POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: brod93 on September 15, 2012, 05:18:08 pm

Title: Should I be worried?
Post by: brod93 on September 15, 2012, 05:18:08 pm
Hello,

about 9 weeks ago, I had receptive anal sex. I felt no pain at all around the rectum, the sex lasted around 2-4 minutes, and though we DID use protection, the HIV status of this individual was unknown. I went in for an HIV Elisa 3rd Gen. test at almost 5 weeks as my nerves were getting the best of me. I got the results back a few days later that said Non-Reacvite.

I started to feel more confident that I was HIV negative, but I kept checking my symptoms and reading online and I again got nervous. My symptoms started a little over 6 weeks post-exposure and they included very low grade fever (no greater than 99.4) and fatigue. I started becoming a nervous wreck and then I noticed a small, non-raised, slightly purple rash on my left forearm that did not itch or grow more and it appeared to be an area of small dots. The rash became more visible when I rubbed it a bit and then faded back. That was when I became convinced that I had the virus.

So I decided to get tested the next day which was exactly 6.5 weeks post-exposure. While waiting for the results, the rash went away after I started calming down more (about 3 days after testing) and I finally got my results about 5 days later with a Non-Reactive result.

I felt so much better for about 2 weeks, until now. I again have become very nervous and am noticing symptoms like soft stool, small joint pain on my knees and elbows, dry cough and a runny nose accompanied with sneezing. No fever, no more rash, no white tongue (I was able to wash it off and went away after rehydrating). There has been a cold going around for a while at the house where I live at with 45 other kids, so maybe that's what these symptoms are from..

Questions:

1. Is my 4 week 3rd Gen Elisa negative result reliable?
2. Is my 6.5 week 3rd Gen Elisa negative result reliable?
3. Could my rash and other symptoms be from stress or cold?
4. If I had a rash a day before my 6.5 week test that was due to ARS, could it be that my test was a false negative because the antibodies had just started being produced or would the rash indicate enough levels of antibodies to be detected?
5. How confident can I be that I do not have HIV and that my results won't changed based on the previous results?

P.S.: I live in the U.S. so I would assume that the standard tests here are 3rd Gen.. and I have heard from many people saying that a Negative result at 4-6 weeks is next to impossible to change. I have no immune disorders that I know of that would cause my sero-conversion to be delayed.

It's now been about 9 weeks and I'm currently feeling just body/joint pains especially in the knees and a bit on the elbows and wrists. Could this be stress or is this an ARS symptom at 9 weeks.

Please, please help me, and sorry for the long description.
Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: Andy Velez on September 15, 2012, 06:23:13 pm
Properly used condoms provide very effective protection against HIV transmission. So nothing you are reporting put you at risk.

With that in mind, your negative test result is no surprise here. You can re-test if you want to at 3 months for a conclusive. Doing that would be strictly for your peace of mind since you didn't have a risk.

If any of your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. They have nothing to do with HIV.

Get on with your life and always use condoms for intercourse.
Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: jkinatl2 on September 15, 2012, 08:19:36 pm
You know I stopped reading as soon as I saw you correctly used a condom, right?

They are nearly foolproof if used correctly, and actually prevents HIV infection better than it prevents other, hardier and more aggressive STDs.

Keep on keeping on, and quit looking for the elusive "telltale" HIV symptom. That's a viral Jackelope.



Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: brod93 on September 15, 2012, 11:07:40 pm
Thank you for your responses. I've been reading so much on the internet and some eases me. If you don't mind, I have a few more questions.

How noticeable is a condom failure that would potentially put me at risk for HIV?

Are there small tears on the condom that can allow fluid to pass through? (these condoms had just been bought)

Is 6.5 weeks sufficient time for my test to be deemed exceedingly accurate (I know it's not conclusive until 3 months) that I can be confident it won't change later? and do I need further testing?

Is 8-9 weeks too late for ARS symptoms to be happening, like this joint pain and dry tongue feeling?

Again, thank you guys so much.
Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: Ann on September 16, 2012, 08:15:02 am
brod,

Broken condoms are VERY obvious. They're not about small holes or tears.

Your test results are conclusive because you did NOT have a risk for hiv infection.

Ann
Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: brod93 on September 19, 2012, 06:16:51 pm
Thanks for the response Ann.

Thank you guys again for all of the support. I am getting tested again at 9:30 tomorrow morning, making it almost 11 weeks, 77 days. Can I expect the results of this test to be negative? Conclusive?

I have still been having some pain in my joints, mainly on the left side of my body though, and it usually goes away when I don't think about it.

Is it true that most people test positive by 4 weeks and that 99% by 6 weeks?

I am praying to God to give me another chance at a long healthy life, I have so much ahead of me that are worth too much to be altered by stupid decisions on my part.

Again, thanks for everything you guys do. It's the only thing that's been keeping me sane lately.
Title: Re: Should I be worried?
Post by: Ann on September 20, 2012, 06:55:50 am
Brod,

Of course you're going to get another negative result and yes it will be conclusive. You didn't have a risk, remember?

If your joints continue to bother you, see a doctor. It could be just about anything - anything other than hiv, that is. You have not been at risk for hiv infection.

Ann