POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: anonymizer on October 07, 2006, 08:15:49 pm
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I read alot about people being nervous of being postiive and told myself I wouldn't post...but I guess I just can't help it.
I did something stuipd about 6 weeks ago in Hong Kong, I had sex with a girl with a condom, but I did give oral briefly with no protection.
Now 6 weeks later I got what I think is the flu or a severe cold (bad cough, body aches, headache, general weakness) and can't help thinking if it could possibly be HIV. Now I did do a PCR DNA test almost two weeks ago which came back negative (along with all the other std's), but this flu got me pretty worried. I never get this sick, it's at least very rare, so it makes me wonder.
One other thing...I do have a girlfriend, and didn't have unprotected sex with her until after I got the results, a few days ago we did have unprotected sex and she's just as sick as I am now...which should pretty much reassure me it's just a cold/flu but could she have gotten HIV from me and got the same exact symptoms just 3 days later? Probably not...I guess I could use some reassuring words....how comfortable should I feel with the PCR DNA test? I took that test just a little ove 30 days after and felt pretty good about the results...now that I've been sick for 4 days I'm back to worrying again.
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anon,
You didn't have a risk of hiv infection in the first place. You used a condom for intercourse and condoms have been proven to prevent hiv transmission. Going down on a woman is not a risk for hiv infection, period.
Although PCR testing is not recommended for diagnostic purposes because of a high rate of false positives, a negative PCR at four weeks coupled with the fact that you didn't have a risk means you are hiv negative.
You and your girlfriend have the flu. Keep warm and drink plenty of fluids and if you are worried about it, see your doctor.
This is not an hiv situation.
Ann
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I've posted here about half a year ago (with a diff name) and I'm getting a little worried again. About 7 months or so ago I was in Hong Kong, I got drunk and slept with a sex worker, we used a condom but she blew me for a while without one, and I also gave her oral for a few minutes (if that). I felt really guilty about the whole thing since i have a gf at home and I was getting worried about HIV. I avoided sex with her for about a month and got a PCR DNA test (after 30 days or so) which came back negative, I was so happy about it the results and felt so confident with them I started having sex with my gf again, and never got further testing.
Now two days ago I suddenly had a burning sensation when urinating which went away, but the next and today I'm having this pain in my testicles...it's not hurting so badly I can't walk but it's there and it's getting really annoying, not to mention making me paranoid...if it doesn't go away by the time I wake up tommorow I'm going to take a half day and see a doctor about it...but right now I can't stop thinking about the possibility that I have HIV again. My gf has also been very tired the past week and she has no insurance to go to the dr so she has no idea why she has no energy lately. It would be bad enough if I have the virus, but if I hurt my gf I would probably end up jumping off a cliff or something.
Believe me this tought me a lesson...opportunities have come up and I thought about my fear 7 months ago and I don't even think twice about being tempted. I love my gf, we're buying a house soon and I just want this to be behind me.
Anyway what do you think of the possibility of that DNA test being wrong? Am I just being paranoid because of the pain I'm feeling?
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First of all, you didn't have a risk. Could you have got an STD? Yes. Have an STD panel ran. HIV is not a concern here. Sorry you wasted your money on a test that isn't a diagnostic test.
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I had an STD panel ran with that test, all came back negative. Not sure if there's a window on those though.
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You tested negative when? If it was 3 months or longer afterwards then you are negative. See a doctor for your symptoms. HIV is not the cause.
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I tested the same time I got the PCR DNA test so about 30 days later. I hate to be one of those guys that keeps posting even after people say "it's not HIV" and told myself that wouldn't be me...but I guess I see why they do it now. :)
I just can't shake it off...hopefully I get some good news from the doc tommorow (I'll take anything that's curable!).
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You were at risk for possibly other STDs, guilt and anxiety, but not HIV in this recent incident. You used a condom for intercourse. That's the most important. They provide very effective protection. The other details were not putting you at risk for HIV.
If your uncomfortable symptoms persist you need to discuss them with your doctor. This is NOT an HIV situation. For future reference, excessive drinking and casual sex make for a dangerous combination and ought to be avoided.
Good luck with getting whatever else is going on squared away. Whatever it is, it isn't HIV for sure.
Cheers,
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snake,
I've merged the thread you posted with your original account. You should be aware that creating more than one account here is not permitted. If you create a third account, you will be banned, no questions asked. I'm giving you the benefit of doubt that you forgot your original account details - but write them down this time. You will not be given another chance to comply with the rules of this forum.
You didn't have a risk for hiv in Hong Kong. However, unless you and your girlfriend have tested negative for all STIs BEFORE you started having unprotected intercourse, then you BOTH need to test. It's not just sex workers who become infected you know. For all you know (unless you've tested together) your girlfriend may have been infected before you even met her.
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
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Yea...sorry I forgot my old username, I won't forget this one. :)
Anyway thanks guys for the repliesl I still haven't been to the docs...maybe tommorow I'll go if I can stop being so stubborn.
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Snake,
Not only do you and your girlfriend need to have complete sexual health care check-ups before you carry on having unprotected intercourse, but you also need to read those forum posting guidelines. You have been posting questions in another person's thread when you should keep ALL your additional thoughts or questions in THIS, your OWN thread. ONLY.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Ann