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Author Topic: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late  (Read 4680 times)

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Offline Worrieddave10

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Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« on: April 10, 2012, 09:37:14 am »
Dear All,

I think I am a ‘worried well’, and I guess I am on here just for some reassurance about my situation. My story - August last year I had unprotected vaginal sex and oral sex, 6 days later I had flu symptoms which I can best describe as feeling like a pretty bad hangover, but with diarrhoea. I felt pretty awful for about 3 days then felt fine after. At the time I went to the doctor and the doctor said there were a few diarrhoea bugs going around. I felt fine until January this year when I started having pains in my abdomen, groin, neck and armpits. I noticed a small rash – more like small flat red spots - on the back of my hands which would come and go and only ever lasted an hour or so at a time, also fatigued a lot. I got a full set of tests done at the GUM clinic – all negative. I later had an instant test – negative, a 4th gen duo- negative (@6 1/2 months) and another 4th gen also negative (@7 months)

It’s now a month later and for the last couple of weeks I have had a very sore neck  and pain in my abdomen. The small spots are still coming and going and my tongue has some yellow discolouration to it. Like many others I believe I am the one person who will test negative this far out then be positive later, purely because of these strange symptoms. I have also read about a lot of people asking about the chance of catching HIV and HCV at the same time and this delaying seroconversion, is this at all possible or an urban myth? I also now have a girlfriend who wanted to have unprotected sex (on the pill) because we have both been tested etc which we have done after my results but now my worry is that I could have given her something if I later test positive.  Is there anything, at all, that could mean I don’t yet have antibodies? Or that I have progressed very rapidly to aids and no longer have antibodies? I don’t use any drugs, have cancer (that I know of) or take any medications. I’m 25 and fairly athletic and healthy.

Thanks for any advice,

Offline Ann

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2012, 09:50:57 am »
Dave,

Yes, you are a worried well, at least where hiv is concerned.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

You have tested far beyond the three month point - you do NOT have hiv.

You were never likely to end up positive over a one-off, unprotected insertive vaginal incident anyway. Hiv is much more difficult to transmit from a woman to a man.

The only people who might take a little longer to seroconvert are those on chemotherapy for cancer, on anti-rejection drugs following organ transplant and those who have been injecting street drugs, every day, for years.

The question you raise about simultaneous infection with hiv and hep C is only relevant for people who have been injecting street drugs for years. Even in this population, it is very rare for seroconversion to be delayed.

You are conclusively hiv negative, without doubt. If you continue to feel unwell, see your doctor. You have already conclusively ruled hiv out, so look for other possible causes.

You need to learn from this and stop having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. 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.

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

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 Worrieddave10

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2012, 12:42:25 pm »
Thanks Ann,

I realise that the odds were small in the first place - this is the only time ever I have had unprotected sex, and even if it was with someone who was positive I further realise the chances are slim of contraction. Its all because of the symptoms I currently have that are driving this, the sore neck (which I think is my nodes) and my tongue which looks a lot like oral thrush (it bleeds when I scrape it). My testing does satisfy me to an extent, just that lingering feeling that I'm the 1 in a million still haunting me. I am speaking to someone about this though as I recognise that being unable to fully accept medical results is not normal. thanks for your help - the more I hear that from people the more I believe it.

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2012, 12:50:14 pm »
Thanks Ann,

I realise that the odds were small in the first place - this is the only time ever I have had unprotected sex, and even if it was with someone who was positive I further realise the chances are slim of contraction. Its all because of the symptoms I currently have that are driving this, the sore neck (which I think is my nodes) and my tongue which looks a lot like oral thrush (it bleeds when I scrape it). My testing does satisfy me to an extent, just that lingering feeling that I'm the 1 in a million still haunting me. I am speaking to someone about this though as I recognise that being unable to fully accept medical results is not normal. thanks for your help - the more I hear that from people the more I believe it.

Dave,

Please re-read the advice that Ann has given you. Everything you need to know is in that post.

You don't need further HIV testing. :)

Don't push your luck.

MtD

« Last Edit: April 10, 2012, 12:53:00 pm by Matty the Damned »

Offline Worrieddave10

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2012, 12:54:19 pm »
I wasn't pushing my luck - I was thanking Ann for the advice. It's not strictly true that you say I wasn't at risk - I had unprotected sex which is a risk even if it's small, unlike all the other worried people with oral sex worries and the like.

Thanks

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2012, 01:00:15 pm »
I wasn't pushing my luck - I was thanking Ann for the advice. It's not strictly true that you say I wasn't at risk - I had unprotected sex which is a risk even if it's small, unlike all the other worried people with oral sex worries and the like.

Thanks

I didn't say you weren't at risk, I said you don't need further testing.

And, really, you are pushing your luck.

If you don't believe me, I invite you to check out the posting guidelines for Am I Infected? which are outlined in our Welcome Thread.

Ya dig?

MtD

Offline Worrieddave10

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2012, 01:14:10 pm »
Ok, thanks for editing your post and making me look stupid! Yeh, I understand I don't need further testing. I wasn't posting anything that I shouldn't be, I was just clarifying my situation - that its probably anxiety and I'm seeing someone about that,  and thanking Ann - not pushing my luck. thanks anyway for the further reassurances,

Dave

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2012, 01:25:35 pm »
Ok, thanks for editing your post and making me look stupid! Yeh, I understand I don't need further testing. I wasn't posting anything that I shouldn't be, I was just clarifying my situation - that its probably anxiety and I'm seeing someone about that,  and thanking Ann - not pushing my luck. thanks anyway for the further reassurances,

Dave

In fact Dave I didn't edit my post to make you look stupid. You've demonstrated that you're more than capable of making yourself look stupid with no help from me.

I edited my message to correct a minor typo. I reject your assertion that I have edited a message with a view to corrupting it's meaning.

I have been guilty of many sins in my time here but telling lies is not one of them.

If you can prove otherwise, I invite you to do so.

Otherwise, you can fucking eat me.

Let's see what you catch from that. :)

MtD

Offline Worrieddave10

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2012, 01:34:14 pm »
Calm down, no need for the language. I was sure I had read that the first time but I must have been mistaken - I do apologise.

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2012, 01:43:21 pm »
Calm down, no need for the language. I was sure I had read that the first time but I must have been mistaken - I do apologise.

Don't worry Dave, I'm very calm. It's a skill I've acquired over the years here in AMI.

There was a time when I wouldn't have been so tranquil. There was a time, Dave, when I may have suggested something like:

Don't tell me to calm down you self indulgent dick-sniffer or I'll reach through the internet, rip your bladder out and wear it as a hat.

But those days are behind me.

Do you know why that is Dave?

Because I'm certain about my HIV status and (despite the evidence) you aren't at all certain about yours.

Best wishes,  ;)

MtD

Offline Ann

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  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2012, 03:33:43 pm »
Dave,

If you feel unwell, see a doctor and find out what is actually going on. You have absolutely, unequivocally ruled hiv out.

You do NOT have 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 Worrieddave10

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  • Posts: 6
Re: Worried I'll be the one that tests positive late
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2012, 04:00:41 pm »
Thanks again Ann, I am currently seeing an ID specialist and going through a fair bit of testing so I'll hopefully find out what it is soon. I realise it isn't HIV,

Thanks and keep up the good work

 


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