Anxiety on being infctious

[RC65]

I found this site a few weeks ago and found it very helpful and hope you can give some advice, support.

I was diagnosed with HIV in 1992.  I been in good physical condition all this time.  I have always suffered from anxiety and depression but have coped well with my HIV status until about three years ago when anxiety started to become a  greater problem than normal.  In April I changed from Efavirenz to Dolutegravir hoping this would help but it did not, in fact I seem to be getting worse. 

Lately I have been getting obsessed with infecting others. I have not been sexually active for many years but worry about things like saliva left on drinking glasses and crockery getting into cuts.   Yesterday I got home after a haircut and started thinking about this as a source of infecting others. 

My viral load has been  <50 with 3 blips since Feb 2005 and <20 for the last 3 years with the more accurate test.

[phenethylamine]

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html

"HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces), and it cannot reproduce. It is not spread by
•Air or water.
•Insects, including mosquitoes or ticks.
•Saliva, tears, or sweat. There is no documented case of HIV being transmitted by spitting.
•Casual contact like shaking hands or sharing dishes.
•Closed-mouth or “social” kissing
•Toilet seats."

Maybe learning these bullets will help?

I get what your saying though, I sometimes feel uncomfortable wearing short sleeves around mosquitoes even though I know it's pretty much impossible... I'm ultimately able to remind myself I'm being irrational and forget it. If your unable to do so though, and it's interfering with your life then maybe see doctor about anxiety/obsessive compulsive disorder.

[RC65]

phenethylamine.  Thanks for the reply to my post and the information.

I feel a bit less alone with my problems.

[Joe K]

You do not need to be so fearful regarding HIV.  The risk factors for HIV are ...

Sharing IV drug needles immediately after use.
Unprotected anal and vaginal sex.
Mother to child during or shortly after birth.
Very specific health care situations.

HIV is a very fragile virus that does not survive on environmental surfaces that we deal with every day.  You cannot get HIV from casual contact.  The risk for infection comes from unprotected intercourse, where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies involved.

You represent no risk to anyone, outside of intimate contact.  You do not need to fear exposing anyone to HIV in your daily life.  That is not how HIV is spread.

Joe

[leatherman]

outside of intimate contact.

actually recent studies have shown that someone who has been UD (<20 IS undetectable) for at least two years (hopefully further study will show a more exact length of time) has a 0% chance of transmitting HIV.

No-one with an undetectable viral load, gay or heterosexual, transmits HIV in first two years of PARTNER study
.....
When asked what the study tells us about the chance of someone with an undetectable viral load  transmitting HIV, presenter Alison Rodger said: "Our best estimate is it's zero."

http://www.aidsmap.com/No-one-with-an-undetectable-viral-load-gay-or-heterosexual-transmits-HIV-in-first-two-years-of-PARTNER-study/page/2832748/

So, for someone who has been UD for over 3 years, you certainly have no chance of accidentally transmitting HIV (because that really just doesn't happen), much less by intimate contact.

Of course, condoms and PrEP (with a negative partner) will help that 0% chance of transmission 

[RC65]

Thank you for replying to my post and the additional information.

I am slowly improving and this forum is helping.