Severe Anxiety

I am a 17 year old gay male. Two months ago I stupidly had unprotected anal sex with a guy that I know. He is the first guy with I have been with. I still talk to him, he told me that he has been tested twice, both times negative. Somehow I don't believe him though and he has been known to sleep around a lot. I was fine for a while, but every now and then that anxiety would kick in, and within the past two days I started getting shortness of breath with a dry cough. When I found out that that was a symptom, I started getting severe anxiety that has made it much worse and it won't go away. I have become addicted to looking up HIV symptoms, and keep noticing new one that I might have. I feel weak sometimes and I have lost 5 pounds, but this could be due to the fact that when I get severe anxiety I cannot eat (I took one bite of my breakfast and threw up yesterday morning), and all I want to do is sleep. I got tested about 2 weeks after and was negative. I am planning on going back to get tested again, but I am terrified because I have basically convinced myself that I have HIV and I am too scared of getting positive results back. The anxiety is unbearable and not having anyone to talk to makes it so much worse. Please help me.

[ExtremeStress]

Getting tested again is the only way to know, now would be a good indicator 12/13 weeks is conclusive. You put yourself at risk and it has caused you all this anxiety. You being so young and concerned is very sad. You have a long life ahead of you and you need to make informed decisions. Next time/always wear a condom and hopefully be in a monogamous relationship later own and know each others status prior. Every sexual group needs to practice this, but you being in a higher risk group need to really take precautions. Be responsible!

[meworried]

Rightly advised by ES, don't forget to roll on a condom next time, since anal sex being the riskiest sexual behavior.

I also support his advise of monogamous relationship. Massachusetts allows gay marriages, as I learned from a gay sitting next to me on a flight from Chicago to Minneapolis. He was "happily married" for more than a decade. Good, that you people have such "provisions" available in your part of the world.

[maybaby]

The odds that you got infected with HIV resulting from one episode of anal sex, if your partner is positive, is 50 chances in 10,000 according to the CDC (or 1 in 200). Odds are heavily in your favor that you'll be okay. However, it does warrant HIV testing. A 6 week test is 99.99% conclusive.

However, if you keep up this behavior (having unprotected anal sex with partners who've had multiple partners), you probably will get HIV sometime throughout your lifetime. Please use condoms at all times and try to know who you're having relations with.

Good Luck!

[STS12]

Hey guys, posted this over a month ago, and what a long month it's been...reading back to this post it all seems like such a blur. Anyways, I finally got the courage to go in and test today. The guy I had been with went with me, and while we were there he got a copy of his results from a test he had 3 weeks ago (11.5 weeks after our encounter). Negative!! (Saw the results on paper with my own eyes :)). I'm feeling better about my potential results now that I saw that since he's the only guy I've been with, but I'm still a little worried and anxious. Just wanted some people to pray/think good thoughts/wish me luck for my results. God knows what a learning experience this has been and if I get a second chance I know I will NEVER make this mistake and put myself through this again. And to everyone who is waiting out of fear...GO GET TESTED! It is worth it.

[ExtremeStress]

you have nothing to fear. congratulations and learn from this experience.

[STS12]

Thanks...so I'm assuming just over 11 weeks is conclusive, even though it wasn't quite the three month mark? Okay, I'm starting to sound paranoid again...I just wish I could get my results now and ease my mind completely!

[SCAREDTODEATH39]

congrats nancy.