need information and I'm in Italy

[sadinitaly]

I feel horrible.  It's 2 weeks since my possible exposure.  I had sex with out a condom and I am stupid.  Now I fell extremely achy and tired and like I have the flu.   The worst part is I am an Au Pair in Italy and don't speak great Italian so going to the hospital is a little difficult (that's where they sen you over here if you have any kind of health problem)  But I will.  I contacted the american cdc twice and folloowed their propmts to try to speak to someone but the recording said they "could not help me with my inquiry"? What the heck?   I wonderr if anyone knows of a number I could call (english speaking) where they could direct me to the correct place in Italy.  I've searched for testing centers and nothing comes up on my computer.  Plus should I wait the 3 months or whatever to get tested?  I don't think I can.  But I doubt if they have that test here which detects the virus itself and not just the antibodies.   Should I just go back home?  Any help welcomed Thank you.

[Morgan]

Sadin,

I would wait til at least the 6 week mark before testing, and followup with a conclusive 13 week test.

Certain activities are more risky than others.  And whether you were the insertive or receptive partner is significant in assessing your risk.

But, either way, you would need to test.  Unprotected sex is unprotected sex.

I wouldn't focus on your symptoms though.  Too many other explanations for them.

Morgan

[sadinitaly]

I was the reciever.  I know it's bad.  Also is there any hope for early detection?  Thank you for your reply.

[Morgan]

Sad,

Wish I could provide info on services in Italy, but am not familar with what they offer. 

I wouldn't get ahead of yourself though.  It would be a lot of wasted time and expense to go back to the states over what may just be a case of the flu.

Wait for a least six weeks and test. Maybe someone else can chime in who knows Italy better.

Hang in there...

Morgan

[Ann]

Sad,

Go to http://www.aidsmap.com/cms1038779.asp and select Italy from the drop-down list and hit search. You don't need to do anything with the other three boxes. You'lll get a list of hiv organisations in Italy.

As you've been told, the earliest you should test is six weeks, as the vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test postiive by then. Although a six week negative is unlikely to change, it MUST be confirmed with a test at the three month point.

Forget about symptom hunting. Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms will tell you NOTHING about your hiv status. Only testing will reveal your status.

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 sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three 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

[sadinitaly]

Thank You for the information ann.  For any one who wants to know I found out that they call STD's or STI's   MTS's over here.  Just in case that is helpful to anyone.

[Andy Velez]

Sad, Ann's covered the basics for you. Although you are understandably worried, symptoms really mean nothing in terms of reliably knowing HIV status. Most of the time when people come here with all sorts of symptoms and are certain they will test positive, then end up testing negative. Hopefully you will scoot by safely this time. But you do need to learn from this experience about always, ALWAYS using a condom in the future.

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after a risky incident. So testing at 6 weeks and getting a negative will be a strong indication that you will continue to test negative. You should re-test at 13 weeks to confirm the earlier result.

Good luck to you and keep us posted. During this waiting time it will pass more quickly if you are productively busy and focusing on other things.

Cheers,

[pacerintl]

I agree with Andy, always practice safer sex>  For me the idea of "Well we're in a monogomous relationship", or "Well I've always only slept with people with class"....I've heard all.  People that talk like this are playing with fire.  People are human and humans make mistakes all the time.  To assume or gamble that you or your partner could never stray or be exposed is ridiculous.  Ask anyone on this board.

If you are not in the process of trying to get pregnant there reaally is no reason to be praticing unsafe sex.  It's just not worth the risks.

[sadinitaly]

Thank You Andy I have been trying to keep myself engaged in the world since you posted that.  Thank you for your kind words.  I will write back.  I strongly feel I have contracted the virus.  I have been figure out my options.  I went to the hospital who told me on the phone to come in that day.  I took a bus, and walked in rain, and when I got there they told me, go to a different place on Tuesday.  That's good and fine but today I'm in pain so I will go to the other hospital tomorow and see if someone can help me there.  If I sound unnaturally calm to you, I'll let you know I've been crying.

[sadinitaly]

Pacer my thought process was nil.  I didn't even wan't to do it really but then I just did.  I was thinking and saying no no no at the time but then I just gave in.  I felt immediatley angry and sensed something was different.  "only doing it with people of a certain class" or whatever didn't fucking enter my mind.

[sadinitaly]

pacer and anyone who might be offended I am sorry for swearing in my last post.

[Andy Velez]

Fortunately feelings aren't facts. So even though you may "strongly feel" that you've been infected that remains to seen. And the HIV test taken at the proper time will give you that answer. HIV is not an easy virus to transmit so there's that in your favor.

Now, instead of moping around and feeling sorry for yourself, which only makes matters worse, get productively busy in your life and the waiting time will pass more quickly than you may imagine possible. And you will have your symptoms checked out, which by the way are not in any way HIV specific.

Cheers,

[sadinitaly]

HI I know I've been told to wait until the 6 weeks are over to get tested, but I wondered if I get tested now and test positive will there be anything they can do for me to stop damage to my immune system now?  I'm coming up on my fourth week of exposure.   I'm leaving in about a week to go home and just figured I would do it then, but while my symptoms have tapered they haven't stopped.   I've been having other problems too, (vaginal) which I went to the doctor for and she prescribed me an antibiotic, of which I'm guessing is safe since I told her my suspicions about me going through seroconversion.  The doctors here told me to get tested at the testing sight as the results will come back in two days and they are SURE I have nothing to worry about.  What.. I just put myself at major risk here.   They all seem to think Italian men don't have hiv.  Anyway I just wondered if waiting another week is going to be severely detrimental for hiv as well as treating other std's too?  I want to do something to help my body now if poosible.

[Ann]

Sad,

You are not likely to be treated for hiv in primary infection - not in Europe anyway.  You could have - and should have - checked for other STIs two weeks after unprotected intercourse.

Whenever you test, remember that only a three month test is conclusive where negative results are concerned.

Ann

[sadinitaly]

I tested at the 6 week mark and it was neg.  But I realize this is in NO WAY conclusive.  I am still having symptoms.  I went for STD testing which results aren't back from, and am on antibiotics.  Reading these forums has been one of the only things to calm me down in this difficult time, and I'd like to thank everyone.  I think these things should be on prime time TV.  Really to get the information out there.  I heard so much about STD's and HIV prevention when I was younger but then just didn't hear about it anymore.  It's imortant for these things to be drilled into peoples heads as we forget and especially when the rush of blood away from your brain during sex is involved.  Also don't trust men not to cum inside of you when they're not supposed to and yes this is not a good prevention method.  When I went to the hospital the day after this night for medical care, they didn't even tell me about PEP.  I found out two wekks later from this sight.  God bless.

[Andy Velez]

Even though your head seems to still be stuck on expecting the worst, a negative at 6 weeks is mighty good news. All but the very smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will have done so by 6 weeks. As for your symptoms, they are in no way HIV specific. Further, HIV ARS do not last for weeks and weeks. A week or two and they are generally GONE. I daresay nerves maybe playing some part in your general upset. In any case, discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Stay productively busy in the coming weeks. It will help to pass them more quickly than you may imagine possible. There is a light ahead and I am expecting you to continue to test negative.

No less important is that in the future it doesn't whom you are with. Any partner must always without exception wear a latex condom. If he won't do that then he's not worth bothering with.

Now, get busy....

Cheers,