Scared to death - Please help

[desiguy]

Dear Dr,

Please help me and save 3 lives ! I am a married man with a wife and a toddler and presently in immense mental agony..

6 weeks ago I visited a message parlor twice and ended up having protected sex.The details are as follows:

1. Encounter 1 : Feb 26, 2009 - ******* with a condom - brief vaginal sex with same condom -

2. Encounter 2: March 5, 2009 - the messeuse licked my anus and put me a condom and we perfomed vaginal sex with same condom.Both occassions the condom was supplied by the message parlor and later when I asked they said these are ultra thin japanese condoms they get from outside. To the best of my knowledge on both instances the condom stayed intact.But I don't know about the brand or whether it was expired.
Ever since I am petrified with extreme guilt, almost always feel subtle symtoms like fatigue, try to feel my armpits for lymp node; all in all I am getting paranoid more so  since I have a wife and toddler and don't want to pass this dreadful disease to them .
I have sweared not to repeat this stupid acts anymore but please advise should I go for HIV testing?.
I didn't have the courage to go for the testing till now since I wouldn't be able to take it  if the results were positive.

[LIZZIE LOU]

common result.  you are negative :)

[Teak]

Move on.

[cortex_toom]

hi people have you had an hiv test that shows figures instead of negative or positive results? our tests they use in the hospital i go, says that <0.25 is negative instead of saying i'm negative....! i had done this at the main medical Lab. I can rely on the tests because apart of being expensive they are done only in this hospital in our country...(the only place where you should pay to get accurate results)

[desiguy]

Teak ....Please please please ..I am dying ...last question I promise...

I know my situation was low risk...but why I am getting these symptoms..?

Please answer 1 question...

the symtoms I am experiencing .. are these too early for symptotic hiv stage ?

I need your response to help me get the courage to go for testing...

[Teak]

* Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to action by MedHelp. Conclusive negative results or a no-risk situation will be based up the criteria MedHelp’s doctors. Action will be taken as follows:
    * After excessive posting, a warning will be issued by MedHelp
    * Continuing to post regarding the negative result / no risk situation will result in a 3 day suspension
    * Continuing to post upon your return will result in a permanent ban.

[desiguy]

Hi Teak/Nursegirl -- Need your advise.....Please respond.

Sorry to come back and repost....once again my life has taken a strange turn.

3 months after my incidents(protected sex twice) I had urine tests which showed leukocytes and had some traces of cloudy discharges( may be sperm pushed by prostrate?) thrice during bowel movements (I was constipating). doc told uti and prescribed 7 day course cipro 500mg. Symtoms cleared off..

Now 4 months after exposure....all the horrible symtoms are surfacing...
1. Whitish tongue very rough...
2. Tingling of teeth
3. eczema in groin
4. Mild sinus problems
5. Metallic taste in tongue
6. Lost almost 15 lbs since February and 7 lbs last month
7. Sore throat
8. Very small red pimples(50-60) on glans(no pain only noticable after careful examination) and one purple spot
9. Tingling of feet


Are these early symtoms of immunosuppression - can it occur so early...??
I am clueless since I had protected sex and never felt any condom breakage

I haven't literally slept for the last one month...due to extreme stress , anxiety and panic attacks..had been on xanax...

What are my chances now ? Shall I be the first person in the forum to get hiv after protected sex ...too scared to test now..

[Teak]

You were never at risk.

[desiguy]

Firstly I apologise for posting once again...
I greatIy appreciate your help Teak, Nursegirl and all you wonderful people out there.

I could sleep after your comforting words but since my family is solely dependent on me here in US I want to make sure that I provide all the necessary information:

Just couple of more questions I forgot :

1. Can a single instance of watery stool I had be termed as diarrhea related to ARS

2. I forgot to mention that I had loss of apetite, indigestion problems, vomitting tendencies 10 - 12 days after exposure and also lost 1 Ib of body weight in the next week (206 bs to 205 lb) Also felt my armpits were swollen (not any other area like neck , groin etc)..Are these really worrying.......

Please help a regretful father and husband ...

[HelpinMA]

My Friend, you should really listen to the folks on this board, especially Teak and Nursegirl - They know what they are talking about!  You did not have any risk at all, you have to stop worrying about HIV and deal with whatever guilt issues you may be experiencing.  It is the guilt, not HIV, that is causing your symptoms.  I was in the same boat, now 4 weeks later I am totally fine.  

Take a deep breath and work it through in your own mind first.  You have to decide for yourself if you want to tell your wife.  I personally would not, just be a better husband and father from this day forward.  

You are going to be fine!!

[Larry1977]

Hey Friend relax.

The symptoms are not a good indicator for HIV. You had protected sex, so you do not need to worry whatsoever. Do yourself a favor and stop researching symptoms on the internet, because you are just going to make things worse. You are going to start imagining symptoms and connect them with yourself. Keep you mind off it by doing other things. No reason to worry dude, once again you had protected sex. Chances are 0. I know you feel guilty doing those things. Now you know for future, you won't repeat them.

Do not worry, You are OK.

Larry

[Teak]

You can rule out ARS. You didn't have a risk. You can rest assured that the condom was latex. She's not out to protect you, she's out to protect herself.

[desiguy]

Thanks Teak your are a savior- I won't do any excessive posting anymore...But please please answer my below questions

1. I have read ARS is characterized by mild flu like symptoms - can I rule out the fatigue and temp i had as not being flu like symtoms of ARS


2. My second question is the quality of condom used- it was provided by the message parlor

The messeuse told me afterwards that they store them in bulk plastic packages which I felt may degrade the quality and therefore my second question

On one occasion  I had felatio and vaginal sex with the same condom and on the other instance only vaginal sex - however I never checked after completing whether the comdoms were intact or not - I did not feel  unusual after ejacuating-Does one conclusively know if a condom breaks --- or did it break in my case ?

[Teak]

You had protected sex and you don't need testing. For your mental issues, seek professional mental help.

[desiguy]

Thanks a million.

However I read yesterday about early ARS sysmptom and once gain I got freaked out .

7 - 10 days after first exposure (i have been reading about symptoms a day before) I felt fatigued that lasted for around 3 days also I felt l had some temperature(around 99 degrees)

Also on next morning I had loose stool (only once)

I have had sweaty hands mild headaches and felt fatigued with bad breath in between. However no fever

Now I am losing myself - I am from India and here in US on VISA with wife and kid and still don't have courage to go for testing - also if I test positive I shall be deported

Sometimes I have suicidal tendencies but resist myslf after thinking about my wife and toddler....

Every minute I repent the stupid mistakes that might destroy 3 lives...
Please help and save us.....

[nursegirl6572]

Protected sex is safe sex.  The brand or expiration date of the condom is irrelevant if the condom did not break, which it didn't.

You have nothing to worry about and don't require testing.

Try to put it behind you...you had no risk.

[tzhu007]

I am not an expert but I do know that protected sex is at very low risk of HIV infection.
So I think you should be fine and stop worrying so much.

You could take a test after 4-6 weeks to just ease your mind a little bit however, the test should be repeated after 3 month to be conclusive.

In any case, I think you are fine. Always use a condom and be safe.