POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 21, 2006, 07:17:02 pm

Title: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 21, 2006, 07:17:02 pm
Greetings everyone.... Not it the greatest of moods...I am pretty sure i have HIV+... Had unproteced Sex..brushed off the testing for a few years cus i was symptom free. Getting some sypmtoms this week which can and probally is HIV

Fatigue all day long...anytime i sleep i get numbness on my fingers.. This has been the 5th day with these symptoms..

I am 99 % sure i hav HIV + .. gonna get my blood done tormmrow and pretty much preparing for the bad results..

 :(
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 21, 2006, 07:19:58 pm
You don't get symptoms for HIV a few years later. If you have them at all it will be 2-4 weeks post exposure.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 21, 2006, 07:24:35 pm
You don't get symptoms for HIV a few years later. If you have them at all it will be 2-4 weeks post exposure.

The symptoms after my exposure was a rash all over my chest .. which was abnormal for me and has never appeared again since that day.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 21, 2006, 07:26:23 pm
ARS, does not come as one symptom. If you were to have ARS, you would have had several symptoms come on all at once and leave all at once by two weeks. Symptoms or lack of are no indication of HIV. The only way to know your status is to test.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 21, 2006, 07:30:22 pm
The numbness and tigling on my fingers are extreme which causes a huge concern.. The only time it happends is when i sleep. after reading some health sites it says that these symptoms can be caused by HIV..

but yes i will test ethier tormmrow or after christmas..

I forgot to mention i had numbness before but it was just here and there nothing to the extreme as this past week...

Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 21, 2006, 07:32:26 pm
Symptoms don't mean a thing.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 21, 2006, 07:44:12 pm
After ARS i am curious when HIV symptoms come? are they on/off? or can people actually be symptom free for a while..

I know symtpoms don't mean anything but i live in a really healthy lifestyle.. its just strange how i am getting major fatigue these past days... sleeping my regular 8 hours a day and still feeling hella exhausted..

Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 21, 2006, 08:03:43 pm
Shy,

Fatigue can be a symptom of just about anything. For all you know your body may be fighting off a flu virus you were recently exposed to. Tingling in your extremities can be caused by many different things as well.

Some people can remain asymptomatic for years and years. There is no set time as everyone is different. Some people never experience any noticeable ARS symptoms. Some people get so ill with ARS they have to be put into hospital. The ONLY way to know your hiv status is through testing.

An hiv antibody test at no less than three months past your last incidence of unprotected intercourse will reliably give you a conclusive result.

You don't mention what risk you believe you had, but unless it was unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse or sharing drug injecting equipment, chances are you are fine.

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.

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.
 
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 22, 2006, 08:30:09 pm
Thank you for the reply.. but i am stressing out since i won't be able to get any test done till after christmas...

i've also had blood in my stool more than a handful of times.. and stomach disorders such as growling in my stomach... which is stressing me out too..

I've heard about CMV and that HIV can cause it ?
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 22, 2006, 08:38:54 pm
Shy,

Blood in your stool has nothing to do with hiv infection. You need to see your doctor about that and soon. None of the symptoms you've mentioned are hiv specific.

And you still haven't mentioned what makes you think you may be hiv positive. We don't need details, just an idea. You may be worrying about hiv for no real reason.

Ann
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 22, 2006, 08:49:04 pm
Had high risk sexual intercouse a few years back... but never had  the courage to go get my self checked.

For the most part i've always thought HIV was a death sentence.. but after doing some research and reading through this site.. i've gain some courage ... so i'll be testing soon.. but yeh the symptoms i am getting are

ARS: a purple rash on my upperchest 2 days after exposure...
Numbness on fingers everytime i sleep for the past 5-6 days
Constant somach growling
Blood in my stool a handful of times
Extreme fatigue the past week

Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 22, 2006, 08:49:43 pm
edit.. double post

Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 22, 2006, 08:55:12 pm
Your symptoms are past the 2-4 weeks ARS timeline. You don't get them later. If you are having blood in your stool then you need to see a doctor. You might want to tell him all your other symptoms.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 22, 2006, 09:01:10 pm
Shy,

Whatever that rash was, it wasn't likely to be anything to do with ARS. ARS - if it happens in a noticable way at all - normally takes between two and four weeks before any symptoms appear.

The numbness in your fingers could be anything, including something going on with your back. You need to see a doctor about this - you won't be able to have your finger problem diagnosed with an hiv test.

A growling stomach has nothing to do with hiv nor does blood in the stool. You need to see your doctor about these things.

If you've had unprotected intercourse you do need to test, but unfortunately you'll have to wait until after Monday. There's nothing any of us can do about that. Keep yourself productively busy in the meantime - that's the best way to make the time pass quicker. I would also suggest staying off hiv internet sites in the meantime, because all you'll do is feed your anxiety.

Ann
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 23, 2006, 03:13:55 pm
Shy,

If you have further questions, you need to ask them here in the forum, not in PMs. Thank you for your cooperation.

Ann
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 23, 2006, 04:16:58 pm
The question was about ARS....ARS occurs 2 - 4 weeks after exposure? Does it occur earlier than that..

From what i recall my symptoms was just a couple days after exposure
-Purple rash all over the chest 2 days after
-Sore groin after the exposure and the next day
-Fever a day or 2 after but i was on a plane so it could of been from jet lag..

Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Coffeechick88 on December 23, 2006, 05:17:25 pm
No--it would not occur 2 days or that soon after.  2-4 weeks IF you have symptoms.    Stop obsessing about whether your symptoms were ARS or not.  Your symptoms could mean many non-HIV related things.  Since your exposure was a few years back, this test will be definitive.  You still need to test, but obsessing over symptoms will not help.  It would help if you ban yourself from all medical searches before you test or you will be a basket case like you are now.  Remember to enjoy the holidays. 
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: jpy865 on December 25, 2006, 02:01:06 pm
Shy,

What everyone is coaching you on is correct!!!

1.) ARS does not occur until HIV has set off the immune system, this usually takes 2-4 weeks.
       The reason is that HIV has to establish infection to start multiplying, to infect it needs CD4's (immune cells).
       Myself and others never had anything but moderate -> severe flu-like symptoms.  No bloody stools, no purple rashes, and sometimes no fatigue

2.) Bloody stools could be indicative of something far more serious than HIV infection
     Hemorrhoids, Poor Diet, or even Colon Cancer - much more serious

3.) 3 yrs post SAFE EXPOSURE to an individual of unknown HIV status?
     Your chances of infection are very slim to almost nonexistent

Enjoy the holidays and stop worrying!!!
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 25, 2006, 03:42:17 pm
Worst case senerio.. What if the person had HIV+?? what is my chances of catching the disease with unproteced sex? i heard its somewhere between 5 - 100 chance ?

I've heard that some people don't even notice that they had ARS symptoms?..

I've read on TheBody that Blood in the stool is not from HIV itself but can be from advance HIV disease such as CMV colitis...

I was more so Symptom free for the past few years but i also heard most HIV+ have no symptoms at all..

My symptoms that are showing up now can be from an established stage of HIV...


-Diarrhea or other bowel changes
-Tingling, numbness on my fingers anytime i sleep
-Extreme Fatigue
its been almost 2 weeks now of this..


Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 25, 2006, 09:09:39 pm
Shy,

There are varying levels of risk in unprotected intercourse. The most risky is unprotected receptive anal. The least risky (but by no means without risk) is unprotected insertive vaginal. Hiv is much more difficult to transmit to the insertive partner, especially from a woman to a man. If you're worried about a one-off insertive vaginal incident, chances are you do not have hiv.

BUT... the ONLY way to know for sure is to test. Your symptoms are very general and could be ANYthing. Along with having an hiv antibody test, you should see your doctor for a complete physical to get to the bottom of what is going on.

There is no point in speculation. Testing and a full exam are the only ways to resolve this issue.

Ann
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Shy-Boy-123 on December 27, 2006, 05:13:28 pm
So i go in for a blood test and get checked up.. got a call which i missed..
the message went something like this

"We have your blood test result right now..The doctor would like to discuss this with you.. PLEASE return to the medical lab for your results and *pause* we don't do THIS over the phone..."

 :'(
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 27, 2006, 06:20:51 pm
Then return to the lab as the message indicated you to do.
Title: Re: Symptoms
Post by: Coffeechick88 on December 27, 2006, 07:10:56 pm
So i go in for a blood test and get checked up.. got a call which i missed..
the message went something like this

"We have your blood test result right now..The doctor would like to discuss this with you.. PLEASE return to the medical lab for your results and *pause* we don't do THIS over the phone..."

 :'(
Just go back and get the results.  Remember, it is possible that they did other tests and they want to discuss something non-HIV related.  But regardless of what it is, it is better to face it than worry about what it could be.  It could be something much less than what you are expecting.  It isn't that unusual for a doctor to discuss different labs and they wouldn't do anything over the phone anyway.....  Write back with what they told you....