High risk known hiv exposure.

[alex2013]

Where do I begin. In late may/early June 2012, I was seeing a girl from my work, where I was doing a gap year before uni. She had approached me and we were just seeing each other for sex. I asked her about protection but she told me then that she gets checked every 3 months or so and is fine. I therefore stated we could leave using condoms, which ok was silly but she did assure me she was fine. She looked healthy and well and I'd never had thought in a million years she could be infected. 
Ok so around June 1st I had a discharge from the penis which was basically thrush as I quickly went to gum clinic for testing. Everything else was clear. They gave me a one off dose of antibiotics and the problem resolved. I stopped seeing her, after that I suspected something. So I continued with life, at this point I was very healthy, young 20 year old doing exercise in weights, cardio, football, man I was in good shape....
During a family holiday in mid July, I started getting really bad headaches, night sweats and general body aches. I felt really bad, and it resolved in a week. This ruined my holiday as I was worried about Hiv. However I forgot to say, before I went on holiday, the gum clinic told me to test for hiv on July 1st (around then) to cover the hiv window period. I did and it was negative. So I thought I was fine on holiday. However these problems came after that test. Now after the holiday I went straight to a private clinic for a hiv rapid test. This test was done around 10-13th August. The ag/ab test was positive for antibody...the doc claimed it was false due to my exposure and used the insti pot test which looks just for antibody...., negative. The doc assured it was a false positive and drew blood for testing. 3 tests were done, with one coming back as positive again. This was again the 4th gen combo. It was positive for antibodies. However the other two hiv test kits were negative. The doc said dont worry, it's false and the lab tech also said so. But I was confused!
So with uni approaching in sept we had another holiday and I started to trust the doc. I thought it would have all been positive, this girl also kept saying she was fine. To cut the story shorter I was tested in the gum clinic on 2nd sept and 24 sept for all stds and was this time negative. However after agressive words with the girl she said now that she had hiv....she is such a bitch seriously.
Since then I have basically tested another 10 times for hiv. November tests, December, jan and then I got my 14 month test in July this year. I have also had the DNA pcr test done. All negative. So why am I worried? It's my symptoms, I have oral thrush at the moment and it started in October 2012. I have been constantly catching colds and I do not feel good. Like I said I used to work out all the time, I still do a lot of exercise but its not the same. Could I have not made antibodies, is it possible i have a mutant strain due to her arcs causing the virus to change its structure. I'm 80% sure I'm negative...I just want to put this behind me. If I'm negative did I clear hiv? It's all left with too many questions please help me.

Thanks

[Ann]

Alex,

You are conclusively hiv negative. You do NOT have hiv.

Sometimes other, underlying conditions can cause false positive antibody results, conditions such as autoimmune dysfunction. Sometimes other infections can cause temporary false positive results.

Rather than chasing a virus you have conclusively ruled out of the picture, work with your GP to find out what is actually going on with you. None of your symptoms are specific to hiv - they can be caused by a whole host of other illnesses. Talk to your doctor; we cannot diagnose you here.

By the way - stop referring to this woman you WILLINGLY had unprotected sex with as a "bitch". You need to stop blaming others for your actions and take responsibility for protecting your own health.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann