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Author Topic: I know I was stupid  (Read 18332 times)

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Offline meenu

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I know I was stupid
« on: August 10, 2007, 07:20:37 pm »
Hi all,

I just found this website today and I thought I will share my concern with you. I am 26 year old girl, just graduated from business school 2 months ago. I had invested in some equity shares and two days ago I saw my investment portfolio has become 23% of what it originally was. This was all the money I had as I don't have a job yet.

Naturally, I was feeling low and decided to do something really crazy. I live in the outskirts of a big city in Southern US and that day I decided to walk back home through a "ghetto" area (no offense intended). I have seen some guys ogle and pass remarks at women there and for some reason I decided to see what happens if I encourage them. I was not even drunk as some of you may comprehend.

It was dark by the time I reached the area and there was nothing significant going on. I sat on the sidewalk smoking and almost after an hour 3 african-american guys walked up to me. I was more than indulging and they took me to the backyard of a house and penetrated me individually. No condoms whatsoever. I was adamant initially of not having anal but after a while gave up being adamant. As a result 2 of them ended up penetrating me together towards the end. It hurt like hell and thats when I kinda regained my senses. There was no ejaculation in my anus but there was in my vagina (a lot).

I walked back home and it was not before yesterday that the thought of diseases struck me. And after some internet searching, here i am. Can you kindly let me know what should I do? I know about the testing and such but is there anything I can do now as a prevention?

I know I was stupid.

Meenu

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2007, 07:28:22 pm »
Meenu,

You can test for most STIs ten days to two weeks after this incident, sooner if you develop any unusual vaginal/anal discharge.

However, hiv has a three month window period (so does syphilis). As the vast majority of people who have actually been infected with hiv will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, a negative result at that point MUST be confirmed at the three month point.

Anytime you allow someone to have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with you, you are literally playing roulette with your life and health. I sincerly hope you learn (and not the hard way) from this incident.

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 sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

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.

Keep us posted.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2007, 07:33:07 pm »
Dear Ann,

Thank you for such a prompt reply. I know about the testing tiiming etc from a few websites i read today (including this one). i was wondering if I can do anything at this point to prevent anything bad from happening. In case i wasn't clear enough, this incident happened around 8:45 pm CST on Wed Aug 8.

thanks again
Meenu

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2007, 07:39:25 pm »
Meenu,

There is something called PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) but it MUST be started no later than 72 hours after the event, but within 36 hours is better.

PEP consists of taking anti-hiv medications and is not to be taken lightly. A course of PEP lasts 28 days and many people cannot last the course due to the side-effects. It also extends the window period by four weeks.

If you want PEP, you need to get to your nearest emergency room or doctor and explain your situation to them NOW.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2007, 07:48:36 pm »
Dear Ann,

I will do as you say. Just one question: is this PEP drug free or costly? I don't have health insurance at this time and like I mentioned in my first posting, I am kinda broke. Is that going to be barrier?  Also, will they decline to give me the drug if I tell them what happened and that it was my wish to get into a stuation like that? I am calling the hospital regardless.

Meenu

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2007, 08:06:40 pm »
Meenu,

Yes, unfortunately, cost will likely be a problem without insurance. A month's supply of the meds can approach $1000. There may be a possibility of paying in installments - it wouldn't hurt to ask.

However, medical personnel should not pass judgement on how you came by your potential exposure and should not refuse you treatment on that basis alone. Money may be an entirely different matter.

Keep us posted.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2007, 08:12:04 pm »
You are right Ann.

I just called the ER. To be honest, the were kinda rude and refused to give me any information about the pep drug. I did speak to a nurse and she said that it can't be given wothout a doctor's prescription. So, that adds the doctor's fees, the ER fees to the cost of the medication. I asked the nurse about the cost and although she didn't mention an amount, she concurred that its costly.

Going by your estimate $1000 + other expenses is beyond my reach.

I guess I have to let this option go and hope for the best.

Meenu

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2007, 08:17:26 pm »
Meenu,

Keep in mind that you don't know for sure if any of the men are actually hiv positive. They might not be.

In the meantime, you're just going to have to keep yourself productively busy - and don't test until at least the six week mark. If that's negative, re-test at three months for your conclusive result.

Try not to dwell on this and whatever you do, don't symptom hunt. Symptoms - or even the LACK of symptoms - mean nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Only testing will reveal your hiv status. And don't forget, stress can manifest itself in feeling unwell. Don't get caught in that mind trap.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2007, 08:18:57 pm »
Thanks again, Ann.

I will surely keep you informed.

Offline DUVCAST

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2007, 12:18:28 pm »
In my opinion you should take PEP don't let money be an issue when it comes to your health.  Just go to the ER and tell then what happened and request PEP. Take it and get tested at 3 and 6 months.

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2007, 12:33:14 pm »
DUVCAST, Do NOT post any other thread other than your on. Read the "Welcome" thead and the guidelines on posting. 

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2007, 05:05:03 pm »
Duvcast....will u sponsor my pep drug? i will happily go for it then. Anyways, its too late for pep.

I have some interesting news to share. I called my local health department today. They were closed officially today (saturday) but some folks from there were organizing a health fair in downtown Charlotte. I went there as its not far from where I live. One of the guys happened to be the chief HIV councellor. I spoke to him in detail and thankfully he was very kind and accomodative. He mentioned that I have an option of early testing under a program offered by the State of North Carolina called STAT. They do kinda combo test. He gave me a brochure which explains the process:

First a regular antibody test is performed (EIA or Oraquick). If that test is negative, then the blood sample is pooled with other negative samples in a batch of 100 and a sophisticated test called NAT is performed. He mentiomed that blood banks use this protocol. The test will react even if one sample in the batch of 100 is positive. Then they would identify the sample from the pool. As per him, this is a very effective method of detecting early HIV infection as it reduces the 3-6 month window period with antibody testing to 10 days. He also mentioned that the risk of generating a false positive result is greatly reduced by this pooling method (I know false positives are a concern for these non-antibody tests).

The best part is that THIS TEST IS FREE.

So, what do you think? Should I go for it in a week? Thats when I complete 10 days.

Here is some links I found about the program. It looks to be from medical journals.
http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/102279923.html
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289/20/2633
« Last Edit: August 11, 2007, 05:14:07 pm by meenu »

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2007, 05:31:33 pm »
meenu, did you ask what the limitations of an oraquick test are?

Read: What does a negative test mean.  http://www.orasure.com/uploaded/349.pdf?134&sec=2&subsec=2

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2007, 05:36:03 pm »
RapidRod,

I am not too concerned about the Oraquick test in any way as i know it will come back negative. This is because, even if I am positive, 10 days is too short a time for an antibody test to become positive. Before this exposure, I have had no exposures whatsoever in the last 3 years and I did have to take a test for a foreign excursion program last year and it was negative.

The test in question is the pooled NAT test that is being offered by the State of NC after the antibody test (oraquick) is negative. i would like to know what you all think about this NAT test and the testing protocol being followed in NC.

thanks,
Meenu
« Last Edit: August 11, 2007, 05:38:16 pm by meenu »

Offline Bucko

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2007, 06:58:51 pm »
Meenu-

Sorry about the financial reckoning involved in your investment scheme, better luck next time.

Only three black guys? I live in the hood, and can attract dozens in the amount of time you spent sitting there.

All good things must come to an end (pun intended), and now your long 13 week wait begins. Try and stay busy (but not in the ghetto) and keep your mind focused on the positive.

Brent
(Who has seen this video before)
Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

Blathering on AIDSmeds since 2005, provocative from birth

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2007, 07:34:03 pm »
meenu,

A negative on the NAT - while nearly cast iron - will still have to be followed up by a conclusive negative at the three month point. Sorry, but there are no real short-cuts when it comes to hiv.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2007, 08:12:22 pm »
Ann,

So are you recommending that i do not take this NAT?

I thought this may be a good option given the early detection (if positive) possibility, free of charge factors. I understand that i will need a follow-up but as per the councellor it is extremely unlikely for someone to nest negative on a NAT and then test positive on an antibody test at 3 months. So a negative may give me some peace of mind. Alternatively, if I were to test positive, i will know sooner.

Please let me know and i will act accordingly.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2007, 08:15:49 pm by meenu »

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2007, 08:17:54 pm »
No Meenu, what Ann is saying is that a negative NAT test in your case will still require a follow up test at 13 weeks.

See how this works? You have to wait 13 weeks for a conclusive negative result. There are no shortcuts.

MtD

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2007, 08:20:01 pm »
meenu,

Do the NAT if you want - but a negative result won't be conclusive.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline thunter34

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2007, 08:35:39 pm »
Forgive the intrusion, Ann...but I want to ask:  are these NAT tests costly?  In reference to standard antibody tests? 

Just wondering.
AIDS isn't for sissies.

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2007, 08:38:54 pm »
Indeed they are Youth Pastor Tim. Which is why they're often performed on pooled blood samples rather than on individual samples. They wait until they have enough bloods to justify the cost of the test.

MtD

Offline thunter34

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #21 on: August 11, 2007, 08:50:58 pm »
Thanks, Matty.  In that case, it would be rather wasteful to go ahead and have such a test done under such circumstances, wouldn't it?  Especially considering that a 13 week confirmation would still have to be done anyway.  And unless meenu intends to go barebacking again in the immediate future, even an early positive alert wouldn't really make any medical difference, would it?  She wouldn't crash into AIDS in that length of time or get placed on meds either, so it wouldn't really amount to anything other than an unnecessary public expense to have this test done, right?

She was asking, so I thought that part might bear mention.
AIDS isn't for sissies.

Offline Bucko

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #22 on: August 11, 2007, 08:59:53 pm »
Thanks, Matty.  In that case, it would be rather wasteful to go ahead and have such a test done under such circumstances, wouldn't it?  Especially considering that a 13 week confirmation would still have to be done anyway.  And unless meenu intends to go barebacking again in the immediate future, even an early positive alert wouldn't really make any medical difference, would it?  She wouldn't crash into AIDS in that length of time or get placed on meds either, so it wouldn't really amount to anything other than an unnecessary public expense to have this test done, right?

She was asking, so I thought that part might bear mention.


Actually, Meenu both barebacked and barefronted.

Brent
(Who reads things carefully)
Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

Blathering on AIDSmeds since 2005, provocative from birth

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #23 on: August 12, 2007, 07:05:34 am »
Meenu,

One question - if you have so little money, how do you propose to get to NC to test using NAT, when you are not posting from anywhere near NC? I don't understand how your "local" health department workers were at a health fair in Charlotte NC, when you are posting from a university campus several states away.

Enlighten me, please.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #24 on: August 12, 2007, 02:57:15 pm »
Ann,

There is a feature in Microsoft Windows called Remote Desktop which i use to connect to my own machine in my home state. I do not want issues like HIV being discovered on the common machine that we get to use here.

Also, I don't really understand how that is relevant to my situation.

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #25 on: August 12, 2007, 03:11:37 pm »
Wrong answer. If you connect using windows remote from your school computer to your home computer it won't have a ISP address of your school computer, it would show the ISP of your home computer. Try telling that to someone that doesn't know anything about using Windows Remote.

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #26 on: August 12, 2007, 03:24:00 pm »
Wrong answer. If you connect using windows remote from your school computer to your home computer it won't have a ISP address of your school computer, it would show the ISP of your home computer. Try telling that to someone that doesn't know anything about using Windows Remote.

You think you are too smart aren't you? The problem is you don't read well before shooting off. Like earlier I wrote about NAT and you went on with oraquick.

Re read what I wrote. If you use a Remote Desktop connection, the IP address logged is always of the destination computer (the machine that you are logging on TO remotely). This is the reason Ann is probably seeing the address of my own machine which is in a different state tahn the one I am currently using.

I am still not figuring how my computer IP is becoming an issue here and why i m being asked to explain all this. If this is roundabout way of telling me to go elsewhere, develop some guts and say on my face. I had heard and read good things about this website. Sorry, my expereince in these 3 days didn't match with that. Some of you are downright rude (may i say "Jackasses").

I have also realised that asking questions on a website doesn't serve any purpose. The truth lies in a test result and it is only that that matters and thats the only one that i am relying on, no matter what the outcome is. I am sorry that I wasted both yours and my time.

Goodbye.

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #27 on: August 12, 2007, 03:43:37 pm »
I'm sorry that you have to lie to try to get information. You should reread what you wrote in your other post because you contridicted it.


Quote
There is a feature in Microsoft Windows called Remote Desktop which i use to connect to my own machine in my home state. I do not want issues like HIV being discovered on the common machine that we get to use here.

Quote
you are posting from a university campus several states away


Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #28 on: August 12, 2007, 03:57:58 pm »
Sorry, lying is neither my nature nor habit. Perhaps you are accustomed to that aspect of your existence. Most gays usually lie to survive.

If i would have lied, I wouldn't have divulged all the details of my exposure which I admit was stupid to say the least. I had honestly asked for some advice and in return i was made the object of ridicule with comments like "barebacking and barefronting", "IP address", "time it took to get 3 guys at the ghetto" and what not.

Although I am not bound to explain, here is what the IP address confusion is all about. I am currently in Charlotte NC using a shared machine that has the following IP: 152.15........ . I am using the Remote Desktop functionality to log in to my own machine in Texas (my home state) that is setup on a university network and has the IP 128.194........ Feel free to contact my ISPs if you have any questions.

Enuff said and goodbye finally. I was doubly stupid to waste my time here. Ann, I am requesting you to delete/deactivate my account.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2007, 04:03:42 pm by meenu »

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #29 on: August 12, 2007, 04:05:32 pm »
As AOL would say, "Good bye."

Offline stupidman

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #30 on: August 12, 2007, 04:11:36 pm »
Though I know it is not my place to say, but....

Meenu,
I understand what you are going through. You feel anger, resentment, frustration, etc.
We are all human. 
I do not care about IP addresses nor what state you are located in in the US.
You are indeed right. You had a risk, and the only standard that will be able to tell whether you are infected is an antibody test. 

But, keep thinking optimistically.  There is always HOPE.  You may not have HIV at all.

Wishing you the best..and you will be in my prayers tonight. 

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #31 on: August 12, 2007, 04:14:40 pm »
stupidman, Do NOT POST in any other thread other than your own. Please take time to read the "Welcome" thread and the posting guidelines. 

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #32 on: August 12, 2007, 04:21:06 pm »
Stupidman (you are not really stupid by the way),

Thanks for your comments. Among all the negative aspects of this website, there is something thats pretty cool. Its a feature called "Ignore". You can use it on people like rapidrod, bucko etc if you have had similar experiences. I have done that already and I feel much better. That way you can be spared of some of the humiliation that I was subjected to.

take care,
Meenu

PS: In Ann's absence, can any moderator delete my account and postings please? I feel ashamed to find myself amongst this bunch of dirty filthy people.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2007, 04:26:58 pm by meenu »

Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #33 on: August 12, 2007, 04:22:34 pm »
Yes, and we have what is call BANNED!!

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #34 on: August 12, 2007, 05:23:10 pm »
Meenu,

Thank you for explaining what was going on. I'm sure you can appreciate that a website like ours can sometimes attract people who want to play games - and the disparity between where you said you were located and what your IP was telling me raised a red flag.

I have to apologise for the actions of Rodney - he over-protectively jumped in where he should have waited for me. I've had a word with him about his conduct in this thread.

None of this changes the advice we have given you - it has been given in good faith and I hope it is received in good faith as well.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #35 on: August 12, 2007, 08:33:25 pm »
Meenu, while I appreciate the tension you're experiencing as you wait until you can get a reliable test result, making a comment like " most gays usually lie to survive" is both provocative and offensive.

So let's sidestep all of the hyperbole here and stick to the basic issue which is that you will be getting tested and hopefully will test negative.

You have some waiting time to get through. Stay productively busy and you will be amazed at how fast the weeks can go by. You can also if you wish test at 6 weeks for an initial result. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure to the HIV virus. So a negative at 6 weeks would be more than reassuring and point to a likely negative at 13 weeks.

Good luck with your test(s).

Andy Velez

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #36 on: August 25, 2007, 01:46:17 am »
Just a quick update:

My Oraquick came back Negative at 2 weeks (no surprise). My NAT came back Negative too. As per the report sheet obtained from the NC Department of Health, the window period for HIV detection using the NAT protocol is 10 days. This same protocol is being used by the Red Cross and Blood banks.

It also has an addendum research synopsis published by UNC physicians Peter Leone and Christopher Pilcher. On going through that, I read that FDA has already approved NAT as a diagnostic test for HIV. I must say that North Carolina is the most advanced state in the US when it comes to HIV testing. I am really impressed with what they are doing and that too for free.

I know that the guidelines still recommend a 3-month antibody test. But I guess for me its a mere formality now. The Health Department councellor told me that I can test at 3 months if I want to but its not necessary given the ultra-sophisticated system being practised by NC. I guess the 3-month guideline still exists because not all centers do this kind of sophisticated testing. Since the Red Cross and Blood banks rely on this exact same protocol to ensure the blood supply is HIV free, I am even more convinced.

I still maintain I was stupid in what I did in the first place. Thanks to the state of NC, I can relax a bit and forget the nightmare. Thanks to those of you who genuinely addressed my concerns.

Take care.


Offline RapidRod

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #37 on: August 25, 2007, 04:50:53 am »
meenu, just as long as you understand that the NAT test is not a diagnostic test and it's a donor screening test and it must be followed up with an antibody test. 

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #38 on: August 25, 2007, 07:18:55 am »
meenu,

While it looks as though you have indeed dodged the bullet this time, please learn from this episode and make sure condoms are being used in future. Sex with condoms lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever. Please remember that!

I would still recommend you go through the "formality", as the doctor called it, of testing at three months. Hiv is nothing to have any doubt about. You could always consider that test to be the beginning of your regular sexual health care check ups, something that any sexually active adult should be doing at least once a year, more often if you're very active or if unprotected intercourse occurs.

But as I said, please learn from this and don't put yourself in potentially life/health-threatening situations again. I'm talking condom use here, if not the circumstances of your potential exposure.

Thanks for the update.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #39 on: August 27, 2007, 03:48:14 pm »
Ann and everyone else,

Thanks for everything that you all did for me. I want to take back my nasty comments from couple of weeks back and aplogize to whoever was hurt by them. I have taken the liberty to post some new information on Free testing on the "newly diagnosed" forum. If that was inappropriate, please feel free to delete it.

Regards,
Meenu

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #40 on: August 27, 2007, 03:59:51 pm »
Meenu,

I didn't delete the post, but I did move it to the Off Topic forum, where hiv negative people may post (within reason). Thank you for the information - we do have members who live in NC.

And thank you for the apology as well. ;)

Ann


Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #41 on: September 17, 2007, 11:11:29 am »
Well, I didn't really stop at my negative NAT. I continued with my research and found out that occasionally and rarely, a person who is seroconverting may not have a detectable amount of virus in their blood (although the norm is that the viral load is very high at that point) and obviously not enough antibodies to detect during the early phase. I confirmed this with a Dr. Joel Gallant's website where he mentions that the NAT or PCR can occasionally be False Negative particularly in the absence of seroconversion symptoms.


So at 2 days shy of 6 weeks, i took another Oraquick and thankfully it was Negative. I will still follow up with a 3 month test.

Offline Ann

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #42 on: September 17, 2007, 11:20:43 am »
NAT or PCR can occasionally be False Negative particularly in the absence of seroconversion symptoms.

Meenu,

These test returning false negatives has much more to do with the timing of the test than it does the presence or absence of seroconversion symptoms. Symptoms mean nothing in terms of what is going on inside the body regarding hiv.

Strictly speaking, the ONLY conclusive negative is a negative ELISA preformed at three months.

However, considering your testing history and the fact that you had another negative result at six weeks, it is highly unlikely you have become infected. Get your confirmation at three months (as I've previously mentioned) and move on with your life, making sure you always use condoms in future.

Ann

Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline meenu

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #43 on: October 30, 2007, 12:57:29 pm »
I had another Oraqucik done today (1 day shy of 12 weeks) and it was Negative. Somehow I had the feeling that it would be allright after my early Negative NAT and Negative Oraquick at 6 weeks. Today, I just had it confirmed. Thankfully, I did not experience any symptoms that people usually worry about. Thought i will just update you all.

Thanks,
Meenu

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: I know I was stupid
« Reply #44 on: October 30, 2007, 04:15:57 pm »
A negative test result is always happy news. Given your previous negative I wouldn't have expected anything different, Meenu.

Now you can relax and get on with your life.
Andy Velez

Offline meenu

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Question from a friend
« Reply #45 on: August 12, 2008, 04:23:47 pm »
I have a friend who has some concerns about HIV. He doesn't speak English or Spanish and so I am translating his questions for evaluation by the experts. I am translating in "first person" to make it simple.

===========================================================================

Hello,
I am a 36-year old married man with a wife and a 1 year old. Since our baby has been born, my wife is disinterested about sex. I have tried to be understanding for over a year but unfortunately today I lost my control and visited an escort. I am aware of HIV and other risky diseases, so I bought a box of latex condoms and took them with me. The escort girl sucked my penis vigourously while I had the condom on. Then she put it(penis) in her vagina while the condom was still on. After a while, I lost erection. So we changed to a new condom and did the same things allover again (insertive oral and insertive vaginal). I ejaculated in the condom.

Any risk in my situation? I didn't kiss her deeply (only lightly on the lips) as I am aware of 1 documented case of HIV from deep-kissing. Two other risky scenarios I could think of happened as well:

1. She inserted her fingers in her vagina and tasted her own juices. She kissed me lighly after about 3-4 minutes. Any risk from her vaginal fluid to her mouth to my lips

2. She was the one who put condoms on me both times. The first time was ok. But when she was changing the condom, the first condom surely had vaginal juices on its outside. She took it off with her hand and then put on the second condom on my penis with the same hand. Any risk from her vaginal fluid to her hand to my foreskin (mucous membranes)? I have an intact foreskin as I am not circumcised.

Thanks for evaluating my case.

============================================================================
(Edited to correct a typo)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2008, 04:36:49 pm by meenu »

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Question from a friend
« Reply #46 on: August 12, 2008, 05:11:26 pm »
You can relax as far as any concern about risk for HIV in this situation. Condoms provide very effective protection during intercourse. You didn't need to wear one while receiving oral since there has never been a confirmed case of transmission in that manner.

As far as HIV is concerned you are worrying needlessly.

Cheers,
Andy Velez

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Question from a friend
« Reply #47 on: August 12, 2008, 05:39:38 pm »
Quote
PS: In Ann's absence, can any moderator delete my account and postings please? I feel ashamed to find myself amongst this bunch of dirty filthy people.


Andy might have forgot who you are, but I didn't.

Offline meenu

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Re: Question from a friend
« Reply #48 on: August 12, 2008, 05:51:09 pm »
Meenu,

I have to apologise for the actions of Rodney - he over-protectively jumped in where he should have waited for me. I've had a word with him about his conduct in this thread.

Ann


Nor have I.

Offline meenu

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Re: Question from a friend
« Reply #49 on: August 12, 2008, 05:57:59 pm »
The uncalled for comment by RapidRod notwithstanding, I want to thank Andy for responding so quickly. I am translating your response for my friend and it should be on its way to him pretty soon. Thanks on his behalf.

 


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