about how many of us freaked out and thought we had HIV and when we tested we actually didn't. I guess what I'm saying is from what I've read and written in the past we all have similar stories, some vary with symptoms and some vary levels of risk. But what I'm wondering is in the past how many of us actually came back and posted that we tested positive? I don't know if this makes sense and I hope I'm not offending anyone who has tested positive but I just wonder. It's almost comforting to know that others who feel they have put themselves at risk have similar thoughts and fears (which is the benefit of this forum). But I guess it's only comforting if you are stressing and your test come back negative. I mean in my case I think I'm causing myself grief (actually I pray that I am and that I don't have it). Even though I feel I have some symptoms, I' m not even sure if the symptoms I have are real. I mean my throat seems to get sore every once and awhile and I do have a white tongue sometimes but from what I have read it can be from a number of things like the heat, dehydration or the fact that I've been so depressed these last three months that I've found comfort in food and gained 20 pounds. I feel I put myself at risk because I didn't use a condom but one time with an ex girlfriend. She has told me that she has only had two partners in the last five years, one a long term boyfriend and the other with a condom. I tend to believe but my imagination gets the best of me and I start to think of the worst.
I get my 12 week test done on Thursday and I'm hoping for some forum good karma. But if you get a chance it would interesting to hear from some veterans like NYXIN about how many times he's seen people stress out and believe they have HIV but in reality they don't. Again I don't mean to offend anyone here. Best of luck and I look forward to reading your positive posts.

JOHN

GOD BLESS.

Yes I think you are right here because the simple fact is HIV is extremely hard to get. Even if you go around having unporteced sex with multiple partners the likelhood of getting HIV is still really rare. I am not encouraging this however because there is still always the possiblity that you could contract it from a one time encounter so it is important to always protect. NOw other forms of STD;s are another story...if you sleep are around you are pretty likely to get something. Difference is most are cureable and are treatable. I receantly did some research about my State and HIV> I found that out of 650,000 only 800 known cases of HIV in the entire state. 90% of the cases are either from Homosexual acts are people involved in drug use that use needles. The other 10% were in the upper age range from 30-45...which is quite unusual. Out of the places in the state that 75% of the cases came from one city where I do not live in...so Yes I am feeling a little bit better about my risk.The state I live in has one of the lowest risk of HIV, but one of the highest risk of other STD;s. I know of course that there are many unknown;s to count in and also people that move in and out of the state. Still I worry that I am unlucky for my one time unproteceted sex uncounter...It was dumb and I have learned from it. I will never do it again fair and simple.

Freaked out, again I really do not think u need to worry, you will be fine. I'm still waiting for my results. As for the white tongue, it could be caused from being thirsty. Also the sore throat, thirst, change in weather, maybe a slight allergy. Have you doctor do a test for thrush if you like. But most of the time, if it is thrush like I said in another post you will wake up with a lot of mucus in your mouth that is hard to get out, food will taste different, and your mouth may be sore. Mine went into the espophogus and caused extremely large white patches, tonsils almost swelled together, couldn't eat or drink, and when you scraped them a lot of blood flowed from them. Well that was my first case of thrush. I now know the symptoms and how I feel when I get it. Most of the time I will get dizzy or disoriented a few days before, like being high but in a very bad way. Again my mouth gets sore, and I get kinda...small white bumps at the very back of my tongue.


McGunther...not trying to be rude but people that do contract other STD's aren't always the ones that sleep around. I have had only one partner in life...guess what, I contacted herpes type 1 in my genital area. It is the cold sore type but I never had it before. I have read that it is something that can be passed on to someone else in the form of type 2? Not really sure. But please do not stereotype people with STD's. It only takes ONE time with only one person. Not only is it embarrassing enough to have one, but especially if you are not the type that sleeps around and have to tell a future partner about it that will think the same thing.

I'd just like to say that Herpes type 1 is not neccessarily an STD. Most people will have herpes type 1 in their system by adulthood. Herpes type 1 can spread to the genital area, if someone with a cold sore performs oral sex on you. Herpes 1 and 2 are two different things. There are PLENTY of people who get cold sores, and it has nothing to do with their sex lives, or lack there of. You were just someone who contracted herpes in the genital areas, b/c your parter had a very common cold sore, or carried the virus in their blood ( which is actually a very very common thing to have!!). HIV is a very hard virus to contract, but YES it can happen with only having ONE partner. It is not however, even close to as common as herpes and most other STDs.

Hailey, yes I know. They are 2 different things. But they can both be passed on. In a way I don't know why they say that type 1 isn't sexually transmitted(and yes I know what you mean). And what I should have put was that the night I had to go to the ER they immediately said it was herpes and did tests. I laid there while there were 2 nurses standing around and the doctor was like this is what herpes looks like. I felt dirty, scummy, wondering what they were thinking b/c I was laying there while they did studies! I had to wait a week for the results. I just wanted to make a point, STDs do not always happen to people that sleep around. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

pixiechick I am well aware that sleeping around is not guranted to get STD and you can get anything from 1 time exposure. It is all about luck, who you were with, who they were with, the people that the people they had sex with were with and so on and so forth...it is all a gamble. I think casual sex can be ok if protected. Still at risk for skin diseases like herpes and syphllius..although syphllius is quite rare now and virtually wiped out. I am not trying to make people feel bad or anything...I too am at risk for my behavior...but hey guess what we are all human..sex feels good and it is really hard to avoid sometimes, sometimes we dont think rationally and live in the moment..it is life, mistakes happen. I have made many, this one being my worst..hopefully I will come out all right..I have learned from my mistake that is for sure...that's what is important.