Suspicious of Infection??

[arizona99]

Hi...I am very suspicious of infection.  Here is my story in a nutshell

Exposure via performing Oral with a female CSW in October 2009
Exactly 2 weeks after exposure had ARS symptoms (Sore throat for 4 days, upper muscle aches in back, rash on next for 3 days that was macropapular, fever for 3 days, and night sweats for 5 days).
Since those symptoms, I have not had any random ARS symptoms
Tested at 25 days and 5 months.. both negative
Feb 2010 developed neuropathy in both toes to a "T" that has not gone away.  Have had every blood test in the book and nothing comes back
Had a DNA PCR-1 and ELISA HIV 1/2 AB in May and both negative
Recently have had hip pain that is bilateral.

My concern is it possible I have a strain not getting picked up by standard testing?  It is very odd to me that I had ARS to a "T", now have neuropathy in feet and hands, and hip pain.  Something is not adding up, and I don't understand nor do my doctors who are as good as they come...Any thoughts??

[Matty the Damned]

Hi...I am very suspicious of infection.  Here is my story in a nutshell

Exposure via performing Oral with a female CSW in October 2009
Exactly 2 weeks after exposure had ARS symptoms (Sore throat for 4 days, upper muscle aches in back, rash on next for 3 days that was macropapular, fever for 3 days, and night sweats for 5 days).
Since those symptoms, I have not had any random ARS symptoms
Tested at 25 days and 5 months.. both negative
Feb 2010 developed neuropathy in both toes to a "T" that has not gone away.  Have had every blood test in the book and nothing comes back
Had a DNA PCR-1 and ELISA HIV 1/2 AB in May and both negative
Recently have had hip pain that is bilateral.

My concern is it possible I have a strain not getting picked up by standard testing?  It is very odd to me that I had ARS to a "T", now have neuropathy in feet and hands, and hip pain.  Something is not adding up, and I don't understand nor do my doctors who are as good as they come...Any thoughts??

Your reported sexual activities and your HIV testing history show that you are HIV negative.

The symptoms of ARS are non specific. There are conditions which can cause rash and flu like symptoms. For this reason we do not consider symptoms of anything to be indicative of HIV serostatus.

Indeed peripheral neuropathy is not a feature of the acute phase of HIV infection. Rather it is usually a side effect of certain HIV drugs or indeed the product of nerve damage by the virus itself after long years of infection.

You are not HIV positive.

MtD

[arizona99]

Thank you for your response.... I want to believe the posts and doctors desperately but I don't know if it is my nerves or just my mind set but my body hasn't felt right over the past 4 months.  I know the tests are supposed to be as conclusive as they come, but my body keeps telling me otherwise.

Thanks again for the reply, much appreciated.

[Ann]

Arizona,

You know, it's not only sex workers you need to be using condoms with. If you've had unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with ANYONE without being monogamous and testing first, then you need to test.

However, nothing you did with the sex worker was a risk.

Here's what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative:

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.

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

[arizona99]

Thank you for your response Ann.  It is just so strange to me that exactly 2 weeks after exposure I had ARS symptoms straight off any list (i.e. CDC website).  Now 9 months later my body (Numbness in hands and feet as well as bilateral hip pain) all signs of infection from what I have read and all my tests are negative.  I guess at the end of the day I need to believe the tests and move on.  I can deal with what happens to me, but I could never ever potentially pass something on to someone else, that would be unconscionable in my opinion.

[Andy Velez]

Doubts and fears aren't facts. A negative test result is a fact. Whatever maybe causing your symptoms has nothing to do with HIV. And you can't pass a virus on to someone else that you don't have.

If you are not satisfied with the medical evaluations you have received then see another doctor for another opinion. For sure whatever is going on has nothing to do with HIV.

We can't help you any further here because our focus is strictly on HIV.