Aa
Tattoo and HIV
Last week I received a new tattoo overseas, so not the cleanest. It was new needle, and my arm was cleaned before the tattoo and after the tattoo. It was not a new ink packet, but ink was poured directly from a bottle into an ink pot. 5 days later started getting bad weakness in both legs and exhaustion. On day 6 the leg weakness is still there but accompanied but slight fever (99-99.5) and head congestion. Could this possibly be the onset of ARS? Is it really even possible from a tattoo? Thank you so much, getting worried here.
I just got the results from my 6 week (well day 41) oraquick test and they are negative! With a negative duo at 25 days, and negative oraquicks at 34 and 41 days, can I have a high level of confidence in these results and cease further testing? Or if further testing is required, is it possible to change at this point? I have a cold right now, bad enough to stay home from work, will that impact my test results at all?
I know, I never really had a big risk, that's been proven to me here on this forum as well as through other sites and resources. I'm just taking every precaution because I'm overseas with the military and I really do not want to bring HIV home to my wife. Thank you.
I know, I never really had a big risk, that's been proven to me here on this forum as well as through other sites and resources. I'm just taking every precaution because I'm overseas with the military and I really do not want to bring HIV home to my wife. Thank you.
34 days after after exposure the oraquick in home HIV test was negative. How reliable is the result at this point? Does the day 25 negative duo test make it any more reliable? Thank you!
I took the ORAQUICK In home HIV test at 74 days and it came back negative. Is there a good level of confidence in this test? Should i expect my next one at 12 weeks to return a negative result as well?
Around day 70 I started to get pain in neck, armpits and groin, I don't feel any swollen lymph nodes, but then again I really don't know what to look for. At the same time, i have also had a slight sore throat, really only noticeable in the morning. Acute symptoms of HIV would not begin this late would they?
Around day 70 I started to get pain in neck, armpits and groin, I don't feel any swollen lymph nodes, but then again I really don't know what to look for. At the same time, i have also had a slight sore throat, really only noticeable in the morning. Acute symptoms of HIV would not begin this late would they?
Does it being from a tattoo and not sexual or IV drug activity impact the testing window at all?
Thank you for your response, it definitely makes me feel reassured. I took the HIV DUO test at 25 days after the tattoo. It came back negative. Obviously sounds like I never had a risk, so definitely not worried about it anymore. My only concerned is being married and when I get home I don't want to bring anything to my wife. If I have this concern is 25 days for a duo test close enough to the 28 day mark to be considered conclusive and not even consider another test? I've been feeling kind of off for a while for a while which I'm assuming is due to the stress but it if it was ARS the test would have been positive right?
It sounds like you didn't have a risk in the first place based on your description of the tattoo artists procedures. It sounds like it was a clean place and not one of those shady back alley places. I think the chances of you getting HIV from this is so low that it's not even worth testing in my opinion.
I've had 2 tattoos done by a friend who is a tattoo artist. I showed him your post and he also said that nothing you mentioned here would be of any concern. And he's hyper vigilant about sterilization in his shop.
I've had 2 tattoos done by a friend who is a tattoo artist. I showed him your post and he also said that nothing you mentioned here would be of any concern. And he's hyper vigilant about sterilization in his shop.
I just got back from the doctors to take my HIV test. Due to some language barriers here, I have one more question to ask for now. The test I took was an HIV COMBI, qualitative. It is 25 days post my tattoo, I'll get the results back on Wednesday or Thursday. If this test comes back negative how certain can I be of my HIV status? Is this test going to provide conclusive results of my status this early? I assume further confirmatory tests will be required if for nothing more than to fully get rid of my anxiety but just want to know for now. Thank you so much!!
I just got back from the doctors to take my HIV test. Due to some language barriers here, I have one more question to ask for now. The test I took was an HIV COMBI, qualitative. It is 25 days post my tattoo, I'll get the results back on Wednesday or Thursday. If this test comes back negative how certain can I be of my HIV status? Is this test going to provide conclusive results of my status this early? I assume further confirmatory tests will be required if for nothing more than to fully get rid of my anxiety but just want to know for now. Thank you so much!!
Quick question. I'm getting sick of the anxiety of a possible HIV exposure following this tattoo. Today is day 25 after the risk, I want to get some solid answers at this point. I'm still overseas at this time and the only test I can get is the HIV antibodies test. I see so much differing information out there but will this test at least give me a fairly good idea of my HIV status? Thank you
Sorry one more question then I promise I'm done. This time I actually went back to the shop to check it out not just text him. Actually it was his house, not a shop.
He showed me that he uses clean needles, a new tube and a new inkpot (ink poured from large bottle into inkpot). He reuses and does not clean the grip or the gun. Could these be potential sources of infection?
He had me lay down on a bed which he covered with what I'm assuming is a washed sheet. Is that dangerous?
Lastly when he used Vaseline on the tattoo, he dipped his hand (covered with latex glove) straight into the Vaseline which had been used before. Is this ok?
Thank you so much again. I already feel so much more relieved just looking for these last items now that I have all information available, then I promise I'll leave it alone.
He showed me that he uses clean needles, a new tube and a new inkpot (ink poured from large bottle into inkpot). He reuses and does not clean the grip or the gun. Could these be potential sources of infection?
He had me lay down on a bed which he covered with what I'm assuming is a washed sheet. Is that dangerous?
Lastly when he used Vaseline on the tattoo, he dipped his hand (covered with latex glove) straight into the Vaseline which had been used before. Is this ok?
Thank you so much again. I already feel so much more relieved just looking for these last items now that I have all information available, then I promise I'll leave it alone.
I'm glad to hear you took the bull by the horns and went in and talked to the tat artist. That was extremely clever on your part!
I'm relieved that you are feeling so much less anxious now!
Have a great sleep tonight! LOL
Regards
RubyWitch
I'm relieved that you are feeling so much less anxious now!
Have a great sleep tonight! LOL
Regards
RubyWitch
Thank you so much for your input, you really have made me feel much better about it. I talked to the tattoo artist about his shop today and putting that together with the information you provided has made me feel so much better and think I'll finally get some sleep tonight. Definitely won't be doing this again. Thank you again.
I don't believe you need to test, but I'M not the one living with the anxiety!
You have to decide for yourself if you can let this go. And there's nothing wrong if you can't. HIV is a rather nasty thing and if you'll feel better, then go ahead and test. Peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.
As I think I said before, there is ALWAYS a risk for HIV when getting inked, but if the shop follows hygienic rules and regulations, even if the place looks like a shipwreck, you have nothing to worry about.
I'm virtually positive your "symptoms" are being triggered by anxiety, which, if you ignore it, can and will overtake your life.
If you can't get that under control, test. It's just not worth it!
Regards
RubyWitch
You have to decide for yourself if you can let this go. And there's nothing wrong if you can't. HIV is a rather nasty thing and if you'll feel better, then go ahead and test. Peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.
As I think I said before, there is ALWAYS a risk for HIV when getting inked, but if the shop follows hygienic rules and regulations, even if the place looks like a shipwreck, you have nothing to worry about.
I'm virtually positive your "symptoms" are being triggered by anxiety, which, if you ignore it, can and will overtake your life.
If you can't get that under control, test. It's just not worth it!
Regards
RubyWitch
Thank you for the response, should I even bother getting tested? Is there actually a big enough risk from a tattoo? I've been so anxious lately so I am sure you're right and that's causing muscle weakness especially since not been sleeping so well.
If you HAD contracted HIV and if you DID develop ARS, symptoms would not begin for at least 2-6 WEEKS. Whatever your symptoms are, they are NOT related to HIV. My guess would be a cold, the flu or ANXIETY!
Unfortunately there is no such thing as a "checklist of HIV symptoms" that we can use to determine an infection and we strongly discourage people to (self)diagnose HIV by looking at symptoms.
Getting a tattoo always carries a risk, but if this shop bothered to clean your arm, you saw that the needle was new and they used separate ink pots, I would say that's a good indication they follow proper precautions.
I have some ink myself and even here in the US, a couple of the places I went to, which were highly recommended, looked, well, very far from "surgical" if you know what I mean.
The only way you will know if you contracted HIV is to test with a blood drawn test.
If you absolutely can not let your fear go, have a 4th generation DUO test done at 28 post your tattoo. This test will give you an excellent indication of your status, but I would highly recommend a confirmatory test at 12 weeks for 100% conclusive results.
I think you're fine, but we gotta do what we gotta do.
RubyWitch
Unfortunately there is no such thing as a "checklist of HIV symptoms" that we can use to determine an infection and we strongly discourage people to (self)diagnose HIV by looking at symptoms.
Getting a tattoo always carries a risk, but if this shop bothered to clean your arm, you saw that the needle was new and they used separate ink pots, I would say that's a good indication they follow proper precautions.
I have some ink myself and even here in the US, a couple of the places I went to, which were highly recommended, looked, well, very far from "surgical" if you know what I mean.
The only way you will know if you contracted HIV is to test with a blood drawn test.
If you absolutely can not let your fear go, have a 4th generation DUO test done at 28 post your tattoo. This test will give you an excellent indication of your status, but I would highly recommend a confirmatory test at 12 weeks for 100% conclusive results.
I think you're fine, but we gotta do what we gotta do.
RubyWitch
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
