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Why won't Dr HHH take me serious?
Why won't Dr HHH take me serious? 3 weeks after making out with a stripper and frottage I presented with all the symptoms of ARS. I now have been diagnosed with post infectious neuropathy by a neurologist which started about 10 days after i recovered from my illness. It's been going on for more than a week and I've read that this type of neuropathy (tingling, burning in feet and hands, numb legs and feet, burning in legs, dry skin, etc) can happen during seroconversion and this specific type of neuropathy is the most common seen in HIV seroconversion. So, my doctors didn't know what was wrong with me - it wasn't the flu, wasn't strep or mono...does this all just point to HIV? I know you all are gonna say I'm crazy and to let this go but it's impossible after presenting with all these symptoms. I've tested negative at 40 days but I know I'm gonna have to wait another LONG 6 weeks to get a definitive result.
What is wrong with me???
How hard is it to get HIV through making out? Does there have to be a lot of blood transmitted or can just a little cut that's bleeding produce enough of the virus to get inside a small cut in my mouth?
Can someone please tell me what i need to do. Should I have my Doc do other tests like viral load, etc?
What is wrong with me???
How hard is it to get HIV through making out? Does there have to be a lot of blood transmitted or can just a little cut that's bleeding produce enough of the virus to get inside a small cut in my mouth?
Can someone please tell me what i need to do. Should I have my Doc do other tests like viral load, etc?
Doing just fine WorriedT. I tried calling that stripper that blew me but didn't get an answer. I'll get her to blow me this week sometime I'm sure, she was too hot not to.
"My neurologist told me that post infectious neuropathy is when your immune system attacks itself thinking its whatever infection i had."
No, that's a hypervigilant immune system. One that is overly active.
Immunosuppresion such as would delay seroconversion, is found in those undergoing AGGRESSIVE chemotherapy. You are misunderstanding parts of what you are told.
Unless you are SEVERELY immunocompromised (and this isn't subtle, you'd know it and your doctors would certainly know it), your tests are conclusive.
AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE A RISK IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO YOU DON'T HAVE HIV. Whatever else you have, THAT'S not it.
No, that's a hypervigilant immune system. One that is overly active.
Immunosuppresion such as would delay seroconversion, is found in those undergoing AGGRESSIVE chemotherapy. You are misunderstanding parts of what you are told.
Unless you are SEVERELY immunocompromised (and this isn't subtle, you'd know it and your doctors would certainly know it), your tests are conclusive.
AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE A RISK IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO YOU DON'T HAVE HIV. Whatever else you have, THAT'S not it.
Not answering. You already have your answers. My opinion hasn't changed based on the information you've provided
Dobber,
I just called hte Massachusetts's AIDS action hotline and they said that 6 weeks is conclusive unless you have an autoimmune disease which is when your own immune system attacks itself. I told them how I was diagnosed with post infectious neuropathy and asked them if that was an autoimmune disease and they weren't sure. My neurologist told me that post infectious neuropathy is when your immune system attacks itself thinking its whatever infection i had. Wouldn't this qualify? So, now I'm worried yet again...when the hell will my testing be final???
I just called hte Massachusetts's AIDS action hotline and they said that 6 weeks is conclusive unless you have an autoimmune disease which is when your own immune system attacks itself. I told them how I was diagnosed with post infectious neuropathy and asked them if that was an autoimmune disease and they weren't sure. My neurologist told me that post infectious neuropathy is when your immune system attacks itself thinking its whatever infection i had. Wouldn't this qualify? So, now I'm worried yet again...when the hell will my testing be final???
No one is picking on you.
What do you expect people to say, when the only risks you had were kissing and genital rubbing, and negative tests to boot? You didn't have a risk to begin with, and you've had proper negative tests. 3 months is being hyper conservative in a cover your a@@ type of way. Did you read where Dr. HHH was at a world wide conference with hundreds of HIV specialists, and he asked if anyone had ever seen a patient who was negative at 6 weeks, later turn positive? Not a single person had. If that means nothing to you, then that should be a sign to you that your thinking is not normal in this incidence.
If those were your only incidents, you didn't even need the test in the first place. If a doctor led you to believe you did, he/she was wrong. If they asked if you had been exposed to HIV, the correct answer from you would have been "no". No elaboration needed, b/c you didn't have unprotected sex, anal sex, or shared injection drugs, or had a blood transfusion.
I think our replying to you is worsening your paranoia, and I apologize for doing so. It won't happen again. You are negative, you need to accept it and move on. If you can't, get help.
What do you expect people to say, when the only risks you had were kissing and genital rubbing, and negative tests to boot? You didn't have a risk to begin with, and you've had proper negative tests. 3 months is being hyper conservative in a cover your a@@ type of way. Did you read where Dr. HHH was at a world wide conference with hundreds of HIV specialists, and he asked if anyone had ever seen a patient who was negative at 6 weeks, later turn positive? Not a single person had. If that means nothing to you, then that should be a sign to you that your thinking is not normal in this incidence.
If those were your only incidents, you didn't even need the test in the first place. If a doctor led you to believe you did, he/she was wrong. If they asked if you had been exposed to HIV, the correct answer from you would have been "no". No elaboration needed, b/c you didn't have unprotected sex, anal sex, or shared injection drugs, or had a blood transfusion.
I think our replying to you is worsening your paranoia, and I apologize for doing so. It won't happen again. You are negative, you need to accept it and move on. If you can't, get help.
hey dude,
I imagine the reason you were told not to come back was to save resources!!
You're testing way too much.
No one on here thinks you've had a risk. kissing is a no risk activity, no matter what it says anywhere else. It's a no risk activity, I promise you. Keep testing, but you'll keep testing negative.
Actually, you've no idea how much good you've done me. You have every symptom in the book, yet I know you haven't got HIV. Ergo, symptoms are misleading!:)
I imagine the reason you were told not to come back was to save resources!!
You're testing way too much.
No one on here thinks you've had a risk. kissing is a no risk activity, no matter what it says anywhere else. It's a no risk activity, I promise you. Keep testing, but you'll keep testing negative.
Actually, you've no idea how much good you've done me. You have every symptom in the book, yet I know you haven't got HIV. Ergo, symptoms are misleading!:)
Why is everyone picking on me? I got sick, I went to the hospital the doctor asked me if I'd recently been exposed to HIV and told me to get an HIV test. So, now I'm scared shitless even though I know I shouldn't be. Do you guys actually think that I ever thought I could get HIV through making out with a girl? I would have never even thought about this had the doctor not mentioned it. She mentions it, i look up hiv through kissing, it says "low risk" and i freak out. I have ALL the symptoms exactly 3 weeks after the exposure and the docs have no idea what my illness is. Yeah I'm sure I sound crazy but it's not my fault. I promise! I just went and got tested again 46 day negative and the clinician said i can't come back for 3 more months and this negative means absolutely nothing because it hasn't been 3 months since the possible exposure. She also told me not to worry because HIV is "not a death sentence." What I wanted her to say is "You don't have HIV. You can't get HIV through making out." but no she just scared me even more now. They were very rude to me over there like they didn't want me there anymore. I guess I don't blame them. It's just hard to sit here and say "You don't have HIV." When my own doctor at the hospital questioned it and REFUSED to test me because it's not "hospital practice." How could she just leave me out on an island like that? If she was really concerned about HIV shouldn't she have done other tests?
I'm sorry everyone. As you ALL have noticed. I'm stuck. I'm stuck in the HIV trap and I can't get out. I'm doing everything I can. I get out but then I get sucked right back in. It hurts so much to sit here as a grown ass man and cry to myself because I don't know whether to believe that I am HIV negative or not. And to think that I'm about to lose my girlfriend and my "life."
I'm sorry. :(
I'm sorry everyone. As you ALL have noticed. I'm stuck. I'm stuck in the HIV trap and I can't get out. I'm doing everything I can. I get out but then I get sucked right back in. It hurts so much to sit here as a grown ass man and cry to myself because I don't know whether to believe that I am HIV negative or not. And to think that I'm about to lose my girlfriend and my "life."
I'm sorry. :(
Dude, you don't have it. That's why he won't take you seriously. It is VERY HARD TO GET HIV. Even unprotected sex with a known positive person, the odds are no greater than 1 in 1000.
You had a negative 40 day test, right? Unless my math is wrong, that's pretty darn close to 6 weeks. So you don't have it!
As I said before, post viral neuropathy is a kind of a wastebasket diagnosis. Out of the millions of viruses in the world, you pick the only one YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE to worry about.
You had a negative 40 day test, right? Unless my math is wrong, that's pretty darn close to 6 weeks. So you don't have it!
As I said before, post viral neuropathy is a kind of a wastebasket diagnosis. Out of the millions of viruses in the world, you pick the only one YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE to worry about.
I'm no doctor, but I think that statement that "even a small amount of blood from the mouth might transmit HIV" is a bunch of BS. For oral transmission to even have a chance of occuring, it would take a lot, and I mean A LOT, of blood from an HIV infected person's mouth being purposefully and vigorously massaged into the open sore of someone else. That's about the only way it could conceivably happen. You're worrying over nothing.
Generally, the stats take into account that a lot of people have sores, small cuts etc in their mouth. Most people get those at some time or another. Saliva kills HIV. That's why kissing is not a risk. That's why there are no documented cases of HIV transmission from receiving a BJ - because the saliva from the person giving the BJ will kill the virus and there's not enough (if any) left to transmit to the person receiving it.
This is my final post to you. You are vyinig for the most paranoid person on this site and you have had no risk.... Just get on with your life!!
This is my final post to you. You are vyinig for the most paranoid person on this site and you have had no risk.... Just get on with your life!!
Dude, you have completely lost it. Please stop researching the internet in an attempt to convince yourself that you are HIV positive. I don't think anyone can give you any more reassurances than what has been provided by the good folks here. Kissing or making out is no risk for transmitting HIV period. Countries run national HIV awareness campaigns stating this fact. Do you think they are wrong?
Okay. Put it this way, you don't even know whether your stripper was HIV positive (pretty unlikely) and even if you increased your risk by 50 fold because of poor oral hygiene, it would still be a 1 in 2 million chance (rather than 1 in 100 million).
Well in the end, I think choosing a point at which you consider you're testing conclusively is a personal choice, though I'm not convinced you'll believe it even if you follow conservative guidelines - your paranoia is too intense and there are probably other issues that you need to resolve before you will start believing it. Hopefully, you'll surprise me... :)
My own choice has been to follow what my healthcare provider believes is conclusive. My doctor chose 3 months (and that is the standard guideline in the UK), but he is not a HIV specialist so that choice didn't surprise me. If he had suggested 6 weeks, then I would have tested at 6 weeks and left it at that (basically, what I'm saying is that if I had Dr H as a healthcare provider, I would have trusted him at 6 weeks).
Basically, you have to find a healthcare provider that you trust and follow his advice. Either that or take the most conservative guidelines (the CDC says 3 months).
Well in the end, I think choosing a point at which you consider you're testing conclusively is a personal choice, though I'm not convinced you'll believe it even if you follow conservative guidelines - your paranoia is too intense and there are probably other issues that you need to resolve before you will start believing it. Hopefully, you'll surprise me... :)
My own choice has been to follow what my healthcare provider believes is conclusive. My doctor chose 3 months (and that is the standard guideline in the UK), but he is not a HIV specialist so that choice didn't surprise me. If he had suggested 6 weeks, then I would have tested at 6 weeks and left it at that (basically, what I'm saying is that if I had Dr H as a healthcare provider, I would have trusted him at 6 weeks).
Basically, you have to find a healthcare provider that you trust and follow his advice. Either that or take the most conservative guidelines (the CDC says 3 months).
Listen guys,
A lot of what you have said makes sense and I understand that I would have to be the unluckiest person in the world to get HIV through making out. I understand that. I just get worried because my oral health isn't that good and I read from doctors that poor oral hygiene increases the risk when it comes to deep kissing. I get all these "flu-like" symptoms along with my doc asking me if I was recently exposed to HIV - that would freak anyone out including you and you know it! So, until I get a conclusive negative HIV test I won't be able to rest - plain and simple - the doc here and you guys say my 6 week test is conclusive but then other credible sources say that a minimum of 3 months is needed to be conclusive. So what is it - is it 6 weeks or 3 months? Wouldn't I have developed antibodies right now if I had all of those ARS symptoms? Doesn't it pretty much occur around the same time? I'm just confused by all the different things I read online.
What are facts and what are opinions?
When will I be conclusively HIV Negative???
A lot of what you have said makes sense and I understand that I would have to be the unluckiest person in the world to get HIV through making out. I understand that. I just get worried because my oral health isn't that good and I read from doctors that poor oral hygiene increases the risk when it comes to deep kissing. I get all these "flu-like" symptoms along with my doc asking me if I was recently exposed to HIV - that would freak anyone out including you and you know it! So, until I get a conclusive negative HIV test I won't be able to rest - plain and simple - the doc here and you guys say my 6 week test is conclusive but then other credible sources say that a minimum of 3 months is needed to be conclusive. So what is it - is it 6 weeks or 3 months? Wouldn't I have developed antibodies right now if I had all of those ARS symptoms? Doesn't it pretty much occur around the same time? I'm just confused by all the different things I read online.
What are facts and what are opinions?
When will I be conclusively HIV Negative???
You're probably right. I've had a good weekend, so I was feeling so positive, I felt maybe something I said might knock some sense into him.... :) On a bad day, I'd probably do what dobber did!
Anyway, how are you today Confused?
Anyway, how are you today Confused?
From thebody.com
How Do You Get Infected With HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not spread easily. You can only get HIV if you get infected blood or sexual fluids into your system. You can't get it from mosquito bites, coughing or sneezing, sharing household items, or swimming in the same pool as someone with HIV.
Some people talk about "shared body fluids" being risky for HIV, but no documented cases of HIV have been caused by sweat, saliva or tears. "However, even small amounts of blood in your mouth might transmit HIV during kissing or oral sex." Blood can come from flossing your teeth, or from sores caused by gum disease, or by eating very hot or sharp, pointed food.
To infect someone, the virus has to get past the body's defenses. These include skin and saliva. If your skin is not broken or cut, it protects you against infection from blood or sexual fluids. Saliva can help kill HIV in your mouth.
Here we go.
This is why I'm so worried.
Are my fears that unwarranted???
How Do You Get Infected With HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not spread easily. You can only get HIV if you get infected blood or sexual fluids into your system. You can't get it from mosquito bites, coughing or sneezing, sharing household items, or swimming in the same pool as someone with HIV.
Some people talk about "shared body fluids" being risky for HIV, but no documented cases of HIV have been caused by sweat, saliva or tears. "However, even small amounts of blood in your mouth might transmit HIV during kissing or oral sex." Blood can come from flossing your teeth, or from sores caused by gum disease, or by eating very hot or sharp, pointed food.
To infect someone, the virus has to get past the body's defenses. These include skin and saliva. If your skin is not broken or cut, it protects you against infection from blood or sexual fluids. Saliva can help kill HIV in your mouth.
Here we go.
This is why I'm so worried.
Are my fears that unwarranted???
Why are you even responding to him? I know you're a nice guy and all, but I really do think he's insane. You can reassure him over and over and over again, give him all kinds of statistics, transmission routes, etc., AND HE STILL WILL COME BACK AT YOU WITH BEING PARANOID! Look at what he did to Dobber21, finally drove him crazy and the guy ended up quiting the site.
Personally, I don't think you have a chance of testing positive, because I don't think you had a risk. 1 in 100 million is about as close to zero as you can get. You are about 100 times more likely to be killed by a lightning strike tomorrow. You are 5 times more likely to win the full jackpot on the lotto. Your current risk of HIV (1 in 10 billion) is like picking out a single grain of sand out of a beach the size of our planet.
I think your doc made a big mistake mentioning HIV to you, but he/she wasn't to know that you were paranoid enoughto react in the way you have. After all, I don't think even you can consider your response "normal". You cannot blame him/her for assuming you would just take it in your stride. Personally, I think you need to sort out a lot more of what is going on in your head - it really isn't normal....
I think your doc made a big mistake mentioning HIV to you, but he/she wasn't to know that you were paranoid enoughto react in the way you have. After all, I don't think even you can consider your response "normal". You cannot blame him/her for assuming you would just take it in your stride. Personally, I think you need to sort out a lot more of what is going on in your head - it really isn't normal....
So do you think I have a chance at testing positive even though I'm negative at 40 days? Wouldn't you be freaked out if you presented with all the symptoms of HIV and your doctor asked you if you had recently been exposed and that you need to test? I know all I did was make out but with my doc asking me that I have no choice but to worry and stress over this 1 in a million situation that WOULD HAVE NEVER CROSSED MY MIND had she not mentioned it you know.
But what were the exposures on those people anyway?? I bet you my house they did something much more high risk than making out. This is the problem with you attempting to get support because you think you will be that 1 in 100 million (I bet you nearly every other worried well on this site would even settle for those odds) and you seem unable to see that just about any other possibility is more likely than the one you are concentrating on. ARS symptoms are so non-specific that 100s if not 1000s of other viruses much more common than HIV can cause them.
The bottom line is that EVERY OTHER CAUSE OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY is MORE LIKELY than HIV with your exposure. Maybe you will be the 2nd person of 100 million HIV infected people to catch HIV from making out, but until you test positive, no one including Dr H will take it seriously...
The bottom line is that EVERY OTHER CAUSE OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY is MORE LIKELY than HIV with your exposure. Maybe you will be the 2nd person of 100 million HIV infected people to catch HIV from making out, but until you test positive, no one including Dr H will take it seriously...
Champ,
I do have faith in God. The problem is...I haven't shown that over the past couple of years. And I know that this is his way of I guess telling me...whether it's through "thinking" I have HIV or actually "having" HIV. I pray to God every night and I ask him to just please give me some answers...because that is the hardest part of this whole lesson. If I have HIV I just want to know so I can move on with my life and not have this lump in my stomach that wonders what is actually going on with my body.
I do have faith in God. The problem is...I haven't shown that over the past couple of years. And I know that this is his way of I guess telling me...whether it's through "thinking" I have HIV or actually "having" HIV. I pray to God every night and I ask him to just please give me some answers...because that is the hardest part of this whole lesson. If I have HIV I just want to know so I can move on with my life and not have this lump in my stomach that wonders what is actually going on with my body.
Is it that much of a coincidence that I had all the HIV ARS symptoms 3 weeks after possible exposure and had the exact rare peripheral neuropathy that is associated with early HIV and seroconversion? I read about several cases where some guys had ARS symptoms and about 10 days later had the exact same peripheral neuropathy symptoms but did not seroconvert for up to 5 months later. That concerns me...wouldn't that concern you? With modern testing and how much they've tweaked these tests wouldn't they be able to find smaller amounts of HIV antibodies in our blood if we were actually infected? I'm getting professional help but I just don't know how I'm gonna put this behind me. I guess I'm just expecting to test positive at any time now and it saddens me.
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