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Can HIV be transmitted via a nitrous balloon?
Hi Doctor,
I attended a "rave" like party on 8/21/10. At this party, nitrous balloons were being passed around. I took several hits...And now I am wondering if there is any chance I can get HIV from sharing a balloon.
I took an oral HIV test at Planned Parenthood on 9/30/10. It was negative.
I tested for other STD's, negative too. Pap smear was normal.
I have not had unprotected sex in over 1.5 years. My fiance was a virgin, and we have never had unprotected sex.
I have read that HIV is not transmitted via saliva, but I'm wondering if there is any chance of infection if I shared a balloon with someone that perhaps had an open sore, etc. Am I paranoid or is this a valid concern?
I developed a sore throat that doesn't seem to go away. I've read that's a symptom of newly HIV infected persons.
I made myself quite sick for 11 days prior to testing. I didn't eat, sleep, suffered anxiety attacks, nightmares, etc. You would think that after I got my negative test results I would be relieved, on the contrary, I began questioning the accuracy of the oral rapid test. And now I find myself crying and feeling nervous all the time. Please help.
Best,
Vanessa
I attended a "rave" like party on 8/21/10. At this party, nitrous balloons were being passed around. I took several hits...And now I am wondering if there is any chance I can get HIV from sharing a balloon.
I took an oral HIV test at Planned Parenthood on 9/30/10. It was negative.
I tested for other STD's, negative too. Pap smear was normal.
I have not had unprotected sex in over 1.5 years. My fiance was a virgin, and we have never had unprotected sex.
I have read that HIV is not transmitted via saliva, but I'm wondering if there is any chance of infection if I shared a balloon with someone that perhaps had an open sore, etc. Am I paranoid or is this a valid concern?
I developed a sore throat that doesn't seem to go away. I've read that's a symptom of newly HIV infected persons.
I made myself quite sick for 11 days prior to testing. I didn't eat, sleep, suffered anxiety attacks, nightmares, etc. You would think that after I got my negative test results I would be relieved, on the contrary, I began questioning the accuracy of the oral rapid test. And now I find myself crying and feeling nervous all the time. Please help.
Best,
Vanessa
It is not a low risk, it is a NO RISK - It is not possible the virus would of been rendared inactive and unable to infect. HIV is not spread outside its host (Body)
@ really regret...yes, i agree. it is a stupid stupid game to play. i'm almost 34 years old, i don't know what i was thinking! i hadn't done anything like that since i was 16 years old! believe me, i will NEVER do it again.
thank you again for the advice and kinds words.
-Vanessa
thank you again for the advice and kinds words.
-Vanessa
@ Reallyregret...what is your medical background?
@NickOne7...thank you for the prompt reply.
I have read that the HIV virus is very delicate...that it cannot survive once it hits air.
I carry a lot of guilt from the past. I use to be flirty & promiscuous and didn't always practice safe sex. But now that I'm in a relationship with an awesome man, I fear losing him for something I did in my past.
So both of you believe this was a low or no risk situation?
Thank you again,
Vanessa
@NickOne7...thank you for the prompt reply.
I have read that the HIV virus is very delicate...that it cannot survive once it hits air.
I carry a lot of guilt from the past. I use to be flirty & promiscuous and didn't always practice safe sex. But now that I'm in a relationship with an awesome man, I fear losing him for something I did in my past.
So both of you believe this was a low or no risk situation?
Thank you again,
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa1013,
Oh yes, forgot to tell you too. While this is not related to hiv, you might want to avoid playing with such "nitrous" games in future.
While you wouldn't get hiv from playing these things, you could get "knocked out" or possibly risk death from this game.
I'm sure you probably know about it already, though, right? Right.
Take care.
May God bless
reallyregret
Oh yes, forgot to tell you too. While this is not related to hiv, you might want to avoid playing with such "nitrous" games in future.
While you wouldn't get hiv from playing these things, you could get "knocked out" or possibly risk death from this game.
I'm sure you probably know about it already, though, right? Right.
Take care.
May God bless
reallyregret
Hi Vanessa1013,
You have read that saliva doesn't present a risk for hiv, that's wonderful. You already knew! Even if blood was on the balloon and was passed around, it is virtually the case that the virus was already inactivated by exposure to air before you even got to touch it.
Vanessa1013, you had no risk to get hiv from that game you played. Zero.
You didn't need testing from this, but you had went on to get a test done. At slightly more than 1 month - where most people who have been truly infected would have tested positive - you had a negative test. This proves you did not get hiv from the no risk activity you had.
Please do not torture yourself over this anymore. You truly do not and cannot have hiv, as such, your symptoms are not related in any way to hiv.
Wake up and start having enjoying yourself again!
Take care.
May God bless
reallyregret
You have read that saliva doesn't present a risk for hiv, that's wonderful. You already knew! Even if blood was on the balloon and was passed around, it is virtually the case that the virus was already inactivated by exposure to air before you even got to touch it.
Vanessa1013, you had no risk to get hiv from that game you played. Zero.
You didn't need testing from this, but you had went on to get a test done. At slightly more than 1 month - where most people who have been truly infected would have tested positive - you had a negative test. This proves you did not get hiv from the no risk activity you had.
Please do not torture yourself over this anymore. You truly do not and cannot have hiv, as such, your symptoms are not related in any way to hiv.
Wake up and start having enjoying yourself again!
Take care.
May God bless
reallyregret
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