Symptoms or Mind Murder??!

[hypobass]

Here is my story.

December of '05 was very intoxicated and ended up having sex with an escort.  During intercourse, the condom broke.  So I am freaking.  Not even a week later, I get flu like symptoms.  Tired, sore, fever.  Very scared at that point.  Clears up in under a week.  I take Home Access Test at 2.5 months, it came back negative.  May '06, I become sick, with  MONO like symptoms.  So tired, all I could think about was sleeping, very sore, no energy, I constantly felt worn out and in a daze.  That cleared up in a couple weeks.  Took another Home Access Test at that point, also came back negative.  Does this triumph over symptoms?!

November '06:  No symptoms at all, then I begin having vision problems.

January '07:  I had unprotected anal sex with a woman.  The woman is 40, with 2 children.  I had been talking to her for a while, and we had talked about our testing backgrounds.  She said she had been tested, and was very sincere in our conversations.  No symptoms, until this last month.  I have continued to have vision problems which seem to be worsening.  I have to squint to see things far away.  Where I used to have PERFECT vison.  I am now getting minor headaches almost everyday, and just developed a lower neck ache.  I may just need glasses, but I am sick of these nagging headaches!!  A couple months ago, I noticed something which resembled a pimple on the inner/back side of thigh, below my groin.  This lasted a couple days, and was gone.  I was using Gold Bond, and once I quit using this, it went away.  I do not believe it was a lymph node, as these are deeper within your body, correct?  Do these sound like symptoms of ARS or HIV?  I caught a cold last week, with a cough, that has passed.

I have been going crazy, of course I have been browsing every HIV website looking at symptoms and others' experiences.  I understand it is harder to catch the virus from a female, but I understand it CAN happen.  So, I am open for advice and comments.  Of course I know I need to get tested, right?  Has anybody with HIV experienced these symptoms, or is this just a matter of myself driving myself crazy by combing EVERY site and looking at every symptom list I can?! 

This has been the biggest lesson I've learned in life, and from now on will definitely practive safe sex.  It has opened my eyes to what I have and how much I have taken for granted.  It seems everytime I have been foolish and unsafe, alcohol is behind it.  DEFINITELY changing my ways!!  Please respond, thanks!!

[pax]

If you were tested and it came back negative, you're HIV- regardless of any symptoms you may be having. Why?: It's because the symptoms of primary HIV infection are quite general and many other conditions and diseases have similar symptoms. However, HIV antibody tests are very specific (they only detect antibodies for HIV, not other things) and they're very, very accurate.

Sounds like you had a skin reaction to Gold Bond. Good thing you stopped using it. Also, stress in itself can lower your immune system and also can cause things like tension in the neck and shoulders (can lead to headaches). If I had to take a guess, you'd probably be healthier if you stopped worrying you were infected. Browsing the web repeatedly for list acute HIV symptoms boarders on obsessive compulsive behavior and suggests to me that maybe you should talk to a therapist about this.

If you're still concerned you can go get tested again but this seems to allay so few of the concerns of people on this board. My suggestion is that rather than buying another Home Access Kit you should go to a clinic or testing center- someplace where you will receive HIV/STD counseling before your test. This way you can ask questions as well as voice get feedback on your concerns.

[Ann]

hypo,

So this is your story, eh? And you think you're qualified to give advice around here? Don't let me catch you posting in other people's threads again. OK? Thanks.

The ONLY way to know your hiv status is through testing. Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection.

A test for you now will be conclusive after the January incident. The odds are in your favour of testing negative, but the ONLY way to know is to test.

And start using condoms. 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.

Ann

[hypobass]

Yes, that is my story, and thank you for the replies.  I'm going to get my eyes tested tomorrow, hopefully that will clear all of this head business up!!  Take care!

[Ann]

Hypo,

Hang on here a minute - you're getting your eyes tested after having unprotected anal intercourse? You need to be tested for hiv and other sexually transmitted infections and last time I had it done, it didn't involve my eyes.

Seriously, yes, by all means, find out what is going on with your eyes. Even people with 20/20 vision should have periodic eye exams. However - you've had unprotected intercourse and you need a full sexual health care check up, including but not limited to hiv testing.

While the odds are in your favour of testing negative, hiv is nothing to guess about. Get tested and know for sure. As I said above, a test now for the January incident will be conclusive.

No matter what your result, you need to start using condoms. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever. Never forget that!

Ann

[hypobass]

I wasn't saying I was getting my eyes tested because I might have HIV!  I was saying my vision problems are probably due to just that, BAD EYES.  I did go get my eyes tested, found out that I do need glasses, I am nearsighted.   

[Ann]

Hypo,

Ok, nearsighted or not, the fact remains that you had unprotected anal intercourse and you need a full sexual health care check up. Hiv is primarily being spread by people who don't know their hiv status, so do what any responsible, sexually active adult does routinely - get a sexual health care check up.

Ann