POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: lincoln100 on January 28, 2008, 04:41:16 pm
-
Thank-you to everyone for their tremendous work on this forum. Greatly appreciated.
I've always practiced safe intercourse, but in the last few years, I have been given several blowjobs (maybe six). I know this is regarded as a very low risk, particularly for the insertive partner, however I'm wondering if several exposures like this means testing is warranted.
I'm also wondering about potential condom breaks. As far as I know, I've never had one break, but I'm wondering if I'd really know. Can the tear be so small that I wouldn't notice? Whenever I've removed a condom, they've seemed fine. Certainly the head of my penis didn't seem to be exposed. Any info on this would be appreciated.
Thanks again to everyone, particularly anyone who could spare a minute to respond to my concern.
-
No, the risk in getting a blowjob isn't low. It's non-existent. In the entire history of the epidemic there has never been a confirmed case of transmission in that manner. It's safe to say you aren't going to make history by becoming the first.
As far as condoms are concerned, when they break it's not the teensie weensie little hole sort of thing that so many people worry about. When a condom fails it ends up looking like a fringed hula hoop on your penis. Nothing subtle about that. So you would have known if it one had broken.
In general we recommend that anyone who's sexually active have a full STD panel done regularly -- at least annually. Other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV so getting a full panel done is a wise precaution.
Cheers,
-
Thanks, Andy.
That's very reassuring.
-
Here I am again. I promise not to be a pain in the ass...I just want to be responsible. Last post I swear.
Andy, basically what you're saying is I put myself at no tangible HIV risk at all. Correct? I'm in a remote location, so I sure don't want to go for unnecesary tests (which means missing work...possibly getting a hotel). I do plan on going in for a complete physical - including STDs -- late in the spring? Is this sufficient?
Sorry again to impose on everyone's time. Andy, Ann, Matty, Rod..et al. I thank-you again. I'm gonna put my nerves behind me with this last post.
-
Andy, basically what you're saying is I put myself at no tangible HIV risk at all. Correct?
You got it, kiddo.
As Andy notes we advise sexually active people to have routine STD screens at least once a year. Twice is better. Given that there's no pressing need for you to test, having a routine full screen done when you get your Spring checkup sounds like a fine idea.
Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the links to our Lessons to learn more about how HIV is and is not transmitted.
MtD
-
Oh..oh. I hope I'm not headed for a time-out.
I was feeling very reassured until a couple of days ago. I woke up with a crusty sore on the corner of my mouth. Seemed to come on suddenly. It's hard for me to get to a doctor without making plans, but the pharmacist told me it was likely perleche (sp?) or angular cheilitis. He gave me a cream that seems to have helped. I talked to my sister who is a nurse (not local to me unfortunately) and she told me it wasn't serious. Then, being the idiot I sometimes am, I went online and scared the crap out of myself. At least two websites said this is often an HIV sign. So...here comes the fear. And to top it all off, my barber said today he thought I was losing weight, so now I'm convinced I am.
I refuse to get completely out of control with panic. My risks, I know were low, but do any of you good people see this -- in Andy's words -- as a potential "HIV situation?"
I hate to impose again, but I don't want to go get needless tests based on unjustified concern. I'm hours and hours from the doctor and I just can't get wrapped up in the cycle of endless testing that I see some folks here go through.
Many thanks for your time. I hate to ask for further reassurance, but here I am..
-
angular cheilitis is not an HIV concern. You didn't have a risk to begin with as you have already been advised.
-
Thanks, Rod.
This is true even if you're a young guy? One website said it was only common in older people with dentures, but potentially related to HIV or diabetes in younger people.
I'm definitely not questioning your judgement, just confused as hell about the information that's out there. This seemed to be a reputable site about dental issues, mouth diseases and so forth (I can't remember it now).
Thanks again.
-
Lincoln,
You do not report any behaviour that would have put you at risk for hiv infection. However, as Andy has already told you, we recommend that anyone who is sexually active should get a full sexual health check-up at least once a year. When you've been practicing safer sex (as you have) and get negative results from your routine check-ups, the results are conclusive so there's no reason to carry on testing compulsively.
Look at it this way. If you regularly brush your teeth and go to the dentist for a check up, you don't panic and go back the next month when he tells you that you have no cavities. You accept the fact that you have no cavities and go again in a year's time. It's the same thing here.
Go get that routine check and get it over with. You will receive negative results.
Ann
-
Thanks, Ann.
I'll start incorporating an STD check with my regular annual check-up and stop worrying unduly until then.
-
Hi, Folks.
Off topic from my original thread, but I know we're supposed to keep our posts together.
I'm sure you've covered this, but I'd like some confirmation (and maybe it will be useful) for other users of the forum.
There's another popular website that does risk analysis where the experts are forever talking about the chances that somebody's partner even had HIV in the first place and then incorporating that into their analysis of the situation. I suppose that's fine, but I'm hoping that that's not what you folks do.
When aidsmeds says, for instance, that no-one gets HIV from a blow job, you're not saying that it's farfetched that your partner was positive and you happened to contract it from a low-risk behaviour...you're saying that it doesn't happen regardless of your partner's status, viral load and so forth. In other words, you're assuming when you look at someone's situation that their partner IS positive and you're examining the act or the behaviour for potential risk.
As always, thanks. You people are terrific.
-
The fact is and the studies show, you do not contract HIV from oral sex. It has nothing to do with a website being popular or not, it's about the websites ability to give out the most up to date and correct information.
-
Lincoln,
I don't know how any other websites do it, but WE always assume the other person is hiv positive when we give risk assessments. You should always also assume any sexual partner is hiv positive and protect yourself accordingly.
Ann
-
I'm getting worried again. I haven't had sex of any kind since my first post, and I took all of your reassurance to heart, but the last few weeks have been hard. First, after travelling on a crowded plane for two hours, and then a crowded bus for another three, I came down with impetigo. I went to a walk-in for a diagnosis and got antibiotics, which cleared it up (a single ugly sore on my chin) after about ten days. I tried not to worry, even though I know this is something HIV-Positive people contend with.
Then, about a week ago, I got the first cold sore of my life. I wasn't sick...it just came out of nowhere. I'm sure I've had the cold-sore virus my whole life (both my parents had it) but I've never had an outbreak before and I'm nearly forty. I don't know what could be causing all of this, if not some sort of immunosuppression.
I know you don't like to discuss symptoms here, and I respect that, but have any of you experts heard of someone with so many concrete symptoms (as opposed to vague, potentially anxiety-driven symptoms like tingling sensations...etc) not being positive. I'm very concerned. Does any of this change any one's risk assessment for me? I'm sorry to ask again, but this is the only forum I trust. Please believe me that these symptoms are not in my head. The impetigo, the perleche, and the cold sore are very real. I just don't know what's going on.
My best to all of you.
-
lincoln,
This forum is chock full of people who have symptoms but yet test hiv negative. You're no different - because you didn't have a risk. Not one person has ever been infected from a blowjob and you won't be the first.
Stress is the leading cause of herpes outbreaks. I know, I had herpes long before I was hiv positive and stress would bring it out every time. As for the impetigo, I've never heard of it being connected with hiv in any way. You probably just were unlucky enough to come into contact with it somewhere. It happens.
Go see your doctor to find out "what is going on". Whatever it is, it isn't hiv. You haven't had a risk.
Ann
-
Thanks, Ann.
I just don't understand about this cold sore. I really didn't feel like I was under any particular stres, and, like I said, I'm sure I've had the herpes virus since I was a kid, so it's very troubling.
And I'm glad to hear your comments about impetigo. I had read somewhere that it was a really common infection for positive people.
-
Does anyone have any comments about my cold sore, or about impetigo as it relates to HIV?
-
No, because cold sores and impetigo are not indicative of HIV.
-
lincoln,
You did not have a risk for hiv infection.
You willl not be allowed to use this website to go on about your no risk incident and your cold sore. If you're worried about the cold sore, see your doctor. It has nothing to do with hiv.
If you've read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
Please consider yourself warned.
Ann