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Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: pozmd on October 16, 2007, 08:16:38 pm

Title: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: pozmd on October 16, 2007, 08:16:38 pm
I engaged in a mutual blow job and masturbation session with a random man (no condom), and neither of us came.  There must have been some exchange of bodily fluids (low risk doesn't equal no risk, I suppose), because my viral load 2 weeks later was >100,000.  As a professional in the medical world (and incidentally, a past HIV counselor), I recognized the prodrome symptoms (i.e. flu-like illness) and asked my PCP to test my viral load, who immediately referred me to a specialist (and, of course, drew confirmatory testing).  Just yesterday, I officially "seroconverted" using a rapid test I stole from the clinic at the hospital where I work.

I feel like I'm probaby not dealing with everything right now.  There hasn't been very much emotion.  I know it will all take time for things to come out, but I feel like I have had worse emotions during my last breakup.  At least then, there were tears.  Maybe I have just found a way to actually believe what I have been counseling my patients on for the last couple of years (it is still early in my training).... you know, the part where they tell you "this is just another chronic illness".  Which I suppose would be true, if the name didn't carry such baggage.

I think, you never really want to hear this news.  But if you had a choice of the "perfect" situation, I think this would be it.  My BF (HIV neg) is sticking by my side, I have wonderful doctors, I have extremely supportive friends, and I'm sure my family will be equally supportive (when I tell them in a year, probably).

I feel like I did when I first came out -- and had my first boyfriend.  I would say it out loud, "He is my boyfriend", in disbelief that those words were actually coming from my mouth.  "Having a boyfriend", "Being gay", etc were labels I wasn't prepared to accept, and right now... I'm getting used to the sound coming from my mouth saying "I am HIV positive".

I suppose that's it for now, I just wanted to introduce myself to the group.  I do have many, many questions about how everyone is dealing (especially those of you in relationships), but I will save those for future posts.  Best wishes to everyone out there.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: Matty the Damned on October 16, 2007, 09:27:38 pm
I engaged in a mutual blow job and masturbation session with a random man (no condom), and neither of us came.  There must have been some exchange of bodily fluids (low risk doesn't equal no risk, I suppose), because my viral load 2 weeks later was >100,000.  As a professional in the medical world (and incidentally, a past HIV counselor), I recognized the prodrome symptoms (i.e. flu-like illness) and asked my PCP to test my viral load, who immediately referred me to a specialist (and, of course, drew confirmatory testing).  Just yesterday, I officially "seroconverted" using a rapid test I stole from the clinic at the hospital where I work.

Hey poz,

Welcome to the forums.

I note your VL results but I'm wondering, did you have your positive ELISA test confirmed by Western Blot (stolen or otherwise)?

MtD
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: Miss Philicia on October 16, 2007, 09:31:35 pm
How can you get infected with no cum?  I don't get it.  Are you sure about all of this?  You self-administered the test even.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: pozmd on October 16, 2007, 09:45:33 pm
MtD -

Yes, I had confirmatory tests done (10/1/07):

EIA HIV 1/2: positive
Western blot HIV-1: negative
Anti-p24 negative
Anti-gp41 negative
Anti-gp120/160 negative
Interpretation: No specific HIV Ab detected.

and a second viral load drawn on the same day (87,500)

BUT, this was only 2-3 weeks after the exposure.  I will have another one sent off at my next appointment, but I'm not holding my breath.  I think the next decision will be: to treat or not to treat.  Any ideas?

philly267 -- I suppose there must have been some pre-cum, and I don't have the best gums in the world, and we did make out (i.e. kiss) as well.  That, and he was uncut, and also probably acutely infected, which would have also made it easier to transmit.  I must admit, tho, I have gone through my fair share of denial (esp. w/ regard to the "low risk" nature of the encounter in conjunction with my lab values.).  But on the flip side, I did have a pretty characteristic "prodrome" illness, swollen lymph nodes all over the place, have had very low platelets, very low white count, and several viral load titers in the 5-6 digit range.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: Matty the Damned on October 16, 2007, 09:47:09 pm
EIA HIV 1/2: positive
Western blot HIV-1: negative
Anti-p24 negative
Anti-gp41 negative
Anti-gp120/160 negative
Interpretation: No specific HIV Ab detected.


Bingo. ELISA positive + WB negative == HIV negative.

Given your "risk" behaviours and those blood test results, I'd call you HIV negative babe.

MtD
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: Miss Philicia on October 16, 2007, 09:52:31 pm
This thread needs to be moved to "Am I Infected"
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: pozmd on October 16, 2007, 10:09:33 pm
While it is the case that viral load testing can produce false positive results, these results are generally less than a couple thousand copies / mL (as opposed to >100,000 and 87,500 in my case).  Obviously, I would love to entertain the notion that I am not positive, but you cannot only rely on ELISA/Western blot testing in an acute infection.  It takes time to develop antibodies to the virus, and I think my clinical presentation has been pretty much by the book.  If anyone has heard of similar cases turning up negative at the end of the day, I'd be happy to continue this thread elsewhere.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: Matty the Damned on October 16, 2007, 10:16:13 pm
That's quite true, Poz which is why I originally made the comment saying I noted your VL result. It is very high and not what one would expect in terms of a false positive.

One of the Moderators will be along soon enough to render judgment about the appropriate place for this thread.

MtD
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: whizzer on October 16, 2007, 10:26:13 pm
I feel compelled to point out that it has been two years since my positive diagnosis, and I have yet to produce any more than an indeterminate Western Blot result.

Perhaps a DNA PCR to test for proviral DNA might shed some additional light.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: keyite on October 20, 2007, 03:21:36 pm
Pozmd, very sorry to hear that you might be joining the ranks - hoping it might turn out to be a mistake, but if not, then welcome.

I too suspected my seroconversion illness as I was experiencing it, but tested first indeterminate and then negative for p24 and negative on WB. A few months later antibodies had emerged and I tested positive.

You'd be far from alone in having contracted HIV via oral sex - there's a fair few on these boards who believe they were infected this way. It is probably rarer still for it to happen via pre-cum but I certainly don't believe it to be inconceivable. As you will have gathered, this subject seems to provoke strong feelings amongst some members of this board, but please don't let the rough ride you've had on the site so far keep you from using it in future.

Feel free to PM me.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: jordan on October 20, 2007, 05:53:48 pm
hi sorry to hear about your diagnosis - welcome to the forum.

I was wondering if this person told you he was positive or maybe he didn't know?



Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: pozmd on October 25, 2007, 10:47:36 am
He told me he had been tested a month ago, negative.  This was all after the fact (after I had tested positive).  We didn't discuss HIV that night, but I suspect he was acutely infected as well.
Title: Re: Recent Seroconversion, An Introduction
Post by: kentb on October 25, 2007, 03:51:21 pm
Welcome back,  regardless of your source of infection hopefully you can educate yourself and your BF here and get the resources you need to make intelligent decisions reagrding your health and your relationship.

Kent