Aa
Confused to DR.HHH
Hello,
I know this is pretty much a waste of money, since I am pretty much reposting my question I had earlier, but I have a an appt. with a family doctor and will be taking a test, I just need some reinforcement or I will chicken out as always.
I am a 23 year old, straight male, recreational drug user but never needles.
Here is my dilemma. A year ago, I was heavily intoxicated and went crashed at my friend's girlfriend's house. Her cousin is MSM and according to mutual friends has some grudge against me. I went to bed because I was really intoxicated and wanted to pass out and woke up next morning with low recollection of my sleep. Anal area irratated. Since then I was plagued by health problems. Exactly a month later I developed a 103 fever that lasted about 3-4 days (it felt like a really bad FLU and it was end of summer). No swollen lymph nodes really, just heavy fever. I also had red spots (not bumps) on my chest and abdomen, my doctor looked at them and gave me some cream, which I applied but it didn't really do much but spots went away (I must mention that i do suffer from seborrhea dermatitis) which looks kinda like the spots I had and comes and goes. Three month later I started losing weight (about 10lbs.) but I was working out on and off, so it is hard to say. After 4 months, I started getting upset stomach a lot. I have a sinus infection/post nasal drip EVERY MONTH.
My main concern is this, my seb derm. has gotten much worse since then. My face has been tingling and itching, my scalp too, sometimes it feels like someone sticks a feather in my nose. It seems it is always flared up. I never had this before. I am having liver pains too and my liver enzymes are elevated even though I have stopped drinking alcohol period. And the last thing is body aches. I am getting random pains everywhere, feels like someone sticks me with a needle everywhere on my body, doctor says to seek help for fybromialgia but I am not sure...
Plz help, did this guy infect me?
I know this is pretty much a waste of money, since I am pretty much reposting my question I had earlier, but I have a an appt. with a family doctor and will be taking a test, I just need some reinforcement or I will chicken out as always.
I am a 23 year old, straight male, recreational drug user but never needles.
Here is my dilemma. A year ago, I was heavily intoxicated and went crashed at my friend's girlfriend's house. Her cousin is MSM and according to mutual friends has some grudge against me. I went to bed because I was really intoxicated and wanted to pass out and woke up next morning with low recollection of my sleep. Anal area irratated. Since then I was plagued by health problems. Exactly a month later I developed a 103 fever that lasted about 3-4 days (it felt like a really bad FLU and it was end of summer). No swollen lymph nodes really, just heavy fever. I also had red spots (not bumps) on my chest and abdomen, my doctor looked at them and gave me some cream, which I applied but it didn't really do much but spots went away (I must mention that i do suffer from seborrhea dermatitis) which looks kinda like the spots I had and comes and goes. Three month later I started losing weight (about 10lbs.) but I was working out on and off, so it is hard to say. After 4 months, I started getting upset stomach a lot. I have a sinus infection/post nasal drip EVERY MONTH.
My main concern is this, my seb derm. has gotten much worse since then. My face has been tingling and itching, my scalp too, sometimes it feels like someone sticks a feather in my nose. It seems it is always flared up. I never had this before. I am having liver pains too and my liver enzymes are elevated even though I have stopped drinking alcohol period. And the last thing is body aches. I am getting random pains everywhere, feels like someone sticks me with a needle everywhere on my body, doctor says to seek help for fybromialgia but I am not sure...
Plz help, did this guy infect me?
I JUST GOT MY RESULTS: NEGATIVE BABY!
I would like to thank DR. HHH and EWH for helping me go through with the test. By reading these forums, I have gotten enough courage (I know it is quite silly) to get tested after struggling with fear for 2 years. My results are NEGATIVE and I was 100% sure I was sick. The amount of worry and stress this has caused me really impacted my everyday life. So here is some advice for people like me:
1. Before asking questions, research this forum well, almost every question is answered.
2. Even though HIV/AIDS is a very serious condition, many people freak out because of very low/no risk behaviors and that is unnecessary.
3. I have also noticed that many people in this forum do not take reassurance as an answer, so get tested to destroy your anxiety. I could not let it go, now that I know the result I feel I am out of this cell for good!
THANKS AND BLESS YOU ALL.
I would like to thank DR. HHH and EWH for helping me go through with the test. By reading these forums, I have gotten enough courage (I know it is quite silly) to get tested after struggling with fear for 2 years. My results are NEGATIVE and I was 100% sure I was sick. The amount of worry and stress this has caused me really impacted my everyday life. So here is some advice for people like me:
1. Before asking questions, research this forum well, almost every question is answered.
2. Even though HIV/AIDS is a very serious condition, many people freak out because of very low/no risk behaviors and that is unnecessary.
3. I have also noticed that many people in this forum do not take reassurance as an answer, so get tested to destroy your anxiety. I could not let it go, now that I know the result I feel I am out of this cell for good!
THANKS AND BLESS YOU ALL.
MSM = Men who have Sex with Men
Whats that term mean..
Thanks much for your help!!!!
I hope one day I can answer questions like you DR. I am in the Information Technology field, but am very interested in the medical field. Hope soon I can make a blend of two.
I will post my results Wed. Thanks again, you are great.
I hope one day I can answer questions like you DR. I am in the Information Technology field, but am very interested in the medical field. Hope soon I can make a blend of two.
I will post my results Wed. Thanks again, you are great.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations on your newly healthy lifestyle. Your weight loss cannot possibly be due to HIV. As for almost all chronic illnesses, weight loss in HIV results primarily from appetite loss. It is a sign of AIDS, i.e. the HIV infection generally has been present for years, and usually is associated with several other symptoms, especially fever. Even if you had lost your appetitie, I would not have been concerned about HIV as the cause.
Please forgive me for another question/response, but with this one I will get my money's worth :)
I just got back from my doctor and took a test. He reassured me that it will be negative, even though he was concerned on my weight (180 to 157 in 7 months). I explained I am working out and dieting, he said ok. I declined having multiple partners, being homosexual and using IV needles (all true). I told him of the possible assault and he said ok take the test.
My last question is: When weight loss occurs in HIV, is it due to appetite loss? Can a patient lose weight just due to HIV destroying his body but yet he/she has good appetite. It is just for my knowledge...I want to be a doctor one day.
MUCH THANKS and I will post my NEGATIVE result WED.
I just got back from my doctor and took a test. He reassured me that it will be negative, even though he was concerned on my weight (180 to 157 in 7 months). I explained I am working out and dieting, he said ok. I declined having multiple partners, being homosexual and using IV needles (all true). I told him of the possible assault and he said ok take the test.
My last question is: When weight loss occurs in HIV, is it due to appetite loss? Can a patient lose weight just due to HIV destroying his body but yet he/she has good appetite. It is just for my knowledge...I want to be a doctor one day.
MUCH THANKS and I will post my NEGATIVE result WED.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See above.
I also would like to add a few things. I am from USA. I am worried that the guy did something to me in my alcohol induced sleep. I have heard from a friend that he might be HIV positive even though his cousin denies it.
1. How common is HIV in MSM?
2. How common are cases of pretty much HIV rape/criminal transmission in North America.
1. How common is HIV in MSM?
2. How common are cases of pretty much HIV rape/criminal transmission in North America.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I agree with the opening statement.
Regardless of how drunk you were, it is very unlikely you were assaulted in your sleep and don't remember it. Further, your symptoms don't suggest HIV. But if you remain concerned, it's fine with me if you decide to get tested. As far as getting your nerve up for it, that's in your control, not mine. You can expect negative results; and intellectually you know that it is dumb to not be tested because of fear of the result. Whether or not you are infected does not depend on whether you are tested. Even if you happen to have it, the stress of worrying -- as you are now -- is clearly worse than the stress of getting a positive result. But as I said, it's up to you.
To the follow-up questions below, probably around 5-10% of MSM in North America are HIV infected. But people typically don't lie, so you can assume your friend's cousin doesn't have it. HIV acquired by sexual assault is rare in the US, but I cannot give you specific figures. But the question is irrelvant in your situation.
No further follow-up comments or questions, please, unless and until you want to come back and tell us about your HIV test result. Also, please note the MedHelp rule about a maximum of 2 questions very 6 months in the professionally moderated forums.
HHH, MD
Regardless of how drunk you were, it is very unlikely you were assaulted in your sleep and don't remember it. Further, your symptoms don't suggest HIV. But if you remain concerned, it's fine with me if you decide to get tested. As far as getting your nerve up for it, that's in your control, not mine. You can expect negative results; and intellectually you know that it is dumb to not be tested because of fear of the result. Whether or not you are infected does not depend on whether you are tested. Even if you happen to have it, the stress of worrying -- as you are now -- is clearly worse than the stress of getting a positive result. But as I said, it's up to you.
To the follow-up questions below, probably around 5-10% of MSM in North America are HIV infected. But people typically don't lie, so you can assume your friend's cousin doesn't have it. HIV acquired by sexual assault is rare in the US, but I cannot give you specific figures. But the question is irrelvant in your situation.
No further follow-up comments or questions, please, unless and until you want to come back and tell us about your HIV test result. Also, please note the MedHelp rule about a maximum of 2 questions very 6 months in the professionally moderated forums.
HHH, MD
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