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Scared of HIV. Please help!

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Posted 5/23/2007 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have been married for 13 years.  I did have unprotected sex with a couple of people 14+ years ago.  I have never heard anything about them being HIV+.  However, I am really concerned about having HIV and having given it to my 4 children.  I did have a blood test for HIV about 1-2 years ago and it was negative.  Would that be considered conclusive?  Are those tests accurate?  Please help!

Resting (or not!)

Posted 5/23/2007 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I would think after 14 years you would DEFINITELY know by now if you had HIV. I really don't think there is any possible way the disease and its symptoms would have stayed dormant for so long. I wouldn't worry about it :)
(I know, easier said than done)
Posted 5/23/2007 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Not a doctor, but if you contracted HIV twelve years and were never treated, you'd likely have AIDS. Certainly the test would've showed positive. My cousin contracted HIV, developed AIDS, hung on for a long time, and died in a shorter amount of time than that. I think you're probably okay.
Posted 5/23/2007 5:42 PM (GMT 0)

I really appreciate your response.  I'm so upset by this today that I can't stop crying and thinking about it.  Any other responses would be welcomed (even if they're not something I want to hear).  I can't stand the thought of having ruined my children's lives.

Resting

Posted 5/23/2007 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
PLease know that you are quite positively

Negative

You are making yourself and your life miserable ......with this constant thinking of the HIV........
Yes you would certainly know after 14 yrs hun so REST please and live your life to the fullest .......
Posted 5/23/2007 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Two further questions please.  Would your answer be the same if I had never been tested (would being HIV+ have manifested itself by now)?  If the test was positive, would the government have required some additional follow up? (I guess now I'm concerned that the doctor gave me the wrong result and it was really positive.) 

Thank you for your patience with me,

Resting

Posted 5/23/2007 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
No, I think you would definitely have experienced signs and symptoms by now. As debaser said, a lot of people don't even live up to 14 years after contracting HIV/AIDS. Yes, I'd say my answer would be "no you don't have HIV" whether you had been tested or not

Hope you find some peace of mind.
Posted 5/23/2007 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yep. After 14 years, you wouldn't have HIV. You'd have AIDS and there would be very little doubt about it. In fact, without any treatment you'd probably have been dead several years ago. Look at what goes on in Africa. That's the kind of life expectancy you see without any treatment.
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