ok so i'm about to be a senior and i've been real like carefree and pretty much stupid this past year especially and had a couple drunken unprotected sex experiences...although i reallllly dont think anyone finished inside but dont know for sure. but i've learned my lesson hard core--since the doctor told me i have that hpv-genital warts thing. it's such a mild case, i just have 2 small ones which i havent gotten removed yet, but still. i know u're all gonna tell me to go get tested, and i should, but i was wondering if anyone knew if small red bumps in the back of your throught and back of the tongue could be signs of hiv or one of those cancers that are related to it. i had a little bit of a white tongue for a little bit and i've had the bumps, which dont itch, for like a week. i keep gargling with saltwater and they're getting better. i dont have any other symptoms or anything. i did kinda start smoking a little but i stopped that cuz thats when the warts and bumps started to appear. i thought it could be related to the hpv but maybe not-dont know. i keep looking online but i dont trust half the stuff i read so i was wondering if anyone has experience with this. i thought this would be a good place to ask:/ does anyone know if this is a sign??? i reaallly hope u say no 'cuz i'm soo mad i was so stupid! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Hi,

Just to let you know, in the back of your tongue, there are bumps, and they are normal. They are called Vallate papillae. They are taste buds and everyone has them. As for your white tongue, brush it with your toothbrush. If it comes off, and dosent bleed, it isnt THRUSH. Thrush is very thick, like cottage cheese. Its not easy to brish off either. Try that.

If you are concerned about HIV, the only way to ease your mind is to be tested, end of story. Not one person here can diagnose you.

Practice safe sex ALL THE TIME.

Hope that helps.

collegegrl,

Heres the deal babe: If its only a couple of guys your risk is LOWER than a lot of others. You have learned your lesson. Fresh latex condoms are a must from here on in. HPV is so damn common its not funny. Tons of people get HPV, etc and do not get HIV. This being said, its all about the test. Mustering up the strength to go get tested is tough, and it took me a while once after i slept with a girl unprotected in university. It came out clean and i thought all the odds were against me. Don't torture yourself diagnosing symptoms from the internet that probably don't exist anyway. Talk with your doc, or a hotline and assess your risks and take it from there. Remember! lots of girls and guys get many minor std's, and many times are cool in terms of HIV. Good luck and don't beat yourself up over past indiscretions, you are human.

Take care
Informer

thanks, i'm feeling better about the hiv thing and i'm trying to get enough courage to get tested 'cuz i want a clean slate. the bumps on my throat are gone. they were there for like a week and a half-i have no idea what they are from. if they were warts or ulcers or something do u think they would've stayed longer?? now i dont know if sometimse i feel like my lips burn and my throat hurts a little but maybe it's in my head--at least that's what i'm hoping for. i guess at this point i just gotta get the test--the last time i had unprotected sex was probably like a month ago so i dont know if it'll show up then so now it sucks cuz i wont know till later on. if he didnt finish inside isant' that a better chance i wont get it? (if he has it). and also can i get it really from oral stuff? thanks for the help, i've never been more afraid of something in my life.

In response to your questions.

"if they were warts or ulcers or something do u think they would've stayed longer?? now i dont know if sometimse i feel like my lips burn and my throat hurts a little but maybe it's in my head"

Its probably in your head, and the fact that they didnt stick around a long time is a good one. Were you on medication for anything, because that could have been a cause also.

"--the last time i had unprotected sex was probably like a month ago so i dont know if it'll show up then"

Most people test positive between 4 and 6 weeks, but 3 months is VERY accurate, so try to wait the 2 more months. If it eases your mind to get tested, go for it. A negative is reassuring.

"if he didnt finish inside isant' that a better chance i wont get it? (if he has it)."

The less exposure, the better. So, if he didnt finish inside, your exposure level is lower, and so are your chances.

"and also can i get it really from oral stuff?"

It is VERY unlikley to contract HIV through oral sex, so your probably in the clear.

Its a scary thing to think that you may have done something that could change your whole life in such a manner as HIV can, but fear only lasts if you let it. Get tested, re-test at 3 months, or 6 if you prefer, and go on with your life, and play it safe from now on!! Good Luck!

thanks. my mouth is pretty much normal. i just want to know what kind of signs ocurr in your mouth if u have hiv or an ulcer or cancer or stuff like that. i had those red bumps for a week and a half but i do also know that my throat usually gets irritated when i have the fan on at night because of dust and stuff-happened before (sore throat) and maybe i've never really payed this much close attention to my mouth, tongue especially (it's really kind of a gross looking in the first place;P) has anyone ever had this before?? do u think extra placque could have an effect on a little whitish brownish stuff on my tongue? it brushes off but i will admit that for several days the tip of my tongue really did burn and my tongue was definatly not its normal red color-kinda pale (that was like a month ago). what else can red bumps mean?? and there ARE supposed to be kinda bigger bumps in the back of u're tongue yeah? and yeah it was only a couple guys with the unprotected sex-so i guess the risk is lower but still. sorry, i'm jsut trying to figure out the possibilites-i know a test is the real answer but anyone got any experience or knowledge?? the internet kinda freaks me out thinking i have stuff and then it just makes me more stressed out which i'm trying not to be so this talking thing is helping to calm me down. i'm really laid-back and for me to stress out is kinda scary but i was/am. thanks for the responses!

I think you are way over-analyzing your tongue. The tongue has lots of little bumps, discolorations, plaque buildup, crevices, etc. Larger bumps on the back of your tongue are normal. You can't diagnose HIV by symptoms. You should get tested so you can get over this worrying.

Collegegirl,

I find it cute how much you are overanalyzing this, BUT you need to stop looking at your tongue. HIV does not present itself in the oral cavity for MANY years (like7-10 without medication). Oral thrush and leukoplakia and all that other stuff happens when one's immune system is DEFICIENT. Everyone has weird tongues. Its part of who we are. There are nicks, tiny red bumps, and tiny bit of white at the back. Its normal. Oral thrush is like thick cottage cheese that is painful to take off and normally first presents on the inside of the cheeks. Hope this helps.
Informer -D.

yeah thanks that does help. sorry i'm gettin' all worried and stuff. i'm mainly worried about the bumps on the back of my throat that i had. they're gone but who knows what they're from. i'm trying to get the courage to get tested but i'm scared of the results. at least now i have hope that i dont have it but if i test positive then that's that-no hope. i know that's probably a bad way of thinking about it but i'm just now trying to move on knowing that i have hpv. people keep saying i seemed real sad and not normal but i'm alot better now and a positive result would crush that. hopefully in several more weeks after the last unprotected time i'll be able to get tested. nobody knows about the hpv that i have it. i was feeling sooo alone and devastated already and then i got scared about hiv (because of the bumps on my throat) and that kinda crushed me. i dont know how to tell anyone right now because so many people look up to me but thank u so much for the responses and info because it's been encouraging and making me feel not alone. :P

Collegegirl,

I imagine it is very difficult coming to terms with having an std, even one as minor as HPV. Just remember the little diseases are much more easy to contract than HIV. They are highly contagious. Lots of people, TONS of people have stuff. They say 1 in 4 americans has an std and 1 in 10 in canadians. Hun, you are in the same boat as alot of other people. I personally know 7 people who have had various std's. None are HIV infected as far as i know. An HIV test is a good idea, and then you will be able to get on with your life. You will meet a guy, a person who doesn't care about the HPV. I know that i wouldn't if my girlfriend had it. In fact, i honestly don't think i'd care if i got it. I am just concerned about the big stuff, which is why i am extra/maybe insanely careful. When im with a girl, im always careful. Now you have the knowledge. Listen if you want to email me and ask me more questions, i got all the knowledge up here so fire away. My email is lipps170@hotmail.com.

Take care,
Informer

i guess it's comforting to know some guys wont care. i know hpv is so common and so many people have it but i dont know anyone who does. well i guess obviously i did since i got it somehow, and maybe he knew or didnt know. like i honestly dont blame him just because it is so common and not too bad i guess. u say u know some people with minor stds. but do u consider hpv minor or not because it stays for life? if i can get past the hiv test i'm gonna be so happy but i'll still have this thing. do u think alot of guys dont care about hpv? or even know about it? i mean i know guys talk and i'm just really scared that if i was to tell someone i was gonna be with then he'd tell his friends and then all of a sudden i'm considered "dirty" and then that just sucks. what if i ever broke up with someone or we ended things or whatever. i hate emotional talks and getting all serious, always been like that, and i dont know when or if to tell or really what to do. i'm scared that sex and all that is over for me because i would never want to tell anyone. i almost wish i didnt know but i should because i could get cancer and stuff. no one knows right now. i'm debating whether or not to tell my best friends because some support from them would be so helpful but i dont want this to spread at all. it's gonna disappoint them too i know. i mean do people talk about this stuff? i just want a normal life now but i think i'm always gonna have this in the back of my mind and its gonna scare me away from ever getting close to anyone because i'd be too scared of getting hurt. so i dont know. any input?? advice?? please help i need support here:P

Some guys may not accept you because of the HPV. Some guys might think your dirty. But, the truth is, HPV or not, SOME guys are going to think badly of others NO MATTER WHAT the reason. The HPV is probably not going to be an easy thing to discuss with a new guy in your life, but no one says you have to do it right away! Take things slow, get to know him, and through that process, of talking and getting to know him, maybe youll be more confident. Take it on a guy by guy basis. There may be some guys you decide arent worth your time, and they dont need to know.

Also, consider the HPV a good thing. Maybe it saved your life. If you had continued having unprotected sex, you may have ended up with HIV at somepoint. So, think of it as a warning, and a way to get a second chance. And the guy that accepts you, and stays around, wont care that you have it, and will accept you as you are. THATS the guy to look for!

If you trust your friends, REALLY trust them, and need a shoulder to cry on, so to speak, tell em. Maybe they have secrets they would like to share. If your not sure if you trust em, or if you want them to know, stick around here! You have lots of support. You may also be able to find a support board just for HPV somewhere. Good Luck, and Stay safe

thanks alot for the advice. i definatly think this is a wake up call. i've been way better and all that. i cant afford more tests at the moment but just to be sure i'm ok i want to get them. hopefully i'll have enough in a month (3 months after possible exposure). i'm just really down right now because i've never been a big relationship person or big into emotions and stuff and i always just go have fun and see what happens. i mean yeah i'll be safer but i dont know how to "just see what happens" without having this thought in the back of my head that i'll ahve to have a serious talk about this stupid disease. and i'm not even out of college. i mean i think this is going to be such a dampener on things because i dont know how many guys would want to risk something when who knows how long you'll be together. i really dont know what to do. i'm still young and now this just sucks.

Hi I understand I am having the same problem, I recently start seeing pinkish flat bumps on my tonge and against inner mouth, I went to the emergency room and the doctor told me I had a yeast infection in my mouth and that I should be tested for hiv, so I did I am so scared because I really think I have just by looking at everything on the internet. I need someone to talk to because I feel like I about to go crazy. Could I be hiv positive even if I had thrush in my mouth? Please help.

Hi Collegegirl, have you beed tested for any other STD's? If not, you should definately get a full test for everything, including herpes. Better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!