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Author Topic: Honest Opinions, Please  (Read 4223 times)

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Offline soulsearching

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Honest Opinions, Please
« on: July 26, 2007, 01:11:11 pm »
Hello everyone,
 
I recently found this forum and it seems there are a lot of knowledgable people here.  I am looking for some honest opinions on my situation.  I have been very worried about a encounter that took place back in May.  I had unprotected insertive vaginal intercourse with a female friend back on May 24.  About 5 weeks post that encounter we were tested together and both were HIV negative.  However, I was still concerned, so I just went and ahead had another test now at 8.5 week mark and it was also negative.  What the chances that a 12 week test would yield a different result?  Can I put this situation behind me? 
 
Please advise!
 
Thanks! 

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2007, 01:32:17 pm »
Did your friend have unprotected less than three months before testing? Did you have unprotected sex less than three months before testing?

Offline soulsearching

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2007, 01:56:45 pm »
I have been with the same person for the past 3 years and she is negative.  The person I was with said she has not been with anyone that could have put her at risk in the weeks before we were together but I can only go by what she has told me.

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2007, 02:03:12 pm »
Then the answer is yes she has unprotected sex with others before testing. I doubt that your test result will change but to get a conclusive test you need to test 12/13 weeks after your last unprotected sex. You may also want to consider an STD panel.

Offline Ann

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2007, 02:05:03 pm »
soul,

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, but a negative result at six weeks must confirmed at three months.

While you have had a risk and you do need conclusive testing, I do not expect your result to change and neither should you.

I sincerly hope you learn from this incident. Although hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus, difficult can happen to you. You were lucky this time.

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 with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

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.

Condoms prevent hiv - but only when you use them correctly and consistently.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...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 soulsearching

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2007, 02:11:11 pm »
Thanks RapidRod.  I did have an STD panel and that came back all negative.  I guess I will just keeping praying for the next few and hope I am still negative at the 12th week.

Offline soulsearching

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2007, 02:13:51 pm »
Ann,

Thanks that is encouraging.  I will go for my twelve week test in 3 weeks.  I hope I am not one of the exceptions.  Please pray for me! 

Offline soulsearching

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2007, 03:16:59 pm »
I know most of us on this forum are dealing with and incredible amount of stress and anxiety.  I have seen many posts from members and moderators that say that the "vast majority" of people who will test positive, do so by the 6 week mark.  If I may ask the question, is it safe to say that the reason you say this is because you have never seen a case here where someone was negative at 6 weeks and then positive later?  If it has happen, were certain circumstance caused someone to take longer than 6 weeks?

Offline Ann

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Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2007, 03:36:14 pm »
Soul,

I've yet to see, in this forum, someone end up positive after testing negative at six weeks. I don't expect you to be the first.

However, the official window period, nearly world-wide, is three months. Until the window period changes (which will likely happen), we stick with a three month conclusive negative result.

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 soulsearching

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  • Posts: 7
Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2007, 03:43:42 pm »
You have obviously seen a lot of posts here so that means a whole lot.

Thanks!

Offline Andy Velez

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  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2007, 04:24:41 pm »
For whatever comfort it may provide, I think it is very, very unlikely you would get other than a negative test result after having tested negative at 8.5 weeks.

Good luck with your test and keep us posted.

Cheers, 
Andy Velez

Offline soulsearching

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  • Posts: 7
Re: Honest Opinions, Please
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2007, 05:39:19 pm »
Hi Andy,

Thanks for your reassurance.  I have been a complete wreck for the past 2 months.  I have lost at least 12 pounds because I just haven't been eating, I haven't been able to focus, I have missed work, it has been awful.  My doctor prescribed Lexapro this week to help with the anxiety and depression and I am hoping that will help get me through next 3 weeks with out any more panic attacks. 

Thanks again for the well wishes and I will certainly keep you posted.  Please pray for me to be Negative at the end of this ordeal!

Best wishes!

 


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