Need Your Expertise

[tednlou2]

I just posted a comment in a thread in the last couple days about how my partner insists on performing unprotected oral sex on me.  I said I know it is a very, very low risk.  Still, I said I worry something could happen.  After I was diagnosed, he got tested and tested another time and was negative.

Besides his full-time job, he is a volunteer firefighter.  They do yearly physicals and he got his blood work back tonight.  They don't check for HIV.  He did have some things they wanted him to follow-up on with his doctor.  It is probably nothing, but I'm a little worried.  I'm still pretty ignorant about many things HIV.

His WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, and Hematocrit were all low:

WBC:  4.04  Ref:  4.50-10.70 k/cumm
RBC:  4.45  Ref:  4.60-6.00/million
Hemoglobin:  13.4  Ref:  13.7-17.6/gm/dl
Hematocrit:  38.4  Ref:  40.4-52.2/%

Would any of these by an indicator of HIV infection?  I always thought when the body was fighting something, the WBC would be higher and know hematocrit is often low in people with HIV.  Since he has wanted to perform oral, I've watched for any signs of seroconversion.  Since his neg tests, he has actually never been ill with anything.  I know the seroconversion illness doesn't always happen with everyone and isn't a good indicator.  I know an HIV test would be in order as it has been about a year since his last.  I'm just wondering if other labs could be a hint of HIV infection that many docs would miss?  If not these labs, other labs that may indicate infection?  As I said, I know oral is a really low risk.  I know it is probably nothing.

[Hellraiser]

Honestly, he should be getting bi-annual HIV tests just as a precautionary measure regardless of his risk.  I don't think any of those things would in any way indicate a potential HIV infection though.

[Matty the Damned]

None of those lab tests can tell you if your partner is HIV positive.

There's only one way to do that - an HIV antibody test.

MtD

[tednlou2]

I know he needs to be getting tested at least annually.  I was just wondering if HIV can cause certain blood labs to be out of whack and may give docs a clue that something bigger is wrong that they would normally just dismiss when there were signs.  We know to have HIV tests--thinking about those who don't think they need an HIV test and about docs who don't encourage HIV testing and don't even have HIV on their radars.

[Matty the Damned]

I know he needs to be getting tested at least annually.  I was just wondering if HIV can cause certain blood labs to be out of whack and may give docs a clue that something bigger is wrong that they would normally just dismiss when there were signs.  We know to have HIV tests--thinking about those who don't think they need an HIV test and about docs who don't encourage HIV testing and don't even have HIV on their radars.

This doesn't make much sense, Teddy but I can understand why you're worried.

Sure HIV infection can skew other blood test results but not in any specific way. Besides what should be driving the decision for your partner to be HIV tested are appreciable risks.

As you know HIV is transmitted in particular ways. It doesn't waft across the room on your farts during in the night and invade his nostrils.

So if your lover has had an objective risk which is concerning him, he should be tested. If not, then why bother?

MtD

[weasel]

  Hey TednLou ,

                     My blood work was perfect before I finally progressed to AIDS   YEARS

              After I was  infected !

            As others have said   .

               He NEEDS to be tested !

             My partner  is tested EVERY six months !

             After 30 years together  all is well 

                                 Be safe  get him tested !

                                                                 Carl

           

[leatherman]

So if your lover has had an objective risk which is concerning him, he should be tested. If not, then why bother?

as a precaution to catch an hiv infection early , so his partner doesn't die after 10 yrs together, from undiagnosed and untreated hiv (and non-hodgkins lymphoma), like mine did 

leatherman
(who is very sad right now as 2 yrs ago this past week, my partner and I made the decision for him to leave the hospital and go home for his last nine days before passing away. RIP Jim 5/1/08)

[Hellraiser]

I can see where Matty's coming from, but that's a very reactive way of handling it rather than being proactive.  I would say just get the test done every year or twice a year whether he thinks he needs it or not.  As with all things you're much better safe than sorry.

[Matty the Damned]

If getting tested every 6 months will give you and your partner peace of mind, then get him tested Teddy.

If the pair of you are always using condoms when you fuck (inside or outside of the relationship) then you should expect your partner to continue to return negative results.

MtD

[Dachshund]

To end needless woulda, coulda, shoulda, he should get tested. It will ease any guilt you're feeling now and in the future. The very first thing I did when I tested poz was tell my lover at the time that he needed to get tested. It was difficult (he tested negative) but worth the angst. It's much better than walking around with a guilty conscience.