Let me preface this with the fact that I do have ocd/anxiety problems. I have posted here before and have been told that I don't have anything to worry about. But I'm still worried. This is what has happened.

!. I went to a new dentist in 2002. Everything went ok except that his office wasn't up to the standards of my old dentist. I did not see them open the package of equipment (as I see in my current dentist). I have been scared ever since that I could have been exposed at this time.

2. I have gotten a couple of tattoos since then ( I did see them open new needles). But after having been on the internet have read that it is still possible to be exposed because they can't actually autoclave the gun that is used. I also know that there have never been any documented cases of hiv being transmitted in this way. I have a lot of tattoos and have been tested in the past (5 years ago) and was fine.

My symptoms have been a couple of colds, weight loss (which could be from all the stress), what I've thought are swollen glands (not sure though), I also had shingles a year and a half ago.

I can't seem to get passed the thought that I may have exposed and put my husband at risk. He does not know that I've been going through all this.

How do I get up the courage to get tested? I would appreciate any words of wisdom on this. And yes, I will be posting this on the ocd board also.

Thanks,
Christine

I know how you are feeling. I also went through the whole thing of finding the courage to get tested. I had sex with one of my first boyfriends and we never used a condom. He lived in a squat, he moved in a very unsavoury circle of friends, he also kep talking about dubious encounters he had had with men (nothing specific, but it sounded a bit odd).

For literally years after this I was convinced I had HIV (not that this stopped me having unprotected sex with other boyfriends). I had no symptoms especially - strep throat a couple of times, shingles, diarrhoea. I was petrified, I couldn't even read about HIV or watch it on the news because I was so scared I had it.

After 10 years of worrying, I found myself involved in a research project for the National AIDS Trust in the UK finding out whether teenagers practised safe sex - which made me face the fear full on. I decided I had to know one way or the other.

I was too scared to get the test done on the NHS, as I couldn't bear the thought of waiting 2 weeks for the result. I went to a private clinic and got the results within 15 minutes and it was negative. I cannot express the relief I felt after 10 years of fear.

I think it is very unlikely that you are HIV positive. I can understand how you must be feeling, however. I also suffer from anxiety - and I panicked every time I thought of HIV.

If you can, get a private test done. It is extremely likely to be negative - but it will put your mind at rest.

Good luck

Although it seems very unlikely that you are HIV positive under the described circumstances, just go get yourself tested. Refusing to know the truth is not an answer. I know how scary it is to be tested, went through it myself. And I also understand that as long as you don't get tested there is the possibility that you aren't infected. I'd bet though that you have nothing to worry about. Just get yourself tested and when it comes back negative you will have your mind at ease.