POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 09:10:59 am

Title: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 09:10:59 am
hi...Ill try to be brief. Have recieved and given oral to some guys ove time last exposure back in August. Never to completion. Also have given anal 3 times and each time used a codom.

back in Sept. i went to the doctor with ankle pain and he drew some fluid to check for std. Also had blood taken. All came back negative. thought it might be gout. He asked if i anted hiv test and said no at the time.

Since them I cant stop thinking I have hiv. Constantly in the mirror checking me appearence. Seems like everyday I find something to worry about. A few warts...blood vessel showing on cheecks and nose. I have on both cheeks circular skin coclor chane and on my temples small brown cirles come and go that I can almost peel off. I have also had a red face for about 2 months...could be all the anxiety. I had a coule of night sweats where I woke up and my pillow was soaked ut that it..could be from heavy drinking at times.

I also have very dry skin on my legs below the knee. Does hiv rash just efect the face?...have not noticed and other rashes on my body.

I want to go get tested but I'm so scared that the results could be positive.

Any thoughts?...do these symptoms sound familiar and are they hiv symptoms?
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: Andy Velez on December 09, 2006, 09:21:46 am
Bo, it's good to read that you have been using condoms for anal intercourse. Way to go! They provide very effective protection, so you have problem there.

Receiving oral is nil for risk. There's never been a case of transmission documented from same. Giving oral is at the very low end of the risk chain, especially without ejaculation having taken place. As far as risk is concerned, several large, longterm studies in which no transmissions occured can be weighed against a very few reported cases of transmission in this manner. It really comes down to the level of risk you are willing to accept.

The bottom line in all of this is that I don't see HIV as a problem for you. I do always recommend that anyone who's sexually active have a full STD panel done at least annually, and more frequently if there has been anything genuinely risky such as unprotected intercourse.

Your "symptoms"? There is absolutely nothing in anyway HIV specific about them. And in any case, neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms will ever tell you accurately about your HIV status. If there has been a real risk, and you haven't had one I hasten to add, then getting tested at 13 weeks post incident is the only way to know for sure.

If you have symptoms that are bothering you, discuss them with your doctor. This is not an HIV situation. Period.

Cheers, 
Whateve
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 09:29:01 am
HI, thak you for getting back to me. I have been having a very difficult time and your input has helped. It's so crazy...everyday I read more and more and look for symptoms and al;way think I find some. I cant walk by a mirror without stopping and inspecting my face for new signs.
Thanks again....
Bo
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 09, 2006, 09:45:53 am
bo,

You can't tell by looking if a person has hiv or not. We don't have "signs" on our bodies. You'd never know by looking at me and you'd never know by looking at most hiv positive people - and you'll never be able to know your own status by looking either. Only hiv antibody testing will reveal your hiv status. You might like to keep that in mind. ;)

And by the way, I agree with Andy. No risk.

Ann
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 11:27:17 am
Ann,
Thanks for the response. I'll try to stay out of the mirror...
Bo

...would like to hear any others thoughts on symptoms
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 09, 2006, 01:12:51 pm
Bo,

Sorry to burst your bubble, but we do not encourage symptom talk or symptom shopping in this forum. Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms mean nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Forget about symptoms. Only  testing matters - it is impossible to diagnose hiv through symptoms and many people never experience ARS. 

Ann
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 03:11:26 pm
Ok...sorry. Just freaking out I guess. My face is so red, hope its just the anxiety.
Thanks again.
Title: HIV rash...
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 04:06:32 pm
Does hiv present with certain types of rashes? My face has been red for about 3 weeks now...noticing some small warts on the side of my face and some skin color change on my cheeks...along with small veins on the cheeks and bridge of my noce. Now, I have been so freaked outfor almost 2 months now that I mighht have HIV....could anxiety be causing this?

Anyone with info on HIV rash?.....
Title: Re: HIV rash...
Post by: RapidRod on December 09, 2006, 04:15:29 pm
Please do not start new threads. Keep all your questions and concerns in your orginal thread.
Title: Re: HIV rash...
Post by: bosox on December 09, 2006, 04:16:28 pm
ok...sorry about that...just concerned and looking for more feedback.
Thanks
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: Ann on December 09, 2006, 05:16:28 pm
bo,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

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 (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you're worried about a rash on your face, see your doctor.

Ann
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 11, 2006, 08:22:20 am
hi again...because im so paranoid now i keep looking at my penis and think i have genital warts. The bumps are not very prominant but when i look closely i see a bunch of small white dots running up the shaft on the underside of my penis. could this be warts?

they seam to come and go...depends when i look..sometimes i can easily spot them other times i have to look close...

any suggetions?....

trying to get up the courage to go for my hiv test, really freaking out. last exposure in August, mutual oral and gave anal with condom. feel like i have every symptom in the book, have stressed over it now for 3 months!

Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: RapidRod on December 11, 2006, 08:24:01 am
Go see your doctor. This is not an HIV concern.
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: Coffeechick88 on December 11, 2006, 09:00:52 am
I agree with the others this isn't an HIV situation.  The only thing that matters is getting a test.  Analyzing what a symptom may or may not mean will literally make you crazy.  The internet is even worse.  Besides my hospital duties I also moonlight at the clinic.  There are many people who overanalyze their symptoms and are obsessed about what disease they have, because symptoms can mean so many things or anxiety in the person's head may make symptoms appear.  So seeing a doctor and getting the proper testing is what you should do.  I do repeat that this isn't an HIV situation.  You also sound like someone who would be a good candidate for counseling to deal with your anxiety and your obsessions on HIV.  This is not healthy.
Title: Re: scared...any thougts on symptoms
Post by: bosox on December 11, 2006, 12:44:36 pm
HI all...just came back from getting tested, rapid oral and came back negative! It was all I could do to bring myself down to the clinic but I made myself...couldnt live with the anxiety anymore. If your like me and belive me I presented with all the symptoms I read on the internet...get tested. I would have bet anything I was positive...i was relieved and you can be also. The internet freak me out...BAD! Dont read to much youll drive yourself crazy.

Wanted to thank you guys for the support over a very difficult time. Now to just get rid of this anxiety that has built over3 1/2 months.

Thanks Again,
Bo