Chickenpox or ?

[Tsmithsea]

Hello. I hope I'm overreacting or worrying, but am looking for some input. Here's my situation:

* 7-8 days ago I had a couple days where I generally felt a little achey, run down and had no appetite. I had a couple nights with little sleep and occasionally felt flush. I also felt was seemed like a somewhat swollen node in 1-2 places on my neck.

* 6-7 days ago I started noticing a rash on my face and torso. A few almost pimple like bumps. Over the next day or two they spread. Mostly face and torso. Few on arms, buttocks, scalp etc. They generally have not itched.

* As the rash settled in my appetite came back and I generally felt not too bad. Apart from the rash of course. The other symptoms more or less went away.

* I went to a doctor who immediately said chickenpox. A 2nd doctor at that office looked and concurred. Note: to the best of my knowledge I never had them as a child and am pretty sure I never got vaccinated. I'm born in early 70's. So this all made sense.

* At the same time this was happening I was a little worried it could be something worse. I've had a few encounters over the past few months with a couple different women. A fair amount of unprotected oral sex took place (give and receive). Vaginal sex was always protected except in two instances appx. 3 or so months ago. Both of those times were with the same woman. They both appeared healthy and clean and am pretty sure they are not drug users. ...I know that doesn't mean much perhaps.

* Because I knew about these encounters and tend to be a worrier I took a home HIV test last week. It came back negative. But I understand it would unless I was positive for 3 or more months?

* I've been on Acyclovir since the doctor visit and the rash is not progressing. Some early bumps have scabbed but most have not yet. I've continued to. Otherwise feel 'ok'.

* I had blood drawn at Dr to confirm chickenpox. I spoke to a staff member at the office today to get results. The employee (not a doctor...they were gone for the day) said my test was negative for chickenpox antibodies.

So all this has me worried. Is it possible it's still chickenpox and the antibody test just didn't reveal anything yet?

I'll speak to the doctor again soon, but might not be tomorrow. How concerned should I be? What seems most likely.

Thanks.

[Jeff G]

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. Most who are infected will test positive by 6 weeks. For various reasons a small number will take longer and that is why we follow the CDC recommendation to test at 3 months for a conclusive negative result.

The risk factors for hiv are ...

Sharing IV drug needles immediately after use.
Unprotected anal and vaginal sex.
Mother to child during or shortly after birth
Very specific healthcare situations.

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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

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

I would get a full std panel done just to be sure .

[Tsmithsea]

After doing some more Internet research, for better or worse I feel a bit better. Everything I'm reading so far indicates it can take 10-12 weeks or more for antibodies to show up.

If so,  then I guess that's still consistent with having chickenpox but I still need to hear it from a professional.

[Ann]

They both appeared healthy and clean and am pretty sure they are not drug users.

T,

You know what? I appear healthy, I do not inject drugs, and I can assure you I bathe regularly - and I'm also hiv positive. It's quite insulting when people refer to an assumed negative hiv status as being "clean". Please do not use that term in that context here - or anywhere - again.

You need to understand that to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI - including but not limited to hiv. You can't tell by looking at someone or even asking them - far too many people do not accurately know their hiv status.

As you've had unprotected intercourse, you should have a full panel of STI testing, regardless of whether or not you have chicken-pox.

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

Ann