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Author Topic: Small Question  (Read 9520 times)

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Offline Sycamore

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Small Question
« on: September 28, 2020, 09:47:04 pm »
Hi all,

I had been dating an EMS worker for a month and I gave him oral sex, and he fingered me. After that night of oral sex, One week later I began experiencing severe dry mouth at night. I also had what felt like a cold for a few days.

The dry mouth happens every evening and my tongue looks a bit white. I looked it up and the internet said “dry mouth can be a symptom of HIV”.

May I please have some guidance on this?
Thank you!

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2020, 11:06:03 pm »
Hiya,

Quote
The dry mouth happens every evening and my tongue looks a bit white.

Quote
I began experiencing severe dry mouth at night. I also had what felt like a cold for a few days.

Nothing mentioned is HIV specific, if you are having problems see your doctor so they can asses and treat whatever is causing it.

Quote
I had been dating an EMS worker for a month and I gave him oral sex, and he fingered me.

Fingering isn't an HIV risk, as for giving a blowjob, the mouth generally lacks route for HIV to infect, and saliva also acts to neutralize HIV by damaging the receptors needed to infect human cells. It's such a minute risk that we don't even recommend specifically testing over it.

Just get tested whenever you are next normally due a routine check-up.

Here's what you need to know to avoid HIV infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions. Consider taking PrEP going forward as an additional layer of HIV protection.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices which may be described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get fully tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected intercourse occurs

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms and the only way of knowing is by testing.

Kind regards

Jim

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« Last Edit: September 28, 2020, 11:08:52 pm by Jim Allen »
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2020, 08:15:09 pm »
Hi Jim,

I went to the doctor and I was diagnosed with Oral thrush. She said that it probably was given to me from the oral sex I had, and not necessarily related to HIV. Is that true?

Also I haven’t had any Vaginal/Anal sex since December, 2019. I was tested for HIV in February of 2020 and I tested “negative”. Since February I have ONLY had oral sex twice: once in July, and then my most recent experience. I’ve also kissed quite a few people (during dating). I’m scared because I keep reading that “oral thrush” is very uncommon unless you have underlying conditions ... do you think I’ve contracted the virus somehow through oral?

Thank you for your help!

« Last Edit: October 04, 2020, 08:27:33 pm by Sycamore »

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2020, 10:10:20 pm »
It's not HIV specific. Oral thrush is simply an overgrowth of fungi that are naturally present in your mouth. Overgroth is commen enough, plently of reasons why, nearly every adult will experience it at some stage.

Quote
Also I haven’t had any Vaginal/Anal sex since December, 2019. I was tested for HIV in February of 2020 and I tested “negative”. Since February I have ONLY had oral sex twice: once in July, and then my most recent experience. I’ve also kissed quite a few people (during dating). I’m scared because I keep reading that “oral thrush” is very uncommon unless you have underlying conditions ... do you think I’ve contracted the virus somehow through oral?

Kissing is not an HIV concern, as for giving a blowjob, as explained the mouth generally lacks route for HIV to infect, and saliva also acts to neutralize HIV by damaging the receptors needed to infect human cells.

It's such a minute risk that we don't even recommend specifically testing over it. Just get tested whenever you are next normally due a routine check-up.
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2020, 09:02:39 am »
Hi Jim,

I have some new developments which I’m concerned about.

I took the medication for the oral thrush and then returned to the urgent care office for a follow-up as suggested.

This time I received a different doctor. I explained to him the nature of my visit (that I had oral sex and developed oral thrush) and that I wanted him to view my mouth to determine if it looked healthy again after the medicine.

He said my mouth looked fine. But then he asked me “do you know why you got oral thrush?”

And I told him “yes, I had oral sex and the first doctor I visited from here told me that if my partner had a penile yeast infection, he may have passed it to me.”

The doctor said “I mean....I guess”

Immediately I started freaking out and I asked the doctor “what do you mean you guess? Is that not possible?”

And the doctor said “I’ve never heard of that, but I suppose it’s possible.” He told me I should test again in 3 months since it “takes awhile for the test to turn positive”.

It felt like he was automatically assuming I was HIV + so I asked if I could see another doctor so that I can have a third opinion.

The third doctor came in and told me that he agrees with his colleague, passing oral thrush from penis to mouth is highly unlikely, especially if my male partner was circumcised (which he was).

So I asked him what other things could have caused the thrush?

The third doctor  immediately went into asking if I had been tested for HIV, etc. I got an HIV test my first visit, when I was first diagnosed with thrush. It came back negative. However it had been only 2 weeks post oral sex with the partner in question, and so I will need to be tested again.

The doctor told me since he wasn’t there for my first visit, he questions if I even had thrush in the first place, since thrush builds up on your cheeks and the back of your mouth, and can be scraped off. I only had a white tongue and a consistently dry mouth. The doctor felt like my original symptoms consisted more with a “coated tongue” diagnosis than “oral thrush”. He said oral thrush is extremely uncommon and he’s rarely ever seen patients other than infants with it.

I keep researching the difference between “coated tongue” and “oral thrush” but they keep fielding the same results.

The doctor said it could be also dehydration and too many carbs in my diet. I eat really healthy so I’m not sure if that’s possible. He also mentioned that since I’ve only been oral sex, it’s a highly low chance that I would have HIV but that I should repeat testing.

Since I tested negative, but I have to wait another 2 months to test again from this most recent oral activity, do you think I should be worried?

I’m so freaked out. Doctors keep giving me different advice. And I’ve engaged in ONLY oral sex this year: once in July, once in September (a month ago).

When I had the oral sex in September my mouth wasn’t bleeding at all. But yet and still I received the dry mouth and white tongue after that.

Also even though I took the medication, at times my tongue gets super dry and it burns. I saw somewhere on reddit that “dry mouth can be an initial symptom of HIV.”

Please, I just need some clarity because no one seems to know what’s going on, why my mouth is dry after this oral exposure in September, and I’m just freaking out.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2020, 09:26:39 am »
Hiya.

Not sure what the drama is about, I've already addressed all of this.

Thrush is simply an overgrowth of fungi normally present on/in all of us, it's common enough that nearly every adult will experience it regardless of HIV status. Diet, antibiotics, stress etc can trigger this.

Regarding HIV unless you have had other exposures not mentioned here it's not a concern. Use condoms for any intercourse, test out of standard routine at least yearly for HIV and STI's

Stop reading nonsense about symptoms online.


It's not HIV specific. Oral thrush is simply an overgrowth of fungi that are naturally present in your mouth. Overgroth is commen enough, plently of reasons why, nearly every adult will experience it at some stage.

Kissing is not an HIV concern, as for giving a blowjob, as explained the mouth generally lacks route for HIV to infect, and saliva also acts to neutralize HIV by damaging the receptors needed to infect human cells.

It's such a minute risk that we don't even recommend specifically testing over it. Just get tested whenever you are next normally due a routine check-up.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2020, 09:28:44 am by Jim Allen »
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2021, 05:18:56 pm »
Hello,

I was standing in front of a store, waiting my turn to go in, and a woman came up to me and hit me with a bag. The bag appeared to be one of those draw string, gym
bags. It felt like there was stuff in the bag.

Some street vendors came to help me and they told me she is crazy and she hits people everyday with her bag. I am not bleeding. But I was wondering, if she had needles or sharp objects in her bag, could that infect me?

I can’t go to a doctor right now because I don’t have insurance at the moment. Please help.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2021, 05:26:03 pm »
Hiya.

Sorry to hear you got hit by a bag. It's zero HIV risk.

Jim
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2021, 05:46:15 pm »
Thank you Jim. People are crazy. Stay safe out here.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2021, 05:47:47 pm »
You're welcome
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2021, 12:43:08 am »
Hello last night I had sex with my ex boyfriend. We were both drinking but we used a condom. It was dark but he said he came in the first condom and flushed it. The second and third condoms had nothing in them. We did also do foreplay with our fingers.  What I’m concerned about is due to the fact that it was dark, and he flushed the first condom, I can’t confirm that it was in tact. He said he is clear and last got tested in May (but I haven’t seen his results) and hasn’t been sexually active since last night. He got really defensive when I asked, which is a bit concerning.

I found some brown stains on my white blanket, but I also found it on my table counter. When I wiped up the table counter i sniffed it and it was wine. But for the blanket I can’t tell if it’s wine or blood splotches

do you think I should try to go on PEP?

I went to my gynecologist and she said PEP is a personal choice with a lot of side affects. She didn’t really confirm or deny if this was a possible exposure. All she did was order the PEP to the pharmacy. I just need more clarity on what I should do next. And if this was a possible exposure.

Thank you 

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2021, 04:25:29 am »
Hiya,

Foreplay with fingers, stains on blankets and the table counter are not HIV risk.
As for the sex, if he wore a condom then there is no reason to panic about HIV.

I'm not sure why you think the condom was broken, but if you think it broke during the intercourse then test for peace of mind in 6 weeks with a blood-drawn HIV antibodies test, that result will rarely ever change.  The same can be said about the PEP, if you do take PEP then test 6 weeks after finishing PEP with a blood-drawn HIV antibodies test, that result will rarely ever change.

Quote
she said PEP is a personal choice with a lot of side affects.

"Lot of side effects" Ugh, next time talk to an STI clinic if possible when you want PEP.

PEP is only 30 days and depending on the drug combination prescribed side effects will vary but generally with modern HIV drugs, people should not be expecting any issues other than perhaps a few days of mild adjustment/settling in.
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2021, 05:29:56 pm »
Thank you so much. So do you recommend I take the PEP for this situation (since I was drunk)? Or do you think it’s not necessary?

Thank you again?
« Last Edit: July 10, 2021, 05:32:17 pm by Sycamore »

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2021, 08:58:27 pm »
To be honest, nothing you mentioned so far would make me recommend even testing outside of routine let alone PEP.

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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2023, 10:45:41 pm »
Hi,

I went to the nail salon and received multiple cuts on my hand as the nail tech was filing my nails. I’m not sure if the equipment they used has been sanitized. And they used the equipment on someone right before me.

Can you please educate me on if this is a possible exposure.

Thank you.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2023, 02:43:16 am »
It's not an HIV concern, relax and move on with your life.
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2023, 03:45:08 pm »
Hello,

I went to the nail salon and received multiple cuts from the equipment that the nail tech used. The tech continued to use the equipment on me even after the skin was broken. I am unsure if the equipment was sanitized. And they did use the equipment on someone else right before using it on me.

I want to understand if everything is okay. Thank you.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #17 on: September 26, 2023, 03:52:08 pm »
It's not an HIV concern, relax and move on with your life.
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Offline Sycamore

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #18 on: September 28, 2023, 12:26:13 am »
Thank you. My finger with the cut from the nail salon is a bit swollen. Should I be worried?

Also, I didn’t realize I posted twice. Sorry.

Offline Jim Allen

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Re: Small Question
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2023, 04:42:12 am »
You're welcome.

Quote
My finger with the cut from the nail salon is a bit swollen. Should I be worried?

This is an HIV forum, and your swollen finger has nothing to do with HIV from the nail salon.

Cuts can easily be infected by bacteria entering the tissues beneath the skin. Good pharmacists can look and assist you with minor cuts; if not, see your healthcare provider and have them check and treat it. 
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