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Original poster

To worry that I may have HIV

71 replies

worriedmummy11 · 22/03/2022 20:19

In January, I plucked my courage up and got the nose piercing I had been wanting for ages. I went to a local piercing salon with a good reputation, but I do have to admit that I didn't witness whether the piercing needle used was brand new.

For the last 3-4 weeks I have had a recurring problem with multiple mouth ulcers - that many that my mouth has been full of them and I've been struggling to eat and drink. I visited the GP a couple of weeks ago who suggested I was run down - 2 poorly children, fighting off the virus myself etc.

But the ulcers just haven't gone away. After reading on the NHS website that recurring ulcers can be a sign of an immune condition, I'm now really worried that I could have contracted HIV from the piercing. I'm even more worried because DD is still currently breastfed.

I am prone to health anxiety which is skewing my ability to look at this rationally - I can't work out whether I'm blowing this out of proportion or it's a legitimate worry?

OP posts:
TunnelOfGoats · 22/03/2022 21:05

I don't think you would have got HIV from having your piercing done, OP. I had a horrible mouthful of ulcers a flew years ago, and it was my first herpes infection as my DS caught it himself from nursery. I must have not had it before then. Just telling you that various much more common and minor viruses and deficiencies can cause ulcers so try not to worry

ittakes2 · 22/03/2022 21:09

I am very sorry it sounds something more like ceoliac's disease to me. I remember having multiple mouth ulcers at the age of 4 and my children have a coeliac gene and I get asked if they have ever had lots of mouth ulcers.

Wouldntitbenicetobeinyourshoes · 22/03/2022 21:19

More likely to be something else op. Try not to worry Flowers

People who are deficient in B12 can produce abnormally large red blood cells that don't function correctly, and which is associated with anaemia. The deficiency can cause a whole host of symptoms, including mouth ulcers.

MissMaple82 · 22/03/2022 21:22

Stress is one of the major causes of mouth ulcers

HIVpos · 22/03/2022 21:25

Some great knowledge in this thread 🙂. I don’t think there has ever been a documented case of HIV transmission from getting pierced - much like there hasn’t been a documented case from a discarded needle. HIV is really pretty difficult to catch and needs certain conditions. It doesn’t do well at all once exposed to the air - the receptors degrade rendering it unable to be passed on.

If looking at it logically helps, the person getting pierced beforehand would have to

  1. be HIV+, not be on medication and have a lot virus in their blood (which rules out the vast majority of people living with HIV in the U.K. who are on effective meds and no risk)
  2. They’d have to bleed significantly on the equipment.
  3. The equipment would not be disinfected between customers.
  4. Blood from the contaminated equipment would need to enter the next customer's body in significant quantities for infection to take place.

I used to get some mouth sores before contracting HIV, probably due to stress, not enough sleep and kids, perhaps low iron. I agree with others that blood tests might help to see if you’re deficient in something or maybe need a good rest

Jada1234 · 22/03/2022 21:28

It might be lupus.

Zippy1510 · 22/03/2022 21:31

No you didn’t catch HIV from a nose piercing. You wouldn’t get symptoms that quickly

Thatswhyimacat · 22/03/2022 21:33

HIV doesn't cause symptoms that quickly. It gives you mild flu like symptoms a couple of weeks after infection and then nothing for a few years.

It would be really incredibly difficult to get it from a nose piercing - exposure to air kills it off pretty much instantly and there wouldn't be sufficient blood to blood contact. The cells in your nose aren't ideal for HIV to attach to.

I have health anxiety and it is amazing how many symptoms you get when you're stressed about symptoms!!!

2022Bride · 22/03/2022 21:35

I understand struggling with health anxiety so I hope it will help to know that current stats put the risk of HIV transmission from a needlestick from a positive person at around 0.3%. So even in the unlikely event it was a dirty needle, that had been used on someone else, and that person happened to have HIV - the risk of you catching it is still less than 1%.
However, I also know with health anxiety you likely won’t be reassured until you have an appropriate test - go to a sexual health clinic and get yourself tested (I speak from the voice of experience here, I convinced myself my skin rash was syphilis. It was psoriasis, but I didn’t believe that until I had a negative blood result!)

user1471443411 · 22/03/2022 21:36

I think it's highly unlikely you have HIV. It's more likely that covid has depleted your immune system which has made you more prone to mouth ulcers. I know when I had (suspected) long covid starting March 2020 I kept getting sores and ulcers in my mouth, which I've never had before. This stopped after a few months though and I've not had any since.
To put your mind at rest you could get a free test at an STD clinic.

Relentlessrose · 22/03/2022 21:37

Could you be reacting to the nose piercing? Ulcers can actually be an allergic thing, as can feeling run down

Tomnooktoldmeto · 22/03/2022 21:41

Every piercing I’ve seen DD have are done with a disposable single use cannula so unless you went somewhere incredibly dodgy I doubt you’ve got an infection from it let alone HIV

Mouth ulcers are very common if you’re run down especially if you have certain B vitamin deficiencies which are quite common in women. I would start there to be honest

vodkaredbullgirl · 22/03/2022 21:42

You are just run down.

Relentlessrose · 22/03/2022 21:45

It could also be covid, a cold, another virus, impetigo, hand foot and mouth, food allergies, vitamin or mineral deficiency or pretty much any autoimmune condition.

Narutocrazyfox · 22/03/2022 21:49

I agree with other posters that catching it from the piercing needle is highly unlikely. Perhaps speak to the piercer for peace of mind?

On a side note, recurrent mouth ulcers was what alerted me to the fact I had coeliac disease - it's actually a fairly common symptom. If they don't clear up in the next few weeks have another word with your GP.

Manekinek0 · 22/03/2022 21:49

Get yourself tested to put your mind at ease but there is no way if you have HIV that you got it from a piercing.

Have you stopped smoking or started vaping? Had any kind of illness?

FizzyTango · 22/03/2022 21:56

HIV is virtually impossible to get from a nose piercing.
I’m a medical microbiologist.
Honestly don’t worry. If it puts your mind at ease get a test, but seriously dont worry!

Uniformity · 22/03/2022 22:08

Coeliac is the first thing I thought of too but like most posters here I suspect you are just very run down.

Woolandwonder · 22/03/2022 22:16

Vanishingly unlikely. I also disagree with getting checked, if you have health anxiety the very worst thing you can do is to seek reassurance by testing googling etc, as it makes it even harder to deal with the next time an issue arrises, by resisting those urges to be reassured you will really help yourself longer term . By all means have another appointment with your GP about your ulcers but try and avoid seeking reassurance around the HIV issue.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 22/03/2022 22:19

@Woolandwonder

Vanishingly unlikely. I also disagree with getting checked, if you have health anxiety the very worst thing you can do is to seek reassurance by testing googling etc, as it makes it even harder to deal with the next time an issue arrises, by resisting those urges to be reassured you will really help yourself longer term . By all means have another appointment with your GP about your ulcers but try and avoid seeking reassurance around the HIV issue.
It is never a bad idea to get tested for and STI.
Tomnooktoldmeto · 22/03/2022 22:21

I had mouth ulcers regularly, I was an undiagnosed coeliac! I take good quality B vitamins and now rarely get them

Mumofboys109 · 22/03/2022 22:25

Go on the Terrance Higgins trust site and order a free home test kit. It’s very unlikely but I think everyone should get one. Xx

Mumofboys109 · 22/03/2022 22:28

@Woolandwonder

Vanishingly unlikely. I also disagree with getting checked, if you have health anxiety the very worst thing you can do is to seek reassurance by testing googling etc, as it makes it even harder to deal with the next time an issue arrises, by resisting those urges to be reassured you will really help yourself longer term . By all means have another appointment with your GP about your ulcers but try and avoid seeking reassurance around the HIV issue.
Wow that’s such an irresponsible attitude. Thank god we don’t all have that attitude or HIV would be even more widespread.
EmeraldShamrock1 · 22/03/2022 22:30

Get yourself tested.

It is highly unlikely that the needle was re-used.

Best of luck.

Yamyam13 · 22/03/2022 22:34

My bestest ever friend has suffered from this exact type of health anxiety since we were teens, so I recognise this straight away as that. You’re having irrational thoughts, and as others have said, should consider getting some help with your anxiety/OCD. Have ypu read Bryony Gordon’s book? She also had irrational thoughts and OCD around HIV.
Hope you feel better soon xx