Think positive = Negative results

Hi,

I'm a 27 yr old male and after a drunken night out ended up having unprotected sex with a sex worker. It's embarrassing to admit I was so drunk I didn't remember much about it or if I had used a condom.

I was immediately gripped with fear and guilt that I had done something that could have such wide implications on my life and after searching the internet for all types of answers - it's fair to say I became even more worried, anxious and scared....

Reading pages of 'symptoms' and checking pictures and then myself - lymph nodes, white tongues, rashes, fevers, colds, coughs, red eyes, fatigue, diarrhea.... the internet had so much info (too much info!!).

With no one to talk to and my mind working overtime, Google only made my thoughts increasingly negative during the wait to be tested. I did however find solace in these forums and was comforted to read how others were experiencing the same 'symptoms'.... it's funny how just writing a post helped to ease some of the anxiety.

One post did mention that is was not productive to keep looking for symptoms and to try and think positive thoughts - casing point was when I seen a site on the Physical Signs and Symptoms of Stress: http://www.stressfocus.com/stress_focus_article/stress-signs-symptoms.htm#

This covered pretty much everything I was feeling/thinking/seeing!!

I began to focus my thoughts and energy on happier thoughts (it was difficult and sometimes negative thoughts still popped in too!) but gradually my 'symptoms' disappeared and I began to feel good again.

I'm elated to advise that I have just got back from my test and my results are negative :) :)

I feel like a huge dark cloud has been lifted and I'm thankful to God for everything in my life.

I've only just realised today is World AIDS Day and feel blessed that I have the opportunity to learn from my mistake and feel like a more grateful person inside. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering and living with HIV & AIDS and I hope if this story brings light to even one person who is in darkness, it will be worth it.

I'm sorry this wasn't a question as such, but to all those who are going through similiar situations; have hope, faith and remain strong. Be loving and grateful for all that is good in your life and think positive.

"Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything." ~ Mother Teresa

[Oralscared69]

Thank you for this post. I had a risky encounter a month ago and have been experiencing EXTREME fear, guilt, shame, anxiety, etc. ever since. I'm currently taking PEP meds and will be getting my 6-week test in a couple weeks. I've been struggling to remain positive and calm, but the truth is, the fear that I may have HIV hasn't escaped my mind one bit. Your advice has shown some light on my situation and I will continue to pray until I receive my results. Thank you and God Bless.

[ukjamesp]

Peace and Happiness to you. Hope you have great news soon!! :)

[mahan111]

tnx for your help

[odoke]

pls my question goes to any doctor who can help me because this thing have been worrying  me,pls last year i had a sex with girl,and since then i have bein withnessing some sign in my body,sometime i feel serous sick but when i get to doctor and get my blood tested,i was told that nothing wrong with me but the truth here is even i have tested my blood for up to more than 5 hospital i did not test hiv,i dont feel other sickness exept headach which is troubling me since one hear now,pls doctor i want to know is this kind of headach is sign of hiv?,remembe up to 5 doctors i have meet told me i have no fever and thats the first  thing the doctor check who ever meet him,with my self i dont have rash,no change of colour in my skin,no cold etc .pls help  me,is headach every day for one year now is sign of hiv?

[soworried11]

Thanks for the post, i feel i can relate to your story because i made a similar mistake one night being drunk and unaware of what i was doing i had unprotected sex with a woman i barely met. My thoughts were that she seems like an average person and hoping she is not but reality of HIV is you never know it can be anyone could never base your judgements on anything. And in fact node, headache, and stomach ache. At that point i have already diagnoses myself however my test so far have come back negative us i have read many post here with people that have slept with sex workers and all seem to make it fine, maybe sex workers are not as risky as we think because for sure most if not all people will likely use protection when having sex with them, so atleast they practice safe sex for most part. The woman i had sex with is someone i now suspect of being HIV positive and im highly gripped with fear as i have felt every ARS symptoms, fever, nightsweat, white tongue, lympeing a home test at 11 weeks. Thought i made and would move on 1 week away from the finishline, but this fear has come back worse then ever as now i notice a swollen lympe node that seems not to go away i must say this has put more fear then all the other symptoms as that becomes the only sign that someone could be infected in the Asymptomatic stage. Now i can only pray to make it because during the end of my last result i thought i was finally free from the months of anxiety and that i was going to be a much better person with different perspective at life. Now its hard to think positive without the possibility of testing positive and wondering how i will deal with life afterward. I can only have hope, faith and remain strong but i know my chances will be slim.