Can fear of HIV cause symptoms of HIV

[scared352]

Can Anxiety of contracting and STD cause physical symptoms making you feel like you have an STD? In my case I have recently been exposed to a very low risk situation. My doctor and HIV speacialist agree that the situation is very low risk. I have asked questions here on the STD forum and they also agree that it was low risk. My mind is grappled with fear of HIV now. I have feeling of being a killer having possibly exposed my wife. ( please know I did a really dumb mistake and have been honest with my wife all along.) My sypmtoms are 1. night sweats 2. upset stomach 3. coated toung 4. nausia 5. tingeling 6. sensitive skin 7.nightmares. 8. loss of sleep 9. loss of appetite 10. soar throat.. My doctors keep telling me that all this is anxiaty and nerves. I am still in the waiting period before i can test for HIV and get a better picture to know if im infected or not. To tell the truth I am scared more that I have ever been in my whole life. Please let me know your thoughts and yes I have learned my lesson.

[nursegirl6572]

This is an anxiety forum.  We'll be glad to help you work through HIV related anxiety, but for discussions about HIV, visit the HIV Prevention forum.

Please start a new thread, as this one is very old.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=71

[pili2]

Am so stressed that I feel all the HIV symptoms,on my case it abit different,on 14th of October I met this Guy n we had drinks then left with him but we did not do anything at night,in the morning we romance n I told him to put on a condom n he did but never wanted me touch his penis so I told him then no sex,then he dated fine n kept romance then he attempted to insert his penis inside but I pushed him away then touched my self n I was wet,it like when he I pushed him he had alread released I don't know what he did to the condom,so ran to the bathroom n washed my virgin with cold water,what worried me is that I had fungal infection n I was itching.  Is it an open would? Please help

[nursegirl6572]

Hey everyone.

This is a VERY old thread, and as you can see, no one is getting any kind of response when they post to it.  Most members will skip over an old thread that has been bumped.

It's ALWAYS better, if you're looking for support or info, to start your own new thread.  You can do that by clicking the orange, "post a question" button on the top right of the page.

Thanks!!

[Philjay]

I have the same feeling.. i have an unprotected sex with a sex worker last week.

Vaginal sex shes on top of me for about 10 seconds. I have not finish the sex act because i am very drunk then. My penis wont erect anymore..

After the alcohol went down. Thats when i realize how stupid i am for what ive done.. 2 days after ive got a UTI.. it scares me more.. ive been taking ciprofloxacine as the doctors prescibe.

Whats killing me now is the thought of infected with hiv.. i cant sleep. Cant eat. Depress most the time.. anxiety and guild consuming me alive..

Can anyone please tell me my situation. Its my very first time with a sex worker. What are my chances in geting infected?

Thank you..

[whathaveigot]

I had an oral exposure aswell, had all symptoms and swollen glands which really is the pits. Thing is it is impossible, that is all there is to it guys. Don't allow yourself to go crazy over a no risk, i do every day!

[psperls]

Hey, I feel really lucky to have stumbled upon your post. I have unfortunately joined the ranks of extremely guilty men who have made a terrible mistake. I'm really stressing about this hardcore so please help me. You said you engaged in "oral sex" too so maybe you know something about my chances of hiv infection.

My wife and I have been separated for a few months, and about 4 weeks ago I got very tipsy and engaged in a threesome... Me, a girl I had just met, and a male friend of hers were involved. Here's the situation and where I think the risk for HIV is: The male friend engaged in vaginal sex with the female and had apparently ejaculated inside of her (I didn't find that part out until just after the sexual encounter). Following him ejaculating inside of her I gave her oral sex causing her to ejaculate her own sexual fluids (as well as his too) into my mouth--- some of which ran down my throat and some of which simply sat in my mouth for about 15-20 seconds give or take. So needless to say, I am extremely worried, and I feel awful for having done something so foolish and reprehensible, for the last few days I have had a very sore throat, night sweats on occasion, lack of quality sleep due to acute anxiety, and an overall weakness along with occasionally hot forehead.

Please help out, I need to know if I am just experiencing "guilty symptoms" or if I could have been exposed to HIV. Oh, I should also add that I noticed a small amount of blood coming from her vaginal opening following the oral sex so she may have just been starting her period also. Yet one more thing to worry about.

Please please, any answers or feedback is GREATLY appreciated...!

[birdie0907]

Scared352 hasn't posted for 5 years to Medhelp so won't get your message.

[rileyocool]

Did you ever find out what your symptoms were.

[kimicheerz]

I agree we are all in the same boat I am only 16 and really scared about HIV I have had about 4 sexual encounters with 4 guys and I knew them all and they said they didn't have hiv nor did they show symptoms but I have been so scared and upset I have been crying, I went to the doc today with my dad and got mono and strep tested negative and I was kind of hoping it was mono so I could relief myself instead they said my sinus drainage could be causing my sore throat and possible fever and perscribed me to amoxicillin, I have also been tired, my weight fluctuated from 136 lbs, to 132 back to 135, I am on birth control and I have gotten a few night sweats and have hade nightmirrors about either possibly having aids or someone else having it and I literally have gone into complete panic attacks over this sistuation and don't know what to do... I'm wondering if my symptoms could be this overeaction, I never really thought avout hiv till I searched symptoms on the internet and hiv was one of the pssibilities and after my sore throat I started feeling this way... I'm just really scared and if there is anyway I could b tested without consent please tell me..

[reklaw9691]

sorry about the double posting yall, just wanted to express my feelings to both parties.

[reklaw9691]

I'm right there where you were at also scared1000. I had 2 non-sexual french kissing encounters. I have been abstinent from sexual behaviors going on 4 years now. The last kissing incident took place slightly before Thanksgiving. Last week my doctor ordered a pcr/rna hiv test for me, and I'm still waiting for the results. My skin itches and then goes away, I had two sores in my mouth, I had a very very light case of the night sweats last night, no fever documented on all doctor/hospital visits, no diarrhea symptoms. My doctor told me that kissing is very close to being an impossible risk, unless their is blood/open wounds in the both of our mouths. I know that sometimes my gums mildly bleed when I brush my teeth. I can completely understand your fear and the tension and anxiety that you feel/felt about contracting this horrible condition.

[reklaw9691]

I'm right there where you were at scared352. I had 2 non-sexual french kissing encounters. I have been abstinent from sexual behaviors going on 4 years now. The last kissing incident took place slightly before Thanksgiving. Last week my doctor ordered a pcr/rna hiv test for me, and I'm still waiting for the results. My skin itches and then goes away, I had two sores in my mouth, I had a very very light case of the night sweats last night, no fever documented on all doctor/hospital visits, no diarrhea symptoms. My doctor told me that kissing is very close to being an impossible risk, unless their is blood/open wounds in the both of our mouths. I know that sometimes my gums mildly bleed when I brush my teeth. I can completely understand your fear and the tension and anxiety that you feel/felt about contracting this horrible condition.

[scared1000781]

Hi all ....
I'm scared ...am too too too scared I have got all the symptoms that you have talked about and I have strong diarrhea ....I don't know what to do ...plz answer me ....
I'v got white tongue ,some ache in muscles , I always look at my palm see it again and again and again ...my fingers have red spots in the end , today I got my  throat swollen ...now I take anti stress to help me sleeping ...
plz any one can answer me ...I'm waiting

[DONEWITHITNOW]

Hi,

seems we are in the same boat if you need anything let me know.  I am rolling along like you hoping this will go away and I have avoided drugs and will do everything I can to do that as they may cause other issues.  The funny thing is I know I could alleviate all of this be leveling with her but that would destroy her my kids and ultimately me so what good is that?  In any event, suffering with you you are not alone.

[dmcard]

Hi scared352

You are beating yourself up over a stupid mistake. I have done the same, and have gone through the same feelings as yourself. I had a one night stand with a woman and cheated on my partner of 20 years.
Through guilt I convinced myself I had caught hiv. I have gone through the same symptoms as yourself including weight loss, sweating etc. I have had 4 rapid tests done in the uk at 12,14,15 and 18 months since that night, all negative but always start doubting the result. Three of them were done using blood from finger by NHS trained staff and one from a private doctor taking blood from vein. Every time I think of some reason to doubt the result which if you think about it is wrong to question the professionalism of trained staff. I always thought I was a intelligent adult but it is proving hard to break out of this condition despite medication. So I know what you are going through very well. I know this is not really giving you advice but hang on in there,  you have made a mistake. We all do, if you feel taking a test a 3 months do it and move on. Don't make the same mistake as myself and get into the cycle of repeat testing as it's hard to break.
Good luck.  

[Selenea]

.......just from reading your post that you felt no one responded was due to your description of the strip club incident shows that you have such guilt.  Would talking to a priest help, like a confession.  I don't know if you are a religious or spiritual person but maybe it will help.  I don't suggest you confiding to your wife about it, most women won't be very understanding even if you merely just had a lap dance.  

Try to focus on your fatherly and husbandly duties and eventually the guilt should pass.  We all have our weak moments.  There are men who do by far worse.

So what, you had a lap dance, you enjoyed it...whatever.

I thought strippers get tested for such things.  I sincerely doubt she had HIV.  You could try speaking to the manager about it or to the stripper.  It may ease your mind some more.  When will you go for testing.  

[Selenea]

hi, from reading your posts I see that you are suffering from a groase act of guilt and yes I think the symptoms you are experiencing are more psychological than anything.

The night sweats, nightmares, loss of sleep, loss of appetite sound like emotional issues.  

[DONEWITHITNOW]

Hi,

I am so glad I found your post.  I have been going through a similar situation but for a different risk.  I read your situation and I want you to know 100% unequivocally you do not have HIV from this situation.  HIV cannot be transimitted by ingestion.  There are two reasons the mouth is a hostile environment for HIV and it would not be possible to transmit it this way and so is digestion.  If the disease was capable of being caught in this way then there would be confirmed cases of people catching it like that and it would be everywhere for you to find easily on the web.  It is a sexually transmitted disease ( you need to have sex, be the child of a baby who is breast feeding from an HIV + mother or be an IDU)  in 51% of cases and most of those are Male to Male only 11% are heterosexual and only 5% of those are female to male.  This is so unlikely there are not even statitistics available to quote you.  I better rephrase that this not unlikely it is impossible.  I am going through the same GUILT which is what you are suffereing and yes your mind is that powerful it can make you sick if you think you are.  I had a realer risk, oral sex.  I am so guilty I went and had a full panel took the cures even though I was negative and still believed I had every bacterial and HIV.  This is not a whose crazier contest but I definitely feel your pain.  I had HIV testing done six times all the way to 176 days and I still doubt my results.....what if the nurse used a dirty needle?  what if I have a strain they did not test for etc. etc. etc.  Let me tell you all I have is incredible guilt and as a result anxiety.  I wish I could take my own advice I cannot but I will pass it on to you so perhaps I can get some merit points from above.  You are fine, you are human, we make mistakes  its how we were created despite best of intentions. some mistakes bigger than others and some monumental, collosal errors of judgement that as you know they pay for with their lives.  You had nothing of the sort furthermore your wife knows what you were up to and also thinks you are over reacting and she is right.  I hope that I can at some point return to myself I really do.  If you need to talk it helps me as much as you feel free to chime in to my name.  Have patience I try not to come on here too much as it stokes the flames if you know what I mean. I want you to know you are not alone and you will be fine and hopefully get over this, I wish I could talk to my wife about this she is and always was my best friend and the person i told everything to and now I have something I am keeping from her.  One thing I have learned through this ordeal is I like you am a good husband and a good father,  I made a mistake one page in my book of life. Your guilt rests on the fact that like me you had a high bar you used as a benchmark and now you feel somehow that your mistake changed the whole game.  It did not. some will argue with me but one thing has nothing to do with the other.  You had a little too much fun with a stranger, no intent to cheat, do something behind your spouses back, it just happened, you learned a hard lesson although I wish i were in your shoes, it is in the past.......let it go if you can.  i am here for you.....good luck all the best.

[ali3674]

Fear of anything can produce symptoms of anything, so the answer to your question is YES

[scared352]

why has no one responded? Is it becuase the circamstances related to my incident? I am sorry I am an adult that has made an adult mistake. I have never cheated on my wife of 12 years (dated for almost 10 and didnt cheat either)  and I am a good husband and father. I just did something really stupid i am the first to admit it. Please everyone seems to think that my symptoms are cause by stress and on the other forums they asked me to come here. I was hoping you could give me guidence to see if these are physical or mental symptoms. My councelor really just listened to me and didnt come up with an answer. Please can anyone in the anxiaty forums sympothise with my symptoms maybe they are the same and maybe there not. Just want some advice thank you.

[scared352]

This all happened at a strip club and I am unsure of her HIV or STD status. I posted this question in the HIV section of the forum. All my doctors, wife and freinds who are aware of the incident have all told me that I am over reacting.   I was at one point drinking Paxel when I was younger and stopped because it gave me cotton mouth. I never thought I needed it again. I dont think they diagnosed me with anything except anxiaty. I have been crying on and off for weeks and days. I feel like I murdered my family by possibly bringing a sickness home. Since this insident I cant stop myself I end up on the internet double checking my symptoms to insure that I have or have not contracted HIV and Herpes. Yesterday was the worst I felt like I couldnt even extend my arms and just wanted them close to my body. AJ in the STD forum and the guys on the HIV forum feel low to zero risk but for some reason Im sure I got it and just waiting for a death sentence. I guess they are all right and this is anxiaty. It has been a month since the incident and I have lost 15 LB.  I have set up an appointment with a councelor for Thursday at 5:00 pm to see if I can sort this out some. Below is the details of the incident.  

I was at a strip club very drunk and the stripper dancing for me was seemingly excited. I leaned back to enjoy a grind session I put my head back and opened my mouth. She had been working her privates with her hand and then placed her fingers and hand in my mouth there was an access of vaginal fluid there. Ok 17 days post this incident I have had a PCR test, p24, and antiboy test. I have good insurance so i went to an HIV speacialist Doctor. My family doctor and the HIV doc feel pretty sure I am not infected. All tests came back negative. Could my mind really be making me feel what I think are symptoms. (night sweats, itching, upset stomach, soar throat, weekness, tingle in arms and legs, dizzyness, etc. and this has been going on for weeks.  PS.. trust me ill never do anything like this again.   ( please answer back and let me know your thoughts.)

[manthalatrice]

To be honest with you, a lot of things cause those same symptoms........even ANXIETY. It seems to me that you are worrying so and this is how your body is reacting. You have got to calm down. Question........Is the person you were active with have HIV, or are you guessing? What I am asking is are you scared they could possible they have it or do you know? Your mind can make your body manifest any symptom. It seems to me that you are totally obsessed with HIV. Have you diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder? Do you take medications? Listen to your Doctors, and when the time come take the test. Hopefully you are negative. And when your results come back negative , please do your best not to put yourself OR your wife back in this situation. It seems that you really show signs of anxiety. You should seek some help. Best wishes. Keep us posted. We are here for you.