I realise that there are a lot of people who have already asked questions about sex in Thailand but none of them could put my mind at ease. I also realise that nothing will put my mind at ease other than getting tested. But my risk of exposure was only 3-4 weeks ago so i have to wait at least another 2 weeks until i can get my first test and in the mean time I am driving myself mad.
I had 2 potential exposures whilst in Thailand. Neither with a sex woker, but both unprotected (well one unprotected and another involved two condoms breaking). At the time I didnt worry about it and didnt even think about it, but since a friend made a joke about 'catching HIV over there' I have become quite paranoid.
One of the things I wanted to know was, having read that there is a 1 in 20,000 chance or 1 in 40,000 chance depending on the type of HIV, are these figures only for sex with sex workers or is that just for Thailand overall? Everything I have read, other then this website where I have been relieved to find some people in similar situations, scares the **** out of you and whilst making you understand the risks are low, it also makes you think you have it.
I got food poisoning while I was in Thailand (I am certain it was food poisoning as the fever and diarroea set in about 3 hours after some dodgy seafood) but the diarroea has persisted (not explosive, but if I eat fruit or drink milk like I was originally told not to in Thailand at the pharmacy it comes back. I am going to the doctor tomorrow). The thing is, I started eating a lot of rice and noodles and it seemed to go away and then when I went back to my normal diet it came back again. Writing it down now makes it seem stupid but I am kind of worried that in fact it did go away and was replaced by a symptom of HIV.
Furthermore, I did get a cold this week (about 10 days after returning and 2 weeks after possible exposure) but that was after I had ridden my bike for an hour in freezing cold. And now I have some sort of pain in the back of my mouth, on the gum and cheek behind my last tooth on one side of the bottom row. For all I know this could be my wisdom teeth coming through or connected to the cold, but having read about lymph nodes today I am paranoid it is another sign.
Basically, a small headache or slight dizzy spell and I am seing it as a symptom.
By writing this I am nearly convincing myself that I am safe
But I cant get the nagging worry out of the back of my mind and when I try to go to sleep at night it is really getting to me.