Hi all. I'm a 39 yo male who has been reading this board for several weeks now after having a questionable exposure. 7 weeks ago today I received unprotected oral from a prostitute (I know really stupid move #1). I had no wounds on my penis and she did not appear to have any visible sores on her mouth. I did not ejaculate in her mouth. I was worried about HIV starting 5 mins after the incident and have been looking up stuff on the net since then (big mistake #2). I've had canker sores in my mouth, slight white coating on tongue, sore throat, but all stuff I've had before. I keep telling myself there is nothing I can do but get tested at 3 months.
I was finally feeling good about this when I learned today that she is HIV+. I couldn't breath after I found out. Now I'm freaking out again and don't know how I'm going to make it to the 3 month mark.
Please help.

Hi all. I'm a 39 yo male who has been reading this board for several weeks now after having a questionable exposure. 7 weeks ago today I received unprotected oral from a prostitute (I know really stupid move #1). I had no wounds on my penis and she did not appear to have any visible sores on her mouth. I did not ejaculate in her mouth. I was worried about HIV starting 5 mins after the incident and have been looking up stuff on the net since then (big mistake #2). I've had canker sores in my mouth, slight white coating on tongue, sore throat, but all stuff I've had before. I keep telling myself there is nothing I can do but get tested at 3 months.
I was finally feeling good about this when I learned today that she is HIV+. I couldn't breath after I found out. Now I'm freaking out again and don't know how I'm going to make it to the 3 month mark.
Please help.

you cant get hiv from recieving oral sex. giving oral sex is also an exetrmely LOW risk

Hi. Im just curious, how did you find out she is HIV positive? Are you sure she is?

Saliva acts as a barrier . The risk is much greater to the 1 giving the oral sex . When you have hiv on you're mind all the time every thing will seem to be a symtom and do you know for a fact she has hiv or was it hear say . To put you're mind at rest get tested at 3 months after the last exposure .
Best of luck .....
Lost spirit ...........

I've seen her twice since the exposure (protected oral) and on 3/4 I drove her to the pharmacy and while she was inside I read some paperwork she left in the car. It indicated that she recently tested poiitive.
I know that worrying will produce symptoms and I had gotten it off my mind till yesterday. I'm trying not to think about it and I will be getting tested in April.
Thanks to all for words of encouragement.
PS: lostspirit, I've read some of your post / responses and I think you have the most uplifting spirit on this board. Thank You.

Thankyou for the kind words :) ill try to help and anyone else that needs it . ;)

I am very sorry for you going through this anxious wait to be tested.........but i am surpised that you actually went back to her knowing she was HIV+ ...strange...
The risk would be very low but its still a risk.....
Tracey louise

Risk to a male from getting a blow job is VERY slight. Don't worry about it (easier said than done, eh?:D)

Thanks to all who have answered.
Tracey Louise - I found out she was + the last time I saw her and will never be seeing her again.
Lenin - I know the risk is very slight and I shouldn't worry but It's all I can think about, mostly because of my family. Thank You though.

I can't take this anymore. It's been over 7 weeks since my exposure and I'm feeling symptoms now. I'm achey, lightheaded, nasious, and I can't get this off my mind. I know in my heart that it was a low risk exposure but I can't seem to put it to rest. It is consuming my every thought. I can't even function at work. Perhaps I'm most scared because of my wife and kids - what have I done?

I'm going out of my mind with worry. Not so much for me, but for my family. I heard the song "Butterlfy Kisses" while driving home yesterday and cried for an hour in the truck just thinking about my 3yo little girl and what I've done to possibly screw things up. My son thinks I'm the greatest thing since god and wants to be exactly like dad - I can't stand the thought of letting him down.

Take a VALIUM!
(and I'm not joking!)

Ohh don't be scared...your son and whole entire family will love you no matter what, but you're fine....the guilt is creeping into you and tearing you apart...we're all human on this board. Humans are designed to make mistakes to learn lessons. Without lessons in life, we would not appreciate the things we have. Things were meant to happen for a reason...you're probably going through this "scare"(and i mean scare bc you're so low risk) to see how important your family is to you, and when you're done w/ this ordeal, you will be the best father to your children on this planet...and not only that, because you're so educated now, you'll be able to teach your children the right things to keep them protected for as long as they live...Im praying for you, so that you find the courage to get through this, and i know that this is a scary thing. I think we would all feel a little shattered if this happened to us, so it's hard to see right now that your act was very low risk.....but the fog will clear and you will be okay, promise :)

Thank You panaSonique. Your kind words are very reassuring and do help to ease my stress a little. I think just talking about it helps. Thank You.

All you're symtoms seem to be stress related .(PLEASE CALM DOWN ) the damage you do to you're mind can be as if not worse than the virus itself . Stop take a deep breath ........
Now from what you told us you're risk seems to be very slim . Saliva is a very good barrier against hiv it has special (INHIBITING PROPERTIES) and there is a reason for this .
In the walls of the cheeks there tiny pores and when we eat notice how we chew between our teeth and cheeks it stimulates the pores and as we chew our food is flooded by antibodies
( which is why oral testing for hiv is so effective) our saliva also contains high levels of acid and natural antivirals . Its our bodies natural defense against invaders .
Chances are very very slim from oral sex but without protection there is always a risk .
Honestly to me it sounds like (NO JOKE) you made it by the skin of her teeth ( LITERALLY)
Learn from this and don't let history repeat itself ;)
Ill pray for you because when there is no one left to turn to God is always there and he loves us hiv+ or not........
Always believe and keep fighting ...........
.................... Lost Spirit ..............................

i think you'll be ok.you may not have it,the next time you need sex,wear a condom.not all people with hiv look sick.the new medicines that's out now work's great.back in the day people use to look sick,not anymore. keep your head up

#1 you cheated on your wife and let your children down.
was it worth it. thats nasty. good luck to you tho

Your chances of contracting HIV from oral sex are slim. However, there is still a risk; a risk not worth taking.

You can't go back in time & change what you did (though I'm sure you wish you could), but you can learn from this ordeal & become a stronger person for it. There is no sense in beating yourself up over it or even wondering "what if." All you can do now is wait the 3 mos & pray that you're clean. Also, out of respect for your wife, you should avoid ANY unprotected sexual contact with her (just in case) until you've been tested. You've already put your own health at risk, no sense in putting hers at risk as well.

Next, it may be wise to seek some sort of counseling. Obviously you are not satisfied with your wife (in the intimacy department) or you wouldn't have cheated on her to begin with. Also, having relations with a prostitute is incredibly risky behavior. Not only are prostitutes at a higher risk for HIV, they are much more likely (than the average woman) to carry other STDs as well. In fact, I read not long ago that something like 85% of prostitutes carry the infections for Bacterial Vaginosis as well as Chlamydia. Left untreated, these diseases can eat up your entire reproductive system, making you sterile & can lead to cancer. STDs are no joke. Be honest with yourself... is 5/10 min of pleasure worth contracting a disease that can rob you of your life? Of course not! THINK before you ACT & you will save yourself a lot of heartache.

Most likely, the "symptoms" you are experiencing are being brought on by anxiety... not from HIV. HIV symptoms typically wouldn't appear that quickly anyway. You are stressing yourself out. Think about it... even if by some chance you did contract the disease, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it now. What's done is done. Unfortunately, that's life. People make mistakes... people pay for mistakes... sometimes with their life. You cannot go back in time & change what you did, so what's the sense in stressing yourself out?

At the 3 month mark you can go get tested. That should help ease your mind. Though even if that 1st test does come back negative for the virus, it is strongly recommended that you return for further testing 3 months after that (total of 6 mos after exposure) since the virus can sometimes take longer than 3 mos to show up in your blood. So you are not really "in the clear" if the 1st test comes up neg. In the mean time (and I cannot stress this enough) avoid all unprotected sexual contact with your wife & for Gods sake, do not mess around with any prostitutes! Until then, all you can do is hope & pray. I truly believe everything happens for a reason.

Life's not fair. But, ya know... your life is only what you make it to be. Try & make better choices from this day forward.

Good luck to you!!!

Every expert I've talked to agree on the fact that saliva has chemicals in it that actually deactivates the virus. And I've also read that recieving oral sex is only a theoretical risk, and the one giving oral is at more risk than the one recieving. In order to get it from recieving oral, the person giving it would have to be actively bleeding from the mouth, and then you'd either have to be actively bleeding on your penis, or the blood would have to find it's way all the way down your urethra. Truthfully I believe that most if not all of your symptoms are guilt related from the cheating, and anxiety. Have you ever considered confessing what you've done to your wife? Good luck and God Bless

cmon man, im not gonna badger you about what you did, you know you messsed up..im in the same boat as you, except im waiting on my results right now....im only 21 and the thought of being positive kills me....with all other things in your life put aside, you have a wife and a three year old daughter...if i actaully am positive those are things i probably will never have.....dont take that for granted.....you messed up, but for gods sake, don't do this again..be grateful for what you have and know that there are people out there who would kill for what you have.....dont throw it away...besides id bet a lot that you are fine, its just stress doing these symptoms to you

Whether someone decides to have any kind of sexual contact outside their marriage is their own business. I do not and will not pass judgement on that person.

Here is the scoop with oral sex and HIV. Unless she had a mouthful of blood when peforming oral sex on you, you were not at risk for HIV. Receiving unprotected oral sex is not low risk, it's not even a slight risk, it's only a theoretical risk if copious amounts of blood are involved. Saliva does not transmit HIV. In over 25 years, no one has ever been documented as having contracted HIV from receiving oral sex.

Take a deep breath, you're just fine. Test if you want for peace of mind, but I don't think it's necessary. You are suffering from guilt more than anything else and that is something that needs your attention more. If you choose to continue having sexual encounters outside of your marriage, just make sure you wear a condom okay? Receiving oral sex does put you at risk for other STI's that are much easier to catch than HIV. You didn't let anyone down, you just made a mistake. We're all human, it's happened to us all. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and move on. Okay?

mikesbaby,
What the ****** crawled up your a**???
This board is usually full of kind people offering support to those in need, whether that be medical advice or just reassuring words. I know I screwed up and that I will have to live with that regardless if I'm + or -. I don't need some 21yo little piss ant who has barely lived outside the comforts of mommy and daddy coming in here telling me that I let my wife and children down. I'm well aware of that. I'm well aware of the fact that I may not be able to walk my daughter down the aisle. I may not be able to hold my grandchildren.
Before you go spouting your mouth off with your self righteous attitude, why don't you stop and think "hey, this guy appears to be feeling pretty bad about what he did to his family, do I need to rub salt on the wound". Stop and think how people may be feeling. I read your thread were you found out you were pregnant and were concerned about telling your parents. I didn't see anyone coming in and saying "wow, you let your parents down". NO, you got congratulations and SUPPORT. That is what this board is about.
Now, Thank You for the Good Luck wish and Congratulations.

malibu, jbird, needsome,ghost,
Thank You for the encouragement and advice. I know most of my "symptoms" are anxiety and guilt. I've been pretty good lately. Not much worrying. I will test on monday 4/18 (13 wks-3dys) with Home access express and hopefully put this all behind me by end of next week. I have already made a vow to myself to never see another prostitute. I have some issues to workout in my marriage but this experience has shown me how important my wife and family really is. I know I'm blessed with what God has given me and will never again take that for granted.
I've been hanging out in another forum on an aids website (ghost you are familiar with this one) and I've found great comfort and reassurance there as well. I did find a particular post that pretty much summed up the effects of guilt and anxiety. Ghost i'm sure yor familiar with the writings of jkinatl2?
******************
However, based on your underlying fears and anxieties: the guilt for stepping out on your wife, the fear of putting yourself, your marriage, your health and the world as you know it at risk, I think you should test at the 13 week mark.

Why?

Because as I am sure you have seen by reading the various threads here, very very few people come into the fears forum with what is classified as a "high risk" situation. A huge number of posters here are male, married, and wrought with guilt and anxiety. They feel worse, perhaps, because they have (to date) "gotten away" with the infidelity... which makes them certain that some force in the Universe, personified by HIV, is going to punish them. I can go as deeply psychological as you want with what that says and what I think it means in most cases. But the point is, few straight men who cheat on their wives all across the globe come to aidsmeds.com (or thebody.com. et al).

Those who do are suffering already by the time they get here. They manufacture or fabricate or imagine symptoms; they misread scientific information written way over the layman head. They arm themselves with enough information to justify and exascerbate their fear. Their punishment, ironically, is already underway.

I've only been on this site for a year. And I have already seen hundreds of what is essentially the exact same scenario unfold. I seriously doubt that most of the people who come to the "fears" forum are going to be satisfied with the science and the stats and the risk assesment. They will need that validation of a test, and will need to put themselves through that 13 weeks of paranoia and anxiety and sheer torture to get there. It's an oft-traveled road, to the perceived redemption and karmic forgiveness that seems personified in the HIV test.

Along the way, some tell their spouses. Most do not. Some (logically) practice safer (condom) sex until they know for sure. Most, I suspect, do not. Suddenly using a condom for sex with one's spouse is a tough thing to explain to any intelligent partner.

No, it's a journey, these 13 weeks. And, from what I understand, an essentially private one, despite the hundreds of posts and what-ifs and tearful self-recrimination and private messaging. It is a journey that I submit most people who peruse these boards will undertake, regardless of the facts, the risks (or lack thereof) and the kind, snippy, sarcastic, comforting, frustrated, and consistent words from those of us who have undertaken HIV education as our mission.

So yeah, you ought to test. Not because I or, I suspect, any expert believes you have HIV or are even remotely LIKELY to have it. But because you have already started that journey, and I think that only seeing it through will be of any real use to you.

And even then, some people refuse to let go of their anxiety and "certainty" that they have inherited this virus. Even after 3 months, six months, a year, three. I really hope you do not become one of them. Lives can be destroyed that way, and there is no more impotent feeling than trying to infuse rationality into an irrational mind. But we try. Don't know why sometimes, except that we feel compelled to try.

So yes. wait 13 weeks. Examine your body like never before. Catalogue and list every ache and pain, every anomoly, every cough or allery or rash if you feel you have to. Grow distant from your wife as you harbor this secret fear. test at 6 weeks if you'd like, in the erronneous belief that this journey, once undertaken, can be circumvented. From what I have seen here, it usually can't.

You have chosen to start this journey. 13 weeks from your incident you will hopefully end it.... and hopefully take more than the simply absence of viral particles back with you to the real world. And during these awful weeks, we will answer your questions and do our damnedest to quell your concerns.

Then, maybe, you can... I was going to say "go back to your life." But I wonder if that's what happens, really. Lack of followup makes it pure speculation, but I think that this sort of thing changes a person, even if only the tiniest bit. I harbor no illusions that most of these guys won't go back out and have sex outside their marriages again, or expose themselves to lap dances or sex workers. And some will bounce back here in a few weeks or months (this anxiety is addictive, and the test is sometimes a confessional that wipes away perceived sin).

I have found very few actual bloody fools here. Some of the worried well people end up knowing more about the ins and outs of each generation of HIV testing than any of the "experts." Some absorb more education than their peers ever will. Smart, smart people are often the hardest to reach, once they have chosen cognitive dissonance.
********
Thank You all for your support and encouragement as I go thru this journey.

Oh one more thing.
Malibu, I have not had any type of sexual contact with my wife since the encounter except mutual masturbation on 2 occasions. This has been pretty easy as she is 5 months pregnant and too tired and sick to even think about sex. I'm more afraid of infecting her and the baby than I am of myself being infected.

mrd0830-Yes, I am very familiar with both things that you mention. You will find much of what I say here, I have said there. I'm glad you are finding comfort and I know you will be happy with your test result. I'm here if you need someone while you wait. You're going to be okay.

mrd0830 --

Well, I guess the fact that your wife is preg (and too uncomfortable to have relations for that matter) is a good thing at this time. That way she has no reason to suspect anything. Less stress on you in that respect.

I completely agree w/ what everyone is telling you (about your symptoms being caused by anxiety). Most likely, you have nothing to worry about. And hey, this may sound strange, but sometimes having a scare like that does you good...

I'll explain...

See, just 1 year ago I was an active, carefree 20-yr-old... working, going to nursing school & partying w/ friends. Then on April 29 2004 something happened that changed my life forever. I was hit (head-on/50mph) by an impaired driver. I suffered 2 broken legs, lumbar spine fracture, broken pelvis & a broken ankle. I was rushed to the ER where I almost died of acute blood loss. I spent the next 2 mos bedridden. I had to re-learn how to walk at 20 yrs old. My nursing career plans (I had worked so hard towards) fell down the toilet like that. Rather than spending my 21st b-day at the club (like I had planned on -- I loved to dance), I spent it at my mom's house, puking my guts out (from a combination of the excruciating pain I was in & from the morphine I was prescribed). I felt like my life was over.

But it wasn't. And it's not. See, some times things happen (or threaten to happen, in your case) that are out of our control. In times like these, it is crucial that you have a positive attitude & stay strong. Count your blessings rather than wasting time & energy dwelling on past mistakes. Take all of this for what it is... a learning experience. This is your chance to grow... to make things better between you & your wife. Unfortunately, it took this HIV scare for you to realize just how lucky you are to have your family. Never take them for granted & be the best husband/father u can be. Life's too short to dwell on things. I learned that the hard way.

Malibu
You have a great outlook on life...I wish you the best of luck with everything, and you must be an angel for suriviving something so excruciating...Good to have you here :)

I hope the absolute best for :)
I haven't seen any posts from you for a while and was begining to wonder about you .
I hope and I'm pretty sure you are hiv free but leave nothing to chance ;)
But in answer to you're other question/answer
The human psycological state of mind can be very punishing when it comes to ones self
MEANING:
You can forgive anyone for absolutely any reason (BUT) when it comes to forgiving ourselves (WE JUST Can't) and no one is more dedicated to punishing ourselves than us .
As far as hiv goes chances of transmission are slim but there are other things that need to be sorted out and I hope the best for you in all matters .
Good luck and my prayers are with you .........
In good health .............
................ Lost Spirit ...............

Thank you so much for the words of kindness :) You made my day!

I guess I just wanted to make the point that thru tragedy, we are given a chance to test our personal strength... to grow. Through tragedy, we learn firsthand just how fragile life can be, and in turn, we learn to appreciate the little things in life. We open our eyes to the things that matter.

See, I could sit here day in & day out, crying & feeling sorry for myself. Since April 29th I've-- underwent 2 major operations, missed out on my 21st b-day, learned I can no longer be a nurse (4 yrs of college wasted), struggle each & every day w/ extreme physical & emotional pain, had to re-learn how to walk (which was a very excruciating, slow process), underwent months of gruelling physical therapy, had to give up my waitressing job, lost my car (front end was basically ripped off) & my apartment (inability to work meant no money to pay for these things). And to add insult to injury... the impaired driver that hit me didn't even have the heart to apologize for the pain he has brought to my life. Heck, he didn't even call the hospital to see if I was alive.

But ya know, I can look past that stuff now. I have learned to appreciate the little things life has to offer... like the simple beauty of a sunset. I've learned not to take things for granted. And I live each day as if it were my last. Because nothing in life is guaranteed.

lost spirit,
I've been trying to stay away and keep my mind on other things. It has helped somewhat.
You are right in saying that it forgiving yourself is hard. I keep beating myself up over my stupid mistake. All I had to do was say "No, we need a condom". 5 little words and I wouldn't be going thru this hell.
Thank You for your words of encouragement and your prayers (lord knows I need them both). I test on monday and hopefully this will be behind me by weeks end.

But at least now you know to say that going forward. That means you learned something which is always a good thing. You're not a bad person mrd0830. You just made a mistake, that's all.

malibu,
I'm sorry to hear about your terrible experience.

However, you sound as if you are dealing quite well with the hand dealt to you. It takes an amazingly strong person to go thru what you have gone thru. You seem much more mature than most 21yearolds (certainly more mature than mikesbaby) (sorry had to get that in). You have a very positive outlook on life and your words have certainly given me encouragement and hope.

I wish you the best in your continued recovery.

PS: If you don't mind my asking, why has this cancelled your nursing career?

Well it was 13 weeks ago today. I had told myself for the last few weeks that I would take the Home Access test on Monday so I wouldn't have to have the anxiety over the weekend. Now I can't wait. I decided I would find a local clinic and go get a rapid test done. Do you think I could find 1 clinic in the entire central Connecticut area that could get me in today - not till middle of next week!! What's up with that? I get up the nerve to go and I'm shot right down!! Oh well, I'll try to enjoy the weekend while waiting to take the Home Access on Monday.

ok IM below the age that you can post so im not gonna say how old I am. I had unprotected sex analey and vaginaly with 2 diff girls. Each wich were very very NOT KNOWING. I was told 1 has HIV but I dont know. I went and gotested. After I got tested before I got my results I was alrewady feeling good and I had high hopes. I also cheated on mygirlfriend with the 2 gurls.... I think it was more of me fearing my life woudl be rouined @ the young age im @. I tested negetive for everything. And now I feel even better. My worst fear was that I might have given it to my girlfriend. I comfessed to her. Im glad I did cuz it got alot off my back. She didnt leave me and she understood. Im really glad I got scared and told her and got tested , because now I know that me and her both are completeley clear cuz I know she has never cheated on me. I thin you should chol lout. Mabye not tell ure wife but if ure positive it is required by law in every state to tell your partner if it is marrage. And the thick white coating on your toung , I have it too. thrush HURTS VERY BAd to where u cant even eat. If it isent painful dont worrie. The bumps on ure mouth are probably nerves. Jsut calm down a little bit and I hope the test goes well. There is a low chance for a male to get aids from unprotected sex vaginaley with an infiected person anyways. But get checked , and Ill pray for u man. Hope everything goes good!

Im from CT, try planned parenthood - - i'm not sure if i'm allowed to post exactly where, but i know they do oraquick -- it's more expensive then standard blood test, but if it'll help it might be worth it! Im soo glad you're finally doing it..i totally know that feeling where you just can't wonder anymore, and then you want to get it done ASAP

Hi panasonique.
I did try pp. Apparently they offer it in willimantic, but couldn't get in on friday. I picked up the home access kit this morning and will send it out today. Damn, I'm nervous!!! I'll probably be 10x more nervous in a couple of days when I call though.

Hi panasonique.
I did try pp. Apparently they offer it in willimantic, but couldn't get in on friday. I picked up the home access kit this morning and will send it out today. Damn, I'm nervous!!! I'll probably be 10x more nervous in a couple of days when I call though.


yep you will be....but thats alright..either way a few days from now you wont have this hanging over your head...send it out and then try to find things to waste some time..thats what i did....i went for my test a week ago today...and just got the results back on friday...just try to find little things to do to waste time......jsut think how good you are going to feel when it comes back negative..thats what i thought about when i was waiting..think about the things you are going to change and how much better your life and the lives of people you know will be because of it.....thats what kept me sane during my wait time

You'll be okay. Let us know how it goes?

Best of luck ;) my prayers are with you and you're almost through this so hold it together for a little longer .
......... Lost Spirit ............

Well I took a chance and called Home Accees for results yesterday afternoon (I'm impatient) - They couldn't test my sample as the sample "clotted" on the paper!! ***!!!! Now I have to do this all over again!! I think I'l just go to the local health clinic and have it done there. I've gone this long, what's another week?

Can they resend you a test and have you retake it free of charge? I know all of this can be pretty expensive...Anyhow, do whatever would make you feel better...sometimes clinics tend to take up to three weeks at worst, but it may be easier b/c rarely are there human errors...either way, you will DEFINELTEY come out a stronger person now...good luck

I searched for a place to do it for me for free first...and all those places were like 3 weeks..i couldnt wait that long either......so try looking for laboratories in your city, or call your hospital.....i did that, paid 40 dollars and got my results back in 4 days...they were ready they next day, just couldnt get them for a few days.....so i would try that if i were you, they are pretty quick and easy

Well I just got back from the clinic. Some of you may have heard me WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO all the way from central Connecticut.

Yes, I got a big fat NEGATIVE via Oraquick Advance.

It was an excruciating 20 minute wait while waiting for the reults. I sat there holding a picture of my kids & prayed.
I was so happy that when I was leaving and the counselor went to shake my hand I gave her a big hug as well.

I stopped on the way back and bought the biggest, most expesive cigar they had in the shop and I'm going to smoke it right now in celebration.

What a feeling of relief it is to finally know.

Thank You to all who have helped me thru this time. You are all gifts from God.

That's SOOOO AWESOME!! I'm almost in tears for you, my friend. Thank GOD!!!

Congratulations..enjoy your new life!

GREAT NEWS :) :) :)
Stay healthy and safe ..........
Best of luck ;) ........

Well I just got back from the clinic. Some of you may have heard me WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO all the way from central Connecticut.

Yes, I got a big fat NEGATIVE via Oraquick Advance.

It was an excruciating 20 minute wait while waiting for the reults. I sat there holding a picture of my kids & prayed.
I was so happy that when I was leaving and the counselor went to shake my hand I gave her a big hug as well.

I stopped on the way back and bought the biggest, most expesive cigar they had in the shop and I'm going to smoke it right now in celebration.

What a feeling of relief it is to finally know.

Thank You to all who have helped me thru this time. You are all gifts from God.


see man, i told you...join the club of people who got the scare of alifetime.....pleasee learn from it, i know i have...I only use protection now.....im so glad thigns turned out alright for you....let this be the spark to change your life in a positive way...help someone else out if you can, just be a better person.....we can all improve ourselves, learning i was negative just gave me more reason to try and be abetter person....good luck, hope you keep in touch with these boards.

I want to say a special THANK YOU to all on this board who have helped me through this "journey". Your encouragement, wisdom, and compassion made the experience somewhat bearable. I still have 4 more weeks till my 13 week mark from my last "extramarital" encounter. Although it was protected oral, I will do a complete std & hiv test merely as piece of mind before putting all this behind me and moving on with the complete intention of remaining faithful to my wife and family. This entire experience has taught me the value of my family and how a moments action can jeopardize all that I love in this world.
I will bid this board fairwell for a while as I try to put HIV fear out of my mind and become a "former WW". I will return in the future to share what I have learned and hopefully help others with my experience.
Again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your help and support.
Mike

Hi, just been reading your posts. I'm very very pleased about your result. My theory on life is that everyone can make mistakes. Whats important is whether or not we learn from them. Good Luck.