sam76

I swallowed my reluctance to post on here, because I know the drill - nobody can diagnose me. But I'm more just looking for support because I'm going out of my mind with anxiety and I have to wait another two months before I can even get tested.

I just came back from working in a remote location where I hooked up with a colleague of mine and we had an ongoing fling for about a month. After we had already hooked up I heard from other coworkers that this man likes to go south or overseas in the off-season and stay all winter until he has to come back to work, and while in these places he has (I don't know how often; it doesn't matter) slept with prostitutes. Also, after we had hooked up, he confided in me that he's a former drug addict and alcoholic. Whether or not he was intravenous using at the time, I don't know. I didn't think to ask because we were being safe... except for a few accidents.

We always used protection, but there were a couple of occasions where the condom slipped off. He noticed it right away and we'd stop and get another one, or just stop all-together. And then a couple other times he pushed inside me for a few seconds without a condom on. I also performed oral on him numerous times over this month-long period. He and I had a talk before we went home and I asked him when the last time was that he was tested, and he said six years ago. I expressed concern to him over what I heard about him sleeping with prostitutes and he assured me he was always protected. That's one of those things, though... as far as your health is concerned, a person's word is only as good for as far as you can throw them. I do know that given his job, it would be a real bad situation if he had something serious and passed it on to me... just because we have to work together. So I have that to consider to make me feel better. He seems to be virile and healthy, but you just never know.

I don't know if I could classify myself as high-risk, so maybe someone could give me some perspective. I know all these things carry an obvious risk... I guess I'm just looking for some peace of mind. I already have anxiety issues, and I'm a hypochondriac, so I've made myself sick with panic once already and given myself some digestive problems over this. And of course every little pain or irregularity has me in a frenzy. I can't stand the waiting period. It sucks.

As for symptoms... it's been three weeks since the last possible exposure. I was diagnosed with hpv two years ago and only ever had one mild outbreak before it cleared up on its own... and now it's back after two years. I think that's a bit odd, considering hpv is said to show up when your immune system is weak (and also when you're stressed - so that could be it). So naturally that has me worried. I've had a little red rash show up on my cheek a few times in the last month and a half. It's always in the same spot, on the top of my cheek under my eye, and it comes and goes within a day. I've seen it now about three times.

So I guess if anyone has any advice for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I am going to get tested in January - that's not even a question. I'm trying my damndest not to be on here googling stuff about possible infections, because it makes me feel even worse, but obviously tonight I'm not listening to my own logic.

Thanks in advance.