I posted a message yesterday, I dont mean to over use this message board, but I am in the waiting period of getting back my hiv test and I dont know what to think, all the signs that I read about so far, I do not recall having, its been about 2 1/2 years since I've slept with anyone other than my wife and I was just wondering, is there any signs other than the normal fever, diarea, thrush, glands ect.. to be worried about, and also I had surgery 2 weeks ago, I dont think they tested me for hiv, but would my blood still come back normal? please if anyone could just help me through these two weeks I would really apreceate it. I'm sure there's alot of scared people like me when it comes to the test, but I just need to hear something please.
Thank you

Due to confidentiality laws, HIV tests aren't performed without your specific consent. Most (more than 80%) of people who are exposed to HIV are so sick from it that they seek a doctors care. I'm sure you've read all the symtpoms on the internet by now. Statistically, you're pretty safe. HIV isn't easy to get, especially for a heterosexual man. Good that you got tested.

not to start any conflicts, but hiv is easy for anyone to get whether they are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, male or female. it effects anyone of any age, any color, any nationality. it does not discriminate. to say that someone has less of a chance to get it because they are a "heterosexual male" or a "heterosexual female" is bogus. and as far as being "sick" showing you signs you have hiv, thats just not entirely true either. yes some people have signs..... and some do not have any signs, and never know they have it until they get tested. yesterday i didn't know the first thing about hiv/aids, but today after spending all day talking to doctors, searching the internet, reading articles on the virus, i have found out alot of things, and a few of the things i have found out is ANYONE is at risk. a heterosexual has just about the same amount of a risk as a homosexual does. a newborn has just as much as chance to catch it as a 15, 30, or even 90 year old does. black, white, asian, korean, german, purple, green or blue, it doesn't matter. the thing i do agree with is its very unlikely you have hiv/aids, but i don't agree with how unlikely it is to catch it. nothing i have read or been told so far has indicated in any way that one person is safer than the next when it comes to catching it. if that was the case more than half the people who have it, wouldn't have it. anyway, i'm glad you got tested, and i'm sure the results will be negative. take care of yourself and God bless.



[This message has been edited by FatAndDepressed (edited 07-18-2002).]

Thank you so much, I've been realy working on myself not to stress out, I have been throwing up for 5 day's straight and allthough I kinda know its from having my gallbladder out, stessing about this has made it worse, but I want to thank you all for helping me out, now I just have to wait and I can do that.
Thank you again

but hiv is easy for anyone to get whether they are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, male or female. it effects anyone of any age, any color, any nationality. it does not discriminate.

Actually HIV isn't easy to get. It all depends on viral load. I didn't mean that it can't effect anyone. I mean that for you to get HIV you have to have shared bodily fluids with someone who has a high viral load. The lowest risk group is heterosexual (non injected drug using) males. Put simply you can get HIV from one encounter, it's just not very likely.

to say that someone has less of a chance to get it because they are a "heterosexual male" or a "heterosexual female" is bogus.

It isn't bogus. It is true. It's much easier for a woman to contract HIV from a man than a man from a woman. In fact, a hetero females risk is nearly eight times greater than a heterosexual male. There have only been a small numer of cases where a heterosexual male has contracted HIV from heterosexual intercourse with an HIV positive female. Being circumcised also protects you statistically. Think about it, when you're the woman you're getting HIV directly put into your vagina. When you're the man, you get HIV on your penis. Much harder to get for a man.

as far as being "sick" showing you signs you have hiv, thats just not entirely true either.

Not 100% true no. It is estimated 50% to 90% of persons infected will get ARS(Acute Retroviral Syndrome) which is a flu-like sickness usually about 2 to 4 weeks following initial infection. The symptoms usually last 3 to 14 days and go away on their own, just like the flu. Most patients are so sick they seek a doctors care. After this period, it's likely the patient will not get another HIV-related illness for 10 or more year. Many people, doctors included, pass it off as the flu. Especially in a lower risk person.

a heterosexual has just about the same amount of a risk as a homosexual does. a newborn has just as much as chance to catch it as a 15, 30, or even 90 year old does.

This simply isn't true. Just by the very act of homosexual sex (anal intercourse) it's MUCH easier for a homosexual man to get HIV. Forty-six percent of people who get HIV in the US are still homosexual men. It's rising for woman.

Statistics for transmission 2000 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats/hasr1202/table6.htm

Viral load and transmission http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/library/scan/mar00/mar00g.htm

lindarella, just a quick question, because theres something i'm not understanding. how is a hetero females chances 8 times more likely to catch the hiv/aids virus than a hetero mans? this is very confusing to me because if we are 8 times more likely to catch it from a man, how is the mans chances less than ours? we would be catching it from a man, but they say men are less likely to have it, or catch it. i'm not understanding it. thanks, and God bless.
Greensushi.... i hope you get to feeling better. i know the stressing over it has made it even harder for you. let us know how everything works out and i'll keep you in my prayers. take care of yourself, and try to relax http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif. God bless!



[This message has been edited by FatAndDepressed (edited 07-19-2002).]

greensushi, you know something just dawned on me. i don't know where you live, or if the laws are the same there or not, but here where i live a hiv/aids test is required before someone can get married. did you have to get any bloodwork done before your marriage? do you know if it is also required there? anyway, thought maybe this might shine alittle light on ya. take care of yourself, and God bless!

how is a hetero females chances 8 times more likely to catch the hiv/aids virus than a hetero mans?

Well, it's to do with how HIV is transmitted. A woman, sleeping with an HIV positive man, gets semen inserted into her vagina. This is where the HIV virus comes from (in this situation). Direct absorption of HIV through the mucous membranes that line the vagina and any cuts or abrasions can let in HIV.

For a man having sex with an HIV positive woman, he is not getting anything injected into him. He mearly get's vaginal secretions on his penis. The skin of the penis isn't like the inside of a vagina. It's resilient and tough. A break in the skin would allow HIV to enter. It also can enter through his urethra. The penis is built to not let things in but it does happen.

I'm DEFINATELY not saying men don't get HIV from woman. I'm just saying, statistically, it's easier for a woman.

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I hope everything turns out ok.

how about a heterosexual male deep throat kissing an hiv positive woman what are the chances hiv passed this way ?