Hello everyone, :bouncing: I am 21 years old, and I have been experiencing severe stomach problems. The doctors dont have much to tell me, so I have learned to deal with them. But along with these stomach problems I have been getting what seems to be small colds all the time, where one night I start coughing real bad, my body aches my head hurts, and then the next couple of days I am just a little tired and congested, and coughing, this has happened probably like 7 or 8 times in the last 3 months, and one time it was bronchitis. I am afraid that I have H.I.V. does it sound like it, I am afraid to go get tested for what they will say. Or can allergies do this to you, or even smoking, I am a pretty bad smoker. Please help me. :confused:

someone answer please.

What makes you think this is related to HIV? Have you been involved into anything risky?

HIV cannot be diagnosed through symptoms, only way to know is to test.

In some individuals, when they seroconvert, they may experience flu-like symptoms, diarhea, fever, rashes... etc etc. and after seroconversion, usually people remain healthy until they developed some AIDS-associated-illness.

what makes you think it would be hiv? have you had any possible exposures? peopl will probaly be more able to help if they know why you are worried. but anything could cause those symptoms and it is most probably not hiv!! do you suffer from anxiety or anything that makes you worry a lot?

I have in the past with only boyfriends not used protection, I was really stupid, but I have been with this guy for three years, do you think syptoms would show after 3 years? And yes I think I have stress, anxiety issues, and a little ocd. I am still very scared.

is it possible to have a 'little' ocd then?

yes, but does it sound like h.i.v.

If your last unprotected experience was more than 3 months ago, then get tested and put your mind at rest. It is very unlikely that you have anything bad, but since you have had unprotected experiences, it would be an honourable and sensible thing to do to have a STD test. Also ask your ex boyfriends for their opinion, which can't hurt.

The symptoms you describe could be anything. Is there any other reason at the moment you might have a compromised immune system, aside from the fact you admit you smoke heavily anbd have obsessive compulsive disorder?

I would be more concerned about the cigarettes doing damage than anything else, as the chances of cigarette-promoted serious diseases are massively higher than getting HIV from unprotected sex. Perhaps also consider a full general health checkup. And stop smoking if you are serious about limiting your chances of illness in general.

Thank you live for the day, I know I am quitting. Have a good day :angel: