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Author Topic: So how does this whole thing work.............................?  (Read 3049 times)

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Offline youngsix

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So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« on: January 30, 2008, 09:53:37 pm »
 I'm male who is HIV positive. i found out i was positive while in my first semester of college. I spent many years in denial abusing any drug i could get my hands on. its 2008 and its about time i attempt to finally heal the wounds i have caused to myself. That's what brings me to this board today. I'm hoping others can relate to my situation and help me move forward with rest of my life. I have been on meds for the last 2 years (atripla) and my viral load is undetectable. Whats has been eating my alive is the fact that i had sex unprotected for 3 years with a woman. The woman got pregnant. I never told her i was positive she found from my family. She had the baby. And both she and child are still hiv negative it has been almost five years. Is it possible that she could become positive later ? you know like it's laying dormant? I also had sex with a separate women for 3 years with out meds no condoms anal oral vaginal we even shared needles and she remains negative to this day  Does anyone think there is some sort of "immunity" that certain people have? I did some research i found a small article about some prostitutes in Kenya or something. But nothing about that i could really relate to. Can anyone shed some light on situations where someone infected had sex unprotected for years with one person and did not infect the other person? ???

Offline BT65

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2008, 11:14:32 pm »
Youngsix, I can't tell you why some people develop the virus and others don't.  I am, however, a strong believer in karma and I would caution you to be honest with anyone else you have sex with or share rigs with.
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Offline beefbud

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2008, 07:26:40 am »
in regards to your question about it laying dormant and showing up 5 years later....well from my understanding the window is 3 months from exposure til someone tests positive if infected, in rare cases it has taken up to 6 months to test positive. (someone please correct me if im wrong)  After 5 years...well of course she can still get infected through unprotected sex but unless its you she's doing it with, its not you infecting her.
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Offline Ann

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2008, 07:43:21 am »
Hi Young, welcome to the forums.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks after the infection has taken place. A negative test at three months after an exposure is conclusive. The virus may lie "dormant" in that it can be present without causing symptoms for years, however, once the virus is inside the body, the body will start producing antibodies within two weeks. The hiv tests look for antibodies, not the virus itself.


We don't know why some people can be exposed yet not get infected. I'm glad to hear you've come out of your period of denial and have started taking responsibility for your own health - and hopefully you now take steps to ensure your virus stops with you.

Ann
 
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Offline cflas

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2008, 09:46:41 pm »
I don't know if this helps or not: My wife and I had unprotected sex for 7 yrs before I learned of my HIV status 14 years ago.  She has been tested every year since learning of my status and continues to test negative. At this point, based upon my understanding, she no longer needs to be tested. If she hasn't seroconverted in 14 yrs, she just isn't going to sero-convert. Right? And, of course, any sex the have now is certainly protected.

Chris

Offline youngsix

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2008, 09:52:59 am »
Hi Young, welcome to the forums.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks after the infection has taken place. A negative test at three months after an exposure is conclusive. The virus may lie "dormant" in that it can be present without causing symptoms for years, however, once the virus is inside the body, the body will start producing antibodies within two weeks. The hiv tests look for antibodies, not the virus itself.


We don't know why some people can be exposed yet not get infected. I'm glad to hear you've come out of your period of denial and have started taking responsibility for your own health - and hopefully you now take steps to ensure your virus stops with you.

Ann
 


Thank you. I have come out denial and taken full accountability for my actions. I read post here and and really get to see things from a diffrent perspective. It has been a long struggle but i have learned to live with my status. I'm in a committed relationship with one of the women described in my original post. Medications side effects , doctor visits and diet changes. These thing i can deal with, but its the self inflicted wounds that hurt the most.

Offline youngsix

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Re: So how does this whole thing work.............................?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2008, 09:57:00 am »
Youngsix, I can't tell you why some people develop the virus and others don't.  I am, however, a strong believer in karma and I would caution you to be honest with anyone else you have sex with or share rigs with.

Yes your right. I also believe in karma have come clean with those around me who i put at risk. As for sharing rigs i gave that up a years ago. Thank you.

 


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