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Author Topic: ARS and testing  (Read 6337 times)

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Offline radwan

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ARS and testing
« on: April 24, 2008, 02:55:25 am »
I had unprotected sex with a girl...after about 18 days I came down with a sore throat and a fever..the fever lasted for some days and the throat lasted for 12 days...I did a test 3 days after the symptoms started (3 weeks after exposure).It was Ag/Ab test and it came negative. I made another test 2 weeks after symptoms started (32 days after exposure) and it also came back negative. Also it was Ag/Ab. I know that this is not conclusive but can I at least say that my symptoms were not ARS? If I had ARS wouldnt the p24 or antibodies show on any of the tests?
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Offline Andy Velez

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2008, 07:47:35 am »
Any negative test result is a happy thing. However, the only one that ultimately counts is a negative HIV test at 13 weeks. That's when you get your reliable result.

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4- 6 weeks after a risky incident. Unprotected intercourse definitely is one such. Symptoms are never a reliable barometer of HIV status. They simply resemble those caused by too many other illnesses. There is nothing HIV specific about any of yours. I will say ARS don't come in stops and starts. When they occur they happen all at once, last a week or two and are gone.

HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It is significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. Given this was a single incident the odds are in your favor that you're going to ultimately test negative. However, low risk is not the same thing as no risk. You need to learn from this experience. When you have unprotected intercourse you are putting your life at risk. It's as simple and as stark as that.

You can have all the vaginal or anal intercourse you like and with as many partners as you want. BUT you must wear a latex condom everytime. No exceptions.

Good luck with your 13 week test. I expect you will likely come out of it ok. If your symptoms persist that's something to discuss with your doctor.

Cheers,
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Andy Velez

Offline radwan

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2008, 01:38:16 am »
Hello again

Thanks for your help last time Andy.

I was eating a sandwich the other day and I noticed blood on it. I directly stopped eating it and put my finger and toached the blood. The blood was not dry. It may have been my blood but I am not sure. In case it wasnt my blood, was I at risk if I had eaten some bites with blood on the sandwich ? do I need to test for this? I think the sandwich was left for about 10 minutes before I ate it.
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Offline RapidRod

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2008, 06:07:24 am »
You do not contract HIV from eating. It wouldn't matter if there were blood on the sandwich not. HIV does not stay active outside its host.
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Offline Andy Velez

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2008, 08:13:44 am »
OK, frankly this is just HIV jitters nuttiness. Really. If you haven't already read our lesson on Transmission you need to do that. Or re-read it. HIV is a fragile virus and not easily transmitted and certainly not on surfaces like food, doorknobs, nicks from haircuts and such.

Get off of that slippery slope or you are going to be driving yourself nutz with all kinds of totally unwarranted fears. Really.
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Andy Velez

Offline radwan

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2008, 01:10:17 am »
Hello again

I am worried since when I saw the blood I touched it with my hands and it was still wet and not dry and as I read this means that the virus is not deavtivated yet. Should I be concerened?
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Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2008, 02:11:30 am »
No, you should not be concerned. You cannot contract HIV by touching blood, wet or dry,

Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread and follow the links to our Lessons to learn more about how HIV is and is not transmitted.

MtD
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Offline radwan

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2008, 03:36:59 am »
It is not that I touched it, I was eating the sandwich before I saw the blood and I am afraid that I ate viable HIV and now I am infected....please help
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Offline anniebc

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  • AM member since 2003
Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2008, 04:28:30 am »
Quote from: RapidRod on May 27, 2008, 06:07:24 am
You do not contract HIV from eating. It wouldn't matter if there were blood on the sandwich not. HIV does not stay active outside its host.

You have already been given your answer by RapidRod...now go and read the welcome thread that Matty pointed you to.

Jan
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Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2008, 08:08:42 am »
Knock! Knock! Is anybody there listening! This is TOTAL NONSENSE with absolutely no basis in HIV science.

You could have rolled your face in it, dipped your fingers and eaten it. You've been repeatedly told there wouldn't be any risk of transmission in that kind of situation. None whatsoever. HIV is a fragile virus and cannot remain viable in that setting so it wouldn't matter if the sandwich was dipped in blood ketchup. Really.

And if you continue to press this issue you're going to get a time out. Really.
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Andy Velez

Offline radwan

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2008, 01:31:00 am »
Hello again

After reading the last replies I am now sure that I didnt contract HIV from the sandwich. But being as unlucky as I am, I had another risk that I totally didnt plan or have any hand in ! I was cutting my hair at the barber shop and I was closing my eyes andrelaxing as he was doing his job. Whe I opened my eyes, I was horrified to see that his hands had some blood on them and on the scissors as well. I asked him from where did the blood come and he said that he cut himself a bit as he was cleaning the scissors. Now I dont have any open wounds on my head or ears or neck (the places he was touching) but I cant be sure. what kind of open wound is necessary for transmission to occur? Was I at any sort of risk? My wedding is in 17 days and I am getting married to an amazing girl so I can not afford to infect her if I am indeed infected. Also I dont have enough time to test since the wedding is too soon....what are your thoughts??
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Offline anniebc

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2008, 03:23:49 am »
Quote from: radwan on June 10, 2008, 01:31:00 am


 what kind of open wound is necessary for transmission to occur?

If the hairdresser had cut off his finger leaving a large gaping bleeding wound and, if he was HIV+ and, if he had he taken out a large chunk from your scalp...then maybe, just maybe you would have something to worry about...but seeing as this was not the case then you have nothing to worry about now do you.

You cannot become infected from a small cut on the hairdressers hand, but I think you know this already ..and if you don't then you need to read the welcome thread again..and again until you get it and understand how HIV is transmitted.

Jan
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Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline radwan

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2008, 03:40:58 am »
Thank you Jan.

So are u sure I am ok? Can I sleep with my soon to be wife unprotected ? (she is a virgin and HIV free)..

What if I had a scratch or a wmall wound in my head that I didnt know about? wouldnt his blood enter my bloodstream?

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Offline RapidRod

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2008, 06:34:42 am »
Yes Jan is sure you didn't have a risk.
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Offline Andy Velez

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Re: ARS and testing
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2008, 07:58:47 am »
No more what ifs, fella. Your HIV hysteria is not something we can treat here. If you can't let go of fixating on this litany of what if worries then I suggest you give yourself  pre-wedding gift and talk with a therapist or other professional about these fears. They have absolutely no basis in HIV science and it would be a good thing for your marriage to work on clearing them away.

We can't do that for you here. 
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Andy Velez
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