how severe symptoms?? - HIV Prevention Message Board

scaredmom · 09-18-2003, 11:12 AM

Because I recently went to doctor with yeast infection and thrush and he requested that I be tested for HIV, I have been reading everything I can on the subject. I had never really thought about it before and always thought if you had it YOU WOULD KNOW. I am reading about the beginning symptoms and they all begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, soar throat and swollen glands. How severe would these beginning signs be? Honestly, I could have been exposed in late June. Have I had a headache since then...well, yeah... muscle aches..yeah...I have kids and exercise every day. Possibility of low grade fever...maybe..but would the HIV symptoms be severe enough to keep me from work? Or make me feel like not exercising? Or would you feel just 'icky' for a day or so? How long after would it really take for yeast infections to appear? I keep reading that that particular symptom is in later stages. (Dr. said blood count looked okay. I don't know if that means anything) And I can possibly account for getting the yeast infections...wearing tight clothes while exercising, and drinking extreme amounts of alcohol and eating sugar(which I do not usually do) and staying up all night routinely for several weeks.
I am NOW feeling every symptom....probably from the stress of sitting at the computer for hours researching HIV!! I have not had any swollen glands or any other severe 'flu like' symptoms. Basic 'ickyness' that I have always felt for years. Nothing out of the ordinary until the yeast infections. I keep thinking it's just a coincidence but yet am freaking on the inside thinking 'It's just my luck" If I can have it I will!! I am so sick of being at this computer trying to find out more info and should just wait till results of test but I don't even want to go get the results. I WISH I NEVER HAD THE STUPID TEST DONE!!

09-18-2003, 12:08 PM

Look I do not even know what kind of possible exposure you had, but from what you are saying symptoms of ARS (acute retroviral sindrome) would come within 2 to 4 weeks of possible exposure, which I think are long gone for you. The symptoms you mention sound to me completly related to stress and anxiety. Symptoms are NEVER the way to diagnose yourself or to come to conclusions, not even the most expert could diagnose you that way cause ARS symptoms are very much like day to day stuff that you can have, like fever, sore throat, headache and etc. What you need to do is get tested at 3 months from the incident. But please pay attention to what I am telling you, those symptoms are almost for sure coming from your long hours in front of the computer freaking out about this. That does not help and will only drive you to conclusions that are probably wrong.
You are going to be fine. Breath deep and let us know about your results.
Kemosabe.

Girliegirl · 09-18-2003, 12:15 PM

Scaredmom,
Relax. Lots of things can cause yeast infections. I was having recurrent yeast infections for about 7 months and I was just as worried as you about HIV. When I asked my OBGYN about it, she said thrush and recurrent yeast infections don't start appearing for HIV+ patients until the later stages of the disease. I got tested anyway, just for peace of mind.

It turned out I'm insulin resistant because of an endocrine problem, which makes me more prone to yeast infections. The condition gradually developed in my 20's. Even a few beers can give me a YI.

There are lots of things that could be causing headaces or muscle aches. It's good you got tested, because when you get your negative results you'll be very relieved.

Go see a movie, read a funny book, go shopping, do anything but sit on the computer and search HIV-related topics, you're just making yourself anxious!

[This message has been edited by Girliegirl (edited 09-18-2003).]

scaredmom · 09-18-2003, 01:13 PM

Kemo-
The exposure I mentioned was one time unprotected vag. sex. I do not really speak to the guy anymore and didn't really know him very well at that time. (really stupid)so I don't know much about his background history. I thought about the possiblity of HIV during and after and worried a little about it but it wasn't until the doctor mentioned it that I got scared. I'm sure it was just a precaution for him to suggest the test but it was the way he went about it that scared me. He didn't even ask me about reasons I could've gotten the yeast infections. He zeroed right in on the possibility of HIV. He didn't ask me about any of the other signs/symptoms of HIV or I probably would have told him I hadn't had those. But he seemed pretty persistent about the test.
But what I wanted to know was HOW SEVERE would the beginning stages/symptoms be? Could they have been mistaken for daily blahs...and could the yeast infections be part of the later stage....
I just worry because you've heard "IF IT WEREN'T FOR BAD LUCK I'D HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL" well that's me!!
If I had a 1/1 chance of winning the lottery I'd STILL lose!! and if there is a 1/1,000,000 chance of me getting HIV......I'LL GET IT!!

maybe helpful · 09-18-2003, 04:20 PM

hi again. I replied to your last post, as I have found myself in a VERY similar situation, and I also have shildren. As a matter of fact, our exposure levels are quite near the same. Anyway, as per your question:

"HOW SEVERE would the beginning stages/symptoms be? Could they have been mistaken for daily blahs...and could the yeast infections be part of the later stage...."

The beginning symptoms can occure between 2-4 weeks after exposure to HIV. They can last a week to two weeks. Very similar to the flue, or mono. Severity depends on the person. Some people dont have ANY symptoms, some have mild symptoms, and some are ill enough to seek medical attention. But its generally not just come and go kind of things. Fever, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat are the main symptoms that people have. As for the yeast infection, a sign of HIV can be re-occuring and hard to treat yeast infections. These are usually signs of an infection in the beginning. The reason they occur is because HIV attacks your system in such a way as to make it hard for your body to fight off bacteria. Basically, HIV lets your body attack itself, so to speak, so your yeast infection could be nothing more than JUST the infection, not likley a sign of HIV.

Of course, to know FOR SURE you MUST get a test 3 months after possible exposure. Luck will have nothing to do with it!

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Good Luck and Be Safe