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Possible HIV exposure. Anxiety is ruining me.
Hello, first I would like to start by giving a brief history of my possible exposures.
I've had sex with two prostitutes, one two summers ago and the other as recent as 25 days ago.
Two summers ago, I had sex with a prostitute. She was 23 years old, seemed rather young and no physical signs of any STDs (probably doesnt mean anything as STDs are not always visible). Stupidly had unprotected oral sex for just about a minute. Thereafter, she put a condom on me (the brand was unknown). Had sex for about 10 minutes and I ejaculated while still inside of her. Checked the condom and there didnt seem to be any leakage. After the whole episode, I felt worried that I might've contracted some sort of STD but since I did not get any sickness in the following weeks I was able to shrug it off. Told myself to never do it again but obviously failed.
25 days ago, I had sex with another sex worker. I had a couple of drinks but by the time the escort arrived at the hotel I was almost sober. I was able to recall the whole episode. She was probably around 30 years old. She put a condom on and performed oral sex on me. Nothing rough, lasted for around a minute. I wasn't thinking right then and did not put another condom on for penetrative sex (worried that it might have damaged the condom?). Had sex for around 10 minutes also and ejaculated while I was still in her. Checked if the condom broke throughout the whole episode. Stupidly did not pull out right away, but pulled out about 30 seconds later. When I pulled out I checked the condom to see if it was ok visually. My cum was still in the condom and it didnt seem to leak out. However, the condom did slip a bit (about 2-3cm from where it initially was on my shaft, I figured it was probably due to my cum making it slippering inside the condom). If a condom broke, would it be obvious? (part of my worries now)
The next morning, when I woke up I had a dry throat (probably due to drinking the night before, nothing unusual) and had a rash above my penis (pubic hair area, forgot to mention that I do shave). The rash lasted for about 3-4 days. On the third day I noticed that there was a really tiny red spot in that area. I figured it was probably due to me scratching or maybe might've cut myself (due to the rash) when I shaved that morning. I thought that I might've contracted herpes or something. A few days later I started worrying that I might've contracted HIV and I've been worrying ever since. I started spending hours on the internet to find out more about HIV. The anxiety is killing me and ruining my life. I cannot concentrate on anything without thinking about HIV.
Ever since that morning, I feel thirsty often. I've also developed a mild cough, which i still have today ( I dont know if it can be considered a mild cough, it's just that I feel like coughing sometimes, my point being, I dont feel a 100%). I should also probably mention that I started going back to the gym 2 days after the possible exposure, after not going for 2 months. I take supplements such as L-glutamine (just started) and whey protein. I also started working 3 days after the possible exposure and I work under the sun. Bugs that bite me include mosquitoes and black flies. I should also mention that I noticed a small sore in my mouth around 10 days after the episode. I'm hoping the coughing/ dry throat might be due to insufficient intake of water but I do not know for sure. I'm very worried. I also feel warm sometimes but I dont think it's a fever because I dont feel weak or anything. In the past, whenever I had fevers I would feel cold and week, and unable to sweat/ appetite lost etc.
Now, for the questions:
1. What are my risks of contracting HIV based on my exposures?
2. Could the symptoms I'm having caused by anxiety? I'm thinking about the possibility of contracting HIV and it scared the crap out of me. I swear I'll never do stupid things like this again. It's just not worth all the anxiety and worrying.
3. I really want to get tested. But I read online that the antibody test is only reliable after 3 months. Are there tests I might be able to do after 25 days of exposure? What are they and how long would it take for the results?
4. Could the symptoms be caused by any other type of STD? I probably deserve some kind of STD for those stupid acts. I'm just hoping that it's not HIV.
Thank you very much for your time.
-Anxious and Worried
I've had sex with two prostitutes, one two summers ago and the other as recent as 25 days ago.
Two summers ago, I had sex with a prostitute. She was 23 years old, seemed rather young and no physical signs of any STDs (probably doesnt mean anything as STDs are not always visible). Stupidly had unprotected oral sex for just about a minute. Thereafter, she put a condom on me (the brand was unknown). Had sex for about 10 minutes and I ejaculated while still inside of her. Checked the condom and there didnt seem to be any leakage. After the whole episode, I felt worried that I might've contracted some sort of STD but since I did not get any sickness in the following weeks I was able to shrug it off. Told myself to never do it again but obviously failed.
25 days ago, I had sex with another sex worker. I had a couple of drinks but by the time the escort arrived at the hotel I was almost sober. I was able to recall the whole episode. She was probably around 30 years old. She put a condom on and performed oral sex on me. Nothing rough, lasted for around a minute. I wasn't thinking right then and did not put another condom on for penetrative sex (worried that it might have damaged the condom?). Had sex for around 10 minutes also and ejaculated while I was still in her. Checked if the condom broke throughout the whole episode. Stupidly did not pull out right away, but pulled out about 30 seconds later. When I pulled out I checked the condom to see if it was ok visually. My cum was still in the condom and it didnt seem to leak out. However, the condom did slip a bit (about 2-3cm from where it initially was on my shaft, I figured it was probably due to my cum making it slippering inside the condom). If a condom broke, would it be obvious? (part of my worries now)
The next morning, when I woke up I had a dry throat (probably due to drinking the night before, nothing unusual) and had a rash above my penis (pubic hair area, forgot to mention that I do shave). The rash lasted for about 3-4 days. On the third day I noticed that there was a really tiny red spot in that area. I figured it was probably due to me scratching or maybe might've cut myself (due to the rash) when I shaved that morning. I thought that I might've contracted herpes or something. A few days later I started worrying that I might've contracted HIV and I've been worrying ever since. I started spending hours on the internet to find out more about HIV. The anxiety is killing me and ruining my life. I cannot concentrate on anything without thinking about HIV.
Ever since that morning, I feel thirsty often. I've also developed a mild cough, which i still have today ( I dont know if it can be considered a mild cough, it's just that I feel like coughing sometimes, my point being, I dont feel a 100%). I should also probably mention that I started going back to the gym 2 days after the possible exposure, after not going for 2 months. I take supplements such as L-glutamine (just started) and whey protein. I also started working 3 days after the possible exposure and I work under the sun. Bugs that bite me include mosquitoes and black flies. I should also mention that I noticed a small sore in my mouth around 10 days after the episode. I'm hoping the coughing/ dry throat might be due to insufficient intake of water but I do not know for sure. I'm very worried. I also feel warm sometimes but I dont think it's a fever because I dont feel weak or anything. In the past, whenever I had fevers I would feel cold and week, and unable to sweat/ appetite lost etc.
Now, for the questions:
1. What are my risks of contracting HIV based on my exposures?
2. Could the symptoms I'm having caused by anxiety? I'm thinking about the possibility of contracting HIV and it scared the crap out of me. I swear I'll never do stupid things like this again. It's just not worth all the anxiety and worrying.
3. I really want to get tested. But I read online that the antibody test is only reliable after 3 months. Are there tests I might be able to do after 25 days of exposure? What are they and how long would it take for the results?
4. Could the symptoms be caused by any other type of STD? I probably deserve some kind of STD for those stupid acts. I'm just hoping that it's not HIV.
Thank you very much for your time.
-Anxious and Worried
thanks lizzie. could you explain in more detail please? what makes you so sure? I just hope it might help me understand my situation better too. I'm really worried. Thank you again
1...zero
2...sure
3...for someone who had a risk (you didnt)...3 months would be conclusive
4...this forum is hiv specific
2...sure
3...for someone who had a risk (you didnt)...3 months would be conclusive
4...this forum is hiv specific
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