Did I get infected with HIV and did I go through seroconversion

[Explorer3235]

My story:

Had condom protected insertive penile vaginal sex with a female CSW on 3/July 2011, also open mouth kissing.

(1) On the 11th day I started having upper thigh muscle and joint pains, mostly on right side that lasted about 3 days.

(2) At week 2 I was still having muscle pain in my upper shoulders and was very tense through out body mostly in neck and shoulder area and fatigue through out the whole week.

(3) At week 3 still had isolated muscle pain/aches some days in the legs then some days in the upper arms and fore arms and heavy fatigue for 3 days. 4 nights of mild night sweats, one canker sore on my lower inside gum line, one unusual looking isolated pimple on my belly and a few odd red spots (about 9 to 10) on one side of my lower to mid back. No sore throat, no fever and no swollen lymph nodes, but a white tongue.

(4) At week 4 all symptoms were gone except the white tongue and odd pimple on belly.

(5) At week 5 all was fine and the isolated belly pimple was gone, but notice weight loss.

(6) At Week 6 I had very painful muscle aches in my right arm for (2) days, also a malaise feeling for the 2 days, also 1 night of  night sweats. Felt good the following day then next day the malaise feeling came back for about 6 hrs then went away.

(7) At week 9 I had a Folliculitis rash on my body, minor pain in palms and foot soles. Still had white tongue.

( Currently today I fell good and well. Never had fever, no sore throat or swollen lymph nodes.

What is going on? Did I experience ARS/seroconversion?

I am currently working on a project in a remote area and can not currently get to any type of testing clinic  until another 3 to 4 weeks.       

[Andy Velez]

Based on the details of the incident you have reported, whatever is going on with you symptomatically has nothing to do with HIV. Kissing of any kind is not a risk for HIV. And condoms provide very effective protection against HIV transmission.

There's no need for testing unless you want to do it for your peace of mind and collect the inevitable negative result.

Your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV. Discuss them wtih your doctor if they persist to find out what the real cause is. This is not an HIV situation. 

[Explorer3235]

Thanks for your reply Andy! As stated I am in a very remote are working on a project that I really have no one to talk to about my recent situation. In reviewing your profile on this site it shows that you have a lot of knowledge on the subject of HIV/AIDS.

My concerns is that a couple of weeks after my sex with this female CSW the same CSW was banned/barred from the brothel where she worked due to her recent HIV monthly test came up positive. This has me very concern since my past symptoms are relative to typical ARS symptoms. To my knowledge the condom was always intact and did not break or slip, but the kissing was very intense.

(1) Does all ARS symptoms come all at the same time (day/week)?

(2) Can the ARS symptoms come and go, be there a few days then skip a day or two then come back?

(3) Is it possible that my anxiety/stress caused most of these symptoms due to my findings of the CSW being HIV positive?

(4) On the 6th week for (2) days I was feeling very malaise with right arm intense muscle pain and a throbbing feeling throughout my body like my body was fighting something off, but I had no fever. I did have one night  of sweats. This 6th week symptom phase has me the most concerned as I never in my life felt such a feeling, also during last 6 weeks I have lost over 10 lbs of body weight.

[RapidRod]

What part of, "You didn't have a risk" is it you are not comprehending?

[Ann]

Explorer,

The risk assessments we give here are always based on the supposition that the other person is hiv positive.

You did NOT have a risk. Kissing is not a risk. Protected intercourse is just that - protected. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection.

There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

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

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST SPECIFICALLY OVER PROTECTED INTERCOURSE OR KISSING, 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.

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

Ann

[Explorer3235]

Thanks Ann and Rapid Rod

I know both of you state that I had no risk since I used a latex condom, but my concerns are due to the symptoms I had between day 12 and up to the 6th week. Just seems like classic ARS symptoms. The way I understand that my symptoms mean nothing since I had a condom on during the whole phase of sex.

Ann, I read through some of the past post as you talked about your seroconversion. Was your ARS symptoms all at once and constantly through out till  it stop all at once, are then the symptoms come one are a few at a time and some came and went?

Rapid Rod, did you have a ARS when you was infected? If so, what symptoms did you have and how was the phase.

Once I am back in a industrialized country I will get a full panel test for STD/HIV, as I had one done about 9 months ago and all was negative. I am in a relationship in my home country and hopfully I do not bring back HIV with my last incident.

Thanks, Explorer

[Ann]

Explorer,

Symptoms, or even the lack of symptoms will never tell you a single thing about your hiv status. ONLY testing will. I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of people over the past ten years who coincidentally had a cold or flu after a NO RISK incident. Every single one of those who chose to test anyway, tested negative. So will you.

The illness that sometimes accompanies seroconversion comes on all at once and goes all at once. It doesn't come and go and come again. Mine didn't. I was deathly ill - couldn't even get out of bed - for several days and then I was fine. That's all I'm going to say about my illness, so don't bother to ask for more details.

Ann

[Ann]

Explorer,

Two things - first, don't ever let me catch you posting in forums where you are not permitted to again, or you will be banned.

Second, if you forget your password again, you'll have to use the "forgot password" link on the main log in page. If you try to create a new account again like you did this weekend, you'll be permanently banned. You are permitted one and only one account here and we take that rule VERY seriously.

As for that other thread you posted in, I have very serious doubts as to whether that person is actually hiv positive.

YOU did NOT have a risk for hiv infection. I suggest you stay out of forums where you're not supposed to be so you don't freak yourself out.

Make sure you read and abide by our rules found in the Welcome Thread - and consider yourself WARNED!!!

Ann

[Explorer3235]

Ann / Andy

Got test results:



{1st test}
RNA, Real Time PCR (Graph) VL for HIV-1:
Test:     HIV-1 RNA by PCR
Results:   <20 copies/mL
HIV-1 RNA not detected

{2nd test}
OraQuick Rapid HIV 1 & 2 "nonreactive" at (81) days post exposure

[jkinatl2]

Congrats! You are HIV negative.

Continue to wear condoms for penetrative vaginal and anal sex and you will not have to worry about HIV.

[Explorer3235]

Does anyone know if the USA labs check for all subtypes with the RNA PCR real time HIV -1 test?

[jkinatl2]

You are reliably HIV negative. Current testing standards account for all known HIV strains. You ARE HIV negative.

[Ann]

Explorer,

If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

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). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. 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