Possible exposure 4 weeks ago. Oral sex from a hooker with protection. Test negative at 20 days but still freaking out. Dr. says I need to wait another 3 months.I've been having swollen lympthnodes, on and off sore throat, constant stuffed nose, blurry vision for the past two weeks (eye Dr said it was pink eye), I had other symptoms early on that may have been related to something else. Any thoughts esp about the vision problem???

i will admit that i don't know everything about this virus, and am in no way an expert. i would doubt that your symptoms are from hiv/aids virus, but in the same respect i'm not going to tell you that your fine and not to worry. my best suggestion is this: go get tested again in a few months, make sure... be on the safe side. also while it was VERY good that you used protection, i would also suggest not seeing anymore more hookers. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif (i know you already know this, was just trying to make you smile) seriously though, get retested in a few months, and just make sure you always watch out for yourself. i hope you get to feeling better, and i will keep you in my prayers. take care of yourself, and God bless!

[This message has been edited by FatAndDepressed (edited 07-21-2002).]

Thanks for the response. Is it recommended to get tested before 3 months? What are the odds that testing after 2 months is accurate? My Dr has me on anti-depressants and is telling me that I have nothing to worry about but the symptoms I am having are soooo very similiat to those of ARS that it continues to freak me out! I have a white coating on my tongue and my glands are still swollen and I have a mild sore throat. I am realy just trying to not think about it and realize that nobody has ever been infected by receiving oral esp with a condom. Is there something else to do like a white cell count?? Dont know..... Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

my mom just got tested. the doctor told her they ca test as soon as 2 weeks after exposure. that it takes 2 weeks to 6 months to show up in most peoples body. we are now waiting on her western blot test and praying it will be negative. the bloodtest she got last week said she was hiv positive and her possible exposure time would've been about 3 or 4 months ago. we are truely praying that the first set of results were wrong, and the next will show her as negative. i don't see how you could have been affected with the virus either if you only had oral and used a condom on top of that, but if its stressing you that bad, yes i would go get tested just for assurance and peace of mind. i really don't know a whole lot about the symptoms. i hope you get to feelig better. sorry i couldn't have been more help. i will keep you in my prayers though. take care of yourself, and God bless! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I am now on valium and trying to wait out the next month and three weeks. I wish I could be certain with an earlier test but I will try my best to focus my thoughts and energy elsewhere. My glands are still swollen and my tongue has a white coating and thats my real concern. I've seen 4 Dr's and they all have said I'd be hard pressed to find someone that says there is even a remote chance but the thought will continue to linger until the 3 month results are negative. I was very drunk at the time of the incident so there are lingering doubts that the condom didnt come off at some point. I think everything is being caused by stress and guilt - has anyone else had a similiar experience?

LJ24B,

Are you saying that you received a Blow Job from a High risk individual and that the condom didn't break?

If that's the case then don't worry. PERIOD. There's a 'theoretical' risk from getting sucked (Insertive Oral Sex) - WITHOUT A CONDOM. If you have a condom on, AND IT DOESN'T break there really is NO RISK for that encounter. PERIOD.


Here's some info that should put your mind at ease: The site is The Body.com a very good resource for such information.
http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Archive/OralSex/Q98052.html
http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Archive/OralSex/Q123592.html

My advice: Chill out, it's going to be ok. Worrying about this will only make it worse!

Jimbo

Hi,

About your symptoms - I'm not a Dr. but I have had those same exact symptoms for past 6-8 months and I ended up having a form of mono - a virus called Epstein Barr - it lasts a long time and causes white yeast on tongue, sore throat, swollen glands and fatigue. In some people it can cause personality changes like extreme nervousness and "freaking out" due to the fatigue and symptoms a person deals with - many times it's overlooked by Dr.'s and doesn't always show positive on a mono test (if the person already had mono once - the 2nd time it's called Epstein Barr)

It doesn't mean you shouldn't keep testing! I bet this was a real wake up call! Aids is spread mainly from the mainstream population these days - hookers usually the most careful!! But crack Hoes a little different. I had a really bad past when I was younger and I was sure I had Aids too - but I don't - I'm married now but I learned to be really careful after that first year of testing! My husband and I took tests together before becoming sexually active - took almost a year but worth it for peace of mind!!!!

------------------
Hypergirl

Thanks for responses. i think I almost have myself convinced that there is almost no chance of getting HIV from my past exposure (I think the valium is working too) but I am still going to get tested at 3 months. I think the mind body connection can really play tricks on you esp in those of us who are constantly looking for signs and letting this consume all of our time and energy. I keep thinking back to the possible exposure and keep wondering if I forgot if something else happened (I was very drunk) but I'm 99.9% sure protected oral was it. In general I would say I am always concerned about health in general but if my tests come back negative I will look back on the experience as a VERY enlightening one and never put myself at risk again. I think it may make me a better person because of it. Lets just hope thats the case with myself and everyone else on this board.

Does CMV appear in ARS? I'm scared that this eye infection can be attributed to an STD or HIV. Any thoughts? I've tested neg. for Gonorhea, Syflis, Chlamdia, HIV at 20 days after exposure. IS there any reason to retest. Symptoms are still Swollen glands, eye infection, congestion, slight sore throat, white coating on tongue and constant anxiety. I want to be sure not to infect my wife but I'm not sure what else I can do but wait out the three months. I think I'm driving my DR crazy, but I guess that's what he's there for. Can symptoms linger even after medication has been taken?

CMV = Herpes. It can appear whenever, regardless of ARS. Swollen lymph nodes can appear in CMV, though rarely outside of the groin area (I assume you're worrying about genital herpes). Back to HIV: it has been estimated that 90% seroconvert within one month, CDC says 96% in 3 months.

My real concen is swollen glands and off and on sore throat and this eye infection that seems to be lingering for the past few weeks. If after 20 day my tes came back neegative should I take any comfomt in that? My eye Dr did a culture on my eye and I'll have the results later this week. I just feel these particular infections are coming at a coincidental time (a month and a half after possible infection). I just wake up every morning wondering if I am having night sweats or just hot. I can NEVER remember having swollen glands in my entire life and now I am having them???? I find this strange. I kow many more people on this board probably have greater concerns then my "low risk" exposure but I am nevertheless freaked out just as much. Condom, receiving oral should not = HIV and I just I should stop dwelling on the symptoms. Everyone keeps telling me the same thing (that it's a onein a million chance) but for some reason I keep diagnosing myself. My Dr prescribered Zoloft but I heard the side effects are nasty, I'm cuurently on a low dose valium and it's kind of keeping the edge off. Sorry for the ramble.

You wrote:
"Condom, receiving oral should not = HIV "

That should read:

"Condom, receiving head is NOT a path for HIV infection".

My suggestions:
1)Get some therapy.
2)Then get a test at 3 months followed by one at 6 months.
3)Finally, if you're going to worry about this stuff stick to 'self pleasure'.
4)Talk with someone other than your therapist about this. This helped a lot for me.

I've been there before. I know what it's like to be worried about something as scary as HIV. But trust the CDC, the folks on this board and every piece of literature that's been written on the subject. YOU ARE NOT INFECTED WITH HIV.

Call the CDC's HIV hotline. Call your state or cities health clinic. Call the folks at Planned Parenthood. The end result is the same. If the facts of your 'risk' are as stated you don't have HIV. That's it. Pure and simple. You're not infected.

The thing is the more you dwell on this, the more you worry, the greater the chances are that you will convince yourself that you were infected. I've done this. In fact I worried so much that I wound up having many symptoms of seroconversion.

Take it easy, and continue to keep it covered,

Jimbo




[This message has been edited by Jimbo In Seattle (edited 07-29-2002).]

Jimbo,

I know in my heart you are right and I'm going to focus on that instead of these symptoms. It's hard to beieve that I will be the first infected case from insertive Oral. You mentioned testing at 6 months but what about testing at 3 months again for everything and then putting this behind me (at least I'd finally be able to put this behind me)? I really dont want to do anything that could put my wife at risk (after my on-time EXTREMELY stupid mistake) and thats the most important thing right now. You mentioned you had a similiar experience - what was it?

LJ

In December of 1998 a girlfriend that I had lived with for almost 7 years called everything off and ran off with some guy from her work. For the first time in many years I was free to do what I wanted to. What I really wanted to do was to date as many different women as I could, and I did that. For a good 9 months I was all about meeting women. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was more important to me. I was in my early 30's and went out 4 or more nights a week.

In September of 99 I met someone that I really liked. We clicked from the first date. I pretty much stopped seeing the others within a week. Then it happened. I got worried that what I had done in the previous none months or so was going to come back to haunt me. I did the internet "research" and found the stuff that the CDC said and I felt better. Then I dug a little more and found some crap that was put up by what appears to be an abstinence or religious group that scared me with their lies. I was worried. I worried myself sick. (all of the seroconversion symptoms) I went for the test, it was negative. I went for others as well, they were all negative.

Just recently I started to worry again. "Who knows, maybe the other tests were wrong." So I tested again! I talk with my therapist about this and he seems to think that it's a 'control' thing for me. I guess I can see that. In any case I'm negative. I have always been and hopefully will always be.

Most of the unprotected sex was oral, though there were a few times that condoms broke (air bubbles!).

Take it easy and if you're really concerned go have a PCR test done. It should be conclusive after 28 days! But you do have to wait a week for the results and it's pretty expensive (~$250).

Me, I wouldn't worry. There's only a theoretical chance of catching HIV from oral without a condom. Oral sex with a condom that doesn't break IS safe. The thing is that there's not much if any HIV in saliva, HIV can't penetrate an intact latex condom, HIV can't penetrate unbroken skin either. So, if the condom didn't break you're fine, period. That's how it goes.

Check out the posting from this week "to all the paranoids". It should put it in perspective for you. Here's a link to it: http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum66/HTML/001192.html

Good luck,
Jimbo



[This message has been edited by Jimbo In Seattle (edited 08-01-2002).]

I am now 7 weeks after possible exposure (protected incertive from a s-worker) and my symptoms still wont go away! I've seen four Dr's and about to see my 5th. My symptoms are white coating on my tongue, swollen glands in my neck for the past 3-4 weeks (I cant tell if they are swollen elsewhere), eye infection that wont go away even though I'm on medication, sore throat, sinus congestion, loose bowel movements, some diarehea and extreme anxiety. I recently noticed some kind of red blotch on my nose ( iam tan so you I really cant tell what it is). I AM GOING NUTS! What are the chances that these things can be related to something else. My Dr's currently have me on med's for anxiety, my eye infection and sinus congestion. I've gotten every diagnosis over the past few weeks from Sinus infection, to upper-respitory infection, sore throat, etc. Most of the visits I've been on they are telling me that I am causing my own symptoms but I find that VERY hard to believe. What type of DR should I be seeing? I think the Dr's I've been seeing are assesing the risk as extreemly low and discounting the symptoms - I dont think this is wise.

I cant believe from a one time protected exposure over the past 8+ years that I could be infected with this disease. I cant remember all the details from the night of possible infection but I am 99% sure that nothing else happened (I just keep thinking that maybe something else happened because I was soo drunk)) I know I should only be focusing on testing and what my Dr's tell me but these symptoms are much too similiar to those of ARS. Should I ask my Dr anything at my next visit? I've tesetd neg for just about everything so far but the next test will be at three months. I wish there was something I could do in the meantime to relieve my anxiety?

Everyone keeps saying the same thing that I'm at almost NO risk, but the things going on in my body must be the result of something. Any suggestions besides seeking the closest mental health professional (which I am planning on doing in the near future)??

LJ

I was just diagnosed by my eye Dr with blepharitis? I've searching the net and their seems to be a connection? Still going crazy!!! Anyone with a similiar experience?

Chill.

I have similar and much more symptoms for last 2 years plus. I must have tested (Elisa) at least 8 times and Viral Load at 6 months after a possible exposure.

All have come out negative.

My last Elisa test was about 6 months back.

Not to mention in durin these 2 periods I have put on 10 kgs.

Your case has a extremely remote possiblity of being HIV+ve. Mine was unsafe oral sex done by me. Higher risk. Am a guy.

Point is simple.

Just chill and wait for the window period to get over.

Best of luck

Chill.

I have similar and much more symptoms for last 2 years plus. I must have tested (Elisa) at least 10 times and Viral Load at 6 months after a possible exposure.

All have come out negative.

My last Elisa test was about 6 months back.

Not to mention in durin these 2 periods I have put on 10 kgs.

Your case has a extremely remote possiblity of being HIV+ve. Mine was unsafe oral sex done by me. Higher risk.

Point is simple.

Just chill and wait for the window period to get over.

Best of luck

Thanks for the response. Has your Dr attributed your symptoms to anything? I find it hard to believe that I'm having all these symptoms and they are not related to anything. My glands no longer feel swollen but I am still congested and my eyes are still extremely dry. This has been going on for waaaay too long to be nothing. I have another Dr appt with a specialist and hopefully they can put some closure to this terrible period of my life. I just want this to be over so I can have a fresh start and not make any more mistakes like this. I know I am always going to regret what I did but I dont want to hurt anyone I love and try to just put all this behind me if God Willing I am ok. Thanks for everyones responses - it's really helped.

Actually allmost all of your symptoms could be related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD.

Search for some information on the Net about it. It's an interesting subject. The NIH has information about it and might point you in the right direction.

In the meantime take it easy on the doctor's visits, get some exercise and relax.

Later,
Jimbo

All i have to say is, i became so sick with worries and what ifs when i thought i had been exposed to hiv that i drove myself to sickness...sores in the mouth, got real bad flus bla bla, coughs (btw, im a smoker) but noooo it was aids as far as i was concerned...take the good advice like dont look for comfort through aids sites that tell you what hiv symptoms are because chances are very low with sexual transmition of the disease, but ofcourse it depends where u live in the world..but chances r u dont have it...and you probably just have a sore throat and nothing more. about 2 weeks ago i had a blood test (just over 3 months after the possible exposure) and the test came back negitive, but i will go back in another 3 months to be sure. so yeh...the worryin is natural and it can do cruel things, even bring on fake symptoms if you let it...so dont...just chill for 3 months..or try too..good luck.

I have been going through the same thing,a woman gave me oral unprotected,, i have had sore throat ,direah,lymph nodes for 3 weeks driving me crazy, all tests neg so far including pcr

I just had a "Quanitative" test done today. Will this be conclusive after 2+ months after possible exposure. Everyone keeps saying dont worry but why else would a Dr have me get this test? I guess it takes about a week so I'm in for a quite a week. Thanks for the responses.

hey let me know how you test comes out. i get my result tomorrow have the same symptoms as you

[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 08-25-2002).]

Came back Negative so the Dr tells me I'm in the clear. Thank God! I learned a very important lesson! Good luck to everyone else and thanks for all the responses.

LJ