My Responsibility

[david1019]

I put myself in this bad situation, like everybody else that's posting here, I too am waiting to get tested. I put myself out there 3wks ago because I was depressed and lonely and being high made a great combination for tragedy, I could have said you got to have a comdon or walked away from the situation I did have that opportunity but I didn't. I've felt my body go through some strange things this week but they tell me I have to wait to get tested at least one more week. I try not stop my life but I find my self stopped not knowing where to turn, last night a had a very dark dream about myself and my possible condition I know people fight to hold on to life but at what price ? I blame no one for this place I find myself right now, we have choices in every situation were in on a daily basis I made the wrong one on mine that night.

[RapidRod]

What was your exposure. You don't test till the 6th week and then get that test confirmed at 13 weeks.

[david1019]

unprotected anal I was bottom and the male was a real sleaze

[Ann]

unprotected anal I was bottom and the male was a real sleaze

Charming. It sounds to me like you're equating someone being "a real sleaze" with them being hiv positive. I hope you realise that most of us who answer questions in this forum are hiv positive. Are we sleazy too? Sheesh!

You need to know that it doesn't matter what a person looks like or acts like or whatever, they could be hiv positive and you need to protect yourself accordingly. 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.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. A negative result at six weeks MUST be confirmed at three months. Symptoms, or even the LACK of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection. The ONLY way to know your status accurately is to test. A test before six weeks is pretty much a waste of time and money, so wait for the six week mark before you test.

No matter what the outcome, you need to stop playing roulette with your health and start using condoms, every time, no exceptions.

Fingers crossed you will be ok this time out.

Ann

[david1019]

Ann,
I didn't mean to equate that this person is a sleaze because of their hiv status. One has nothing to do with the other, I'm sorry if it sounded like that. Yes, I know that most of the replies are from hiv positive folk that due care, and I'm thankful for that because I probably would be in a straight jacket by now if you guys weren't here. I didn't want to move today but I know I can't hide so off I go to work, thank's Ann for the boot and the hug.