Hello I am a 1st time poster. I finally came to the realization yesterday that my biggest problem is not my health at all, its my anxiety. I find something to obsess over and I run with it. My thing for quite some time tho has been health. If I have a night out with some drinks I must have contracted liver disease. If I have a sexual encounter (I am heterosexual btw) I think I may have contracted HIV. It has gotten to the point where it is costing me money. I literally bought a thermometer 2 days ago and have checked my temperature probably 30 times since. I am watching myself display this bizarre behavior and I can not seem to stop it. It has affected me socially and is at a point where it is actually making me sick (killing my appetite, making me dry heave etc). I dont know how much more of this I can take.
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XmasCarol52
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Welcome and i do understand what you are going through because right now i am going through hell myself,i think I got a sinus infection i am taking antibiotics sometimes it feels like there is nothing there yet I have convinced myself there is something there and my anxieties are at a very high level right now i get the sweats and i cannot take it anymore since I have a fear of doctors this isnt helping me out any either.I try to relax but my brain just keeps on convincing me there is something to worry about,i hate the thought of having to go to the doctors i suppose if i have to have to but that is what is scaring me the most. I hate this illness every single time i get sick i develop a panic attack,i have to go and lay down no so i can relax.
I certainly understand. I also understand its an anxiety disorder. Its so frustrating to watch myself exhibit bizarre behaviors and not be able to stop. But I wanna see the Dr and i wanna get tested for everything under the sun. This week I have purchased 2 at home HIV tests, a liver enzyme test and a thermometer, AND went to the public health dept for an std and hiv test.
Concernedgal
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Ah yes.. health anxiety. . The door prizes of every anxiety disorder. It all stems from some thing though. Think back, have you or a family member suffered a health scare lately? Have you had someone else really close to die recently? That kind of stuff would definitely cause you to think k twice about your health. Mine stemed from when I was 17 I contracted chlamydia. That's when I realized that I wasn't invincible. Btw. Those who know me here.. this is why I can't have children. I went to my regular pap smear appointment and then, bam, 2 days later I got that call. I was shocked because first of all I have only been with 1 person my whole life ( I swear in my life) 1 person, we were monogamous and we wore condoms the while time we were dating. I insisted on that. It turned out that he got it from his ex and had it for 7 months and he didn't even know it. From then on.. I have been super vigilant about every symptom and every sensation. I recently had gas for 3 days straight and I thought that I was having a heart attack but, of course... I wasn't. I spent all day at at the doctors office yesterday. So, I feel your pain. Think back... can you think of a health related event that could of triggered yours. Welcome to the forum.
Thank you. TBH I cannot pin point where it comes from. I get tested regularly (actually regularly would be once or twice a year, I am closer to 4 or 5), I use protection when having sex, I am not an IV drug user, I am heterosexual, I cant really pinpoint it when it comes to my fear of HIV. I think my biggest fear is having to tell my kids that I am sick (should that ever occur, God forbid). I think my fear of liver disease may come from my mom having it, not secondary to drinking tho. This is all coming to a point where its an obsession tho.
Concernedgal
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When it comes to health anxiety. .. HIV takes the cake. It's an infection that doesn't have a cure and it's got such a huge stigma. My brother has it from using iv drugs. As sad as this is to admit... my fear of infection keeps me away from him. I live in a state where HIV and AIDS is widespread and I buy anti bacterial and anti viral disinfectant prouts in response. I won't use a public restroom and I Don't like to sit too close to people when I'm at the doctorsame office. I force the doctors to unwrap needles and syringe if i'm getting a shot or blood taken. My fear of getting it comes form a drug addicted nurse that might use a pre filled syringe full of pain killer or something and they re fill it with saline. And because of there drug abuse outside the doctor office... they caught hep c or HIV . I just don't risk it. I suppose my fear trigger for HIV was when my brother got it.
The number of "homosexuals" who have HIV is only between 2 and 5 percent of the gay male population, and one of the main reasons it is- slightly- statistically more likely for gay men to contract HIV is because homophobia makes it difficult for us to access healthcare so many gay men don't get tested.
Most sexually transmitted cases of HIV worldwide are transmitted through heterosexual intercourse in countries that have poor healthcare or limited access to healthcare.
HIV and AIDS are stigmatized as "the gay disease" but that's not necessarily true.
So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that being heterosexual does not put you at much lower of a risk of contracting HIV. There are plenty of straight people who have HIV.
Most sexually transmitted cases of HIV worldwide are transmitted through heterosexual intercourse in countries that have poor healthcare or limited access to healthcare.
HIV and AIDS are stigmatized as "the gay disease" but that's not necessarily true.
So, basically, what I'm trying to say is that being heterosexual does not put you at much lower of a risk of contracting HIV. There are plenty of straight people who have HIV.
Concernedgal
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Yes there are plenty of straight people with HIV. The number one reason in the last three year's has been sharing needles. That's the problem here in my state. Haroin use is the number one drug being used here in the state of Alabama. Google it... you'll see. I have read that homosexual men are being more proactive in protecting themselves against this devastating disease. And I do agree with you.... people do need to take there blinders off and realize that HIV is not a gay disease ... it's what I would call (equal opportunity disease) . My brother is straight and he infected by this devastating disease because of drug use.
That's horrible that your brother has HIV, I'm so sorry to hear that. And yes, it can be transmitted through sharing needles as well. Calling it an "equal opportunity disease" is very true too.
I live in Massachusetts and there's a heroin problem here too, unfortunately. One of my classmates in high school died of an overdose, it was very sad. Hopefully there will be something done about the heroin problem in Alabama and in New England too because it's awful that people are dying and contracting diseases.
Concernedgal
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Thank you for your compassion. My brother was diagnosed when he was put in the hospital for an overdose. I went to see him and he was still in a coma. It took 4 days ... maybe 4 and half days before he woke up. The doctor walked in ... took some more blood with a concerned look on his face. 2 days had passed and I went back up to the hospital to see him. The doctor walked in and said that he needed to speak to my brother alone. I'm kind of a snoop so I had my ear to the door the while time. He told my brother that he was HIV positive. And my brother screamed and cried . He was put on a 72 hour observation for suicide risk. He was given a formonth to take to the health department and he started treatment. He told me that he was given a 3 drug cocktail and he tells me that he feels a lot better now. As sad as this is... I can talk to him on the phone but, I can't get myself to go see him or be in the same room. I know I should be ashamed and I am don't get me wrong but, my health anxiety keeps me away... you know what?? I think I should just go see him on Thanksgiving. I bet that would make him happy.
I think that would mean the world to him.Yes IV drug users may be the biggest community of HIV+ patients. I wouldn't say by any stretch its the gay disease, however when it IS transmitted sexually, it is mostly transmitted through male/male anal sex. I live in NM and I think in 2016 it was only reported in 6 instances in heterosexual males, most likely ones who had intercourse with prostitutes and/or IV drug users.
janemariesayed
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The problem is having multiple partners and loose intimate unprotected relations. This is what is spreading the disease. I think it is more drug/needle users that contract it rather than by other means.