Anxiety?

Here's the thing, I was exposed to some sort of risk contracting STD/HIV or AIDS last month.  Beginning this month, I started feeling some symptoms which can be attributed to several other illness aside from STD's.  A couple of experts in the HIV community, tell me that what I did was no risk so I should have nothing to worry about.  My question is, are these things that I am feeling/have felt MIGHT be induced by my paranoia and/or anxiety about contracting STD?

Here are some of the stuff I'm feeling:

-I felt a little feverish.  Never had a fever, I just feel warm sometimes;
-I feel lethargic sometimes;
-For the past couple of days, Ive been feeling a little dizzy and light headed;
-i sometimes lose appetite;
-i feel itchy at various spots of my body;
-muscle aches which go away the next day;


Thanks in advance.

[mammo]

You have been told correctly and have nothing to worry about.  But worrying to the point of obcessing over this will make your senses keen to every little thing which is normal, but you feel it's the illness.  Your anxiety can cause dizziness and feeling lightheaded.  If need  be get tested to put your mind at ease, I don't feel it's necessary but you have to stop obcessing over this, or things may get worse.  Educate yourself on how you can contract these diseases so that you can prevent them or know if you need to worry.

[tnecniv]

Yes, I understand that and I will certainly get tested as soon as the window period is up.

So, basically, what you are telling me is, there's a good chance that I'm feeling all of this because of my stress and anxiety over contracting the STD?  I mean, is it possible that the reason I feel some of the symptoms is because I think about it too much?

Thanks a lot for your prompt response!

[greenlydia]

Since you have been to our HIV Forum and have been told you were not at risk, then you were, conslusively, NOT AT RISK!

You ask if these feelings you have felt, or MIGHT have felt, could be induced by your HIV/STD paranoia. The answer is a resounding YES!

It's my guess that you were more or less "invited" to leave the HIV Forum as you probably kept returning with all your "what if" questions.

The symptoms you have listed above could, and most likely are, indicitive of the common cold or flu. Your HIV anxiety is turning them into proof positive that you have HIV.

Since you did not tell us what your exposure risk was, we can only give you some facts about HIV.
There are three ways to contract HIV:
1) UNPROTECTED anal/vaginal sex with an HIV+ partner
2) Sharing drug works with an HIV+ person
2) Mother to UNBORN child

If your exposure does not fall into any of these categories THERE WAS NO RISK!
At least for HIV.
STDs are a bit different. If you had any kind of exposure such as oral sex, you probably should be tested for STDs. There is no reason to be tested for HIV if your exposure did not include any of the above risks.

STD tests will show results much quicker than HIV.
At 8 weeks post exposure, you can be tested for HIV and that will generally be a good indicator of what your results will be at 12 weeks, which is when you will get CONCLUSIVE results from an HIV test. If you test negative at 12 weeks, YOU DO NOT HAVE HIV. Further testing will produce the same results.

I don't know what Teak or Lizzie advised you about testing for STDs. Perhaps they felt you were not at risk for them either. They are the pros and I would listen, AND take their advice!
If you cannot move on and your paranoia remains, then your next step is to get some psychological help to deal with this issue. In the meantime, you may want to call your local HIV/AIDS Hotline and discuss these fears with them. I am positive they will tell you what all of us here have already.
You also need to get educated about just how difficult it really is to contract HIV.
I wish you some peace
Greenlydia      

  

[tnecniv]

No, I was not "invited" to leave the HIV forum, because of my persistence to ask questions relating to my risks.  I actually ventured out and figured out that, yes, perhaps, what I am feeling is due to my fears.  There is still a stigma relating to STD's and HIV in general, and my fear of being singled out, in case I am infected causes me to think (and perhaps feel, the way I do).

I will, indeed, get on with the tests in order to get all of this all of my mind.  I reckon that, once I get my test results and all turns out to be negative, I will certainly feel a lot better.

Thanks a lot for your comforting words, and I surely will update you once I test and get my results.

Again, thank you and God bless you and your family.

[greenlydia]

Your second post convinces me that you WERE asked to "MOVE ON" from the HIV Forum!
Your questions has been asked AND answered.
Get yourself tested since it is obvious that is the only thing that will convince you once and for all. But you must accept the test results,
No more "what ifs!"
They will NOT reuse dirty needles to test you.
You cannot contract HIV from the HIV test.
They will NOT cover your needle stick with a band aid covered in HIV+ blood.
They WILL make positive it is YOUR blood that is being tested.
There will be no mixing up your results with anyone else's.
The people taking your test are professionals..........they know what they're doing!

Instead of returning to us with any "what if" questions, make an appointment with a therapist!
Our continued "comforting" is doing nothing but enabling you.
Get some help and peace of mind.
Greenlydia  
    

[tnecniv]

Yes, I will get a test.  Thanks again.