Aa
Antidepressants
Is it OK to go on an antidepressant to relieve depression, stress and anxiety if HIV+?
I've been prescribed Paroxetine before for S.A.D.
I've been prescribed Paroxetine before for S.A.D.
Contrary to what you may be thinking, contracting HIV as a result of a one time episode of vaginal sex is not that likely. Thus, the health care adviser who denied you PEP. PEP is an extremely rigorous protocol of drugs that have their own associated risks.
Thus, when a health care worker is pondering whether or not you should be put on PEP, they have to take in your level of risk.
The odds are really against you having contracted HIV as a result of the scenario you have described. Many of your "symptoms" do not much sound like symptoms of primary HIV infection. And, anyway, symptoms are useless in the diagnosis of HIV anyway, as almost all of them are caused by more common viral or fungal (yes, people with healthy immune systems can get fungal growths on skin or in the mouth) or even bacterial. So, it is pointless to worry about symptoms now.
My advice, chill out a bit, and realize that what you are considering an extremely high risk situation is really not, at all. You will go test, and that is fine, but until you take your final test, do not let this ruin your life needlessly. There is no reason to be unduly worried about this. Seriously.
So, at the appointed time, go ahead and take your test. I'd be willing to bet my mortgage that you are going to be just fine.
Ok, I was trying to get one over on you. Nobody would want my mortgage.
Thus, when a health care worker is pondering whether or not you should be put on PEP, they have to take in your level of risk.
The odds are really against you having contracted HIV as a result of the scenario you have described. Many of your "symptoms" do not much sound like symptoms of primary HIV infection. And, anyway, symptoms are useless in the diagnosis of HIV anyway, as almost all of them are caused by more common viral or fungal (yes, people with healthy immune systems can get fungal growths on skin or in the mouth) or even bacterial. So, it is pointless to worry about symptoms now.
My advice, chill out a bit, and realize that what you are considering an extremely high risk situation is really not, at all. You will go test, and that is fine, but until you take your final test, do not let this ruin your life needlessly. There is no reason to be unduly worried about this. Seriously.
So, at the appointed time, go ahead and take your test. I'd be willing to bet my mortgage that you are going to be just fine.
Ok, I was trying to get one over on you. Nobody would want my mortgage.
I sincerely hope I don't have the virus. Though being realistic it it very likely and I'm saving my otimism for a long though challenging life..
That I've had sore lymph nodes (parotid, neck, armpits, to begin with latterly the groin, thighs, knees, shins) for 31 days now, also at various points along the 31 day timeline a maculopapular rash, headaches, photophobia, light fever, weight loss (lean body mass face and torso), throat infection starting 20 days post possible exposure (insertive vaginal sex) are pretty good indicators. Contraindicators are no nausea (though was off food for a while) and no night sweats except the night I got really drunk.
Thing is, though ultimately though I am responsible for wearing a condom I presented for PEP within 20 hours.
I only got to see a health advisor not a Doctor. She was dismissive of everything I said and treated me for someone with anxiety who had negligible risk, refusing me PEP. If I'd wanted to see someone about anxiety at that time I would have done so.
When I did finally see a Doctor at the G U clinic 28th day she said to see my own GP about the rash and sore throat as I'm a smoker she said the sore throat was fungal. I went to see my own doctor he said the throat infeection was probably bacterial and the rash fungal.but I didn't mention anxiety or depression.
I'm coming round to thinking I have a new reality and I just have to deal with life on life's terms though I'm slipping into:
Anger: myself for not having the spine to ask if she had a condom (at the time I was already depressed, stressed and anxious) the girl I was with for initiating it all ( I have a v. low sex drive pandas look for more action than I do), not being straight about her background (sells sex for money) until after the exposure then lying about her tests and status and the G U clinic not taking me seriously, fobbing me off and not prescribing PEP.
Anxiety: over the duration of ARS symptoms being an indicator of disease progression.
Anxiety at my anxiety as I know it makes things worse for fighting the virus.
Annoyed: at health professionals I ask for advice on dealing with my health issues just now saying to wait the X weeks.
12 weeks of anxiety and depression won't do much good for anyone in PHI though at least I am not heavy drinking now and I've improved my diet and home hygeine.
I was nowhere near as anxious as this on my last HIV scare. I had a needlestick injury at work 5 years ago. I wasn't aware of PEP then and was not offered it at accident and emergency.
That I've had sore lymph nodes (parotid, neck, armpits, to begin with latterly the groin, thighs, knees, shins) for 31 days now, also at various points along the 31 day timeline a maculopapular rash, headaches, photophobia, light fever, weight loss (lean body mass face and torso), throat infection starting 20 days post possible exposure (insertive vaginal sex) are pretty good indicators. Contraindicators are no nausea (though was off food for a while) and no night sweats except the night I got really drunk.
Thing is, though ultimately though I am responsible for wearing a condom I presented for PEP within 20 hours.
I only got to see a health advisor not a Doctor. She was dismissive of everything I said and treated me for someone with anxiety who had negligible risk, refusing me PEP. If I'd wanted to see someone about anxiety at that time I would have done so.
When I did finally see a Doctor at the G U clinic 28th day she said to see my own GP about the rash and sore throat as I'm a smoker she said the sore throat was fungal. I went to see my own doctor he said the throat infeection was probably bacterial and the rash fungal.but I didn't mention anxiety or depression.
I'm coming round to thinking I have a new reality and I just have to deal with life on life's terms though I'm slipping into:
Anger: myself for not having the spine to ask if she had a condom (at the time I was already depressed, stressed and anxious) the girl I was with for initiating it all ( I have a v. low sex drive pandas look for more action than I do), not being straight about her background (sells sex for money) until after the exposure then lying about her tests and status and the G U clinic not taking me seriously, fobbing me off and not prescribing PEP.
Anxiety: over the duration of ARS symptoms being an indicator of disease progression.
Anxiety at my anxiety as I know it makes things worse for fighting the virus.
Annoyed: at health professionals I ask for advice on dealing with my health issues just now saying to wait the X weeks.
12 weeks of anxiety and depression won't do much good for anyone in PHI though at least I am not heavy drinking now and I've improved my diet and home hygeine.
I was nowhere near as anxious as this on my last HIV scare. I had a needlestick injury at work 5 years ago. I wasn't aware of PEP then and was not offered it at accident and emergency.
Frank,
You posed the question as if you knew that you were HIV positive, when, in fact, you do not know this. A 28 day negative, while not considered conclusive, is definitely a good sign.
As for refusing to test you again, I am not sure where you live, but, their position is, I would imagine, that they are not going to waste resources testing someone based solely on that person's level of anxiety.
I understand why you are asking the question. Sweating out an HIV test is not a trivial thing. Certainly, my guess is that if you had a conversation with your doctor during which you informed him of your emotional state, that said doctor would almost certainly prescribe you something to help. I am not sure it would be anti-deppresants, as they would be more of a long term solution to a long term problem. They may, however, prescribe you something like Xanax or some other anti-anxiety medication.
If you find that you cannot stand the anxiety level that you are currently experiencing, you may consider having a visit with a therapist who specializes in treating anxiety disorders. I did, and it helped me immensely when I was going through my own HIV scare.
As I do not know why you believe you may have contracted HIV, it is hard to say if you really have anything to be so anxious about. It may or may not surpise you to learn that most of the people who come here, anxious and stressed out, really had no appreciable risk of having contracted HIV. In short, they are experiencing the anxiety for no good reason. It may be that you fall into this category as well.
Good luck to you!
They refuse to test me again (after a 28 day NEG) until the 3 month mark (that's 5 weeks time). Meanwhile I'm losing weight (muscle) like it's going out of fashion, though I'm eating like a horse.
If you are indeed HIV positive, then you almost certainly have a doctor who will be able to answer this question for you. My advice is to ask him or her about interactions with your HIV meds (if you are on meds), and not to rely on medical advice that you might receive on an online forum.
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