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HIV contraction question.
8 years ago, I had protected sex with my girlfriend at the time, I was 16. She had a few partners before me. Also, I performed oral sex a few times. A month later I had a rash on my upper arm. This was July 03, so it could have been heat rash, but a rash is one of the first signs of infection. We broke up, she hooked up with other guys, that Fall we started up again. Around then I started getting canker sores in my mouth (its canker sores, not herpes), the frequency of which has slowed down over time and I don't get them nearly as often. I was also on my HS wrestling team, working out everyday and I lost a bit of weight (also a HIV symptom) that my coach had noticed at the time. I don't think it was more then a few pounds if I remember right hough. That winter I came down with a flu-like illness, which I know could have just come on from anything considering it was winter, but it was flu-like illness nonetheless. The following summer I came down with mono (also a HIV symptom).
Today, I still occasionally get canker sores. For the past 2 years I've had an issue with my head/ear/back where I have a headache/ear pain that radiates to my upper spine, a burning feeling in the spine. (Especially feel it when I burp or push on muscles, like when going to the bathroom). I've had MRI/CT scan's of my brain, all negative. ENT didn't find anything either, but he said a partially deviated septum may be contributing to it. From time to time I have some muscle numbness, something where like a foot or my hand falls asleep. Not really frequent, but it does happen. Since then I've had surgery once to remove a kidney stone and have been to the doctor and have had blood taken for numerous things over the years, mostly just checkups and the occasional hospital visit for an injury. I know that's not an HIV test, but I'm wondering if SOME kind of abnormality would have showed.
Today, I still occasionally get canker sores. For the past 2 years I've had an issue with my head/ear/back where I have a headache/ear pain that radiates to my upper spine, a burning feeling in the spine. (Especially feel it when I burp or push on muscles, like when going to the bathroom). I've had MRI/CT scan's of my brain, all negative. ENT didn't find anything either, but he said a partially deviated septum may be contributing to it. From time to time I have some muscle numbness, something where like a foot or my hand falls asleep. Not really frequent, but it does happen. Since then I've had surgery once to remove a kidney stone and have been to the doctor and have had blood taken for numerous things over the years, mostly just checkups and the occasional hospital visit for an injury. I know that's not an HIV test, but I'm wondering if SOME kind of abnormality would have showed.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The reason for the limit on number of characters is to require all the information to be posted in the initial question. You could easily have done that. In any case, this doesn't change my opinion or advice. Feel free to post your HIV test result if and when you have it done. Until then, I won't have any further comments or advice.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I can confirm the brief responses you had on the community forum: you are not at risk for HIV and your symptoms do not suggest an HIV infection.
The odds any particular 16 year old girl in the US has HIV are virtually zero. And oral sex carries little or no risk of HIV transmission; some experts believe the virus is never transmitted that way. Others cite data that suggest 1 chance in 10,000 or less -- which is equivalent to having oral sex with HIV infected people once a day for 27 years before transmission might happen.
And your symptoms do not even hint at an HIV infection; and if you had HIV for 8 years, almost certainly you would have been seriously ill by now, maybe dead. Same for your former partner. Frequent canker sores do not suggest an HIV infection.
In several anxious-sounding comments on the HIV community forum and elsewhere, you indicated you were fearful of getting HIV tested. My advice is that you just suck it up and get tested. Research shows that when people are nervous about an HIV test result, the worry about the outcome causes more stress than finally having an answer, even if the result is positive. And in your case, there is simply no possibility you have HIV, assuming you have not had other risks that you haven't told me about.
Regards--- HHH, MD
The odds any particular 16 year old girl in the US has HIV are virtually zero. And oral sex carries little or no risk of HIV transmission; some experts believe the virus is never transmitted that way. Others cite data that suggest 1 chance in 10,000 or less -- which is equivalent to having oral sex with HIV infected people once a day for 27 years before transmission might happen.
And your symptoms do not even hint at an HIV infection; and if you had HIV for 8 years, almost certainly you would have been seriously ill by now, maybe dead. Same for your former partner. Frequent canker sores do not suggest an HIV infection.
In several anxious-sounding comments on the HIV community forum and elsewhere, you indicated you were fearful of getting HIV tested. My advice is that you just suck it up and get tested. Research shows that when people are nervous about an HIV test result, the worry about the outcome causes more stress than finally having an answer, even if the result is positive. And in your case, there is simply no possibility you have HIV, assuming you have not had other risks that you haven't told me about.
Regards--- HHH, MD
Thank you very much for the response. Any risk that I have was disclosed to you, so now I am much more comfortable. I am going to get tested within the next two weeks, but again, I thank you so much for the comforting advice.
Additional info I couldn't fit above:
As for the girl I'm worried if I contracted from, she's now 22, married with two kids. I'm wondering if something would have showed with her with the two kids she had, given all the tests that are run on newborns.
I'm going to get tested soon, because after looking up canker sores I'm getting nervous HIV is causing them, as well as the issue with my head/ears/back and the earlier symptoms like the rash and the flu-like illness. but does this sound likely as a situation where HIV is present? Thanks.
As for the girl I'm worried if I contracted from, she's now 22, married with two kids. I'm wondering if something would have showed with her with the two kids she had, given all the tests that are run on newborns.
I'm going to get tested soon, because after looking up canker sores I'm getting nervous HIV is causing them, as well as the issue with my head/ears/back and the earlier symptoms like the rash and the flu-like illness. but does this sound likely as a situation where HIV is present? Thanks.
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