I know you cannot diagnosis with symptoms but I just have a few comments and questions. My sister has been a very promicious woman, increased the last few years, due to heroin and crack use. She no longer does heroin. She used to share needles with a guy who had hepatitis C (and I wouldn't be surprised HIV, given intravenous drug use and homosexual lifestyle occasionally). She used to give him unprotected oral. She told me she had a Hiv test and hepatitis C test which came out negative (this was a few years ago). Fast forward to where she is now. She smokes crack and has had many sexual encounters, sometimes protected, sometimes not with many men. She has slept with her crack dealers too (she told me it was always protected but I am not really sure if this is true). Well, anyways, her boyfriend recently got out of jail (he has other girlfriends too) and she has been having unprotected sex with him. The first time approx. 1 month ago. Today she broke out in a horrible rash down her legs, arms and only a few on her chest. She says they are red and pimple-like but you cannot squeeze them. Does this sound consistent with an HIV rash some get initially? Is it an itchy rash with HIV, does it hurt, how does it present itself? It seems like a possibility. I would just like some feedback. Or maybe it could just be the crack use? But this is only a recent rash and she has been smoking crack for awhile. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. I will be seeing her later this afternoon so I just wanted to be prepared. Of course, I will encourage her to get a test.

Bella:confused: :confused:

I will add on since I last posted this message. I saw her rash and listened to what's going on. Gave her $ for doctor and all. I love her....but honestly it isn't any contact dermatitis or poison ivy etc...I have seen.

Hey- Kinda of disappointed no response but she is at the walk in clinic as I type this. Told her to be honest. She only wants to get the HIV part done with a confidential # which is understandable (so she needs the local state clinic). She woke this morning and said the rash is spreading. She also has really bad cracked (psoriasis hands). Just wish someone could respond . Need some assistance with this.

Bella

Hey Bella,
I won't be much help, but I wanted to respond. There is someone on this board who is HIV pos. SMelter (maybe) would be more help. Your right about getting her tested. She needs to know. I'm not sure what the HIV rash looks like. Also, I think may things can cause a weird rash. I have had weird pimple like things. But I'm not going to be any help because I've tested neg. about 5 times for HIV over the past year. I'm am well outside the window. If I was pos. it should have shown up by now. I don't know what the pimple looking things are. I'm still trying to find out for sure what's wrong with me.
It is so hard to tell from symptoms. Doctors seem to just go from test results. Sorry I could not be of more help. mc

the rash i got when i became infected was more a blotchy type rash (not real pimply) that started on my legs and worked its way up to my trunk.it was itchy but i had other symptoms going on at the same time that were alot worse... the only way she will know for sure if she is infected with hiv as you already know is by getting tested only. a rash could be caused by other things like chicken pox or menengitious so you have to go by the test results to determine if its hiv. you also should be trying also to get her into counsiling and try to change her destructive lifestyle that won't have a very happy ending if it continues.
good luck to you and also to her.

Thank you Mctassi...I really needed a response. Smiteler (you are like the new Chris...others know who I speak of). Her rash is like real blotchy in the sense it is large red patchy areas. After seeing it, the rash areas are all red and there are bumpy like spots. On her left leg (back crease down) and her left arm (crease area)it is like a really read patch of skin with bumps. And continues about her body. Popping up in other areas. She also has pain with sex and has been vomiting on and off.

I love my sister she has/is in counseling. I won't get into the life of us but she isn't alone. Destructive lifestyles suck but they are definitely hard to break from.

She went to the doc today and he basically said it is eczema. Buy over-the-counter steroidal cream and added you should use condoms. She already has psoriasis and her hands are painfully horrible. I really think he should have been a bit more educational/helpful.

I thought the initial rash wasn't itchy...or so I have seen on poz forums. So it was for you Smitler?

Side note ...You are from NJ....some of my family and friends are not far from rte t 18 market...perth amboy, SOUTH RIVER....etc....

bella

Mctassi-
What is going on with you? Sorry I might have missed your posts. Autoimmune disease with no origin? I am there. xxxxooo.
bella

it was itchy, but not as nearly as bad as the chicken pox (i've had that also)
i also had many other symptoms going on at the same time.i know it started in my legs then came up my body to my trunk and then my arms.i had first noticed it because my legs were itchy,by the time it got worse,i had other worse symptoms that put me in the hospital.

i know the area in jersey you speak of.. i have a very good friend that lives like 15min away from there,i'm about 45 min south of it myself.
good luck to your sister and you, i hope your care helps her change her ways.

hi tattoos,
I haven't been able to find out what's wrong with me yet. I'm going to see a Lyme doctor next week. I hope he can shead some light. I've been tested for all kinds of std's and hiv(5 times) still not real answers. I think it's bacterial or viral. It's one "thing" that is effecting my whole body. Good luck with your sister. It really sucks when good people get dealt raw deals. Hang in there. mc

mctassi and smitler:) thanks. Well her rash is getting worse. It is almost purple now and spreading. She is also having some pain down there too. She said she will make and appointment with her gyno. this week. It looks AWFUL! She needs to be tested for everything. Thanks once again guys and I will let you know what comes of it.

Bella

PS: Mctassi good luck with the doctor. Let me know how it goes.

I will tattoos. I can see why you'd be worried about HIV. Those symptoms are really trouble. The one thing about HIV though is it is not a death sentence anymore. Lots of people do really well with treatment. I don't wish it on anyone, but there are lots of places for help out there. Keep me updated. Lets hope for the best. mc

So me and my sister were talking tonight. She says she just wants to pawn her t.v. and party....because she is scared and freaking out (she does have a very good job too) but it costs a lot to keep up a habit. She made and emergency appointment with her dermatologist because she said it is getting very painful and spreading onto her chest. She said now there are almost like pimple-like bumps, some of which almost appear to be whiteheads (not squeezeable). She's not sure if it from the cream she is using though. She also said she will go to the health department and get a rapid HIV test there. I said no matter what the results don't do anything crazy. I am just praying for her. If she is negative, I said please take this as a wake-up call.....it's like playing Russian Roulette with your life. OH MY GOSH...I FORGOT TO MENTION SHE ALSO TOLD ME ONE OF HER PARTNERS, WHEN THE CONDOM BROKE, TOLD HER HE HAD UNPROTECTED SEX WITH A FEMALE THAT WAS HIV+. He also went a few time to a sex club in the inner city where we live. Like a group sex, fetish sorta place. He told her that I guess wanting her to go with him. She said she never had sex with him after he told her all of this. Oh and he is originally from Jamaica and frequents there to and my sister doesn't know who or what he did when there (some of his kids live there). He has 7 kids total.

Bella

Hey tat,
I never judge anyone for there sexual encounters. I've had a few I wish I didn't also. You never know. You can't tell from looking at people. Then there are people who have something and don't even know it yet. I don't think sex should "kill". Really ironic. I agree, it is like dodging a bullet.
We all make mistakes. later, mc

SHE IS NEGATIVE!!!!! There is definitely someone/something watching out for her:angel: . Unbelievable. I hope this was a wake-up call for her. I haven't been innocent in my life either but all the circumstances really put her in a high-risk category. But it is true, you never know by looking at someone.
Bella

hey Bella,
Congrats to you and yor sister. It must be such a relief. Your right I hope it is a wake up call. Is her health alright beside the rash? Take care, mc

Hey Mctassi-
Well emotionally her health isn't great (but neither is mine most of the time:) ). She is calling me later to talk. I also have my health issues that have been running me down but I think you know how it feels. Sometimes if the docs could figure out the crap that is going on in one's body...I think it would be more comforting than being tossed around from specialist to specialist with no answer and still feeling like crap. ;)
Bella