cecilquig
07-15-2002, 08:13 PM
i may have been exposed three weeks ago; after obssessing on internet and ruminating morbidly for hours after waking up, developed swollen nodes in neck, armpit and groin (but the groin could be from a urethritis that seems not to have been wiped out from antibiotics? i know i might have gotten hiv, but if anyone has any stories/links of generalized lymph cases that turned out negative, respond? if i hadnt wigged so bad, i d be even more certain i m infected. nodes started up 3 days ago, def. swollen
Sponsor
Jimbo In Seattle
07-15-2002, 10:35 PM
I wouldn't worry about it. I've had the fear of HIV myself. I've tested, retested and then worried some more until I've made myself sick.
I've had:
* Diarrhea
* Elevated Temp
* Rashes
* Soreness that lasted several weeks
and just about every other sign of a recent infection. All of mine were caused by fear of infection and happened after I started reading stuff on the net. It took a long, LONG time for me to realize this (years - Yep you read that right YEARS). In fact the fear of HIV testing led to the demise of a relationship that I had.
Then stop reading about HIV online. Wait another 2.5 months and take the test.
In any case worrying about this isn't going to help.
If after having sex you're worried about the risk of STD's or HIV then maybe it's better to avoid those situations.
If you don't want to wait for your test results you can get them back in 24-48 hours if you're in the US. Take a look in the Yellow pages under "HIV Testing" you should find a toll free number to a place that offers anonymous testing. This is the ELISA test with a WB confirmation.
Take it easy,
Jimbo
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 07-16-2002).]
I've had:
* Diarrhea
* Elevated Temp
* Rashes
* Soreness that lasted several weeks
and just about every other sign of a recent infection. All of mine were caused by fear of infection and happened after I started reading stuff on the net. It took a long, LONG time for me to realize this (years - Yep you read that right YEARS). In fact the fear of HIV testing led to the demise of a relationship that I had.
Then stop reading about HIV online. Wait another 2.5 months and take the test.
In any case worrying about this isn't going to help.
If after having sex you're worried about the risk of STD's or HIV then maybe it's better to avoid those situations.
If you don't want to wait for your test results you can get them back in 24-48 hours if you're in the US. Take a look in the Yellow pages under "HIV Testing" you should find a toll free number to a place that offers anonymous testing. This is the ELISA test with a WB confirmation.
Take it easy,
Jimbo
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 07-16-2002).]
fastboy123
07-16-2002, 01:04 AM
Jimbo, thanks for posting. This is a hell of a read for anyone who thinks they have hiv and are inbetween knowing. Hope one gets some support from this poorly scripted document.
Me: 24 year old male, 9 partners.....hiv free (known) up until this relationship.
Skinny of it is, is that 9 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a female (21, who claimed to have 2 partners, 3 year relationship and some rebound whom she claimed to be safe with, she is a dental hygenist, works with hiv patients occ., dated her 1 month). A month later, came down with pain in my abdominal region and testicles...no discharge or pain during urination. Went to the doc, got antibiotics from him....while I was there he asked me if I should get an hiv test? Didn't even think about hiv until he mentioned it. (4.5 weeks after sex) Of course I was like "low risk," "she only been with 2 people". He is like you certainly picked this up from her (pain in my abd./balls). Did swabs, urine and did the blood test (hiv too).
Maybe a couple of days later, started checking out the net for hiv stuff...symptoms and all that crap...low and behold started feeling fatigued shortly thereafter....maybe 4 days after been to the doc....3 days after starting doxycycline....went into drug store and was inquiring whether doxy.. make speople tired...(pharmacist was like no.....it wasn't a side effect either on the printout). At this point, I was worried over some girl I dated one month and slept with her 2 times uprotected, about getting Chlmaydia or something..LOL! [Oh yeah, had a cut in the corner of my mouth (paper cut that never healed, long story)] For the next week, started to worry a tiny bit over std's and a bit with hiv. 6 weeks in, started to get a neck ache....was a little tired...noticed it effecting me a bit, wasn't working out every day like before. Also, a rash appeared (right after I stop the treatment of Antibiotics- 7 days). 6.5 weeks, my test came back negativie for everything (4.5 week test)...phew. Needless to say, went to net to check 4.5 week accuracy for the hiv test. Remembering my doc saying "maybe too early, but antibodies may appear, who knows". Read all sorts of replies, from 25 days to 6 months...results results.....no hard facts just sero-conversion this/that. Oh yeah, before result CAlled my doc up a few times to find out between 4.5 and 6.5 weeks until the result came in. Secratary could have killed me.
Now the fun begins.
After 6.75 weeks, noticed a rash and felt really really weird one evening while coming back from downtown ont he subway, felt that way a few nights over the next few weeks. (don't think i ever felt like this before.....maybe hiv going thru my blood...maybe just the weather...hot 30+ degree days)....Thus I went straigt to the walk in, had hiv test done (test#2)..talked to a doc that said he only had 2 cases of hiv in his 14 year career (fact or being nice...docs don't usually lie i think)...IV user and homosexual. Felt a little better. At this point, rash, fatigue and bacterial infection has/is occuring? Oh jesus, she is a dental student who has worked with hiv patients.[some dude on this board alleviated my tension by saying like 1 person in XXXXX attain an infection at work in the states] Got back test that was negative at week 8.5 (test done at 6.75 weeks). Oh yeah, went to a std clinic in between 6-8 weeks (yes...forget about that) to to get a HEP B shot, doc orig. ask me about it and I couldn't tell him if I had one..LOL! At this clinic (25 and under only)told the nurse about my concern, symtpoms all that....she must have thought I was nutz and she did nothing to ease my worry. Only thing good outta that clinic was my shot and the fact that she said since been there she has never had an hiv positive result (testing done over 400 year)...so I am rationalizing that she could have been there like 2 days and says that crap to make me feel good. [Oh yeah, there is a poster abiove the urinal at school that says "6 youth udner 25 get infected a day in Canada"....doo doo...sum math in my head done...ok] Nurse points out 2 bruises on my back and send me on my way.....oh yeah, and "get the 3 month test." Also in week 7, I go back to my original doc (actually his partner, he is on holiday...GREAT timing) to have a mono test done...comes back neg in 2 days....[ALSO a sore throat (developed in week 6) is prob. a virus or something...he is like "come back in a few weeks if a problem" [sore throat just ENDED this weekend = 3 weeks....damn, a symptom of ARS] Back to this doc, he notices the hiv test done, nothing else said. I didn't enquire either. Was like damn, no mono...was hoping for it too so it least I know why I am tired and lymphs are a little big. The lymphnodes seemed to swell sorta in the last few weeks, keep checking them DAILY...a few times in fact. Asked my mother, talk to people about lmyphnodes (locations etc.).
Week 9 (less 1 day). Spent more hrs researching hiv then checking stocks, news, porn and email combined. Still slightly tired, can workout (cardio and weights) when i actively make an effort....lot less now. Want to call this girl up and ask her but she will think I am weird and call the cops for stalking [forgot, I had emailed her week 5 and told her about the infection, she said she felt fine and that it was common to get BI's after not having sex for a while. Told her anyway as some std's may not give women symptoms Wanted her to be like I am hiv free....LOL....not a chance)
My thoughts, with the propsect of having HIV, I am like why workout...being single and all I worry about my physique. As I said,week 9....... that morning I go to another walkin clinic, Test #3, (test#1 - 4.5 and test#2 - 6.75 weeks are negative). Was like, it's gotta show.....weird taboo I am thinking, with hiv...some docs will test you before 3 months, others won't. [All ar elike 3 months 3 months....thanks 6 figured bozo...psyc 101 now plz....the humanity...the horror.] [also worried about getting hiv from needle at Test#1] Anyhow, lied to this doc and said I was 3 months after last exposure to gurantee I get this test done [was rejected the DAY BEFORE at another clinc ibecause it was 9 weeks..told hinmt he truth...he's like come back ina bit,..did not help me resolve my parnoia]. This is now the monday after the test. Rash and sore throat now have subsided over the weekend (rash, sore throat present for about 3 weeks...feeling sorta tired the last 4+ weeks....neither of these symptoms really bad but noticeable). Saturday morning I wake up with a cough and flem....a cold no worries (been drinking the night before). Today, hacking at work/school, no more flem, dry cough i come home and flip......just lost it. Hearing about how my dad's doc screwed up with his nose operation, I am like my god, human/mechanical error, i got hiv for sure...esp. with all these symptoms. I felt really nautious tonight [rationalizing amock], stomach weird, hightened sense of sensation (noticed that too the last 3+ weeks, noises, light etc), talked funny all evening...parents must think I am on drugs. Wanted to talk to them about being so paranoid. Had thought about positive status and the what if's for the last 3-4 weeks, but couldn't bring myself to deal with it in reality. COuld have cried....want to call up my good friend who I confided my hiv conerns with (he wasn't exactly positive either...wasn't "you don't have it relax"...more like to be silly and your asking for trouble without protection...funny as he is also gay...seriousily...and I am going to him..sick statistic irony plz)...damn forgot [rationalized my arse off the last 4 weeks about her being LOW PARTNERS, SUPPOSEDLY SAFE WITH#2, BEING A DENTAL HYGIEN STUDENT WITH AIDS PATIENTS and cross referenced that with HIV INFEECTIONS IN CANADA, #'s around the world, testing results/effectiveness, odds in contracting it (unprotected, cuts all that jazz]
Anyhow, the cough today with everything else, PLUS stress made this create almost a panic attack....could have passed out if I wanted to. [I am like, am gonna be alone without a friend, lover when I am 35] Gonna fall apart when i get sick, physically and emoptionally.
A little ansy to get this 9 week test back...will have to wait like 13 days or so...2 weeks....don't know how I will react tomorrow or inbetween. Funny as the original post in this thread (about the urethritis) has an uncanny resemblence to my situation (that in retorspect is prob. what set off my near panic attack). When jimbo posted his message with the link on stress/effects/psychosymatics, I Cried for 5 mins and then laughed. Will get tested at 3 months for sure. Gotta say, feeling a lot better after reading about stress and how eerirely similar are these crap is with me and the sitation. Doubt I will be able tor realax to get rid of these feckin symptoms the next month...but time will heal. Can't afford a shrink right now.
I am university educated, decent looking guy with a good family and a dog. I didn't have the mental capacity to write this message normally as this has taken every effort to put down and type. I just wanted to make this disclaimer and to let you know that I am not some crackerjack phreak making a stupid reply but actually voicing a serious relative concern and my experiences. While I have been able to sleep most nights, this has been on my mind A LOT lately...hourly. My only sense of escapism is psoitive rationalization.....that and going out with friends and getting drunk at the bar....popping some pills occassionaly to relax. Worrying about every damn physical problem the last 4 weeks........referencing them to Acute Virus symptoms....god they sound too familiar.
Test is gonna be negative at 12 weeks....worried more about my mental state after. Should be a trying month for me.....I hope I make it to my bday (mid aug) ok in one mental peace. I feel a lot better now I have to say. I hope I can can come down like this (in the last few hrs) as well if I go thru another attack again.
I will check beck witht his thread to make any comments or responses to any queries anyone has.
Cheers....
Tomorrow is another day, until then, smile and realize life is good, regardless of who or what you are.
Worrywort.
Me: 24 year old male, 9 partners.....hiv free (known) up until this relationship.
Skinny of it is, is that 9 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a female (21, who claimed to have 2 partners, 3 year relationship and some rebound whom she claimed to be safe with, she is a dental hygenist, works with hiv patients occ., dated her 1 month). A month later, came down with pain in my abdominal region and testicles...no discharge or pain during urination. Went to the doc, got antibiotics from him....while I was there he asked me if I should get an hiv test? Didn't even think about hiv until he mentioned it. (4.5 weeks after sex) Of course I was like "low risk," "she only been with 2 people". He is like you certainly picked this up from her (pain in my abd./balls). Did swabs, urine and did the blood test (hiv too).
Maybe a couple of days later, started checking out the net for hiv stuff...symptoms and all that crap...low and behold started feeling fatigued shortly thereafter....maybe 4 days after been to the doc....3 days after starting doxycycline....went into drug store and was inquiring whether doxy.. make speople tired...(pharmacist was like no.....it wasn't a side effect either on the printout). At this point, I was worried over some girl I dated one month and slept with her 2 times uprotected, about getting Chlmaydia or something..LOL! [Oh yeah, had a cut in the corner of my mouth (paper cut that never healed, long story)] For the next week, started to worry a tiny bit over std's and a bit with hiv. 6 weeks in, started to get a neck ache....was a little tired...noticed it effecting me a bit, wasn't working out every day like before. Also, a rash appeared (right after I stop the treatment of Antibiotics- 7 days). 6.5 weeks, my test came back negativie for everything (4.5 week test)...phew. Needless to say, went to net to check 4.5 week accuracy for the hiv test. Remembering my doc saying "maybe too early, but antibodies may appear, who knows". Read all sorts of replies, from 25 days to 6 months...results results.....no hard facts just sero-conversion this/that. Oh yeah, before result CAlled my doc up a few times to find out between 4.5 and 6.5 weeks until the result came in. Secratary could have killed me.
Now the fun begins.
After 6.75 weeks, noticed a rash and felt really really weird one evening while coming back from downtown ont he subway, felt that way a few nights over the next few weeks. (don't think i ever felt like this before.....maybe hiv going thru my blood...maybe just the weather...hot 30+ degree days)....Thus I went straigt to the walk in, had hiv test done (test#2)..talked to a doc that said he only had 2 cases of hiv in his 14 year career (fact or being nice...docs don't usually lie i think)...IV user and homosexual. Felt a little better. At this point, rash, fatigue and bacterial infection has/is occuring? Oh jesus, she is a dental student who has worked with hiv patients.[some dude on this board alleviated my tension by saying like 1 person in XXXXX attain an infection at work in the states] Got back test that was negative at week 8.5 (test done at 6.75 weeks). Oh yeah, went to a std clinic in between 6-8 weeks (yes...forget about that) to to get a HEP B shot, doc orig. ask me about it and I couldn't tell him if I had one..LOL! At this clinic (25 and under only)told the nurse about my concern, symtpoms all that....she must have thought I was nutz and she did nothing to ease my worry. Only thing good outta that clinic was my shot and the fact that she said since been there she has never had an hiv positive result (testing done over 400 year)...so I am rationalizing that she could have been there like 2 days and says that crap to make me feel good. [Oh yeah, there is a poster abiove the urinal at school that says "6 youth udner 25 get infected a day in Canada"....doo doo...sum math in my head done...ok] Nurse points out 2 bruises on my back and send me on my way.....oh yeah, and "get the 3 month test." Also in week 7, I go back to my original doc (actually his partner, he is on holiday...GREAT timing) to have a mono test done...comes back neg in 2 days....[ALSO a sore throat (developed in week 6) is prob. a virus or something...he is like "come back in a few weeks if a problem" [sore throat just ENDED this weekend = 3 weeks....damn, a symptom of ARS] Back to this doc, he notices the hiv test done, nothing else said. I didn't enquire either. Was like damn, no mono...was hoping for it too so it least I know why I am tired and lymphs are a little big. The lymphnodes seemed to swell sorta in the last few weeks, keep checking them DAILY...a few times in fact. Asked my mother, talk to people about lmyphnodes (locations etc.).
Week 9 (less 1 day). Spent more hrs researching hiv then checking stocks, news, porn and email combined. Still slightly tired, can workout (cardio and weights) when i actively make an effort....lot less now. Want to call this girl up and ask her but she will think I am weird and call the cops for stalking [forgot, I had emailed her week 5 and told her about the infection, she said she felt fine and that it was common to get BI's after not having sex for a while. Told her anyway as some std's may not give women symptoms Wanted her to be like I am hiv free....LOL....not a chance)
My thoughts, with the propsect of having HIV, I am like why workout...being single and all I worry about my physique. As I said,week 9....... that morning I go to another walkin clinic, Test #3, (test#1 - 4.5 and test#2 - 6.75 weeks are negative). Was like, it's gotta show.....weird taboo I am thinking, with hiv...some docs will test you before 3 months, others won't. [All ar elike 3 months 3 months....thanks 6 figured bozo...psyc 101 now plz....the humanity...the horror.] [also worried about getting hiv from needle at Test#1] Anyhow, lied to this doc and said I was 3 months after last exposure to gurantee I get this test done [was rejected the DAY BEFORE at another clinc ibecause it was 9 weeks..told hinmt he truth...he's like come back ina bit,..did not help me resolve my parnoia]. This is now the monday after the test. Rash and sore throat now have subsided over the weekend (rash, sore throat present for about 3 weeks...feeling sorta tired the last 4+ weeks....neither of these symptoms really bad but noticeable). Saturday morning I wake up with a cough and flem....a cold no worries (been drinking the night before). Today, hacking at work/school, no more flem, dry cough i come home and flip......just lost it. Hearing about how my dad's doc screwed up with his nose operation, I am like my god, human/mechanical error, i got hiv for sure...esp. with all these symptoms. I felt really nautious tonight [rationalizing amock], stomach weird, hightened sense of sensation (noticed that too the last 3+ weeks, noises, light etc), talked funny all evening...parents must think I am on drugs. Wanted to talk to them about being so paranoid. Had thought about positive status and the what if's for the last 3-4 weeks, but couldn't bring myself to deal with it in reality. COuld have cried....want to call up my good friend who I confided my hiv conerns with (he wasn't exactly positive either...wasn't "you don't have it relax"...more like to be silly and your asking for trouble without protection...funny as he is also gay...seriousily...and I am going to him..sick statistic irony plz)...damn forgot [rationalized my arse off the last 4 weeks about her being LOW PARTNERS, SUPPOSEDLY SAFE WITH#2, BEING A DENTAL HYGIEN STUDENT WITH AIDS PATIENTS and cross referenced that with HIV INFEECTIONS IN CANADA, #'s around the world, testing results/effectiveness, odds in contracting it (unprotected, cuts all that jazz]
Anyhow, the cough today with everything else, PLUS stress made this create almost a panic attack....could have passed out if I wanted to. [I am like, am gonna be alone without a friend, lover when I am 35] Gonna fall apart when i get sick, physically and emoptionally.
A little ansy to get this 9 week test back...will have to wait like 13 days or so...2 weeks....don't know how I will react tomorrow or inbetween. Funny as the original post in this thread (about the urethritis) has an uncanny resemblence to my situation (that in retorspect is prob. what set off my near panic attack). When jimbo posted his message with the link on stress/effects/psychosymatics, I Cried for 5 mins and then laughed. Will get tested at 3 months for sure. Gotta say, feeling a lot better after reading about stress and how eerirely similar are these crap is with me and the sitation. Doubt I will be able tor realax to get rid of these feckin symptoms the next month...but time will heal. Can't afford a shrink right now.
I am university educated, decent looking guy with a good family and a dog. I didn't have the mental capacity to write this message normally as this has taken every effort to put down and type. I just wanted to make this disclaimer and to let you know that I am not some crackerjack phreak making a stupid reply but actually voicing a serious relative concern and my experiences. While I have been able to sleep most nights, this has been on my mind A LOT lately...hourly. My only sense of escapism is psoitive rationalization.....that and going out with friends and getting drunk at the bar....popping some pills occassionaly to relax. Worrying about every damn physical problem the last 4 weeks........referencing them to Acute Virus symptoms....god they sound too familiar.
Test is gonna be negative at 12 weeks....worried more about my mental state after. Should be a trying month for me.....I hope I make it to my bday (mid aug) ok in one mental peace. I feel a lot better now I have to say. I hope I can can come down like this (in the last few hrs) as well if I go thru another attack again.
I will check beck witht his thread to make any comments or responses to any queries anyone has.
Cheers....
Tomorrow is another day, until then, smile and realize life is good, regardless of who or what you are.
Worrywort.
cecilquig
07-16-2002, 06:20 PM
from this thread's moronic initiator: thanks for the input. saw a 'nurse practicioner' today who replied 'these are probably tendons' whenever i indicated a troublesome 'lymph' area. received a form to get a dozen tests (never thought i would pray for syphilis [over the alternative]), and 4 week ELISA to be done on monday. weird feeling in upper thighs could be from tensed 'hope research' on internet for hours daily; bloodshot eyes certainly are. quitting such surfing as of now (we ll see)... all because of 20 secs of protected sex w a (thai) prostitute. will keep this updated, if possible. thanks again for caring enough to reply!
Jimbo In Seattle
07-24-2002, 11:00 PM
Did you get your results back yet?
Anxious folks are wondering for you!
Jimbo
Anxious folks are wondering for you!
Jimbo
cecilquig
08-01-2002, 07:26 PM
Thanks for your concern, Jimbo.
ELISA at 4 weeks was negative. RNA PCR done at 33 days; results hopefully coming tomorrow. I've had three medical professionals (one being the shrink the APRN sent me to) tell me the likelihood is "exceptionally remote", "about the same as the chance of being hit by a car", and the simple "very slim". Yet no one can explain the lymph nodes in my throat, and there are even some little buggers on the back of my neck that popped up fairly recently. My mantra is "obsessive palpation" as a medical textbook said that it can lead to "swelling which may be interpreted as lymphadenopathy". Waiting for test results has, however, been a good excuse to refuse anxiety drugs the therapist is trying to give me. At least the possible exposure was in Amsterdam, where they're tested - but she was Thai and maybe an illegal; stay tuned for tomorrow's denoument.
ELISA at 4 weeks was negative. RNA PCR done at 33 days; results hopefully coming tomorrow. I've had three medical professionals (one being the shrink the APRN sent me to) tell me the likelihood is "exceptionally remote", "about the same as the chance of being hit by a car", and the simple "very slim". Yet no one can explain the lymph nodes in my throat, and there are even some little buggers on the back of my neck that popped up fairly recently. My mantra is "obsessive palpation" as a medical textbook said that it can lead to "swelling which may be interpreted as lymphadenopathy". Waiting for test results has, however, been a good excuse to refuse anxiety drugs the therapist is trying to give me. At least the possible exposure was in Amsterdam, where they're tested - but she was Thai and maybe an illegal; stay tuned for tomorrow's denoument.
cecilquig
08-02-2002, 12:58 PM
33-day RNA PCR result: <50 copies (undetectable). so unless it s some weird subtype, i am very probably in the clear. the doc actually said i dont need to worry about testing in 3-6 months, but of course i will anyway. thanks for all the good will
Jimbo In Seattle
08-06-2002, 02:46 AM
Glad to hear the test is negative.
If you do decide to go for another test, or if this is still bothering you in a few months go and see a therapist. Personally it sounds as if you had zero risk since the condom didn't break.
Take it easy, and keep it covered,
Jimbo
If you do decide to go for another test, or if this is still bothering you in a few months go and see a therapist. Personally it sounds as if you had zero risk since the condom didn't break.
Take it easy, and keep it covered,
Jimbo