What are my chances?

[fortrues]

I was recently at my friend's going away party and I got really drunk. My friend's friend offered me pot which I had never done before and all 4 of us shared the piece/pipe. I found out that one of the people has HIV/HepatitisC.. I read on another site that you can get HIV and HepC from sharing smoking paraphernalia because as the pipe heats up it burns your lips/gums/mouth and I do remember having horribly chapped lips from using the heat here this winter for a while now and I was really drunk but I don't remember any burning feeling except in the back of my throat from the smoke? I didn't see any blood on the pipe but the pipe was dark brown.. but maybe there was? If saliva or blood got into a cut in my mouth (I don't remember if I had a cut in my mouth but I usually do from biting the side of my mouth and my teeth sometimes bleed when I brush) I don't plan on drinking so much or smoking pot ever again btw. Anyway, what are my chances of getting HIV or HepC from this episode? Is there anything to worry about if there were cuts in my mouth and blood/saliva present? Thanks.

[RapidRod]

You were never at risk of contracting HIV or HCV. Take the time to read the liesson secton. You can find the link in the "Welcome" thread.

[Andy Velez]

HIV is absolutely not passed via environmental surfaces. So you were definitely not at risk for it during this recent incident. As for Hep C, we focus strictly on HIV here. But I will say that the likelihood of Hep C transmission from sharing a pipe is fanciful. It does not involve receiving infected blood or the sharing of needles. Those are the two dominant means of Hep C transmission.

You are worrying needlessly and I don't see any need for testing. Get on with your life.

[fortrues]

Ok thank you both for your prompt responses. I have another question.. I had a regular blood test and my lymphocytes were slightly elevated.. does that happen upon HIV infection? This isn't referring to the incident which made me come to the forums but I had an Rapid Oraquick HIV test 3 months after my last unprotected sex encounter (negative) with my ex bf after he had given me HPV and molluscum. I also developed horrible allergies so my immune system is working hard at fighting those off. I asked the doctor and he said he didn't think my lymphocytes were raised from any of those infections or the allergies. I was wondering if having the molluscum and Human Pappilloma Virus or allergies would change my window from 3 months to 6 months or longer since my body is working to fight those off right now?

[Ann]

Fort,

No, those conditions do not affect the window period. You are hiv negative. You will never know your hiv status by looking at any blood test results other than an antibody test. Your lymphocyte count will not indicate your hiv status one way or the other.

The pipe thing only has to do with metal crack pipes that end up being VERY hot, not ordinary pipes used for smoking pot. And crack pipes won't transmit hiv, but they may transmit hep C. Hiv is fragile and would be destroyed by the heat, while hep C is a much more robust virus.

As long as you have tested at three months past your last unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, they you ARE hiv negative. Protect that negative status by using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently. It really is that simple! Please read through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them correctly and with confidence.

Ann

[fortrues]

Ok thank you. So for future reference, the only way anyone could get HIV from oral means by infected blood or semen is if they have an actively bleeding sore in their mouth that is visible that they can taste or what if it's not bleeding but is still a lesion? Is active bleeding what they consider an open sore or is any sore considered as a route of transmission? I read on the case of the couple who were french kissing and one transferred HIV to the other because they had bleeding gums.