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Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

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Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Inflamed throat and kissing
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 06:51:30 am »
Quote
Just to be ultra clear the rash is in my mouth like on my palate.

Asked and answered already.

Quote
if I had flossed before kissing, I would still not be in any risk? My gums do bleed when I floss.

No HIV risk to you.
2
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Inflamed throat and kissing
« Last post by stripe24 on Today at 06:46:30 am »
Thanks for the reply. Just to be ultra clear the rash is in my mouth like on my palate. I still have no risk right? and if I had flossed before kissing, I would still not be in any risk? My gums do bleed when I floss.
3
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Inflamed throat and kissing
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 06:43:00 am »
Hiya,

I read your post three times. You kissed a guy and have petechial rashes (petechiae) what if he had blood in his saliva, et cetera.

It's not an HIV risk to you, relax and move on with your life.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Talk to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and getting vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.
4
Forums Gatherings / Re: Monthly Virtual Gathering
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 05:48:29 am »
I'm looking forward to cathing up with you all. See you Saturday.
5
Living With HIV / Re: Viral Blip. Mental spiral.
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 05:44:09 am »
Quote from: Tonny2 on Yesterday at 07:50:58 pm
no need to feel bad for not being here that often, as a matter fact, I tell everybody as soon as they know that they’re treatment is working to go back to their normal lives…

100% this.

I think newly diagnosed post the most and then stop posting once they get used to the treatment, start living their lives again and stop focusing on HIV. It shows just how good HIV treatment has become and you don't need to feel bad about that.

We're here to support you when you need us  :)
6
Living With HIV / Re: Viral Blip. Mental spiral.
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 05:41:05 am »
Quote from: Allthefeelings on Yesterday at 06:45:34 pm
I've experienced a viral blip for the second time in four months; it was 32 in April, and now it's 104. I've been extremely diligent with my medication, but I can't help obsessing over my lab results. I'm aiming to switch from Biktarvy to either Dovato or Cabenuva, but it feels like a distant goal. When I was diagnosed in April 2022, my initial viral load was 80,000 and my CD4 count was just 22. Since then, my CD4 count has only slowly climbed above 200, and now with two consecutive blips, I'm feeling hopeless.

Hiya,

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear that you feel stressed by this, what did your healthcare provider say? Are you still taking any supplements? If so prehaps keep off them for 30 days before your next VL test and see what happens.

now I think something you and a lot of us might want to take on board is that nobody here has a VL of zero. Despite what some lab reports or doctors might say, the VL is always there just sometimes below the lab threshold to detect in the small specimen taken but HIV treatment is not about being "undetectable" for the labs tests.

You started treatment in April 2022, VL has been 97,000, 203, 60, 22 and 104. You have a suppressed viral load and your treatment is working great, I would be pleased with these results if they were mine, as the goal is met, job done!

Personally, only if I had continuous VL results over 200 I would consider it an important indicator. However, low-level stuff or the odd spike is mostly insignificant.

The reason being detectable in lab results, can happen for all kinds of reasons, not to mention the threshold of labs keeps getting lower and lower without much point from a clinical sense, anyhow, detected viral load can also include defective copies being released from the HIV reservoir that are incorrectly counted.  I suspect microblips are more common in the first few years of treatment but that is just my anecdotal observation.


Sorry, this reply has gotten so long, anyhow, could switching HIV treatment help you beat the lab tests? Prehaps,  something to discuss with your healthcare provider. Would going from a consistent VL between 22 - 200 to below 20 copies make any difference to your life or health? No *

*
Prof. Fiona Lyons (HIV in 2024)
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77637

Low level VL linked to defective copies released from viral reservoir
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77301

Reporting VL below 200 - “harmful medical practice”
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77575

"What’s All This Fuss I Hear About Viral “Blips”?

Blips
http://i-base.info/guides/changing/viral-load-blips

Viral Blips Don't Raise the Risk of HIV Treatment Failure
https://www.poz.com/article/viral-blips-raise-risk-hiv-treatment-failure

http://www.aidsmap.com/Spanish-study-gives-reassurance-small-HIV-blips-do-not-predict-treatment-failure/page/3085173/

What’s All This Fuss I Hear About Viral “Blips”?
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/70/12/2710/5573119

Q&A on persistent low-level viremia.
https://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hiv-aids/news/online/%7B8373ca63-674d-4015-ac35-f4da653c7415%7D/qa-understanding-persistent-low-level-viremia-in-people-with-hiv







7
Do I Have HIV? / Inflamed throat and kissing
« Last post by stripe24 on Today at 05:29:16 am »
Hello. I wanted to ask a question that’s been plaguing me with worry. The other day I French kissed a man of unknown status. The issue is I had a bad sore throat and I had petechiae inside my mouth like on the palate area. I’m not sure if you know what they are but it’s like red spots where your blood vessels have broken so kind of like a bruise but not sure if they are actively bleeding and considered open wounds. Could kissing him while I had these spots increase my risk of HIV? For example if he had something similar in his mouth and was bleeding? Or if his saliva had some blood in it and it came into contact with my inflamed throat? Sorry if this sounds like a silly question it’s just really bugging me.
8
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Help
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 04:47:08 am »
The word “clean” to indicate "Negative" HIV / STI status suggests that an HIV-positive result & therefore people living with HIV are unclean and dirty. 

The term "clean" can be very offensive to some people living with HIV and since this is an HIV community forum I would have expected you to have some sense and courtesy before posting asking for our assistance. A lot of members here are new to living with HIV, they have enough to deal with already without your stigmatizing language and attitude and my primary goal is to keep this a safe space for them, not you and that is the "main topic" here as you call it.

I understand from your posts that you are an asshole, I can't change that but behave yourself here and if you post again using that term it will lead to a ban from the forums.

Quote
when I was done (didn’t finish and pulled out the condom was half way down middle of my shaft head still covered

Not an HIV risk to you.

Quote
As of yet no

Perfect.

Quote
I found out I’m gonna be a dad with my ex

Well if you did have condomless sex with her test with a blood draw (lab) HIV antibody test. A non-reactive result at that time would rarely change. Also, consider getting an STI screening for far easier-to-acquire STIs and talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Talk to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and getting vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.
9
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Help
« Last post by Vaestras on Today at 04:32:56 am »
As of yet no
10
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Help
« Last post by Jim Allen on Today at 04:31:49 am »
Yeah, and you are an asshole for coming here expecting our help and using such language.

Now answer the question, have you been having sex with your ex without a condom? It's a simple yes or no answer I am looking for.
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10

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