Aa
SO SCARED!
Okay, I am a 20 year old female. I have been married for a year. Before I was married I had several sextual encounters with different males. As far as I know none used needles. For the past three weeks I have been having tingling all over my body, dizziness and headaches. I am petrified that I have HIV. I have a four month old baby and I was never tested while pregnant! What are the chances that I have HIV? My husband was tested in August and he was negative.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Interesting about the shingles idea, but I doubt you have it. Shinlges goes from start of tingling to open sores to healing over 3-4 weeks. It cannot explain the symptoms you described in your original question. My guess is your doc mentioned shingles as a speculative possibility, not that s/he really thinks you have it.
It is true that people with HIV get shingles, but mostly only when they have advanced AIDS. More important, the vast majority of people with shingles do not have HIV.
You have no choice but to have an HIV test. Just do it. It is the only way you're going to start to get beyond your fear of it. I will have no other comments on this thread unless and until you return to report your HIV test result. It will be negatove.
It is true that people with HIV get shingles, but mostly only when they have advanced AIDS. More important, the vast majority of people with shingles do not have HIV.
You have no choice but to have an HIV test. Just do it. It is the only way you're going to start to get beyond your fear of it. I will have no other comments on this thread unless and until you return to report your HIV test result. It will be negatove.
hello,
Thank you for your time and your answers. I have seen a doctor and I have not yet been tested, but now she is saying that she believes I am in the early stages of shingles. I have read that mostly elderly and people with HIV get this? Does this mean I have HIV?
Thanks
Thank you for your time and your answers. I have seen a doctor and I have not yet been tested, but now she is saying that she believes I am in the early stages of shingles. I have read that mostly elderly and people with HIV get this? Does this mean I have HIV?
Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Theoretically yes but practically speaking, no. People with HSV-2 have roughly double the risk of catching HIV if exposed. But you still have to be exposed, and the odds are miniscule that any of your past partners had HIV. Anyway, doubling a near zero risk still leaves near zero. (If the risk is say 1 in a million, and becomes 1 in half a million, it makes almost no difference.)
It's pointless to speculate, though. Because of your fears, you need to get tested, after you confirm that you weren't tested during your pregnancy.
It's pointless to speculate, though. Because of your fears, you need to get tested, after you confirm that you weren't tested during your pregnancy.
I also have HSV2 Does that increase my chances?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, your symptoms don't suggest HIV, which doesn't cause tingling and headaches. (If it does so, it is only along with much more serious symptoms, like fever, complete loss of appetite, major weight loss, etc.)
Second, it is possible you in fact were tested during your pregnancy; it's an automatic, routine thing for most pregnant women these days. If you haven't directly asked your ObG or the clinic where you had prenatal care, you should do that.
Third, although your husband's negative test does not prove, by itself, that you aren't infected, but it reduces the chances.
Finally, despite what you fear, heterosexually acquired HIV in people your age is rare in the US.
Of course the real answer lies in having an HIV test, if you are sure you weren' tested when pregnant. I don't recommend it because I actually think you are infected or were at risk. I do not. But if you are typical, my reassurance won't entirely calm your fears; only a negative HIV test will do that. If you are concerned about your husband knowing your fears, or about the confidentiality of health care, visit your local health department for confidential testing, perhaps at no cost.
In the meantime, try to relax. You don't have it.
Good luck--- HHH, MD
Second, it is possible you in fact were tested during your pregnancy; it's an automatic, routine thing for most pregnant women these days. If you haven't directly asked your ObG or the clinic where you had prenatal care, you should do that.
Third, although your husband's negative test does not prove, by itself, that you aren't infected, but it reduces the chances.
Finally, despite what you fear, heterosexually acquired HIV in people your age is rare in the US.
Of course the real answer lies in having an HIV test, if you are sure you weren' tested when pregnant. I don't recommend it because I actually think you are infected or were at risk. I do not. But if you are typical, my reassurance won't entirely calm your fears; only a negative HIV test will do that. If you are concerned about your husband knowing your fears, or about the confidentiality of health care, visit your local health department for confidential testing, perhaps at no cost.
In the meantime, try to relax. You don't have it.
Good luck--- HHH, MD
Also I am not sick in any way.. No fever diahrrea or anything else. I had a CBC done and it was completely normal
armywife2007
armywife2007
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