POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: rj008 on September 28, 2009, 11:05:26 am
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Hi right now i am a mess. 12 weeks back i had unprotected sex with an older woman of unknown hiv status.(Im a Man). I have tested several times in the past 12 weeks my last test was a rapid blood test at 84 days. Even though i tested negative i am still worried that i am going to infect my girlfriend. I do have small lymph nodes in my neck and my groin that can be felt, thats the reason my mind is still on the possibility of having hiv. My question is what do i do now? am i safe?
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RJ,
The window period for hiv testing is three months. You have tested conclusively negative for hiv. If you're worried about your lymph nodes, show them to your doctor. What ever is going ohn has nothing to do with having hiv. You do not have hiv.
You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.
Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.
If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
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So do i know my hiv status? if i wanted to have a baby tomorrow would it be ok and not have to worry about hiv?
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Shoot i just read the hiv testing thing on this website.. it said 13 weeks and i only did mine at 12 week 84 days...
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rj,
In the UK and most other industrialised nations, the window period is twelve weeks. Twelve, thirteen, it really makes no difference. Either will suffice for a conclusive negative.
The difference is only in what you think of as a month. If you want only twelve months in your year, then each quarter has thirteen weeks. If you want your year to reflect the lunar year (ie 28-day cycles, which is more usual in medicine) then you'll have thirteen four week periods.
The bottom line for you is that you do NOT have hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative. You do not need further hiv testing over this incident.
Ann
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One last question.. and i would also like to say thank you ahead of time for answering my questions.. Would you consider the 3 month window conservative from what you know about hiv and testing?
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rj,
Yes, I'd say it's conservative. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will serconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A six week negative is highly unlikely to change, but should be confirmed at the three month point.
You do not have hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative.
Ann
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I forgot to say i have hpv genital warts would that delay anything. And also i dont know if my test was 4th generation or anything would that make any difference?
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Warts will not delay anything.
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What about the generation of test thing.. i see so many people talking about what generation of test they got. All i know is they took blood from my arm and it was a rapid test. Wouldthat change my12 week negative?
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At 12-13 weeks any generation of test in current usage will give you a reliable result.
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i have been feeling weak, tired and nauseous lately. I also have lymphnodes in my neck and groin. Do you think it would be a good idea to get another hiv test? possibly tomorrow rapid finger prick.
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No, you don't need another HIV test. If you don't feel well you should be discussing your symptoms with your doctor. They have nothing to do with HIV.
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rj,
Mate, I've got news for you. We've ALL got lymph nodes in our neck and groin. They can be felt sometimes even when there is no infection present. If you're worried about YOUR lymph nodes, see your doctor. You have conclusively ruled hiv out of the picture, so what ever is going on, if anything IS going on, has NOTHING to do with hiv infection. You do not have hiv.
Ann
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What you CAN be sure of is if you keep coming back repeatedly about the same non-HIV problem you need to be aware that you will end up getting yourself a 28 day Time Out from the site.
We're very, very careful with our responses here and you definitely do not have an HIV problem. Period.
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Your right Mr. Velez guess i just need a swift kick in my butt! Thank you
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You're welcome. Get on with your life.
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Im still really worried and feel like i need to test further out. My last test was at 94 days. It just cant be normal to have lymph nodes swollen in more then one area for over a month. I mean it cant be such a concidence. I want to move forward with my girlfriend but im scared im going to infect her.
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i used aldara during the window period would this affect my tests cause it does boost your immune system..
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rj,
Did you bother to go see a doctor about your lymph nodes like I suggested a few weeks ago? Whatever is going on with them has nothing to do with hiv. You do not have hiv. You do not need further testing. You tested outside the window period and that means you're conclusively hiv negative.
Unless you've been taking chemotherapy for cancer, anti-rejection drugs following organ transplant or have been injecting street drugs, every day, for YEARS, then there's nothing you've taken that would interfere with your test results at three months.
YOU DO NOT HAVE HIV!!!
I'm giving you that time out you've been warned about. Do not attempt to create a new account to get around your time out because if you do, you will be permanently banned.
Ann