like I'm going to be one of those people that i takes 6 months to find out.

http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
  In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results.

[Ann]

Lonely,

Why are you going to the ER when you don't feel well? That's what a regular doctor is for. The ER is for serious, life-threatening emergencies or deep cuts and broken bones. The clue is in the name - emergency room.

If you're using the ER because you don't have health insurance, please try to find a clinic or similar who will see you on a sliding fee. It will be cheaper for you in the long run. If you do have insurance and you're still using the ER for mundane things like a cold (that's what an upper respiratory infection is), well, you shouldn't. ERs are expensive places to receive routine care.

I'm telling you all this because you need to work with a doctor to find out what is actually wrong with you. You cannot accomplish that in an ER. Whatever may be wrong with you, you have conclusively ruled hiv out of the picture.

You do NOT have hiv.

Ann

[LonelyGirl]

I know i shouldn't go to the ER but, it was a sunday and i didn't feel good and i was seeing things like big spots/floaters. Yes i have insurance, but i work ten hour shifts so i only really have time to go see a doctor on the weekend. I have been to 3 different urgent cares in the past 4 months, just because everthing is closed when i get off work. I don't use the ER as a doctor. The urgent cares i have been to are not doing anything for me but writing a perscription. Some didn't really examine me. They just right a perscription and send me on my way, which is sad. The ER is the only place that tells me something. They said i may have a bacteria infection and my white blood cells are elevated. I have been taking antibiotics for almost two weeks now and i still feel sick. I have never been on med's this long without feeling a little better. Something is wrong with my body.

[jkinatl2]

I am so sorry you are still feeling unwell. Having ruled out HIV, you can certainly spend your energy working with your doctors to find the real source of your problems.

[Ann]

Lonely,

If you're that unwell, you need to make your health a priority and make an appointment and take the time off work to attend. Urgent care places are only meant as a stop-gap until you can see your regular doctor, so of course they're not going to do much investigation.

You may need a different antibiotic. Not all antibiotics work on all bacteria. This means you need to see a doctor who will examine you and take blood for testing. You're not likely to get that level of on-going care at an urgent care outfit.

If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned!

Ann