POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: MikeJ12 on July 03, 2007, 09:29:42 pm
-
Hi everyone and thanks for your time in helping me out here. I had unprotected sex about 10 days ago with a girl. She said she was clean when i asked her and everything seemed fine. I have felt unusual lately and been fatigued, i have a normal temp 98.8 F. My lymph nodes do not seem swollen except for one in my armpit, but it seems very small so im not sure if its swollen at all. My tounge is white, but not totally just kinda tinted, yet im pretty sure it always has been. My mouth has some small bumps under my tounge. Thanks for your help
-
Mike,
First up please don't use words like "clean" when referring to HIV. It infers that HIV positive people are in someway dirty. I'm HIV positive and I don't like being referred in such a way.
You had unprotected sex and so you do need to test. The window period is 13 weeks and so you should have an HIV antibody test 13 weeks from the date of this sexual encounter. In fact there are other diseases such as chlamydia which are far more prevalent and easily transmitted than HIV. You should organise a full STD screen, which will include an HIV antibody test.
HIV is a fussy, fragile virus and is not easily transmitted, particularly from female to male.
Also you should take the time to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) which contains links to our lessons on testing and transmission.
MtD
-
Mike, HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It's significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. BUT lower risk is not the same as no risk, so you need to learn from this experience. Everytime you have intercourse, no matter whom your partner is or what you think you know about their history you have to wear a latex condom. NO EXCEPTIONS!
As far as your symptoms are concerned there is absolutely nothing in any way HIV specific about them. The ONLY way to accurately know your HIV status is getting tested at 13 weeks after the most recent unprotected incident. Everything else is guesswork and HIV status is nothing to guess about.
Discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
-
Mike,
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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. 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.
As you've been told, for a conclusive result you need to test for hiv three months after the incident. Syphilis shares a three month window period with hiv. You can test of other STIs ten days to two weeks after, or sooner if you develop a discharge from your penis.
Ann
-
I had sex unprotected sex with a female 12 days ago, since then I have had a sore throat, no fever, fatigue, and unusual red bumps on my tounge, i also have a short breathe. I think there is something wrong. The girl said she is clean but im having second thoughts. The symptoms are similar to mono but i only kissed her once and it was lip to lip. Is there any hiv test that i can take that will be accurate at this time? Could this be something else or another type of Std?
-
No there is no approved test to be taken at this early stage. As for your friend being clean that's nice to know, I take a shower everyday also. Symptoms mean nothing when it come to HIV. You had a risk, so you will need to test at 12/13 weeks post exposure.
-
Mike,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
You were told yesterday about using the term "clean" to mean hiv negative. Knock it off already. It's highly insulting to those of us who are hiv positive - and we are the people taking time to answer your questions.
Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms mean nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Only the appropriate test at the appropriate time will reliably inform you of your hiv status. We do NOT discuss symptoms here. If you're worried about yours, see a doctor.
Ann
-
Im not saying Hiv is dirty i was saying that they meant they have no sickness not like dirty or anything like that. Sorry to all that i offended.
-
Thank you for your apology Mike.
MtD
-
One thing i forgot to add, the female was puerto rican and i'm only 16 shes 15 sooo..........
-
One thing i forgot to add, the female was puerto rican and i'm only 16 shes 15 sooo..........
So what?
Mike, hiv is an equal opportunity infection. It doesn't care what ethnic background you come from or what age you are. It doesn't care how you did on your last history test or how much money you have in the bank. It can be spread through unprotected intercourse no matter who you are.
Although I'm fully expecting you to come out of this with a negative result, please learn from this incident. You MUST be using condoms until you are in a monogamous relationship where you have both tested hiv negative together.
You can have all the sex you like, just make sure your penis is covered by a condom before you put it inside another person's body. Don't forget to check out the three condom and lube links in my signature line so you know how to use them correctly. A correctly used condom rarely breaks and will protect you against hiv and other sexually transmitted infections.
Do yourself a favour and stay off internet hiv sites. Keep yourself productively busy until it's time to take your test. Again, I'm fully expecting you to test negative. Hiv is a fragile, difficult virus to transmit and more so from a woman to a man and the chance of you testing negative following a one-time incident is huge.
Ann
-
Ok well i had unprotected sex like i said about 5 weeks ago. My symptoms are mono like which worries me and i feel just unusual. My legs feel weak and im tired. I do not have anything unusual in my mouth except for a white tounge. My legs also tingle and i feel like i have a fever but i dont have an unusual temp. THis is very unusual and im interested in some help.
-
Mike,
Symptoms or a lack thereof mean nothing when it comes to diagnosing HIV infection. The relevant information here is that you had unprotected sexual intercourse and, as you've been told, you need to have an HIV test 13 weeks from the date you had that sex.
I agree with Ann here. I fully expect you to test negative as a result of this.
MtD
-
Mike, you're spending way too much time focusing on this event. Which I guess is understandable when you're becoming sexually active, which is exciting and also scary. The odds are way in your favor that you're going to test negative.
As you've been told, and it bears repeating, from here on in no matter whom you are with you need to wear a condom everytime you have intercourse. It doesn't matter how great your partners look or what you think you about their history healthwise, a condom is a must. Period.
With regard to your symptoms, if any of them are persistent you should discuss them with your doctor.
Now get productively busy and the waiting time for your test will pass more quickly than you imagine is possible. Really.
Cheers,
-
what do you think of the accuray of the new insti-test , they say its 60 seconds accurate test results. Should i try it?
-
MIke,
Whatever test you choose to use, just make sure it's an approved (ie approved by your relevant health authority) HIV antibody test and you use it 13 weeks after the date of this sexual encounter and the result will be conclusive.
MtD
-
This all seems too coincidental, having a cold now and feeling unusual. I had symptoms also such as a sore throat 5-12 days after our contact. I still have no fever. About my lymph nodes, they have been going down. They popped up after i stayed up till 4:30 in the morning and got up at 10:00. That may have been why they have been swollen up these few weeks. But i dont know why i have a runny nose. I also have a rash on my rear side(not my back, the other rear). This seems too odd to not be something bad.
-
How about a common cold? If you have a concern see your doctor.
-
Im still unsure, i never have colds in the summer and i do have white bumps in the back of my throat and small red bumps on the front of my tounge. I weighed 167 a week ago and now i weigh 165.5 so thats a major sign.
-
NO...
-
Mike,
As you have been told, if you're concerned about your bumps or your weight or whatever else you think is going on, then the ONLY thing for it is to go see your doctor.
It's extremely unlikely to have anything to do with hiv.
Ann
-
Just a random question. Do you think hiv can be transmitted during physical exercise such as boxing? I dont always mean blood involved but if there is blood involed can it infect the other person. Do you think close contact in boxing can affect your partner because of the blood and sweat?
-
MikeJ12, sweat isn't infections and there has never been anyone contract HIV from a sport. Take the time to read the lesson on transmission. You'll find the link in the " Welcome" thread.
-
Has anyone ever heard of a PEP?
-
Mike,
Of course we've heard of PEP. It has to be initiated no longer than 72 hours after possible infection - although your situation would not have warranted it.
PEP is short for Post Exposure Prophylaxis - it entails taking anti-hiv drugs for 28 days. These drugs are quite toxic and many people discontinue PEP before the 28 days have passed because of side-effects. It's not something to take lightly nor is it something to take in a case (like yours) where transmission has most likely NOT occurred.
Ann
-
Well im thinking of getting a home hiv test, the ones you can buy at walmart and they are sent to a lab. The results are said to be 99% accurate and im pretty sure the fda approved it. Where can i get an Elisa quicktest or an oratest? Are they sold at a cvs or riteaid?
-
Mike,
The ONLY approved home hiv test is called Home Access. There are others available, but they aren't very good and quite often yield FALSE positive results. You don't want that!
If you want a test that will give you quick results, you'll have to go to a testing center. You can find one near you by going to the HIV testing center database (http://www.hivtest.org/)
Ann
-
Ah my bro wont get me a test n my mom n dad aint takin me for a test. My bro says it take 8 years to get aids so he says its ight. My gurl says she got a test on aug first n it was negative, she says she was at the hospital for six hours gettin tests n shes negative. I dunno if shes tellin the truth, but f$ck it if i got something i decied. Ill prolly be dead before eight years. Like i aint gettin a test or nothing n theres such a low chance i got hiv i think im makin these symptoms come on by stress and when i think about it i become in fear. So this isnt nothing.
-
Ah my bro wont get me a test n my mom n dad aint takin me for a test. My bro says it take 8 years to get aids so he says its ight. My gurl says she got a test on aug first n it was negative, she says she was at the hospital for six hours gettin tests n shes negative. I dunno if shes tellin the truth, but f$ck it if i got something i decied. Ill prolly be dead before eight years. Like i aint gettin a test or nothing n theres such a low chance i got hiv i think im makin these symptoms come on by stress and when i think about it i become in fear. So this isnt nothing.
Mike,
You did have a very low risk and ultimately the decision to test is one for you. You have to make that decision, not your girlfriend or your brother - who doesn't know shit when it comes to HIV, by the way, so stop listening to him about this.
Surely there must be some way you can access reliable confidential HIV antibody testing where you live. If you do decide to test, I really don't think home testing is the answer for you. I feel you could benefit from the pre and post test counselling that you get a clinic which specialises in these matters.
MtD
-
well the girl says that she got tested at the hospital. I dunno if hospitals do testing. I can find a place but i dont think i got hiv , i think im being a girl about this n if i do then ill get it outta my system anyway i can.
-
well the girl says that she got tested at the hospital. I dunno if hospitals do testing. I can find a place but i dont think i got hiv , i think im being a girl about this n if i do then ill get it outta my system anyway i can.
MIke,
As I said the decision to test is ultimately yours and you have to be responsible for yourself. HIV is an extraordinarily serious disease and is nothing to make guesses about, much less take the word of other people when it comes to your personal situation.
As we've noted all along, the likelihood that you're HIV positive is very low. We can't rule it out, but it seems very unlikely. So if you're not worried about it, don't test. If you're concerned get tested, but whatever you do make the decision based on sound reasoning, not what your girlfriend might or might not have told you.
Be well,
MtD
-
I know . I may get tested but i think she aint lying. Im on probation n all that good stuff so im back in my hood now n i cant worry about that stuff cuz she aint lyin 2 me. It could be worse, hiv aint the end of the world but i dont think i got it. Good luck 2 everyone wit hiv n there will be a cure soon wit this technolgy so dont sweat nothing. Im out ffrom these forums. NVH( Northview Heights) Pittsburgh stand up puttin it down nvh.
-
Mike,
If you're old enough to be having sex, then you're old enough to get yourself to a testing center to get tested. Or do your parents and/or brother take you by the hand to your sexual hook-ups too?
Sex comes with certain responsibilities - such as making sure, number one, that you use condoms to protect your health and two, getting regular sexual health care check ups. If you're not old enough to take care of these two things, maybe you're not old enough to be having sex.
You've got the rest of your life for sex. Don't mess it up over a few minutes of pleasure.
And when you do have sex, make sure you're using condoms. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever. Remember that.
Ann
-
well i decided i wanted 2 get tested so i asked my parents n they said why? They say u dint have sex but i dotn wanna admit. u cant get tested if ur under 18?
-
In the state of Ohio, minors age 12 and older can consent to HIV testing. Check your state laws within you state.
-
ya i am allowwed to by state. My parents said they see no symptoms or signs. I showed them my temp and its 99.6 which is very high and they still say its nothing.
-
well i just talked to my bro he is a biochemial engineer with a phd for it he says that hiv is a dormant virus that takes over five years to devolp symptoms and it is extremly unlikely i got it from one time with a girl.He also said you cannot show symptoms in six weeks. So i guess im not getting any testing done.
-
Look Mike,
You need to shit or get off the damn pot.
HIV is NOT a dormant virus that "takes x amount of time" to develop into AIDS. There is no set time for when a person develops AIDS. It's different in everyone and HIV is always active in a positive person's body, busily destroying their immune system.
So your mate the biochemical engineer clearly knows three quarters of fuck all when it comes to HIV disease progression.
The bottom line is this; you had a low risk. It's unlikely you have HIV, but since you have access to suitable testing you need to make a decision about getting tested. Not other people, you buddy. You decided to have unprotected sex and now YOU have to deal with the consequences.
So decide one way or the other. But stop coming in here with all this I will/I won't carry on. Just make a damn decision.
MtD
-
Im finally taking my test tommrow but results wont be back until sunday when i call the clinic. What are the chances of a one time incident on a girl that claims to have been tested and is negative. I think shes honest but im getting tested so i can stop worring about this. I have annoyed her every minute for the past month so i think shes honest. What are my chances of coming out negative and do you think i will come out negative?
-
I also heard being uncirumsized increases your risk of infection. Is this true?
-
Mike,
My uncut partner didn't become infected despite a year and a half worth of unprotected sex with me. We're still together many years later and he's still negative. We started using condoms when we discovered my positive hiv status. Condoms work - they prevent hiv infection.
I do not expect you to get anything other than a negative result from this one time incident. BUT, the only way to know for sure is to test.
Ann
-
Mike,
Tim Horn went much easier on you than I would have regarding your asking people via PM how they got infected. This kind of activity is very rude and if I hear of you doing it again, you will be given a time out. I don't care how worried you are, it doesn't give you the right to go questioning people about their private lives.
Make sure you read BOTH of the stickied threads that appear at the top of this forum and keep all your questions in THIS thread only. Thank you for your cooperation.
Ann
-
Mike,
I rejected the new account you applied for. We only allow one account per person here and this is something you agreed to when you became a member. This information is also contained in the Welcome thread.
You're skating on very thin ice.
Ann
-
I have had shortness of breathe for around a month to 2 months. This all occured after i had unprotected sex. Can this be any symptom or sign of an hiv infection? I am also tired more easily now and feel fatigued. On my forehead i have developed colorless bumps that i have never seen before. Whats holding me back on all this hiv things is that my lymph nodes were swollen and have been going down lately.
-
Mike,
You need to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. We cannot diagnose you here.
Please re-read your whole thread. There's nothing new to add to what's already been said.
Ann
-
I just got tested, they say the results come in a week. The nurse says hiv doesnt show symptoms for many years. From my situation what do you think my results will be?
-
Mike,
RE-READ your thread. We've answered that question several times now.
Ann
-
Just a question. when do you think the average person would go through seroconversion? I am worried about that because i hear it is terrible if you do show symptoms.
-
That's what they've been trying to tell you Mike. Not all people have symptoms that go through seroconversion. I didn't have any symptoms when I went through seroconversion. Serocoversion can take on average 22 days from time of infection. For one to test postive can take 6 weeks to 3 months.
-
Does upper rib pain sound anything like an hiv symptom? I think it would be the spleen located there.
-
Mike,
What part of "see your doctor about your symptoms" don't you understand? We are NOT going to tell you anything different.
If I have to, I'll give you a time out until Monday, when you should have your results. Until then, there's nothing more to say.
Ann
-
Well i called for my reslults and the clinic said i have to come in for counsling and they arent allowed to give results over the phone. Is this bad? I think they would tell me over the phone, i have my patient number also.
-
Don't spend any more time (mis)intrepreting what the clinic means when they say come in to get your test result. They've already told you that's their standard policy.
Stop torturing yourself and go get your result.
Keep us posted.
Cheers
-
How accurate would a 7 1/2 week negative( 56 days). Would this be accurate for a healthy person? What are the chances of me testing positive in 5 more weeks?
-
Can someone reply to my last post???
-
Mike,
The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, but a six week negative must be confirmed at three months.
I do not expect the negative result you got this week to change.
Ann
-
Ok thats good to know. Does it seem the ball is in my court now since its been 2 months? From what i hear it is very uncommon to seroconvert after 6 weeks unless you have an immune system that is very comprimised.
-
Mike,
We've been telling you all along that it was unlikely you'd end up positive from this one-off incident.
I do not expect your results to change.
Ann
-
Does spleen pain have anything to do with hiv?
-
No Mike, not in your case.
MtD
-
I have devolped a red, bumpy rash on my backside(my butt) it isnt itchy but it has several red bumps and they are unusual. I also have upper left rib pain. Are these signs of hiv or seroconversion?
-
Mike,
How many times have we told you that symptoms are no indicator of HIV status? You really are pushing your luck here.
MtD
-
I'm sorry i just have been worried about this as u can see by my title. Ive never had a rash on my butt like this it almost looks like a heat rash but it doenst hurt.
-
If you're worried about a rash on your arse then take your tuches to your doctor.
Why on earth would you think that we could diagnose your butt problems over the internet?
MtD
-
Mike,
You have less than two weeks to go until you can test conclusively for hiv. In the meantime, you'll have to take your physical problems to a doctor as we cannot diagnose you here.
I'm still fully expecting you to receive a conclusive negative result and so should you.
Make sure you always use condoms in future and you won't have to go through all this uncertainty again. Condoms prevent hiv infection. Use them.
Ann
-
yes i understand that. I do have a question, i have been diagnosed with Meniere's disease (its vertigo) can that have affected my negative test result. I also had been taking multivitamin's and other vitamin pills that support immune function. Could that have interfered with my antibody detection? I think i may have got the wrong test result and they tested it wrong at the lab.
-
Mike,
None of the things you list would have ANY effect on your hiv testing. The test came back negative because you don't have hiv. All you need is the confirmatory three month test, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that your conclusive result will be negative.
Ann
-
DOes anyone know what the ususal test that comes out as non-reactive is called? I was tested at a clinic for no charge. Are the clinic tests that are free antibody tests crappy quality? Do you think they are old, unsensitve tests that the clinic i went to usues? I know they had to send my sample to a lab for testing. What test would non-reacitve have been and what gen do you think it was?
-
Mike,
Non-reactive means negative.
MtD
-
For the past three days i have been experiencing a cold, fever 101-102, headache, and fatigue. Also i have a sore throat and it hurts bad. Is this usual of hiv such as seroconversion or any other hiv related complex? My fever has went down Currently my fever is at 100.
-
DOes anyone know what the ususal test that comes out as non-reactive is called? I was tested at a clinic for no charge. Are the clinic tests that are free antibody tests crappy quality? Do you think they are old, unsensitve tests that the clinic i went to usues? I know they had to send my sample to a lab for testing. What test would non-reacitve have been and what gen do you think it was?
Mike,
When you posted the reply I've quoted above, I take it you were posting about your conclusive three month test result. If so, then you are conclusively hiv negative, which is no surprise after your seven and a half week negative result.
You are always going to get colds and flues - it happens to all of us, negative or positive. If you're going to question your hiv negative status every time you get a sniffle, then perhaps it's time you saw a counselor who can show you ways of managing your hiv anxiety. We cannot do that for you here.
Please make sure you read the posting guidelines in the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), particularly the one that reads:
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
Please consider yourself warned.
Ann
-
Well here it is again. I had vaginal sex, i used one of those trojan enz condoms and i belive to have put it on properly because me and partner checked it . I am uncircumsized and the condom would bunch up on my penis, but we checked it periodically to see if it broke and it didnt appear broken and i saw no pinholes in it so we continued. I ejaculated in the condom with it inside my partner, and once again it appeared to not be broken. I checked the condom two days after sex for pinholes and there were several in the condom when it was filled up with 8 oz of water!!!! Do you think my condom had pinholes during our sex? and what is my hiv risk from the pinholes? Do you think the pinholes may have leaked during sex?
-
Mike,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please tell me you're kidding. You dug a two day old, spunk filled condom out of the rubbish (I hope it was in the rubbish, or do you keep them under your pillow for the condom fairy?), filled it with water, then wondered why there were holes in it?
You men who insist on filling used condoms with water are asking to scare yourselves silly. They're not meant to be used in this way and it's no wonder they sometimes come up with holes. Sheesh.
No, there weren't holes in your condom when you were using it for intercourse. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. They're crap as water balloons though.
Uncircumcised men should pull the foreskin back before putting the condom on. It sounds like you've not been doing this. Start.
You didn't have a risk. Read through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them correctly and with confidence.
And stop putting water in the damn things.
Ann
edited to fix three annoying spelling mistakes.
-
Well actually the condom was in my yard. but it doesnt make much of a difference i suppose. well yes i figured it would have probably torn or ripped during sex but i wasnt totally sure. Thanks alot for the help.
-
Mike?
You got it out of your yard, where it had lain for two days, and you wondered why there were holes in it? Thanks mate, I can die happy because I've heard it all now.
Seriously, latex degrades when left out in the sunshine and weather elements. This is why you need to store your condoms properly. If you'd bothered to read through the condom and lube links in my signature line like I asked you to in my very first post to you (back in July '07), you'd know this stuff.
And in future, dispose of your condoms properly. Don't go throwing them in your yard. Wow. Talk about a litter bug!
Ann
no edit, hit wrong button