still scared

[jworried54j]

Can anyone tell me how they were able to get over their Hiv fears after a low risk encounter. I had protected sex with stripper and negative 9 weeks test. My dr. And the drs here say I need to move on but I can't shake my fear. It is probably from too much browsing forums and seeing people saying they got infected using condoms and also didn't test positive till several months after. If anyone has dealt with this and been able to shake free from the fear please tell me how u did it

[jimmyhoffa808]

yes try to listen to nursegirl. she is extremely helpful and is probably right about everything she says. the hard part is making yourself believe it. i have to say i am doing better than before. i still have bouts with eating. i also still have some worrying sometimes but seems to be getting better. anyway hang in there and stay positive. thats the best thing you can do for yourself right now.

[jworried54j]

Thank you for ur replies. I am done googling. I just need to figure out how to get that stuff out of my head. There are so many horror stories out there

[nursegirl6572]

Read the reply I just gave jimmyhoffa on his thread...it all applies to you as well.

If you continue exposing yourself to info about HIV, your anxiety will never go away.  You need to exercise self control and know how to walk away from the computer.  Go get engaged in your life.  The more you sit around and think about HIV and search the web about it...the more obsessed you will get about it.  

[jimmyhoffa808]

going through samething. took 3 tests already. first test was rapid test only 2 days after possible exposure. second test was at 4 weeks using western blot. third test was at 8 weeks using western blot. i am still concerned with this because i have had symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, muscle weakness. thing is, i don't know if all this is caused by anxiety/depression? the scariest part is not knowing. i am now considering going for another test when i hit 12 weeks and maybe even the 6 month mark just to be certain.

was the stripper hiv positive? or you don't know? if she wasn't or you don't know then I would say you are ok as your risk should be near 0%. that's what i need to hear from people too and it does make me feel better for the time being but eventually my mind starts having negative thoughts again and that's what is so frustrating. anyway, let me know how you are doing as i feel i am in the same boat as you.

[Vance2335]

Well you had a NO RISK ENCOUNTER. If you can make yourself believe that then your good. No risk is not an opinion it is a scientific fact.