POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Nick A on September 16, 2006, 06:46:14 pm
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Alright I posted here months ago from a different account.Honestly I have been too afraid to get tested but have finally gained the courage and am going on Monday.Anyways the questionable incident of infection happened roughly 6 months ago.The last few weeks Ive had Thrush.I know its thrush even though it hasnt been diagnosed.White stuff on the inside of the cheeks ontop of painless sores that can be scraped off.I however also have asthma so the Thrush could be as a result from the steroids.I read in a number of places that Thrush usually doesnt occur until the cd4 levels drop below a certain point and that it usually takes years for Thrush to occur from HIV. How true is this?
Another question is What percentage of infected people get ARS? I didnt have any major symptoms afterwards except some small ones that I think are related to anxiety.My best friend died the same week of the possible infection so it was a very tough time mentally.
And finally Anne.In your profile it says you are from the Rock....as in Newfoundland? If so..me too! And if so do you know how prevalent HIV is in Newfoundland among heterosexuals?
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First of all Thrush, isn't specific to HIV only, anyone can get thrush. Thrush can not be diagnosed by looking at it. I doubt that you even have thrush because you are not complaining of pain. What kind of exposure have you had to think that you may have contracted HIV?
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unprotected sex with somebody who was on their period...I saw menstrual blood on my penis afterwards.
Anyways it completely fits the descriptions Ive read of Thrush.Cottage cheese like white stuff that can be scraped off over lesions and sores on the insides of the cheeks.Anyways if it is Thrush then it is fairly mild case atm and hasnt gotten bad
I have asthma and steroid inhalers can cause thrush so Im assuming its related to that.Can you answer some of my questions please?
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I can't answer your questions, I was a long term non prgressor for almost 21 years. I only had thrush once and let me tell you it hurts like hell and that is when I caught an OI and my cd4 were somewhere below 25. I never had ARS so like I said I would not be an example for you.
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The ONLY way you can know reliably about your HIV status is by having an HIV test. Everything else is guessing and HIV is not something to guess about. There is nothing in anyway HIV-specific about what you are reporting. You should be discussing your symptoms with a doctor.
As far as HIV is concerned it is not an easy virus to transmit. It is significantly more difficult to accomplish from female to male. Even IF the woman you were with is HIV+, the odds against transmission in a single incident even with menstruation occuring are still significantly in your favor.
But you do need to get tested and you should do that at 13 weeks after the most recent unprotected incident.
You also need to learn from this experience and no matter whom you are with in the future, whether a civilian or a professional you need to wear a latex condom everytime you have intercourse. No exceptions. Period.
Good luck with your test result.
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thanks Andy.Ive got this thought in my mind that if the girl I was with was positive then I am too.I am uncircumsized and have read about how the cells in the foreskin are very receptive to HIV.After having sex there was a nice bit of blood under my foreskin so if she was HIV+ I dont see how I could have avoided becoming infected
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really hoping to get some more answers from Ann and others.
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Nick,
Exposure does not guarantee infection. My (uncircumcised) partner and I were together for a year and a half, not using condoms, before we discovered my hiv status. He's still hiv negative seven years later. (we use condoms now)
The only way to know your hiv status is through testing, as you have been told. As this happened six months ago, you can test now for a conclusive result.
Oral thrush is common in people who use asthma inhalers. If what's going on with your mouth concerns you, see your doctor and get it treated. You can't do that on ANY website - go see your doctor.
You have an excellent chance of testing negative. Now go get one done and get it over with.
Ann
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thanks again Ann...so is it Newfoundland that you are referring to as the rock??
Anyways Ive been feeling really tired lately.Is Fatigue something that starts up this early if you were infected? I know what you are going to say but can you just answer this question?
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Nick,
If you know what I'm going to say, why ask? Fatigue is a symtpom of hundreds of things, including stress and depression. See your doctor. And get tested for hiv so you can rule it out.
Ann
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alright but can you atleast answer my question regarding where you live? :) The Rock as in Newfoundland??
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Nick,
It was 3:15 am when I answered last night and I forgot. Fatigue is also a symptom of staying up past one's bedtime.
The Rock is a small island country in the middle of the Irish Sea, also known as the Isle of Man. So no, it's not Newfoundland. I knew a Newfoundland dog once, does that count? :D
Ann
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hahah ya The Rock is the nickname for Newfoundland so I thought you may be a fellow Newfie :D
Looks like getting tested is out this week.Im moving to Toronto or Alberta this week and if I get tested here they say they cant let me know my results by phone and it would take a week minimum to get my results.So Ill get tested when I move.Ummm is OraQuick available in Canada? Its not available here in Newfoundland
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Nick,
I haven't a clue what test is available at any given testing center. Different places offer different tests. You'll have to get on the phone or on a website to local organisations and ask what's available.
Ann