High risk group but zero risk?

[Richard1985]

First of all I'm not asking the same question - I have been perusing the expert forum of Dr HHH here, and he states that African sex workers are high risk groups. My encounter was 2 minutes protected sex with an African csw in London and about 4 minutes protected oral. I may have touched the condom after taking it off and then touched my penis. This was diagnosed here as no risk or zero risk and testing not required. This diagnosis has been quite frankly keeping me sane over the last week is this actually correct can I rely on this? I need to keep telling myself to stay rational.

[zamzam4]

The inability to accept a no risk assesment nearly always links in to something else, OCD, guilt, depression etc.. The first step is to be aware of what is at the actual root of your problem.  

As I am sure you have read and been told a million times symptoms mean absolutely nothing, risk does and you didn't have one.

HIV is not mucus producing so whatever is causing you runny nose is more likely a common cold or allergy not HIV.

I would suggest that if you have already experienced this level of anxiety towards HIV (you mention 2004) then you should seek out some professional help to figure out what is really causing your emotional distress.  Your anxiety and phobia towards HIV is merely a symptom or manifestation of a clinical problem i.e depression.  When we are depressed/anxious our brains need something to focus on as a reason for the mental problem, in your case HIV.

Find somebody in your area to talk to, it can really help.  You don't need to go through this again.

[Richard1985]

Thanks zamzam. I am slowly (touch wood) getting a grip and as long as there has never been a case where someone here was told no risk and went on to catch a disease I think I am ok. I only assessed the other person as no risk if he used protection which is what I have been told here.

It's hard when this flu is so bad to keep telling yourself "It's just a common flu, take antibiotics, you were at zero risk, you'll be fine" all the time. It's developed into a runny nose and coughing now.

Anyway whether this means anything or not I would just like to thank everyone here. In particular Getitright, Apollo, ZamZam, JG, Lizzie, Teak, you have all stopped me from going down a worry spiral that has actually lasted 7 years. Back in 2004 I had no one to ask and it drove me crazy. I guess this links in to OCD and guilt and even though I was single back than my usual worry would be related to touching the condom and then touching my penis. But it was protected sex each and every time and that is the rational I have to focus on.

Thanks again.

[zamzam4]

Can I also just add if you really don't understand the routes of transmission of HIV and what represents a true risk you should not be on here advising others.

[zamzam4]

When HIV is transmitted it is not the person that is high risk but the route of transmission.

People with HIV can still have sex they just have to use protection.  As long as you use protection you can have sex with anybody who is willing, even those with HIV.

Sorry to say it but you seriously need to get a grip, you had protected sex.  The category of person is irrelevant as long as you used protection.

[Teak]

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