More testing required

[Rosa999]

Hi,

I have read this forum for quite a while and feel this could be the right place to ask my questions and get realistic answers.

I had an exposure or many of them last autumn. I had a boyfriend and we decided to have a baby so obviously we started to have sex with out condom. First time we had unprotected sex was 27th September and last time 21th October.

After the first exposure 27th sep I got flue 3-4 four days after incl high fever, swollen tonsil with white spots, felt sick and puked for couple of times. Then it went away. I didn't think about it much. Though I felt my tonsils were a little bit irritated all the time specially every time I had sex with him.

We broke up and I returned to Europe. He was Chinese. My tonsils were still little bit irritated nothing big. I went to see a doctor at the begin of Nov. Got tested for HIV and all the other STD 25th of November. Got everything back negative. (actually at the same week took ELISA twice and quick test once, I know little bit lunatic.)

At this point I also got some dots to my labia and a small ulcer. Before I was sure it not sex related problem. Got a really bad flue at the begin of December. Went to see a dict 25th December and got strong antibiotics. Did not help. Went to see a doctor again 10th January. Got super strong antibiotics. Was so sick for the whole December and January that never been. Was sure that I have HIV and crying constantly.

Went to have HIV-test 31st January and tested negative. Thank God! Was so happy. But still had a fever all the time. Got my tonsils removed and fever went a way but still felt like crap.

Mid february developed a huge ulcer and yeast to my vagina and thrus to my mouth. Never had anything like this.

Have been eating yeast medicine for three weeks but the ulcers stays in my vagina and thrus in my mouth. My tongue is hurting so bad and I have some small dots under my tongue.

I also took a hepatitis C test at two weeks ago also negative.


Main question is that can I trust my HIV test. I am afraid that Hep C might effect to my test result. Some doctors claims this. I know it might take 6 months to develop. Or should I test STD's again if there was a mistake in my tests?

I also have a cough all the time. I have never been this sick then this winter. What do you recommend?

I totally went to see more then five doctors and none of them seems to know what to do with me.

[Jeff G]

You were providing allot of dates there but if I read correct you waited 3 months from your last unprotected anal or vaginal sex and then got tested and it was negative . If this is correct you do not have HIV and are conclusively HIV negative .

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.

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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

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

[Ann]

Rosa,

The only time a coinfection with hep C has been seen to slightly delay hiv antibody development is in people who have become infected through sharing drug injecting equipment. Even these people will normally test positive by three months.

These were people who had serious drug addictions, living on the streets and had been injecting drugs every day, for years. Their immune systems were already poor and being hit with two viruses at once slowed them down. This does NOT apply to a person such as yourself - unless you're a homeless drug addict and have been for quite some time.

Besides, hep C is rarely sexually transmitted and when it is, it is more associated with anal intercourse than vaginal.

It's no surprise you're having trouble with yeast/thrush infections in your mouth and vagina after taking so many strong antibiotics. Antibiotics also kill off the beneficial bacteria that keep yeast (Candida albicans) in check. Everyone has C. ablicans present in and on their body; it's only a problem when it gets the chance to grow unchecked. You need to ask your doctor for a systemic (ie a pill) remedy for your thrush - fluconazole is the usual choice but you need to go to your doctor about this.

Whatever is going on with you has nothing to do with hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative and so have already ruled hiv out as a possible cause. You need to work with your doctor to find out what is really going on. If you haven't already been checked for ALL STIs, then you need to do this as well.

You really need to wise up and stop having unprotected intercourse with anyone until such time as you have been together at least three months and test for ALL STIs together before you stop using condoms. If you don't know someone well enough to get a sexual health check up together, then you don't know him well enough to stop using condoms with him.

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

Ann

[Rosa999]

Hi,

And thanks for your answers. Was happy to get them. Reallt appriciated your answers.

I actually want to inform you that finally last friday my doctor(s) figured out what was my problem from the begin. I have a mycoplasma and I am so happy.

I really learned my lesson from this case. Not gonna have unprotected sex ever again. Actually I think I am gonna be a quite long time without sex anyway, too scared of all kinda of viruses, bacterias and bugs anyway. Mentally this 6 months of not knowing what is happening in my body and why has been hell.

Ann, special thanks for explaining that HIV and HepC coinfectiom case. I did my research for last 6 months and red all infor about HIV but didn't understand why HepC would delay HIV antibodies development.

Anyway, now I finally believe that I don't have HIV. Feel little bit stupid but so much smarter then 6 months ago.

Oh. And special thanks to Ann, love the fact that you are so strict and you have time to explain same stuff to everybody all over again but it really does help ^_^ keep up with the good work.

Have a nice spring. Take care of yourselves.

[Ann]

Rosa,

I'm happy to hear that you got to the bottom of what was actually wrong with you. Too many people in this section of the forums automatically think any little thing going on HAS to be hiv, often when they haven't even had a risk or have tested conclusively hiv negative. It's enough to drive a person insane - them and me.

Just remember to make him wear a condom and you won't have these worries. Also don't forget to get regular sexual health check ups. It's really no different to getting regular dental check ups - just at the other end of your torso. These regular check ups are what responsible adults do to look after their health, whether it be dental health or sexual/reproductive health.

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

Ann

[Rosa999]

Hi you two,

I am sorry to post again. 

Anyway no my doc find out that it not might be a mycoplasma at the end of the day. I got an "admission note" from my doc to see a specialist infection doc and they think I should may once more test for HIV. I don't get it everybody says 3months is conclusive. Why they want me to test again. I did 4th generation HIV test at 98 days mark and it was negative. I am so afraid to go to the test again and obviously started to think this as a answer to all my symptoms once again.

At the end of the day I had fever for months and now I still have yeast. Took like 10 pils of the yeast medicine and drop all sugar and wheat from my diet. Have ulcers in my mouth and something that looks like leukoplakia in my tongue.

I am really aware of the fact that I have to use condom for now on till end of the world. I don't need a lesson on that matter believe me I did learn my lesson.

I just want to have your opinion and knowledge about the fact why I have to again go to the test. I am soooo afraid to do it again. Crying panicking.

And the second thing. You think I could develop all this problems in 6 months. My six month mark came full last week. You think HIV could develop so many problems in my mouth and vagina in 6 month after first exposure. I thought it was suppose to take more then five years.

I hope you can help me calm down.

[Joe K]

Rosa,

You have reliably tested negative.  Whatever symptoms you are experiencing are not from HIV and you should work with your doctor to find a solution.

Joe

[Jeff G]

If you attempt to create another account we will have no other option than to ban you .