Likelihood of Having Contracted HIV?

[Anonymous]

please go to a doctor and tell them you think you have HIV because you had sex with an asshole and you get colds frequently. please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago after the birth of my first son I watched a documentary about HIV and developed a huge sudden fear I had contracted it years ago, passed it to my newborn, etc ...even emailed my OB asking if I’ve been tested.

I’m on Zoloft now for anxiety lol.

Yes, but did you have unprotected sex? I did and I can't believe I was so fcking stupid. I was going through some stuff and it turned out that guy was cheating on his gf with me - now I have a great life, am in therapy for my self-esteem, have a wonderful boyfriend. I'm terrified I caught HIV from this man (who appears to be doing fine, is getting married to someone else and has literally no indication of having late-stage HIV) and I'm going to lose everything I've worked for in the last five years.

Yes I did with several men.

I just can't believe I was so stupid. this man was not worth it and now my anxiety is making me cry on Christmas. I will go get a test when I get back to DC (one of those gum swabs you can take at home) but the anxiety is so bad right now.

Your anxiety is the issue. It's actually quite difficult to get HIV through sex. I had unprotected sex with at least 50 women during my 20s (long story) and I caught chlamydia twice and trich once. Never got HIV or anything worse, and I was absolutely reckless. I didn't do any (intravenous) drugs, and didn't do anal sex, which are the two main way men get it. So it's unlikely the guy you slept with it got it, and gave it to you in those two short trysts.

[Anonymous]

Also, it is so weird - my sister gave me Jonathan Van Ness' book for Christmas, so now I'm worried because I'm reading about it. Of course he had the flu for like three weeks before he was tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago after the birth of my first son I watched a documentary about HIV and developed a huge sudden fear I had contracted it years ago, passed it to my newborn, etc ...even emailed my OB asking if I’ve been tested.

I’m on Zoloft now for anxiety lol.

Yes, but did you have unprotected sex? I did and I can't believe I was so fcking stupid. I was going through some stuff and it turned out that guy was cheating on his gf with me - now I have a great life, am in therapy for my self-esteem, have a wonderful boyfriend. I'm terrified I caught HIV from this man (who appears to be doing fine, is getting married to someone else and has literally no indication of having late-stage HIV) and I'm going to lose everything I've worked for in the last five years.

Yes I did with several men.

I just can't believe I was so stupid. this man was not worth it and now my anxiety is making me cry on Christmas. I will go get a test when I get back to DC (one of those gum swabs you can take at home) but the anxiety is so bad right now.

Your anxiety is the issue. It's actually quite difficult to get HIV through sex. I had unprotected sex with at least 50 women during my 20s (long story) and I caught chlamydia twice and trich once. Never got HIV or anything worse, and I was absolutely reckless. I didn't do any (intravenous) drugs, and didn't do anal sex, which are the two main way men get it. So it's unlikely the guy you slept with it got it, and gave it to you in those two short trysts.

I feel pretty confident that the guy I am worried about contracting it from did anal, with other women. I know it is difficult to spread in heterosexual contact but he was such a skeaze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: I am reading now about gynecologic conditions in women with HIV. They often get HPV, which I had last year but it cleared up on its own, and yeast infections, which I haven't gotten in five years. Also they are not supposed to get IUDs because of pelvic infections and increased blood loss - I have an IUD and no complications.

Literally everyone gets HPV, and your body cleared it up. Don't you think HPV, an infection, would take more than a year to clear up in a person with a bad immune system that can't handle infections?

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't you be incredibly sick by now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't you be incredibly sick by now?

I think that is what is making the anxiety worse. A lot of sources I'm reading say you can have HIV undetected for decades.

[Anonymous]

You need to see a psychiatrist for your anxiety and obsessive thoughts. A therapist who treats anxiety with CBT would also change your life. That you are crying about this on Christmas is totally avoidable. Not treating your anxiety will drive people away from you. Anxiety is catching and people will just avoid you and not want to deal.

Do it for yourself. Do it for people you care about.

https://www.rosscenter.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to see a psychiatrist for your anxiety and obsessive thoughts. A therapist who treats anxiety with CBT would also change your life. That you are crying about this on Christmas is totally avoidable. Not treating your anxiety will drive people away from you. Anxiety is catching and people will just avoid you and not want to deal.

Do it for yourself. Do it for people you care about.

https://www.rosscenter.com/

I completely agree - and I think you've posted about this before. If it's not HIV you're obsessing about, it will be something else - just like my DH when his anxiety isn't controlled.

You do not have to live like this. Choose to live better by seeing an anxiety specialist like one at the Ross Center.

[Anonymous]

I had a blood transfusion in the 80s about six months before they started the routine screening of blood for HIV. Instead of worrying about it for years, I got tested. Seems to me that a simple test is more effective than worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a blood transfusion in the 80s about six months before they started the routine screening of blood for HIV. Instead of worrying about it for years, I got tested. Seems to me that a simple test is more effective than worry.

I’m stranded at my parents’ in the middle of nowhere. Will have to wait until I get back to Dc to go buy a kit from CVS and test. Meanwhile the anxiety is literally making me sick.

[Anonymous]

You don’t sound healthy. And it’s not the HIV. You sound so crazy. I mean that in a loving way.

[Anonymous]

OP I went through this. You know what it was? Anxiety that needed to be treated.

Let it go today. Test as soon as you get back. And then find a therapist you trust to work with on your health anxiety. Because even when this test comes back negative, you are just going to find something new to obsess over.

If you need a way to cope today and the next few days, I found this workbook helpful. Doing the exercises will feel better than spiraling out like you are now.

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a blood transfusion in the 80s about six months before they started the routine screening of blood for HIV. Instead of worrying about it for years, I got tested. Seems to me that a simple test is more effective than worry.

I’m stranded at my parents’ in the middle of nowhere. Will have to wait until I get back to Dc to go buy a kit from CVS and test. Meanwhile the anxiety is literally making me sick.

You had 5 years to get tested and you still haven't done it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a blood transfusion in the 80s about six months before they started the routine screening of blood for HIV. Instead of worrying about it for years, I got tested. Seems to me that a simple test is more effective than worry.

I’m stranded at my parents’ in the middle of nowhere. Will have to wait until I get back to Dc to go buy a kit from CVS and test. Meanwhile the anxiety is literally making me sick.

You had 5 years to get tested and you still haven't done it...

I didn’t think about it until now