Q&A Question

Fear of what will come.

Good morning,

I have read a lot in this blog and decided to do it too. So, I will start by saying that I am also afraid to write because I fear reading the answers.

I will tell you my story…

About three years ago, I had unprotected sex (he performed cunnilingus on me and then vaginal intercourse with coitus interruptus). I have never seen this person again. And I remember that the next day I had discomfort and burning inside my vagina. I went to the pharmacy, and they gave me some douches and ovules… Then, after a while, I met a boy, and we started a relationship, having sex with condoms and, after a while, sex without a condom. It all ended in August 2014. Two years ago, I had problems with red spots on my face, like pimples (cheeks and less on my forehead), but they lasted a long time.

I went to two dermatologists, and they all told me that it was rosacea, and they also gave me a course of antibiotics. Then everything disappeared.

Throat and Reflux Concerns

Last year, during the night, I had a tickling in my throat for months that caused me to cough, and I couldn’t rest, so in May 2014, I went to see the ENT specialist who immediately told me that it was oesophagal reflux, but I didn’t have any symptoms of heartburn. So, I went to two more ENT specialists because I thought it was a tumour or something else. The other two specialists where examined me with cameras that were inserted through my nose and into my throat, and they said that there was nothing and that it was all due to asymptomatic reflux… As well as stress.

From the blood tests done at the beginning of January 2014, I only had a high C-reaction protein value of 1.15 (the doctor had prescribed this test because he had discovered two hernias in the cervix and wanted to see other values). I repeated the blood tests in November 2014, and here, too, the C-reactive protein was high at 0.83.

Pap Test and HPV Concerns

At the beginning of September 2014, I did a pap test, and the HPV pap test was normal, while the HPV virus test was positive, indicating that I should repeat the test after a year. Therefore, I immediately went to a gynaecologist who told me to stay calm and prescribed my only treatment for a Gardnella inflammation (even if the pap test was normal… Oh well) and that, in her opinion, the C-reactive protein had nothing to do with the inflammation found.

That all being said… After the positive HPV test, I didn’t want to have sex anymore… and so for this reason, I broke up with the boy I was seeing… And the mere thought of having sex stops me for this reason… Now, I haven’t had sex for 5 months, and the other night, watching the Italia Uno program Xlove where they were talking about HIV, I panicked thinking that all the unprotected sex I’ve had… About that burning sensation I had three years ago, the red spots on my face like pimples I had two years ago, the C-reactive protein and the positive HPV test.

I went to a private laboratory and asked to do an HIV test (they did HPV6 on me), and I have to collect the tests on Tuesday evening. It’s useless to tell you that I’m terrified because it’s only my fault if I find myself in this situation if the test is positive. I think I contracted it three years ago with my relationship with this stranger. I’m an idiot not to think about the risks. I think I ruined myself for life even if, from your other comments, I read that, in reality, it is not like that.

Fear of Sharing My Situation

I’m afraid to tell my parents… how will I tell them.. and what will I say… I don’t dare to open that envelope they will give me on Tuesday. I said it. A very dear friend and I asked him to do it for me… And to always be close to me…

I’m sorry if I wrote so much. It’s more of a vent to talk to someone who knows.

I’m afraid I infected her three years ago, and only thanks to the Iene service did I take the test. All those symptoms over the years… The high PCR (even if they told me it could also be high for a cold). The positive HPV… And the Gardnella. Are they symptoms?! If it’s positive, you will be my help… If I’m negative, I will continue to read your posts because they are a source of knowledge…

Thanks to everyone.

Answer:

Hi,

Nothing of what you say can be traced back to HIV so quickly; there are many transmittable infections, and certainly, various viruses/bacteria can induce ‘strange’ responses in the body, such as hernias, inflammation, etc. You will have to keep HPV under control.

I think you will be negative. A high PCR can indicate other problems, perhaps rheumatic, inflammatory nature – possibly originating from some infection, even if not well-determined or serious. Ever heard of autoimmune diseases? There is nothing ‘autoimmune’ about them, they are all responses to infections usually viral – based on the genetic predisposition of the individual. With this, I don’t mean to say that you have a chronic disease; I want to let you know that HIV is the last thing you should think about; at the same time, it is good not to underestimate other pathogens that, in predisposed subjects, can cause damage (even the very banal EBV, a virus that is wrongly underestimated but can integrate into the nucleus of cells and remain there for life).

The importance of support between women after the oncological journey: let’s talk about it

Raising Awareness for Breast Cancer Prevention

In America, in 1992, October became a month for raising awareness about breast cancer prevention and research. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In the 30 years that followed, around 70 other countries joined this initiative. These countries now promote events on this topic, from screenings to discussions on the importance of prevention. Pink October invites everyone, quoting the AIRC, “to face together the big step that separates us from the finish line: curing all women.”

To close out this month, we spoke with Chiara, founder of the @FeelingNova project and the Wabi Sabi clothing line. Through her project, she created post-op bras for cancer patients who had to undergo a mastectomy. The idea, now a community for women “for rebirth,” came to her after her mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer. During that time, Chiara saw the importance of support from family, friends, and colleagues. This mutual support between women inspired her to launch the project.