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HIV

14:52 / 04.05.03

i have recently come to a more definite decision regarding the maintenance of my sexual health.

despit having had fewer partners than many would consider dangerous, and despite having no real cause to suspect anything is untoward, i would like to get myself tested. i know that there are several different tests for different diseases, but my main concern is to get an AIDS/HIV test.

i want to know if i am in any danger and also if i am risking anyone elses safety when i have sex, and quite like the idea of knowing for sure that i have not had astonishingly bad luck.

could anyone here tell me the best and cheapest way to go about this?

i have visited the sandyford clinic in glasgow before, mostly for the freebies, and was informed there that i was not in a risk group, and therefore didnt need a test.

my doctor seems to have a similar attitude towards such things; if there is no symptom, there is no problem and therefore no need to make sure.

so, yeah. all you lithers, share the knowledge.

15:27 / 04.05.03

my doctor seems to have a similar attitude towards such things; if there is no symptom, there is no problem and therefore no need to make sure.
Good lord that is an atrocious opinion for a doctor to have. Dont know much about it, but that is just so amazingly wrong.

15:32 / 04.05.03

yeah, he seems to me to be best-guessing a little, that if there is no reason for me to suspect that there is a problem then why waste time and get myslef all anxious over nothing.

i understand his view, but still.

i havent been back to tell him to do the test, i have only put the idea out there once and when i was told there was likely no need i let him off. shouldnt have, but i was a little stoned from the night before and not quick enough to confront him.

15:41 / 04.05.03

I agree. That doctor is in serious denial. But then, I'm in San Francisco, where there's a big problem of people who are infected and don't know it not getting tested....

I applaud your decision to get tested. But, getting tested is not a "one-shot" deal... If you're serious about maintaining your health and that of your partners, you also need to think about what you're willing to do about it besides getting a blood test. Condoms, every single time? Barriers for both giving and receiving oral sex? And, HIV isn't the only nasty out there. Hepatitis C is truly evil.

15:43 / 04.05.03

Go back to your GP. Tell him you're becoming increasingly anxious about it, you're losing sleep, you really do feel one negative result would put your mind at rest (some hard-core hypochondriacs request multiple investigations then 'disbelieve' the results and request more in order to 'make sure'). Alternatively, reiterate the same point to the Sandyford Clinic.

Not knowing the HIV services in Glasgow, I can't offer up any more specific solutions, I'm afraid.

16:23 / 04.05.03

cheers, trunkster.

yeah, i think i might go to the sandyford, as it is a little more anonymous and they are supposed to be set up to deal with problems arising from willies.

will there be any question of paying for a test if i am not a 'risk group' as i was told?

16:26 / 04.05.03

I don't think so, but offering might underscore how much you want the test...

16:27 / 04.05.03

If you're serious about maintaining your health and that of your partners, you also need to think about what you're willing to do about it besides getting a blood test.

yeah. i am usually condom sensible, but there have been exceptions.
i realise that i could easily become infected after a test, but i like the idea of knowing for sure that anything bad that i might catch will be from a certain date onwards. sort of a clean slate start, if you like.

17:24 / 04.05.03

Not wishing to sound puerile, but what about the dip-stick test? Doesn't the idea of it make you wince?

18:36 / 04.05.03

Regards that "dip-stick test" thing, that is only used in the case of a test for what I guess I am somewhat out of date in terming VD type STD/Is. Being that HIV is in the bloodstream a blood test is sufficient for HIV (and also Hep C). However, I was told that HIV takes approximately 3 months to incubate enough to be noticed so if you've been in a HIV risk situation in the past 3 months any test you take now is somewhat redundant.

Good luck
SV

Cloned Christ on a HoverDonkey

18:49 / 04.05.03

Why don't you go to a blood donor centre?

Donate a pint of blood; they routinely test all donations for HIV and hapatitis. If, after you've donated you don't hear anything back off them, then you'll know you're clear. If your sample is found to be HIV +ve, then they'll let you know.

Sounds like a cheap way to get it done whilst possibly doing some good at the same time. And you'll get a cuppa and a biccie.

19:27 / 04.05.03

When you donate blood they specifically ask you not to do that. Things can slip through the system and donating "questionable" blood is a pretty shitty thing to do.

ONLY NICE THINGS

20:20 / 04.05.03

However, I was told that HIV takes approximately 3 months to incubate enough to be noticed so if you've been in a HIV risk situation in the past 3 months any test you take now is somewhat redundant.

I think that the test is actually for antibodies generated by the body in response to the HI virus, not the virus itself, hence the development period. However, 3 months is a lengthy estimate - they may well turn up before that, but will pretty much certainly have turned up by then. But the regular process is test, then another test 3 months later.

As for the tests - if it's sufficiently serious, a private clinic would probably guarantee confidentiality - you might well not even have to give your name, IIRC, for a walk-in test. Note also that your insurance company *may* still have a tickbox saying "have you had an HIV test?". This is a fucking insane thing, but the assumption is that people who have HIV tests are likely to be drug users, promiscuous homosexuals, prostitutes or some other form of high-risk group. Answering this incorrectly would technically speaking be illegal, and at best invalidate the contract, but the more anonymous the testing program the less likely you will ever be called on this.

I'm afraid it's been a while since my Welfare Officer days, so this may be out of date, but that's what I remember...

Cloned Christ on a HoverDonkey

20:22 / 04.05.03

@ bio k9

Good point.

But I thought toksik was considered to be in a low risk group (from the general tone of his comments, I feel confident that he's pretty damn sure he doesn't have HIV), probably a similar risk as most of the population, and only wanted an HIV test to ease any nagging worries that he may have.

I would never advocate someone who thinks that they may actually have HIV to find out via the blood donor service.

20:51 / 04.05.03

Whenever I've been in mortgage/insurance situations I've played the 'stroppy A-gay' card, and made it clear at the outset that I have no intention of filling in any sort of 'lifestyle questionnaire' or answering questions on incidental medical investigations. It seems to work: I've never had to do the tick-box thing.

08:01 / 05.05.03

I had an HIV test recently (negative, yayy), at the sexual health clinic at my local hospital. I found it by looking up "HIV text Leeds" on google, and they were lovely: the nice counsellor lady was totally reassuring, so I didn't spend the eight hours it took them to turn the results round fretting, and obviously they didn't mind that I was pretty low-risk. I'd suggest researching all the sexual health clinics you can find in your area to see which ones will be anonymous, swift with results... whatever your priorities are. You could try ringing a local branch of an HIV charity, or the CItizen's Advice Bureau for information.

Good luck. I hope your experience with it is as good as mine was.

14:09 / 05.05.03

eight hours?!? jesus. 'round here, at the youth clinic, we have to go back in a week. and a long week it is.

*purses mouth jealously*

15:56 / 05.05.03

from the general tone of his comments, I feel confident that he's pretty damn sure he doesn't have HIV

yeah.
i am just aware that it is all too possible, even though i severely doubt it.

thank you all for the advice, i may even share once i get the results in.

22:28 / 05.05.03

praying mantis - I know, am v lucky. (Those were italics of disbelieving joy, rather than "tch! eight hours! what a long wait!)

Elijah, Freelance Rabbi

22:33 / 05.05.03

i was having some serious health issues in december including joint pain and massive conjunctivitis, and my doc, despite working at a university health center, decided the full barrage of tests were needed

I was really nervous and half blind for 2 weeks, but all the tests came back negative, and i have felt much better since. M gf at the time 6 monthes prior had tested a "maybe" partial positive, and the 3 months between tests was nerve wracking, but it all came out clear in the end.

so yeah, just say you WANT the test, and get a new doc if they keep fighting you on it

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

22:37 / 05.05.03

When I got tested, it was a pretty straightforward deal... I phoned the hospital, arranged an appointment, and got the test. No cash changed hands, they just gave me the test.

Having said that... when I got the test done, I wasn't too worried (it was just hearing about a previous partner's sexual history and thinking "OH FUCK!!!")... when I went for the results I was absolutely bricking it. I didn't realise quite how much until I got told it was all OK, and I just wanted to dance in the street.

Do it. Personally I think it should be done every six months or so (not that I get scared that often, just that it seems sensible. And before anyone asks, no, I don't live up to the standard I just set. If it was compulsory, I guess I probably would.) And I think insurance companies should NOT be allowed to know anyone's results.

22:39 / 05.05.03

My sister decided to do this for the same reasons as you Toksik, and she went to a clinic where they were prompt on test results and not at all concerned with why she wanted the test in the first place. It was a clinic in London, possibly the one where you go if you think you may be pregnant. (Not much help I know, sorry, but I'll ask her.)

Mmmm and what is the 'dip-stick' test, please?

23:06 / 05.05.03

you dont want to know.

it involves the urethra...

12:51 / 06.05.03

If you're still thinking about testing, toksik, then it seems you can bypass your GP and just phone for an appointment at the Royal Infirmary and the Western General, according to this site.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary - Genito-Urinary Clinic
Tel:0141 211 4000
The clinic is open 8.45am - 12.00pm and 1.30pm - 4.15pm. No referral is needed, and you should expect to wait about one week for your first appointment. If you are enquiring about HIV testing, an appointment may be made sooner after speaking to the Health Adviser.

Southern General Hospital - Genito-Urinary Clinic
Tel:0141 201 1690
Health Advisor:0141 201 1696
Opening hours:
Mon & Fri: 8.45am - 12.00pm, 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Tues & Thurs: 8.45am - 12.00pm, 1.30pm - 4.00pm
Wednesday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm, 5.00pm - 7.40pm

Western Infirmary - Genito-Urinary Clinic
Tel:0141 211 2033
Opening Hours:
Tues & Wed 9.00am - 12.00 pm
No referral necessary, but an appointment system applies. If you are enquiring about HIV, ask for an appointment with the Health Adviser.

re: Dip Stick test, are you sure about the urethra thing? Is this a specific HIV test? Just that usually "Dip Stick" means dipping an impregnated stick into a sample of urine and watching the impreganted chemicals change colour. They might well want to take a swab from your urethra to check for other G-U infection, however, but it's pretty straightforward unless you're unusually squeamish.

My only problem in such consultations is the natural tendency of my penis to respond in the conventional way to being handled. Or perhaps that should be unconventional way, with the gloved hands, swabs, smell of antiseptic etc. Perve, moi?

Makes me sad to hear the old crap about "High Risk Groups" still doing the rounds. For the last two years at least the greater number of new HIV cases reported in the UK have been via heterosexual transmission. This "High Risk" rubbish is a dangerous strategy and sadly still afflicts the Blood Tranfusion Service's thinking. When I worked as a nurse, I had to assume that anyone I nursed could be HIV positive. Any other assumption would have been risky and foolish.

13:29 / 06.05.03

chee-urz xoc.

when i was last fondled by a member of the medical proffesion in a proffesional capacity, i have to admit to the occurence of a certain amount of shrinkage. i would prefer the experience to give me happy, you lucky chap.

ps
i thought the dip stick was the clap test that went up the urethra... thats obviously called something else then.