To worry that I may have HIV

[worriedmummy11]

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 I know of 2 other people who have had a mouth full of ulcers in the last week or so. Other symptoms included stomach ache and fatigue. Literally haven’t heard of anyone having so many mouth ulcers ever before and having just read your post you’re the third with this issue.

Get an HIV test, but also get some counselling for your health anxiety. Because whatever the outcome of the test, there a million different things to worry about in a day that can harm us and you will end up with a new anxiety before long. That is the real issue here, the health anxiety

Obviously if advised by a medical professional or clinically indicated, but there's nothing to say that the OP has been exposed to HIV? As explained above HIV dies in blood quickly and the chance that she was a) pierced with a used needle b) that uses needle had been used right before on someone with HIV is vanishingly small.

I agree and if OP had said I had unprotected sex with someone I'd advise that.
She isn't saying that.
Obviously she should do whatever feels right for her, but I work with people with health Anxiety on a daily basis, it's debilitating and unnecessary tests and procedures tends to provide relief very temporarily and then exacerbate the anxiety rather than addressing the actual issue.

Sorry OP I was quoting posters who had responded to my comment but the quoting didn't work.
I hope you feel better soon..mouth ulcers are horrible xx

To reassure you, OP, HIV would take a longer time than 4 weeks to show symptoms.
It's pretty unlikely that you contracted anything from the piercing shop, but you can test to put your mind at rest- although I'm not 100% sure 4 weeks is enough to show on a test? It used to be 3-6 months, I believe, but testing and medicine etc may have moved on in the last few years.

Sorry- misread and thought P had the piercing 4 weeks ago!

@Mumofboys109 It is NOT irresponsible to get a piercing without testing for HIV afterwards. For fuck’s sake.

OP I am sorry for your health anxiety affecting you like this. If you are going to do anything, seek help/self help regarding the anxiety.

What’s ACTUALLY happened is you have developed mouth ulcers. That’s all.

Which is not what I said.
My comment was to the person who is anti testing in general it appears.
Wake up

Normal, run of the mill viruses can cause mouth ulcers. I got them a few wears ago, had them in my mouth, on my tongue, on my throat. They were agony, to the point where even breathing was painful. I would rather have the flu or chicken pox again then go through that again.

Get tested for your own piece of mind, but its probably nothing to worry about.

@Mumofboys109

@Woolandwonder ‘s post? She advises OP against testing in this case, and explains why (because it feeds the health anxiety). Honestly. Read it back. He/she also encourages getting medical attention for the actual problem: mouth ulcers.

I’m sure you mean well and sorry if I came off a bit harsh.

@Mumofboys109

Which is not what I said. My comment was to the person who is anti testing in general it appears. Wake up

Please don't misquote me. I spent 20 years working in drug services, a huge part of my job was around health promotion which massively included testing for BBVs and supporting people through that process. I literally would be the first person to support someone to get tested IF it was needed. I've been tested..because I needed to be.

Sorry again OP for derailing.

@Mumofboys109

Which is not what I said. My comment was to the person who is anti testing in general it appears. Wake up

Testing would not be recommended on this event (piercing) alone and I’m pretty sure if the OP contacted THT Direct to ask they would agree www.tht.org.uk/our-services/support-services/tht-direct-helpline

However STI /HIV testing would be recommended for example, in a new relationship or one just finished or if potentially exposed to the virus by the known ways that it might be contracted.

Testing is done mostly postally nowadays rather than in clinic unless there are symptoms where an appointment might be offered after telephone triage. Most clinics I know of haven’t gone back to having walk in clinics.

I constantly had really bad ulcers then discovered I was anaemic, iron tablets totally eliminated them

Your GP may not be able to offer the test, phone the tomorrow and ask for your nearest testing centre.
Even if the needle was used prior (highly unlikely) it is equally unlikely to infect you as the virus dies quickly on exposure. I suggest testing purely because in the unlikely event you have the virus and the sooner you start antivirals the better.
Take care and sorry you’re having a stress.

Covid gave me really painful mouth sores—thankfully my dentist prescribed antibiotics which soon cleared them up. Try not to worry, OP. I hope you feel better soon.

OP it's worth saying that you KNOW you have health anxiety. That is your health concern. And it's a serious one.

You do not have HIV from a piercing. The CDC says that there has never been a case of HIV proven to have happened with body art. Never. Because you have to have a person with a high viral load, lots of blood, then immediately after that you have to have your piercing, and enough infected blood has to enter your bloodstream. It's not possible. Was the needle dripping with fresh blood? I think you would have noticed.

HIV is a very delicate virus. It doesn't like to live outside the human body. It likes sex and injections (actual injections) because it's in a lovely warm, oxygen free environment. As soon as it's exposed, it dies.

HIV isn't the fear. Your anxiety is.

Ex body piercer/Tattooist here. The health and safety checks our studios go through are insanely strict and rightly so. It is very difficult to reuse a cannula needle 1. Because I cut them down in situ, prior to inserting the jewellery through the 'hole' and 2. Because a cannula gets a little rumpled from the pressure exerted on piercing.
Cannula needles cost less tan £1 each, and piercing jewellery costs approximately 50p for a good quality (not cheap Chinese shite) ring or bar and should have been autoclaved (a vacuum autoclave will have been needed to pass the health and safety checks and get a license, without which it is impossible to run a studio) in a little bag prior to use. Your piercer should have worn gloves, which must be changed any time they touch something other than you and the sterile piercing kit. We pay for sharps and swabs collection, so there is no benefit in reusing kit and this would land piercer in unbelievably deep shit. Add to that the danger that a piercer would face from handling used clinical waste and the chances of a needlestick injury.
Please try not to worry. The chance you have caught HIV from a reputable studio is zero, unless they reuse needles and jewe!ery and that is seriously unlikely. Most of us love our job and our customers and customer safety and happiness are key. I would have been totally unaffected if a worried customer rang me to say they were worried and I would get you down to my studio to relieve your worries and talk you through our processes.
I used to show the customer their jewellery in it's autoclavable sterile, sealed bag and the sealed needle prior to piercing for their peace of mind.
Congratulations of your baby . Breastfeeding can be brutal on your body, speak to your Health visitor re. Vitamin supplements and any anxiety if you feel that would help, but don't sit and stew over this. You will be absolutely fine . Enjoy your baby and nose piercing!

*Unoffended but I'd also be unaffected and reasure you that you are uninfected!

The chief ingredient to keep health anxiety thriving is: reassurance.

The more you seek and receive reassurance - the more you nurture the health anxiety to feed and grow.

So - in this case I won’t speak about HIV at all. Please design a solid plan to address the anxiety.

@IlFaitBeau

The chief ingredient to keep health anxiety thriving is: reassurance.

The more you seek and receive reassurance - the more you nurture the health anxiety to feed and grow.

So - in this case I won’t speak about HIV at all. Please design a solid plan to address the anxiety.

This. All due respect to those who have attempted to reassure OP on the HIV issue, but: you're inadvertently feeding the anxiety.

OP, you need to develop a plan to address the anxiety, not seek reassurance on the HIV front.