A message of support for the site.

[Rich UK]

Hi there, I recently posted under the title 'am I right to push for a test here' and post this as follow up. Like many have said before me, the site has proved a valuable source of support and clarification and I hope that people may view this as a source of further evidence that symptoms do not equal hiv, only the blood tests can truly tell.

I have been suffering what I had decided was oral thrush, plus muscle aches in my legs and 'flu-like symptoms for about three weeks and had decided that it was due to a one off low risk event and was probably hiv. This would have meant that ars commenced at about 9-10 weeks which seemed less likely the more I read but possible. The hiv test was negative as was the test for chlamydia, gonhorrea and herpes - all at 11 weeks and my previous question allayed fears that it was hiv since everything you read or hear points to 90% or more people being positive at 6 weeks or so. Today my blood test results for syphilis, hep b and hep c came back negative . . . . . so why the symptoms?

My specialist confirmed that I am suffering from a mild candidiasis which he has given me Nyastatin for but they have put it down to ebv which a blood test has confirmed. Whilst on holiday in Canada recently I was bitten by a horsefly which I had a big allergic reaction to (two weeks before the bite and swelling went down) and their theory is that, whilst dealing with this reaction, my immune system was lowered and that somehow my latent glandular fever virus has resurfaced. My body's attempts to fight off glandular fever has resulted in some mild candidiasis, a slightly raised neck gland and achy legs and fatigue.

I had convinced myself that I was suffering acute HIV symtpoms and the heightened anxiety was worsening the symptoms which were caused by something else.

I hope others will read this and feel re-assured and I really appreciate the doctor's comments which made a big difference to my anxiety levels.

I personally will not be putting myself in this position again and am dealing with the issues in my relationship which lead to it. Relief has already lessened the aches in my legs and the nyastatin is soothing my tongue already after just two doses.

If the doctor would like to comment, I'd appraeciate that - otherwise good luck to all those who visit this site for support and re-assurance. I did not know about ebv or that glandular fever could resurface but thats why I am not a doctor.

Cheers.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the kind words for the site.  But I will defer any clinical comments.  It sounds like your medical care is in good hands.

HHH, MD

[ryn21]

Muscle aches in legs are often a sign of anxiety believe it or not.  When one suffers from a tramatic event or high levels of anxiety, muscles tense up, and can also suffer from temporary restless leg movements which are often unnoticed.  Muscle tension can happen during sleep, normally throughout the day, and often happens unnoticed.  The same goes for all muscles of the body and not just the legs.  With all of this tension and movement that can happen with the legs, it can lead to muscle soreness and stiffness, often lasting a few days to a couple of weeks.  Yes, it could be caused by Glandular Fever, the flu, or common cold, but it is also a high possibility that your anxiety caused your problems.  

Anxiety causes so many symptoms, similar to many illnesses.  Anxiety can make a person believe they are sick, with an illness such as the flu, when in fact they are perfectly fine.

[Alias Lola]

Hey Rich,

I'm really happy that everything turned out fine.  Thanks for coming back and sharing it with this forum!!  

*Hugs*

[neveragainunprotected]

I'd like to thank everyone for the support this site provided for me in the last say, four weeks. been stressing majorly over an incident of unprotected sex. I am a 24yr old girl, live in Saskatchewan Canada. I'm assuming our odds of certain things are lower. You say it is 1000-1 chance to acquire hiv in certain part of the states. Here I think it is 2000-1...sound right ?
anyways, finally got the nerve to get a full panel of std tests ran. That was not so bad. The doc. prescribed me some ativan to help the anxiety while I waited. I enjoyed the ativan. It kept my stress level down, I appeared calm, and it really helped me sleep. In the last 14 days of waiting for exams I slept 10-12 hours every night, and even slept away a couple of weekends, basically helped me deal with the situation at hand.
Got my results back today, everything is negative. Some things I had never even tested for like Hep B, and Syphyllis. also tested: HIV, chlamydia and ghonorrea.  With or without my little white pills, I am going to sleep good tonite.
I will continue observing this board because it is supportive and one can learn a thing or two while reading.

[Rich UK]

Thanks for the comments - I too will keep a watch on the board -I really appreciate the contact.

[Rich UK]

I was in Saskatchewan in August when I was touring across Canada - maybe I started an epidemic of anxiety!!! Take care.