Aa
Consultation
Hi
My roommate tested positive. I am not sure where did she get it from
She had been my roommate for 3 years. I don't know when she got it as she won't talk to anyone since she found out and took off home after she got the news . i spoke to her mother
Should I be tested. I will state what I encountered in living with her
1) I share the toilet seat with her without ever cleaning it and most of the time immediately after or before her as we come back from the clubs we run to the bathroom
2) I share soaps. I clean my gentiles with it
3) I stepped on her fresh blood twice in the past year because she has cut her feet with the edge of the shower ( I did too)
4) We worked on our wall with pins that poked me and her. But nothing deep
5) I used her razor to shave my legs and pubic hair
6) using tooth brushes and lufas
7) using and sharing nail clippers
)What should I watch out for or avoid when she comes back? Because I intend to live with her if she wants .
My roommate tested positive. I am not sure where did she get it from
She had been my roommate for 3 years. I don't know when she got it as she won't talk to anyone since she found out and took off home after she got the news . i spoke to her mother
Should I be tested. I will state what I encountered in living with her
1) I share the toilet seat with her without ever cleaning it and most of the time immediately after or before her as we come back from the clubs we run to the bathroom
2) I share soaps. I clean my gentiles with it
3) I stepped on her fresh blood twice in the past year because she has cut her feet with the edge of the shower ( I did too)
4) We worked on our wall with pins that poked me and her. But nothing deep
5) I used her razor to shave my legs and pubic hair
6) using tooth brushes and lufas
7) using and sharing nail clippers
)What should I watch out for or avoid when she comes back? Because I intend to live with her if she wants .
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Patience, patience. The moderators are not standing by on line 24/7! We endeavor to answer questions or follow-up comments within 24 hours.
You are overreacting. My advice was intended to be reassuring, and I stated very clearly that testing is recommended only to further reduce your anxieties. Please re-read my original reply and concentrate on every word.
As for timing of a test, you have been "exposed" to your roommate for 3 years. The advice to wait 3 months assumes you had a particular exposure in the last couple of days, which doesn't make sense. For reassurance, have a test now; and if you need still another boost of confidence, go ahead with another test in a few weeks. (6-8 weeks is sufficient; 3 months is old news.) You can expect negative results. You aren't going to be the first person, over the 30 years of the worldwide HIV epidemic, to catch HIV by living with an infected person. It just doesn't happen.
So calm down, think objectively, and get tested for reassurance. Feel free to post a follow-up comment with your test results, but I won't have any other advice until then.
You are overreacting. My advice was intended to be reassuring, and I stated very clearly that testing is recommended only to further reduce your anxieties. Please re-read my original reply and concentrate on every word.
As for timing of a test, you have been "exposed" to your roommate for 3 years. The advice to wait 3 months assumes you had a particular exposure in the last couple of days, which doesn't make sense. For reassurance, have a test now; and if you need still another boost of confidence, go ahead with another test in a few weeks. (6-8 weeks is sufficient; 3 months is old news.) You can expect negative results. You aren't going to be the first person, over the 30 years of the worldwide HIV epidemic, to catch HIV by living with an infected person. It just doesn't happen.
So calm down, think objectively, and get tested for reassurance. Feel free to post a follow-up comment with your test results, but I won't have any other advice until then.
Dr. Hook
can you please answer my feedback or do i need to wait? thank you
can you please answer my feedback or do i need to wait? thank you
Dear doc
I was not worried untill you asked me to test. I called the hospital and they said should I had an exposure I should wait for three months. I just spok to my roomate and asked her about the razors and she told me that she never used my blades. She always used her electric shaver. And the tooth bruch she is confident that she always used her since she easly bleeds from her gums and uses soft toothbrushes. No more comments on my parts in this thread.
I was not worried untill you asked me to test. I called the hospital and they said should I had an exposure I should wait for three months. I just spok to my roomate and asked her about the razors and she told me that she never used my blades. She always used her electric shaver. And the tooth bruch she is confident that she always used her since she easly bleeds from her gums and uses soft toothbrushes. No more comments on my parts in this thread.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If your roommate returns, I would indeed recommend not sharing toothbrushes or razors. Otherwise don't worry about it.
You can be tested for HIV at any time. Rather than my advising a specific test, I would advise you to visit your primary care provider, or your local health departmetn. Explain the situation, and have whatever test the doctor or clinic recommends. Most likely it will be a standard HIV antibody test. Several brands are available, and all are equallly good.
You can be tested for HIV at any time. Rather than my advising a specific test, I would advise you to visit your primary care provider, or your local health departmetn. Explain the situation, and have whatever test the doctor or clinic recommends. Most likely it will be a standard HIV antibody test. Several brands are available, and all are equallly good.
thank you doctor for answering my question. but please note that i am a virgin that has never used drugs. i will test as per your advice (i assume its because of the razors and the tooth brush) how long do i wait to be tested? and which test should i take? and if she comes back , do i only avoid the tooth brush and razors and will be fine?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I can help.
I understand your concern; your roommate's HIV status undoubtedly was a shock. However, you need not be concerned about your own health. Nobody ever catches HIV from household contacts (unless, of course, they are sex or needle-sharing partners of the infected person). In the 30+ years of the known world-wide HIV/AIDS epidemic, there are no known cases of household transmission. And none of the specific events carries any significant risk of transmission. In theory, sharing razors or toothbrushes could result in transmission. But in practice, it seems not to occur.
So should you be tested for HIV? Yes. But not because you actually are at risk -- only because the negative result will be more reassuring than my words. So go ahead and do it. Stay mellow while you await the test result; if you have not been at risk throughs sexual exposure or drug use (shared injection equipment), you can definitely expect the result to be negative.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I understand your concern; your roommate's HIV status undoubtedly was a shock. However, you need not be concerned about your own health. Nobody ever catches HIV from household contacts (unless, of course, they are sex or needle-sharing partners of the infected person). In the 30+ years of the known world-wide HIV/AIDS epidemic, there are no known cases of household transmission. And none of the specific events carries any significant risk of transmission. In theory, sharing razors or toothbrushes could result in transmission. But in practice, it seems not to occur.
So should you be tested for HIV? Yes. But not because you actually are at risk -- only because the negative result will be more reassuring than my words. So go ahead and do it. Stay mellow while you await the test result; if you have not been at risk throughs sexual exposure or drug use (shared injection equipment), you can definitely expect the result to be negative.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
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.
