POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: billwilliams on January 20, 2013, 09:58:08 am

Title: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: billwilliams on January 20, 2013, 09:58:08 am
I am very grateful to have found this forum, and view it as a tremendous resource for those who are concerned about a potential exposure. I am living in the U.S. and had a relatively high risk exposure about 3 months ago (oil based lotion on condom for insertive anal and unprotected insertive oral with someone whose HIV status is unknown). I should mention that the condom did not break, but I am still concerned about my risk due to symptoms I have been experiencing. The next day I noticed a red mark on my upper lip, this mark disappeared within a few days. However, about a week later I began to experience several small aphthous oral ulcers inside my lower lip  and a covered white "hairy" tongue. It looks like hairy leukoplakia but covers the entire tongue. I began to panic and then experienced low grade fever, insomnia, malaise, and anemia (lost 5-10lbs) lasting for about of a week. I

My test results are as follows:

Negative EIA at 14 days
Negative PCR DNA at 23 days
Negative EIA and 8 panel std test at 70 days
Negative EIA at 86 days

The testing was ordered through a stdexpress.com and performed at Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics. Is this means of testing considered reliable?

The ulcers cleared up, but the "hairy" white tongue remains. I think it could be thrush, but I took a 200mg diflucan along with a week of nystatin oral suspension with no improvement. If I really scrub my tongue with a toothbrush and tongue scraper I it bleeds and looks a little better, but its always covered again in the morning. There is also a slight burning sensation in the middle of my tongue. Also, I have a thin line of what appears to be leukoplakia below my lower teeth, and have been experiencing some temporary and minor rashes on my thighs, feet, and abdomen.

How severe was my risk? I know that oil based lubricants have the potential to degrade latex condoms and lower their effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission. However, I have also read that HIV cannot penetrate intact latex and my condom didn't break. I have been experiencing a high amount of anxiety, and want to know if I can consider my test results definitive and conclusive despite my persisting oral symptoms? I just want to move on from this whole ordeal. I am a 21 year old with no other known health issues, and tested negative for diabetes. I've read hairy tongue/thrush isn't typically considered a symptom of a recent HIV infection, but does occur in immunosuppressed individuals. If the white tongue was caused by HIV I would have tested positive by now, right? Or is it possible that my immune system hasn't started making antibodies, thus the presence of oral symptoms? I'm freaking out because I've never had symptoms like this, and they showed up about a week after my risky encounter. I appreciate your time and consideration.

I look forward to your answer.

Best regards
Title: Re: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: Andy Velez on January 20, 2013, 10:15:59 am
Bill, what you are calling a "relatively high risk," was actually not a risk at all. The essential fact in what you are reporting is that you wore a condom for intercourse. The only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as condoms are worn properly and consistently for those activities you will be well protected.

While it is true that you should only use water-based lubricants on a condom, if the oil had damaged your condom it would have been quite visible to the eye. When a condom fails it's quite apparent because the whole thing goes and ends up looking like a fringed hoop on the penis. It's not about little itsy bitsy holes as people sometimes fear.

There is no need for testing. There never was. Whatever has caused any symptoms you are concerned about is not HIV. If they persist you should discuss them with your doctor.

This is NOT an HIV situation. Period.
Title: Re: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: billwilliams on January 20, 2013, 10:30:21 am
Thanks Andy, I appreciate your quick response. As you know, there is a lot of bad and out of date information regarding HIV floating around the web. Thanks for clearing all this up.
Title: Re: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: billwilliams on January 22, 2013, 09:41:10 pm
Thank you answering my previous question, but due to my anxiety I'd like to follow up. I know you are undoubtedly tired of people questioning their results, but I would thoroughly appreciate anymore insight you can provide in regards to my situation. I understand that you do not deal in hypotheticals, but for the sake of argument, lets suppose that my condom did break/fail and I had a potential exposure. In this case, if I had an unprotected exposure, how would you interpret my test results and symptoms? Given my persisting symptoms, would you recommend additional testing? I'm sorry to bother you with this follow up question, but my anxiety is getting the better of me. Thank you.
Title: Re: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: RapidRod on January 22, 2013, 11:27:49 pm
Had your condom failed you would have known without a doubt.
Title: Re: Should I keep Testing?
Post by: Ann on January 23, 2013, 06:20:26 am
Bill,

Even if you did have a risk (which you did NOT), your negative test result at 86 days is conclusive.

You do NOT have hiv.

If you feel unwell, see a doctor. Whatever is going on has nothing to do with hiv. You do NOT have hiv!

Ann