Burning Mouth, Burning Skin and HIV worry

[Zulu10]

I had an HIV scare. At week 3.5 post exposure I developed symptoms consistent with seroconversion. Many quickly resolved, but I have been left with an almost constantly burning mouth, and also burning sensations all over my skin, particularly in my legs. I did see a neurologist and I do in fact have midly reduced conduction amplitudes in my legs.

I have tested HIV negative out to six months, which is as close to 100 percent conclusive as it's possible to get.

Anyone with a similar story or symptoms? Thanks

[MysticSoul9]

I burn all over and I first had it when stopping benzos 22 years ago. When the burning came back I thought it was old benzo brain damage and it scared me back into severe anxiety

I have not touched so much as an aspirin in 22 years so it has to be anxiety -I dont have panic attacks so it is just GAD in a severe form

[worried759]

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml!!anxiety does give burning sensation to the skin!!


god bless

[Zulu10]

I thank both you lovely people for your responses!

I am slowly coming to believe my HIV negative status. While it's not impossible I do have it (very delayed seroconversions do still happen, and nothing is ever 100% in science or medicine); the odds against it are astronomical. Getting my deeper subconsciousness to believe it is proving harder.

I have been worrying about this pretty much 24/7, and have not left the internet, which is patently unhealthy.

I have also come to realise I am fundamentally an anxious person. I don't suffer from the classic racing pulse, or panic attacks etc, but I am a constant sort of internalised cauldron, which I find difficult to put into words.

Thanks for your time and support guys.

[RubyWitch]

Since you are very new to the forum, you may not be aware that one of many "mantra's" we have around here is that everyone is different, we all react differently to stress and anxiety and depression and we all react differently to the medications perscribed for these conditions. We also, sometimes, manifest that stress, anxiety and depression in our own unique symptomology. But there is a well documented list of the most common symptoms.

While your sister may experience a sensation of burning in her mouth just before an anxiety attack, it is not a very common symptom. Which does not negate it in any way.

The symptoms the OP described are all very uncommon for both anxiety/panic and HIV.
The two symptoms that I've never heard of being related to anxiety or panic are the sensation of burning all over the skin which comes and goes, moves around and apparently happens outside of an actual attack. (The burning in the mouth could be placed in this category as well)
The second symptom is the issue of the fleeting rashes.
These skin symptoms are what prompted me to recommend a dermatological evaluation.

While muscle fascilculations (twitching) are certainly not unheard of during an attack, once again it is a very seldom mentioned symptom of anxiety outside of an actual event. Our OP did see a neurologist and was dx'd with "mldly reduced conduction amplitudes in my legs."

It's my feeling that the poster is OK with the findings of his HIV test and is now concerned that his symptoms are driven more by some undiagnosed illness than "simple" anxiety.

As well as reacting differently to meds, we often have different opinions, and that is one of the great things about this forum. Open debate.
I stand by my opinion and advice to the poster.
Peace
Greenlydia

[vabeachforme]

I'm not a health care professional, but I disagree with the other response you've received. My cousin went through the same thing, where she had a burning sensation in her mouth prior to her going into a panic attack or anxiety attack. I think it's safe to say that people react and act differently to different things. So what one person may or may not discover, doesn't necessarily mean that someone else will or will not. I hope that makes sense.

I do think that the worriment you're having about your test that you've already taken is causing a lot of these "symptoms" to start showing up. I think it's safe to say that a lot of us tend to that. We worry about a heart attack, then out of nowhere, our heart starts to hurt. We worry that we may have to get our gall bladder taken out, then all of a sudden, that region of your abdomen starts to bother you out of nowhere. You've read a lot up on the symptoms of HIV, I can tell, and now your mind is telling you one thing when medicine has shown and proved something different.

IF... You're that worried about the HIV thing to the extent where you're having anxiety over it, then I would just [for the well being of your mind] go and get another test done. That way, maybe it will help you out. I hope that helps. Best of luck to you, and know that if you need someone to talk to - I am here.

[RubyWitch]

Start by seeing a dermatologist. Your symptoms are not consistent with anxiety or HIV.

If you tested negative at 6 months, you most definitely do NOT have HIV.
A 100% conclusive result can be had at 12 weeks.

Greenlydia

[Zulu10]

Okay, let me rephrase.

Does anyone who suffers from anxiety issues experience the following:

- burning sensation all over skin, comes and goes, moves around, occasioanlly quite distressing
- a burning mouth
- weird fleeting rashes which pop up and disappear again within an hour or two
- muscle fascilculations in legs?

This all seems too much to just be anxiety........ doesn't it?? I have to admit, I have been pretty anxious....... and at the moment it's the physical symptoms that are driving it. Could I really just be stuck in some sort of anxiety "viscious circle"??? Please help - very new to all this!

[RubyWitch]

This is a forum for people dealing with anxiety and panic issues.
You need to get on a forum that deals exclusively with HIV. Have you been to our HIV Prevention Forum?
We also have an HIV Anxiety Forum which can be found under "Groups."
I wish you the best
Peace
Greenlydia