Early, Early tingling hands. HELP!!!!!!

[Hatingmyself]

Hello nice people.  I had a moment of extreme stupidity.  Had unprotected sex  with girl i just met.  She said she was negative but I don't think I can trust her
The same day it happened I had pain in one of my fingers.  It continued off and on for a little while, and then at the two week mark (yesterday) I noticed that I was getting pins and needles in my hands.  Sometimes there was random pain.  It can vary in duration from a few minutes to seems like a couple of hours.  I have been extremely worried about this ever since it happened.  I have not for one second stopped thinking about it. Maybe 3-4 hours sleep a night.  Had panic attacks with palpitations, sweaty hands, sore neck and shoulders, heavy shallow breathing, and dry mouth.  I can't get this fear out of my mind.  Is the tingling hiv?  Would it be happening so soon?  I can't get a post on the doctor to patient board.  What would he say? Only other symptom I have had is a cancer sore on my cheek and one on my gum that happened about the same time.  I had three at once a week before I had the stupid sex.  I think I am losing it.  Can someone please help.  

[sooworried83]

To be honest, after my exposure which is a very low risk, i really didnt think of HIV at all and felt really good. But after 3 months i saw a talk show talking about HIV and how its spreading i started to worry whether i was infected or not. I started researching more and more about HIV on the net and the more i researched the more i had the anxiety symptoms which i related it to HIV and i started to freak out. My exposure was giving oral sex to unknown status woman. People on this forum and the Doc told me to relax and be sure to have negative test. I was relaxed and some of the anxiety symptoms were gone believe it or not. But from time to time when my mind plays tricks with me i doubt if i'll test HIV- and then the symptoms come again.

What i want to say is that even when someone's risk is zero we start to picture the worse, its our nature as humans and the only way to prove whether we are infected (god forbid) or not we should only test, forget the symptoms.

Peace all

[WorriedT]

Just thought I'd post this again....

Symptoms of anxiety

The physical symptoms of anxiety are caused by the brain sending messages to parts of the body to prepare for the "fight or flight" response. The heart, lungs and other parts of the body work faster. The brain also releases stress hormones, including adrenaline. The following symptoms can occur as a result:

abdominal discomfort
diarrhoea
dry mouth
rapid heartbeat or palpitations
tightness or pain in chest
shortness of breath
trembling or shaking
dizziness
frequent urination
difficulty swallowing
hot or cold flashes
pins and needles in the hands and feet
perspiration
headaches and other aches and pains
muscle tension
panic attacks
fatigue

Psychological symptoms can include:

insomnia
irritability or anger
inability to concentrate
fear of madness
feeling unreal and not in control of your actions (depersonalisation)
constant worrying

[champion007]

Thanks Mike..very much...appreciate...praying that everything is fine with you...

[mike_no]

What makes you feel your symptoms are HIV relevant?  Pins and needles in hand is by no means ARS symptom. Do you understand the difference between muscle ache and a pin sensation? You're okay,even I had a similar exposure but what I've learnt so far by med prof's and learned ppl is it is a rare possibility to contract the infection through vaginal sex

[champion007]

The symptoms could be related to your anxiety - thoguh i am not a doctor. Mike i have a question for you - do u have any idea as to if the pins and needle sensation comes as a late symptom in HIv and that may other symptoms such as fever, rash and diarea are more common. And also do ARS symprotm repeat quite often - say once in 3-4 motnhs etc...

[mike_no]

To be very honest even iam going thru the same phase, i have pin sentation in my hands and feet but iam sure thats due to anxiety cuz thats not an ars symptom and ars symptom occur in series, ars symptom shows up after 2-4 weeks after exposure unlike what you've said here

[gates85]

Relax.  First of all, the girl you had sex with probably didn't have HIV. Second of all, even in the very rare circumstance that she was infected, your risk of getting it from a one-time sexual encounter with her is extremely low. Thirdly, not a single one of your symptoms suggests anything to do with HIV.

Taken all together, you have a better chance of walking outside of your house right now and having a plane land on top of your head than having contracted HIV from the exposure you describe.

[mike_no]

Thanks bro

[mike_no]

Thanks bro

[mike_no]

Whatever, tingling of hand and leg specificaly is not an ARS symptom, muscle aches are .......There's nothing to worry

[Hatingmyself]

Also I just read that doxycycline sometimes produces a side effect of tingling and numbness in hands and feet.  Are you guys on that too?

[Hatingmyself]

Do you guys think that this felling is really due to anxiety.  I know I have never worried so much in my life.  I have not for one minute stopped thinking abut this ever since it happened two weeks ago.  I just think its wierd that so many of us feel this sensation.  Can it be that we are all killing ourself with stress?  Or are we just in denial?  I don't know.  I would give anything for this nightmare to be over with.  I don't know about you guys but other than my hands, I feel absolutely fine.  Well, fine except for the constant panic attacks and lack of sleep.