I've never seen a tattooing 'needle' before. Is it shared among multiple clients? If so, is there any kind of sterilization done in between usage?

Sharing or harnessing any kind of needle among multiple users is a sure risk for hiv as also other diseases like hepatitis c which spread through blood contact.

Your risk depends on the answers to the above questions.

Avoid these kind of unhealthy practices like tattooing forever.

Firstly, in modern society, tattoing is not an unhealthy activity. It may not be to everyone's taste, but it is not generally any less safe than wearing lipstick.

But this depends on the tattoo parlour. The vast majority will use clean needles every time, replacing the needle-end of the machine for each customer. This is the law, and any tattoist who doesn't do this is breaking that law. Did you visit a reputable tattooist with up to date hygeine certificates? Chances are that you did, so you have nothing to worry about.

A vast majority use clean needles? That's good to hear. But hiv is something where you shouldn't take even a 1 in a million chance.

Even if the tattoo parlour is reputed and certified to be hygienic, there is always the possibilty of human error.

Inserting any kind of needle (apart from that administered by a physician in a hospital) into the human body is a definite risk of hiv transmission, and should be avoided. Hiv has been known to survive in needle tips for upto 2 days.

finess is right. You should be fine as long as you went to a reputable establishment and did not receive this tattoo at a friends house or in jail.

Even if you were not worried about it, everyone should be regularly tested for all sti's. Married, single, straight, gay, young, old, employed (especially in certain professions), unemployed, no matter who you are you should be regularly tested. this is a part of being a responsible person.

I recently saw my brother's tattoo's being done. If the needle used was taken from a sealed package and then inserted into the tattoo gun by a technician/artist wearing rubber gloves, you should be fine. If they used whatever needle they had or if they use recycled needles, you should be tested and you should never go there again.

If you have health insurance, just make an appointment and tell your doctor you need to be tested. If you don't have health insurance, a local planned parenthood will be able to give you any test you need.
Peace,
jenn

The symptoms you describe, by the way, are not that of ars (early hiv symptoms), and as you say they came one 'ever since', I assume that means the day or day after it occured, which is not how it works. Ars symptoms, which most commonly involve a fever, come on after two or more weeks. Sore legs are not part of it - 'aching limbs' as an ars, this means the achiness associated with a flu fever, not simple pains in the legs or arms.

Have a test after three months of it happening - but only for your peace of mind. You have no more risk than any other millions of people who have tattoos done. Including myself.

It may just be that you are alergic to the ink or something.I know when my best friend got her first tat she broke our really bad with hives or something.Get it chexked out by a doctor!

I think I am having an allergic reaction to my tattoo too! I would like to know, from others who experienced this, how long did it last? I have been going on for over a week (tattoo was done 1.5 weeks ago) with itchy legs, arms, face and ears. I have been taking antihistimes at night, which help, but during the day I go crazy. Any advice?

Thanks.

My friend didn't have it all over her body,just on the arm of her tato and it lasted quite a while.I thinhk more than a month,but everyones different

so I guess ur going to tell very1 going to the dentist is bad cause thats all they do is sterilize their equipment in between client and same for hospital when you go for a pap and they use metal ducks(dont ask) its just sterlizied. Btw the way they have a machine that sterilizes equipment (same as dentist use) that is in a timer and calibrated for temperature so they definatly are sterile.

I dont have tatoos but I had a $hitload of piercings, the only thing I can recommend is if ur getting a tatoo done visit the estblishment and verify there cleaning standards makes sure that the bring the sterile wrapped needle in front of u and open the package in front of your eyes!! (best way to be safe)

I agree,i have several piercings and some tats and I made sure they opened the package up in front of me

First, as already stated, you are not experiencing symptoms of hiv: it's too early and those you have described are not consistent. You are probably having a reaction to the ink.
As for allergic reactions: my great aunt received a tattoo a couple of years ago and was allergic to the red ink (she got a rose). It caused permanent swelling/puffiness where the ink was located. It didn't bother her physically, but didn't look very good!

It is very very unlikely that its hiv/aids. Hiv lies dormant for a long time before you even see any symptoms of having it.Chances are that u did not get hiv/aids from the tattoo and /if you do have hiv?Aids, it was most likely from long ago.