Author Topic: waiting not so patiently (Read 11505 times)

SecretKeeper · « **on:** September 01, 2007, 10:22:35 am »

My husband tested poz mid-June, I tested negative. My test was done only two weeks after our last sexual encounter (an extremely risky encounter I might add - but did not know there was any chance of him being poz at that time). Anyway, I've never gone through any seroconversion illness symptoms, but for the last few weeks I just haven't felt "right". So, since it's been at least 8 weeks since my last test and 11 weeks since that night of crazy sex, I felt compelled to get tested again. It was some type of oral test that tasted salty and they do a western blot on if it comes back positive - I won't have to give any blood samples for a confirmatory test. It's been just over a week now and still no results. I don't fear the outcome, it just sucks waiting. I was just wondering if anyone had to wait this long for negative results. I went to a different clinic then my husband goes to because they didn't want to test me again until October and I didn't want to wait that long - I guess not that it would've mattered at this point. They told me that the test could take two weeks, but why would it take that long if it is negative. If it was negative shouldn't I get it back in a weeks time? I know I'm probably being paranoid and a lot of my aches and pains and weird sensations are probably more mental that actually physical. Anyone else's experience would maybe put my mind at ease for the long holiday weekend. (I've already had to wait through one weekend - that was long enough!!)

Ann · « **Reply #1 on:** September 01, 2007, 10:35:08 am »

SK,

I've moved your thread from the Am I Infected forum. We'd rather you posted your concerns in this forum (Someone I Care About) as you are in a relationship and living with someone who is hiv positive. Thank you for your cooperation.

It doesn't make a difference what the test results are, it can still take up to two weeks to get your results.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. If your current test results come back negative, it's highly unlikely you've been infected.

The symptoms you're worried about could be caused by anything, including the anger and anxiety you've been experiencing. You need to discuss how you've been feeling with your doctor.

Keep us posted.

Ann

SecretKeeper · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2007, 10:45:42 am »

Thanks Ann - all of your information is always helpful. I know 99% is mental and I'm not so worried about being poz - I doubt that I am, it's just that the wait is excruciating. And the wait puts more thoughts and worries into my mind which in turn makes me more crazy. I need to just relax a bit. I just don't get why it would take two weeks.

(From now on I'll just post here - thanks for letting me know.

)

bear60 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2007, 11:04:26 am »

I hope you have a very pleasant holiday weekend. I just finished making a watermelon, cantalope and honeydew melon fruit salad for 15 people. The weather is perfect. So get busy.

tester8888 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2007, 01:25:36 am »

Secret, I also had a bad experience in getting an hiv result.
After my high risk exposure, I went to my doctor. I had not been tested in 3 years (as had been in 5 year monogomous LTR), I wanted one the day I found out my sex partner was hiv positive (not because I thought it would indicate I caught it from him), and wanted to set up for 6 week and 3 month follow-up testing.
They drew my blood. My doctor said he would call me with the result and copied my cell phone number down on the front of my chart. The test was drawn on a Friday. His medical assistant, a bitch I have minced with in the past said, "I will mail you the results". I countered, "No, Doctor ____ will call me the results"! They drew the blood and I went on my way. By Wednesday I still had not heard. I called the office and was told they would not give that info over the phone. I went Thursday AM to the clinic, the secretary took my number and said they would call me. That afternoon I had not heard and went back to the clinic. I told the secretary that I wanted my results. She asked me to take a seat. In a few minutes, the bitch medical assistant called me to the waiting room door and said, "The doctor will talk to you about your results in a few minutes".

As I sit in the waiting room, I knew, I must be positive, otherwise they would just tell or give me a copy of the results. It was a painful 20 minutes. Then, the bitch medical assistant called me up to the front desk, and handed me an envelope saying, "This was mailed to you on Monday, but here is ANOTHER copy"! Naturally I opened it right then and there. Thank God, it was negative.

I have worked in medicine my whole life, and pray that I have NEVER treated anyone like that. I could have just died over that whole incident, and fully intend to discuss it all with my doctor next time I see him. I love my doctor, but some of his staff are useless!!!!

Good Luck To You!

xyahka · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2007, 08:35:44 am »

hi the waiting time here is also long, so i would say it is kind of normal. Any test i have to do, takes 2 weeks to show results but they deliver it to me only in my next Dr appointment (it means every 2 or 3 months). Don't worry, you will be fine.

kisses,

Juan Carlos

SecretKeeper · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2007, 09:30:44 pm »

Well, tomorrow will mark exactly 2 weeks since my test was taken and as of today there was still no word. At this point I am more so irritated than worried. We did have Labor Day in there and I'm sure the labs were probably closed that day, but if I don't have the results by Friday is there somewhere or someone I can complain to? It's just a local VNA office that administered the test and they had to send it off to some lab, but even still - they said usually within a week - up to two weeks. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know how irritated I am right now.

I'll post again when I actually have the results.

Ann · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2007, 05:15:00 am »

SK,

Labour day weekend probably did slow things down. Look at it this way - no news is good news. They tend to move fast when there's a positive result.

Ann

robbo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2007, 08:46:07 pm »

Yes I agree. Be patient. I was first tested last year and then again recently. They told me it would take about 2 weeks. At the two week mark I started calling. It's a very busy office, and the people are great. But even with me calling, it took a few more days of phone tag before I was able to get the results. Waiting stinks.

I agree with Ann. If they got them back and they were positive, they would have moved quick to call you.

SecretKeeper · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2007, 10:37:54 pm »

Yes, I figured they'd rush to call when they get the results in too (especially since I've called every day for about a week now). The last time I called they said ... "I have you're number, I'll give you a call as soon as we get it in." I haven't called since.

It just seems weird to me that it takes a lab that long to process a mouth swab. And what kind of crappy lab puts off running an HIV test for over a week?! The woman I'm dealing with at VNA told me that she checked the computer on Tuesday and it showed my test was not even processed. I think I'm getting the run-around from the lab and VNA. And the stupidest thing is that even if they do actually get my results tomorrow - I won't be able to get them because they close before I get off work.

And I just think it's a good thing that we've already kinda been through the waiting game with my husband so it's not completely unfamiliar ground, (his tests took pretty close to exactly 2 weeks). If it was a first test and I wasn't aware of anyone else who had taken one, this might just push me over the edge and make me think the world is ending.

Again, what kind of lab takes a week and a half before they even process the test?! Anyway, I'll quit whining now and go back to waiting. (I'm actually getting a little more patient - not a lot, just a little -

Ann · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2007, 05:18:09 am »

SK,

Quite often labs will wait until they have a certain number of tests to run and run them in a "batch". It's a more efficient way of operating.

Ann

SecretKeeper · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2007, 08:30:27 pm »

Well, after waiting exactly 11 working days I finally got my test results back ...

POSITIVE

WTF?!
Anyway, it's a sure thing. Western Blot test was done so I'm pretty sure there's no way around this now. So, I guess I go from "Someone I Care About Has HIV" to "I Just Tested Poz".

tester8888 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 10, 2007, 08:42:19 pm »

I am very sorry to see your news.

With a million things in my head, I cannot think of anything else to say.
At least you have found this site with a bunch of great people to help you along the way.
It's such a hard thing to see...

Ann · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2007, 08:21:15 am »

SK,

I'm worried that you may be jumping the gun. You said in your first post in this thread that you had an oral test - but I have never, ever heard of Western Blot testing being included in the oral-type swab tests. WB testing is normally done with a blood sample.

I urge you to make sure your results have been confirmed through blood tests. Please don't think I'm doubting your word, because I'm not. I'm only concerned that maybe you mis-heard what you were told when the oral swab test was taken - it's easily done and totally understandable when you're anxious and stressed out.

Unfortunately, it is possible that you have seroconverted since your first (too early) test, however it is also possible that your oral swab test was a false positive. Please make sure you've been confirmed through blood testing.

Hang in there hun, I know this is an extraordinarily stressful time for you.

Ann

milker · « **Reply #14 on:** September 11, 2007, 10:53:38 am »

WB tests for viral proteins which are difficult to find in the saliva, contrary to antidbodies, so I'd too be surprised to see a WB done on an oral swab

You should ask for a copy of the WB test!

Milker.

edited to add: /from another post it looks like there is such a thing as Wb oral test, but our resident expert newt confirmed that there should be a blood test in any case/

structuredjen · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2007, 10:05:18 am »

SK-

I'm so sorry to hear your news- I've been thinking about you a lot this week. Sending you lots of love.

xoxoxo
jen

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Author Topic: waiting not so patiently (Read 11505 times)