POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 02:46:28 pm

Title: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 02:46:28 pm: 3 weeks ago, i tried an earring on the street. i could not see any blood on it. my ear hole became red. there were no blood but as i said it looked irritated and it hurt.
do i get hiv in that way?
i am very curious and scared. please help me :'(
Title: Re: earring
Post by: Andy Velez on June 27, 2006, 03:30:16 pm: Lum, please read the lesson on this site about transmission. You were not in anyway at risk for HIV transmission in your earring incident.

This epidemic is going to be around for a longtime to come. To insure protecting your health with regard to the real risk, which is specifically either vaginal or anal intercourse, and to spare yourself unnecessary worrying, you need to become acquainted with the real risks and the simple way of protecting yourself.

You have no cause for worry about this recent incident.

Cheers,
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 03:32:54 pm: hello andy, i have already read the lesson. but i saw something about needles on that page. isn't an earring a needle?
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 03:51:44 pm: No an earring is not a needle.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 03:56:48 pm: Quote from: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 03:51:44 pm
No an earring is not a needle.
so that means it is impossible that i got hiv, right?
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 04:15:21 pm: No, it means you didn't have a risk of getting HIV from an earring.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 04:24:07 pm: Would you recommend me to get tested? Or is it unnecessary?
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 04:58:21 pm: I believe you need to read the "Welcome" post and follow the links.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 05:00:08 pm: i have already read it, but as you guess i am a bit worried.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 05:02:54 pm: There is no reason what so ever to get test. You didn't have a risk.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 05:14:39 pm: thank you very much.
i have one more question.
even there had been blood on my ear, again it would carry no risk?
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 27, 2006, 06:33:44 pm: Again, NO RISK...
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 27, 2006, 06:38:01 pm: sorry for annoying
thank you very much. i am ok now.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 11:48:19 am: is there any scientific explanation of the time that HIV can survive outside the body?
Title: Re: earring
Post by: RapidRod on June 28, 2006, 12:01:10 pm: http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/pubs/facts/transmission.htm (http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/pubs/facts/transmission.htm) HIV can not live outside the body. (not to include lab specimens.)
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 01:13:26 pm: thanks rapid.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 07:30:17 pm: i got some symptoms today and yesterday. i am really scared. i know that there is no risk but i cant control my mind.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: cubbybear on June 28, 2006, 07:37:49 pm: Lumbee, you really should speak to a mental health professional about your anxiety. You know yourself there was no risk, and you also know that symptoms mean nothing. I'd really suggest you go and see a general practitioner to check out your symptoms and perhaps talk to someone about your anxiety. This is a HIV/AIDS related website, and you do not have nor were at risk of HIV, we really can't help you any more than has already been offered.
Title: Re: earring
Post by: HIVworker on June 28, 2006, 07:42:17 pm: Amen Cubby. You had no risk from this incident at all, no matter what symptoms you have. If you are unwell, then go to a doctor and explain the situation to them. Tell them you think it is HIV. They will say the same as us.

R
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 07:43:59 pm: i know what they'll tell me and i know there is no risk, but as i said before; i cannot control my mind!!!
but ok, i'll be fine ;)
Title: Re: earring
Post by: HIVworker on June 28, 2006, 07:48:08 pm: Quote from: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 07:43:59 pm
i know what they'll tell me and i know there is no risk, but as i said before; i cannot control my mind!!!
but ok, i'll be fine ;)

Then get some mental health help and don't surf the internet about HIV.

R
Title: Re: earring
Post by: lumbee on June 28, 2006, 08:22:48 pm: you are right. surfing the net used to make me worse and worse until i visited this site. i am better than yesterday and worse than tomorrow.
thank you...
Title: Re: earring
Post by: Andy Velez on June 28, 2006, 09:46:26 pm: Just because your mind is churning out this total baloney about HIV doesn't mean it has any credibility in HIV science. Because it doesn't.

And it's not our job to try and persuade your mind. You've been given the real deal about your concern. There's absolutely no basis for concern about HIV transmission in relation to the incident.

We can't provide you with anymore answers to something that isn't a problem to begin with. You can read the lesson on transmission and it will give you all the basics you need to know about transmission. You won't find any conversation about earrings there, not because it's been overlooked, but because it's not a risk. Period. End of story.

If you can't let go of this irrational concern then go see a therapist or other professional and talk about what's going on emotionally.

This is not an HIV situation. No kidding.