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Author Topic: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?  (Read 8716 times)

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Offline greatescape

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Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« on: May 15, 2011, 01:03:30 am »
Hi!

Because of some persistent diarrhea, I had myself tested FOUR WEEKS after my LAST possible exposure to the virus (oral receptive for about two minutes, no ejaculation, presence precum unknown, insertive partner's status unknown) using SD BIOLINE HIV 1/2 RAPID TEST. Results came out negative, but the health counsellor told me to go back during the three- and six-month mark for conclusive results.

So I went to see a gastrologist to ask about my diarrhea, and he told me that it might just be some infection. I took some meds and he asked me to take CBC and fecalysis. Results came out normal.

On the fifth and sixth week since the exposure, however, I've been having episodic pains in my knees and fingers and muscle twitching (esp. in the thigh area). I've been having sleepless nights because of this and I keep waking up early in the morning because of irregular bowel movement.

I'm not completely sure whether this is due to anxiety, fatigue or stress thinking about how uncertain my status is, but I'm extremely worried. I've been in emotional distress over this. Is there a chance that the symptoms I mentioned are psychosomatic? Is rapid testing after four weeks reliable? How risky was the oral sex I engaged in?

Any opinion would be of great help right now.

PS.
I don't know if this will help evaluate my risk, but my sex life only revolves mostly around mutual masturbation and occasional oral sex. I've only had two counts of brief, protected anal sex and one brief, unprotected anal sex (just because I hate it). I've never engaged with multiple partners.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2011, 03:11:18 am by greatescape »

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2011, 04:10:23 am »
You never had a risk of contracting HIV from oral sex.

Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2011, 08:40:51 am »
GE,

As Rodney says, you haven't had a risk for hiv infection. Giving a blowjob is more a theoretical risk than an actual one. There have been long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

Your symptoms could be caused by stress, particularly the diarrhea. If you continue to feel unwell, see a doctor. It's nothing to do with hiv.

You do not need further testing and certainly not out to six months. The window period for hiv testing has been three months for years now - the counsellor you saw is woefully out of date in his hiv knowledge.

Here's what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative:

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 without 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.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER TESTING AT THIS TIME, 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.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline greatescape

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Re: Please Help..So Worried
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2011, 08:35:51 am »
Hi,

Sorry for butting in on the discussion, but I would like to know where you had your CMIA test taken. I am from the Philippines too, and I feel like most of us aren't really aware of the facilities or testing areas for HIV/AIDS.

Thank you!

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Please Help..So Worried
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2011, 08:52:09 am »
greatescape,

■Only those Moderators and members who are authorized to answer questions in the Am I Infected? forum are permitted do so. Unauthorized responses may be deleted without permission of the poster. Repeatedly posting replies of this nature may result in a Time Out or permanent ban, at the discretion of the Moderator Team.

■Please do not post questions that you have about your own concerns in another person's thread. This is called thread hijacking and we do not encourage this practice.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2011, 08:54:45 am by RapidRod »

Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2011, 09:20:51 am »
GE,

I removed the post you made in someone else's thread and placed it here, in your own thread which is the ONLY place you should be posting and where you should post any additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread. It doesn't matter how long it has been since you last posted in your thread or if the subject matter is different.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.





If you want to find places for hiv testing near you in the Philippines, search the database at aidsmap.com.

As you have already been told, you do not need further testing for hiv over this blowjob. You do not have hiv.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline greatescape

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2011, 02:33:19 am »
Oops, so sorry about that. Anyway, thank you for your input regarding my situation. I really appreciate it.

Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2011, 06:29:01 am »
GE,

You're welcome.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!!!

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline greatescape

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2011, 07:44:42 am »
Hi, it's me again.

What is the likelihood of a 4TH WEEK negative result to change into positive? I took another blood test from the hospital (8TH WEEK since the last possible oral receptive exposure) and I'm seriously worried about the results. I noticed that I lost weight and that I've developed an annoying cough, but I'd like to believe that this is just due to sleepless nights, depression and anxiety. I kept asking the guy I had an encounter with if he's negative and he kept insisting that he is and that he got tested before we even met. He also said that he hasn't been active in sex except during our encounters.

I know you guys have had your share of people being so paranoid and I totally salute you for your patience, but right now I need a listening ear on this. I haven't had any fever, but can the symptoms that I mentioned be attributed to ARS? Also, is knee pain a cause for alarm?

Thank you so much!
« Last Edit: May 24, 2011, 07:46:23 am by greatescape »

Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2011, 08:15:28 am »
GE,

You can never go by what someone else says about their hiv status. You need to assume anyone you have an encounter with is hiv positive and protect yourself accordingly and use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions. Going by what someone says about their hiv status is foolish.

However, saying that, nothing you did with this man was a risk for hiv infection and I fully expect your eight week test to also return a negative result.

And no, none of the symptoms you're complaining about point to hiv infection. If you feel unwell, see a doctor. Don't ignore your symptoms - especially that cough and weight loss. While it is not typical of acute hiv infection, it IS typical of TB which is endemic in your part of the world. Stop focusing on an illness you don't have and see a doctor about one you might. You could be missing something important through your hiv tunnel vision. SEE A DOCTOR.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline greatescape

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2011, 08:22:52 am »
Thank you so much for the prompt and meaningful insight, Ann. Will see a doctor regarding this.

Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2011, 09:17:27 am »
GE,

Good. Seeing a doctor about your cough and weight-loss is the right thing to do in your situation - which, by the way, is NOT an hiv situation!

Good luck with the doctor. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but the only way to find out is to see a doctor.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline greatescape

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2011, 01:03:06 am »
Hi!

I got my 7th / 8th week test and these are the results:

I. CLEIA (Abbott Architect HIV Ag/Ab) - NON-REACTIVE
II. EIA (Bio-Rad Genscreen HIV Ag/Ab Combination) - NON-REACTIVE

The staff from the hospital tells me that I need to go back during the third and sixth month mark, but considering the testing methods they used for my blood work, is this a sign that I need to get over my jitters and move on with life?


Offline Ann

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Re: Are these ARS symptoms or am I being psychosomatic?
« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2011, 07:26:13 am »
GE,

Your test results are not going to change no matter how far out you test. You do not have hiv.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


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