Am I infected?

[pp]

Hi!

I would like to ask you a question but first tell my story.

In June I had unprotected vaginal intercourse with a women I know but with unknown status (not a sex worker).

A couple of days later it started to burn inside my penis and I got tested about a week later for chlamydia and Ghonnorea - negative but I was given  1 g of antibiotics without result.

3 weeks past the event my lymph glands got a little swollen and started to hurt in groin, armpits and one The side of the neck, together with a slightly higher body temperature of 38,4 degrees. A couple of days later I was tested with 4th generation combo test for hiv which came back negative. At week 7 past the event I re-tested for hiv and also for syphillis - negative again.

Shortly after I was diagnosed prostatitis due to my burning inside penis and testicular inflammations - which now has improved a lot due to several courses of different antibiotics.

 I took another hiv test due to still a bit swollen glands, this time a rapid blood test at 11,3 (81 days) which also was negative.

 6 months later I experienced restless legs and tingling feelings in hands and feets (could be from all anxiety and stress?) which remained for 2-3 weeks and shows up now and then now. The swollen glands are still there, especially in armpits.

Do you think I need further testing or can I rule out hiv? Based on what I read about 4th gen tests on the testing section here on poz (4th gen at week ~3=3rd gen week 13), I guess I am done testing? What can have caused my problems?

Sorry for such long question..
With very best but nervous regards, PP

[Andy Velez]

In all likelihood your negative result at 11.3 weeks is reliable. If you want to be especially reassured then get tested again and collect what I certainly expect would be negative result again. Testing at this point would just be for your peace of mind.

There is nothing about your lingering symptoms which are HIV specific.

And of course avoid putting yourself at risk by always using condoms everytime for either vaginal or anal intercourse. It's a mistake to guess about your partner's HIV status. Just use the condoms until if and when you are in a securely monogamous relationship in which both partners have reliably tested negative. 

[pp]

Thank you for your reply Andy!

For my own knowledge, isn't that true what is written about 4th generation combo tests in the testing section on this site?

With kind regards

[Andy Velez]

Hi PP,

You're welcome.

The 4th generation test if highly specific and sensitive. A negative with it is reliable.

 

[pp]

Hi,

Thanks again for your reply!

I trust the information on the website and your reassuring answer.

One last question, the information about delayed seroconversion when co-infected with Hep C says different things. Some say yes, some say no. I know that Hep C is more or less never transmitted via vaginal intercourse and is not regarded as STD. Let's say that this very unlikely situation should occur, then to my understanding the P24 antigen would still be positive when using 4 th generation combo test?

I wish you a nice day!

With kind regards,
PP

[Jeff G]

You do not have HIV … the test you took would have shown positive within 3 weeks and you tested at 81 days … even if you had HEP C you would have tested positive by now so its safe to move on .