HELP

[depression276]

5 days ago i went to a cruising area for the first time where I recieved and gave oral sex. I was completely drunk and wasn't thinking straight. Now im so scared that ive caught something. I do not have any major smyptoms only a sore throat, but im really nervous that ive caught HIV. I cant stop worrying. Do people who go to cruising areas generally carry STDs? and what are the chances ive caught something?

[scared_half_to_death]

Oral sex is low risk for HIV transmission. If the people in the cruising areas regularly engage in intravenous drug use and unprotected sex, they are higher risk.

You should consider the following:

1. If you are really concerned about having HIV, get tested in 6 weeks
2. If you are really concerned about catching HIV, change your behavior!
- Use condoms
- Choose your partners more conservatively
3. Work on alcohol use...

[auntiejessi]

Your chances of gonorrhea or syphilis are higher than HIV, if this was a male to male cruising area.

I don't want to freak you out, but the cruising area where I am does result in some stds.

Aj

[scared_half_to_death]

You should get swab tested orally and genitally if you decide to get checked for Gon, Clam.

[depression276]

Thanks for your replies, Im starting to get a mild itch around my lips which comes and goes, could this be a symptom? And if I was to go for a check up for all STDs would any show up? its been 5 days

[auntiejessi]

Gonorrhea would show up now.  Syphilis takes about a month or so.  

Tingling lips might just be anxiety.

Aj

[scared_half_to_death]

After 5 days your tests would be valid for Gon and Clam. Other STDs like Syphilis, HIV (not a substantial risk), and Herpes would not show up until later, say 6 weeks or so. (Herpes can take 3-4 months in many cases or 6 months in a few cases)

[depression276]

Thanks for your advice people, you have eased my mind :)

[depression276]

Ok, its been almost 4 weeks now and my sore throat hasnt gone away :( i havent been to the clinic yet but will do on monday, i know very stupid to have delayed it but the only thing im really worried about is HIV so the longer i leave it the more accurate the HIV result will be i would imagine. What could this sore throat be? i have been drinking constantly and ive been taking paracetamol but ive seen no improvements. I have no other cold like symptoms only a sore throat please help. What could have casued this sore throat?

[auntiejessi]

Allergies could.  Air conditioning could, if the air is dry.  Strep throat could. The list is endless.

Please just go test on Monday.

Your fear about HIV is misplaced.  It is so unlikely that you would get that from getting oral sex, and its impossible from getting it.  Please don't out other things behind HIV, as its not likely at all that you got HIV.

Aj

[depression276]

Thanks. I have major trouble sleeping, around 3 hours a night ever since that day. I cant stop thinking about it and I randomly burst out crying everyday. I feel that my life is over. How reliable would a HIV test be after 4 weeks?

[auntiejessi]

Its about 90% effective.

And honestly, you are FAR overreacting to this.  Your risk of HIV from this is less than 1%.  

I wonder if this is more about the cruising than the risk.  When you do testing, ask your doctor about depression.  I say this with kindness, not criticism, but you do need some help.  

Good luck,
AJ

[depression276]

Thank you auntie for your advice and for being honest, your a great person :)

[london08]

Jessie is right, just to try and put your mind at ease even more HIV is not transmitted by oral sex unless the person had bleeding gums and you received a very rough blow job and even then the rate of transmission is tiny (and that's assuming they even had HIV). The risk is probably more like less than 0.0001 per cent. Seriously, you are just stressing yourself out about something that you pretty much can't have picked up during that exposure.