Hi guys,

As a new member I am wanting to share my story so that whoever reads this and haven't made the same mistake, don't before it's too late!
I had unprotected sex November (19) to be precise with a girl that I didn't know previously, more of a one night stand. I later found out that she was a working girl -although I never paid her! So she obviously got around a bit! Within 4 weeks I developed severe burning when urinating as well as a clear discharge before I had to wee. This was diagnosed as gonnorea (pardon the sPeeLlLiNg). After 1 weeks anti biotics this was cleared up. What was to follow was the worst flue symptoms I've ever experienced, which carried on for over 2 weeks and included, night sweats, dry coughing etc. The Doctors simply gave me more anti biotics to clear up what they suggested to be the flue. 4 weeks later following all of this, the more of the worrying symptoms began to take over, including,
*constant headaches,
*swollen glands, neck, inside mouth, armpits, groin, testicles (in the words of the Doctor "they feel like worms"),
*purple,red, brown spots appearing all over my body, easy bruising and marks and blemishes which appear for several days and then disappear,
*Lack of feeling in my little toes, little fingers, not being able to walk on my left side due to a weakend left leg,
*Muscle aches in my legs, hamstrings/calfs
*Stomach cramps
*Fatigue (sleeping 15 hrs per day)

Having said all that I have had 2 HIV tests, 1 after 3 months negative and the 2nd after 4 months also negative. With the array of symptoms that I do have and a low white blood cell count the Doctors have confirmed that I have a virus. My third HIV test which is also to look for any other virus's almost 4.5 months after initial risk has been taken before the Easter holiday period and I need to wait an extended amount of time for the results to come back. As was also the case the last time I was tested, due to a Chinese New Year Holiday period as I was in China at the time.

What makes this all the more worse is that I had unprotected sex with my current girlfriend, not realising at the time what I could/would have passed on to her until I started developing all of these symptoms. In the case of the STI I can guarantee that I would have passed this on to her, which makes it all the harder to tell her as we now live on different continents. She also started to develop some small symptoms, from night sweats, diarrreah and the similar spots across her body.

I have been in contact with the previous girl in question and she has said that she tested negative HIV in October last year, one month before our encounter. Although how can I be so sure, when she has passed on this STI to me and doesn't know that she carries one herself?

My world has been flipped on its head, and my fingers and toes are crossed for a negative result, not that I can feel them mind you with the numbness. This truely is the waiting game, and I never want to put anyone at risk like this again and effect the lives of those especially closest to me, my girlfriend, family and of course myself.

A valuable lesson has been learnt, and I pray every night and day that a good result will come out of it, being HIV negative. Please practice safe sex to avoid all the angst, heart ache and constant worry. One minute of your life, can so easily change its course forever. I stress more for the ones that I have possibly infected/effected, more so than myself.

If anyone has any suggestions on what my chances of being negative after 4 months of possible exposure and the array of symptoms that I am expressing. And how I should go about forwarding on the current news to the people closest to me whether that be good or bad, please get back to me.

Pepe79,

I know the pain you are going through, I have been there. The constant self examination, the constant looking in the mirror, looking for signs and symptoms that you perceive to confirm your worst fears.

Normal everyday occurrences that happen every single day, that without the fear of HIV you would not even notice suddenly become massive events. Small spots, sore throats and aching joint are everyday occurrences, everybody gets them but when you are anxious, worried, going through some form of personnel hell they suddenly become big issues. Everything suddenly becomes a sign, a symptom of your worst fears. Your mind simply paints the worst case scenario possible and the thoughts you have will not go away.

I convinced myself I was HIV positive, I accepted it, I had gone though all the possible scenarios that you are going through.

I am in the clear; I was tested negative after one year. A year after I woke along side a West African prostitute after a night on the booze.

Your tests are great indicators of your HIV status. Symptoms are never an indicator of your HIV status, only a blood test can determine this.

We all mess up mate; we all screw up, stop kicking yourself, and stop freaking out. Life is for living, you only get it once, Learn, acknowledge and move on.

Take Care Kevin.

Pepe79,

I know the pain you are going through, I have been there. The constant self examination, the constant looking in the mirror, looking for signs and symptoms that you perceive to confirm your worst fears.

Normal everyday occurrences that happen every single day, that without the fear of HIV you would not even notice suddenly become massive events. Small spots, sore throats and aching joint are everyday occurrences, everybody gets them but when you are anxious, worried, going through some form of personnel hell they suddenly become big issues. Everything suddenly becomes a sign, a symptom of your worst fears. Your mind simply paints the worst case scenario possible and the thoughts you have will not go away.

I convinced myself I was HIV positive, I accepted it, I had gone though all the possible scenarios that you are going through.

I am in the clear; I was tested negative after one year. A year after I woke along side a West African prostitute after a night on the booze.

Your tests are great indicators of your HIV status. Symptoms are never an indicator of your HIV status, only a blood test can determine this.

We all mess up mate; we all screw up, stop kicking yourself, and stop freaking out. Life is for living, you only get it once, Learn, acknowledge and move on.

Take Care Kevin.
Thanks for your words of wisdom and sincerity. Although the symptoms that I have been struck down with are unlike any I have experienced before. Even well before I even thought of the risk of HIV I have had these symptoms, which is what lead me to get a test in the first place. Of course I try to put it at the back of my mind, but when it wasn't an issue for me to begin with, I really don't think it's all my worrying that's causing these symptoms to progress.
I went out last night and had half a pot of beer and felt physically ill to the point of wanting to throw up, with what now tastes like poison in my mouth and severe loss of feeling in my left leg. Not that I'm much of a drinker as it is, but usually I can go further than half a pot without feeling so sick!

I'm in the waiting too! I pray and try to have faith that I'm okay. I wouldn't wish this upon anyone and I hope we all learn our lesson to be safe. EVEN with our current gfs and bfs - you just never know. Someone could have tested negative a month ago.. caught it a week later and wouldn't know. How could you know? After all these tests I think you should simply accept you are on the safe side. Continue doing tests for upto one year. What is happening to you could be related to what you had caught. Perhaps a side effect from the antibiotic??? What I would suggest, is try a different doctor or clinic to test you.

Good luck and I hope it all turns out well for all of us.

:)

its sounds like your mind and guilt are playing tricks with you.
you sound negative to me good luck

its sounds like your mind and guilt are playing tricks with you.
you sound negative to me good luck
thanks for all your opinions and feedback. Of course there's guilt, anxiety and all other supressed emotions that go along with waiting for test results. But I can't escape from the continuous symptoms that I present. Even after 2 negative test results, and confirmation from the Dr. that I am carrying a virus (waiting for the results on Wednesday). I have a low white blood cell count which is common in any viral infection. Does this mean that the other virus can show a negative anti-body reading to HIV? I still have the task of informing a former partner of the std that I picked up, which isn't as worrying as informing them of a possible HIV infection. I feel like the worlds BIGGEST @!#$%^&, but don't want them to also worry of an HIV infection if there is nothing there to worry about.
With such a cocktail of symptoms, I just want to know one way or the other where my head should be leading towards. What symptoms if any, does a case of hepatitis carry with it?

Thanks for all your words of encouragement

if you have tested negative for hiv after 3 months its considered conclusive and you are negative,if you are still experiancing symptoms,something else must be wrong with you. these tests are very reliable,good luck

Dear Mr.Smiteler,
What symptoms did you have? And how long do you think you were carrying HIV before you were diagnosed?
Thankyou for your words of reassurance and support, this is a great forum and I have learnt alot about this virus and myself that I would have perhaps otherwise overlooked.
Keep posting,
-Pepe79

Dear Mr.Smiteler,
What symptoms did you have? And how long do you think you were carrying HIV before you were diagnosed?
Thankyou for your words of reassurance and support, this is a great forum and I have learnt alot about this virus and myself that I would have perhaps otherwise overlooked.
Keep posting,
-Pepe79

hello,i had many symptoms when i got infected,some within minutes from when i had finished having sex.i also got infected with spinal menengitious so i had a couple of virus's beating me up. i got very sick and was in and out of the hospital over a few weeks time before i was diagnosed with hiv. they dianosed the menengitious first as it took more time to get the hiv results back. so i knew exactly when i got infected.
thank you for the compliments