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Author Topic: Older does not mean Wiser  (Read 4500 times)

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Offline shouldaknownbetter

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Older does not mean Wiser
« on: August 30, 2006, 09:56:19 pm »
Hi Ann;

I am a new member of this forum, and I believe you and I have something in common.  The following story is true, believe it or not..

I am a 53 old male, and my girlfriend at the time, was the same age.  We had unprotected vaginal sex 8-10 times this last March, along with oral both ways.  As things were getting more involved between us, I insisted she get tested; and sure enough, test came back positive for HIV and negative for STDs.  She is now in good medical care with an excellent specialist.  The initial viral load came back with 8700 copies.  The good news, if any, is that perhaps a few lives have been saved, including mine.

At 46 days (6.5 weeks) post-exposure, I tested negative with Elisa.  This was sent to LabCorp testing.  Since my exposure was high risk, my doctor allowed me to have a qualitative and quantitative PCR which both were negative/undetectable at 60 days post.

I have heard you went thru a similar ordeal with a significant other.  I have done my research and feel fairly confident that I will remain negative.  I am going to get one more test next month which will be 6 months.

Do you feel that the timing of these 2 tests kind of validate each other?  Thank you for any feedback.
And, yes, condoms rule forever!!

Offline Ann

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    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Older does not mean Wiser
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2006, 04:21:27 am »
shoulda,

Wow, reading your post made me very uncomfortable. Why? You shoulda known? You insisted she get tested (why didn't you get tested together?) and sure enough?!? It sounds like you didn't really have a very high opinion of this woman.

Your doctor was silly "allowing" you to have a PCR. They are not approved for diagnostic purposes because they have a high rate of false positives. You would have really had a lot of fun with one of those under the circumstances. I sure wish more doctors would get with the program and stop using PCR testing on people who aren't confirmed hiv positive.

I wouldn't describe my experience with my partner an ordeal either. It was really only the first 24 hours after my diagnosis, before we had his test result, that there was any real question of his negative status. My diagnosis was an ordeal, sure, but he was nothing less than 100% supportive and stuck by me and his attitude while waiting for his result was - what will be will be.  It really doesn't sound as though you stuck by your woman.

Regardless of your circumstances, you do NOT need testing out to six months. A test at three months past any exposure, whether the hiv status of your partner is known or not, is absolutely sufficient. You could have had your conclusive result sometime in June. If you did test negative at three months, then you are conclusively negative. I'm fully expecting you to be just that with the testing history you outlined here.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Ann

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Re: Older does not mean Wiser
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2006, 04:23:07 am »
shoulda,

By the way, 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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

Have a look through the 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.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline shouldaknownbetter

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Re: Older does not mean Wiser
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2006, 10:00:02 am »
Thanks Ann, for the reply.

I will be getting a final antibody test soon; but thought the negative PCR would put closure on this, especially the way it was timed, in conjunction with the Elisa at 46 days.  Many doctors in the field have never heard of a 6 week negative Elisa turn positive, aside from the PCR result.  Thanks again.


Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Older does not mean Wiser
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2006, 10:24:53 am »
The CDC standard for an HIV test is 13 weeks. It's not necessary to test beyond a negative at 13 weeks.

In the future you can avoid putting your life at risk by always using a condom everytime you have intercourse. No exceptions. At least as far as HIV is concerned you will literally and figurateively be covered.

Andy Velez

Offline shouldaknownbetter

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Re: Older does not mean Wiser
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2006, 05:30:52 pm »
Just received my 6 month negative elisa.  Decided to hold out until now, given the high risk exposure.  I thought I read that even the CDC recommends 6 months in a case such as mine.  Anyway, having the PCR test at 60 days gave me the strength to grind this out to a final resolution.  Good luck and wear condoms!

 


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