Questions regarding testing and symptoms

[notagoodday]

Good morning all.  I have just a few questions and hopefully, you all can answer them for me.  Here goes:

1. I tested 31 days post exposure with PCR DNA with backup antibody test (negative results).  At day 41 (near 6 weeks), I came down with a very red and somewhat irritated throat on one side only.  No fever, no swollen lymph nodes, etc. and MD performed cultures, but those were negative and assumed it was viral pharyngitis.  Pain went away 2nd day, but redness stayed for a few more days.  One week later, the other side was irritated, but not as red as before and was gone 2 days later.  Ok, here's where it's hard to word.  At 8 weeks post exposure to the day I tested with the oral swab test (this was 2 weeks post first sore throat and one week post second sore throat) and (result was negative).  Further, last Friday I started with sore throat again and had white spots on my throat yesterday.  MD said it was pharyngitis again and that I keep getting it from my kids.  Sure, it's possible, I agree, but the first incident is what has me worried.  No one else had any symptoms. 

2.  Ok, so how long after any type of symptom would one need to wait to test accurately and is pharyngitis alone with no other symptoms an indicator or sign? 

I plan to get my 12 week test, but wanted to know if I had waited long enough after the throat symptoms to test. 

Any help would be most appreciated.  Thanks.

[Ann]

not,

You can forget about talking symptoms with us. Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection. ONLY testing will reveal your hiv status with any accuracy. We only talk about risk factors and hiv testing here, because that's all that matters.

You only need further testing if you had an actual risk. What happened to make you believe you were at risk?

The test you used, PCR DNA, is NOT approved for diagnostic purposes. You only need to test using an ELISA, the standard hiv antibody test.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. A six week negative MUST be confirmed at three months. If you had a real risk, your eight week result is not likely to change, but you must confirm at three months. If you didn't have a real risk, then you do not need further testing.

Ann

[notagoodday]

My risk was from accidental poke from surgical instrument (office procedure) at work (pt. was negative at time of testing), but I wanted to be sure. 

Nevertheless, I wanted to be sure that (although symptoms mean nothing) that I had waited long enough after the fact to test.

[Ann]

not,

If you're saying this happened at work, why didn't you follow protocol?

Ann

[notagoodday]

Actually, let me be perfectly honest.  I was scared to at first.  Yes, I had been accidentally stuck before, but it was brushed off by my employer and was told to test at 12 weeks.  My real risk is different, however, and please forgive me for not being totally honest upfront, I am scared and an emotional wreck.  What really happened was in June I had nearly been assaulted by a date and for whatever reason, my memory of events is hazy at best and am not sure if anything happened or not.  I tested out to 12 weeks from that incident and was fine.  However, I tested so many times during that time period out of fear that I also had a rapid finger stick test.  I became so terrified that a used lancet had been used that I thought my 12 weeks had started over.  After that, I tested 31 days after that and again at 8 weeks (2 weeks post throat problems).  Please forgive me.  I did not mean to mislead you but I am scared and did not want to appear crazy or stupid on the board.  I know that not being honest is even worse, so I modified my response.  Many apologies.

[RapidRod]

Either you were assaulted or you weren't. If there was no penile penetration, you weren't at risk. I'm sure you would have know if there had been.

[notagoodday]

Well, I am not certain because I have memory loss from that evening.  My doctor suggested that I may have been slipped something.  I cannot say for certain, because I am not certain. 

[Andy Velez]

Well, if you have tested negative at 8 weeks from the most recent incident of concern, the likelihood is that you will continue to test negative. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 after an exposure to the HIV virus. So an 8 weeks negative points very strongly towards your continuing to test negative.

If you still have troubling symptoms that's something for you to discuss with your doctor.

Good luck with your test and keep us posted.

Cheers,

[notagoodday]

Thank you for the response and the understanding. I will keep you posted. 

[Ann]

not,

You do NOT need further testing. You tested hiv negative three months after your incident and that means you are hiv negative.

You are now worried that during your testing, you were pricked with a used lancet. I can assure you this does not happen.

You ARE hiv negative. It may help you if you received some counseling to help you learn how to cope with your assault. I'm afraid we cannot help you with that here.

You ARE hiv negative.

Ann

[notagoodday]

Ann,

Thank you for that response.  I can't believe how much this fear has taken a hold of me.  I did see a therapist regarding the initial incident and have dealt with that.  However, the fear since then has not been alleviated despite therapy.  I assume it is something I will have to come to terms with on my own.  I don't know if others get these fears (i.e. being stuck with a used instrument during testing), but I do know that the fear has stayed with me since.    The thoughts I had/have are crazy.  I know I was the only person tested that day because they do not do Friday testing (the day I went) and made an exception because I was so close to their location.  Also, I thought what if the used lancet stick was intentional because the counselor was not wanting to do the test, was getting ready to go home and was po'd that she had to do it.  I apologize to you because I have no right to ask you to make me feel better because I have irrational thoughts. 

[Ann]

Not,

I suggest you go see the therapist you saw about the assult, so you can talk about your irrational lancet fears. Health professionals do not deliberately try to infect people.

It would be extremely diffucult to infect a patient using a lancet anyway. Hiv does not remain undamaged on the surface of a lancet, and hiv needs to be in pristine condition before it can infect.

You did not have a risk from a lancet, used or otherwise.

Ann

[notagoodday]

Thank you for the response, Ann.  Just for my own peace of mind, can you tell me if I waited enough time to test after the sore throat incident (2 weeks post onset)?  I understand that symptoms mean nothing, but this would really help calm my fears.  I just want to be able to feel like myself again and the answer to this question would really help.  I do not want to be a PIA, I just want to be able let this go.

[Ann]

Not,

The ONLY thing that matters in your story is the fact that you tested hiv negative three months after your sexual assault. You do NOT need further testing. Your window period did NOT start again after your test because a lancet was used.

You ARE hiv negative.

Please seek therapy for your anxieties. We cannot help you with that here. If you read the Welcome Thread like you're supposed to, you will have read this:

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned. There is nothing more we can do for you here - you are hiv negative, period, end of story. Take your other concerns up with a therapist, please, for your own sake.

Ann

[notagoodday]

Duly noted.  Thank you for your time and responses.