HIV Anxiety

Hi,

OK, to make a long story short: Went to a massage parlour, lady gave me a :), I 'think' I was exposed to her breast milk (no sex or penetration of any kind including oral) and since then have been extremely anxious about HIV. I did the following:

1. Spoke to a local VD and Sex specialist, not once but twice, he assured me saying no risks with my exposure
2. Posted on medhelp (you can check out the thread under HIV prevention) and Dr. Hook said no testing required
3. Went and met two renowned specialists in my city (at leading hospitals) and they assured me it was low risk and did not recommend any specific testing except for my peace of mind.
4. I have had 3 tests over the past 7 weeks at 3,4 and 6 weeks respectively on 4th Gen P24 + Antibody assays, the lab director says 'no need to test anymore' as do the other doctors I have spoken to. Yet, this 3 month 'window period' keeps cropping up in my head. To add to this, I have been suffering from a sore throat for the past 4 days (no fever as such and no rash), worrying myself on 'could this be ARS'?

Now, I have suffered from anxiety previously and am known to be a bit of a worried fellow. I have seen a therapist and I am now on Flulin (generic prodep) 20 MG and Etizolam 0.5 mg twice a day. While I can seem to concentrate on work and home, I have guilt pangs and somehow think 'what if' I have contracted HIV? What if I am I am in the rarest of rare? I have levelled with my wife and she has been extremely supportive.

My question is, how correct would I be to let this go and move on? Is my fear warranted or is it the anxiety/ocd bug needling me? I keep thinking I need to be tested again. And everytime I get an assurance, it seems to be short lived. While I am talking to my therapist, his office is a long way off and I just thought this forum could be of help.

[LOVELACE23]

Hi hun my advice comming from someone with experience of ocd yes i have it too u have to retrain your train of thought u have been tramatized like I and thats why i have ocd with germs.If u feel like u need to continue to get tested do what is gonna put your mind at ease.With my ocd people can tell me a thousand times your okay and I wont settle untill my mind is at ease.Try focus on something good.if u want to talk send to my inbox ok

[eagleyes]

Hi there, thanks for the post, you sound so warm and helpful. Anybody else that can help me? I mean logically, am i being over anxious or is it normal given the situation?

[eagleyes]

Hi there, thanks for the post. Anybody else that can help me?

[eagleyes]

Hi Folks,

The sore throat is still there....and i am really, really anxious. Plan to get tested at my 8 weeks. Any help here to help cope will be deeply appreciated

[sunno101]

i too suffer from anxiety and a fear of getting, contracting having HIV...my mind does not rest until iget results.. i also have other symptoms like numbnss and tingling in my feet, which of course i think is directly linked to HIV automatically...but unlike you, i have not been tested yet, but have an appt to be next week...so i guess we can both put our minds to ease..but yet.,.im very nervouss and been having anxiety about this issue and been to the ER twice cause of it...

[LIZZIE LOU]

the testing "window period" ONLY applies when there has been a risk.  you did not have a risk.

[eagleyes]

I somehow seem to have trouble comprehending the 'no risk' bit. If breastmilk has HIV, then an adult who consumes a small quantity could be at risk theoretically, although I understand that even babies with immature immune and gastro-intestinal systems have a 1 in 7 chance of contracting HIV through copious amounts of their mothers milk. Just that the 'what ifs' don't go away, hence only solace is a definitive test, which I hope my 8 week ab/ag test is.