ALMOST CERTAIN I HAVE HIV

[ConcernedColin]

I'm a 25-year-old uncircumcised heterosexual male from South Africa. 23 days ago, when I was extremely drunk, I had sex with a prostitute. The first "round" was unprotected and lasted about ten minutes. The rest of the encounter was protected. Five days later, I started having a tingling feeling in my feet and hands. Then I started experiencing back and shoulder aches, weakness in my upper arms and soon my the back of my legs also started aching terribly. I suffered numerous panic attacks and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. During that period, I also started getting diarrhea. 18 days after exposure, I had a DUO test, and the results were non reactive. Doctor gave me something for the diarrhea, which is no longer a problem. I have a white tongue, but my doc said that's a common side effect from the antidepressants he gave me.
I also have a mild cough, and mild discomfort in my throat.
How much trouble am I in?
Are the results are good indication of my HIV status, or is it too soon to celebrate?
I look forward to your responses. Thanks in advance.

[Ptrk3]

I'm sorry to read of your current struggles and hope that you soon achieve peace of mind and move forward with your life.

We don't assess potential HIV symptoms on this forum since symptoms, if they occur at all, vary widely.  You should not assess them, either.

Since you did have unprotected sex with someone of unknown HIV status, you correctly decided to be tested for HIV antibodies.

Most experts recommend that testing for HIV antibodies begin at six weeks past potential exposure, then at 13 weeks past potential exposure for confirmation of the six week results.  However, it is certainly good that you have tested negative 18 days past exposure.

Continue to work with your healthcare providers until you and they are satisfied that any test you take for HIV antibodies is conclusive for the incident over which you are concerned.

The HIV is not an easy virus to contract, even when conducting risk activities, so the odds are that you will conclusively test negative.  But you will need to confirm that with a test that is considered to be conclusive.

[ConcernedColin]

Thank you for the reply. I have bad news, though. Woke up this morning with a pain in my left testicle. The diarrhea also came back. Starting to freak out. The odds aren't in my favour. South Africa has the largest number of HIV infections in the world, so the odds that I dodged a bullet are pretty slim. Add to that the fact that I'm also uncircumcised, and a study found that 70% of the workers in my country are HIV positive, it's not looking good. Can't believe the rest of my life will be ruined because of one drunken encounter. I'm such a fucking idiot. I won't reply to this thread anymore. Next time I reply will be when I get tested at 6 weeks, because I know the three week test was probably a false negative. Preparing to write a suicide note soon. Thank you for the help.
 

[Ptrk3]

Though you may have had a risk, the HIV is difficult to contract and, though, we don't assess symptoms on these forums, pain in a testicle and diarrhea are not known as "acute" symptoms of HIV infection.

In any case, neither of your "symptoms" are indicative of "certain" HIV infection, or HIV infection at all.  In addition, you can't diagnose yourself with HIV infection.  Only a test for HIV antibodies can do that and the only test you have taken so far indicates that you are HIV negative.

You can access this link to see the remote odds of contraction:

http://www.catie.ca/en/pif/summer-2012/putting-number-it-risk-exposure-hiv

If you have suicidal ideation, please seek immediate help from the appropriate healthcare providers.

[ConcernedColin]

ust noticed a white coating on my tongue. Did the spit test. I have oral thrush (another symptom) of HIV. Still waiting for the 6 week mark, but its not looking good. I still have explosive diarrhea, and my whole body hurts like never before. IF YOURE GOING TO HAVE SEX, PLEASE USE A CONDOM. A FEW MINUTES OF PLEASURE ARENT WORTH A LIFETIME OF BAD HEALTH!
LIVING WITH HIV ISN'T A WALK IN THE PARK. IT'S NOT THE "TAKE ONE PILL AND YOU'LL BE FINE" LIFESTYLE PEOPLE CLAIM. DON'T BELIEVE ME? CHECK THIS OUT -> xxxxx removed by admin
USE A CONDOM AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE!

[Jim Allen]

1994 and 2017 are very different times. Lot has thankfully changed since than and her story has no bearing on you

Thrush is common in both HIV negative and positive people, treat it and move on. Hope you feel better soon.

Overall cut the drama, use condoms and test. 

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices which may be described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get fully tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected intercourse occurs

Also note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms and the only way of knowing is by testing.

More information on HIV Basics, PEP, TaSP and Transmission can be found through the links in my signature to our POZ pages, this includes information on HIV Testing

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the AM I Infected Forum you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post and it will take you here . It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be deleted.

If you are newly diagnosed and reading this note that with treatment Life expectancy for young people taking HIV therapy has reached near normal and so you should expect to live a long and productive life.

Jim

References:
 
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/hiv-treat-all-recommendation/en/
Anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, WHO announced with its "treat-all" recommendation, WHO removes all limitations on eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV; all populations and age groups are now eligible for treatment.

The expanded use of antiretroviral treatment is supported by recent findings from clinical trials confirming that early use of ART keeps people living with HIV alive, healthier and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to partners.

http://betablog.org/start-trial-shows-benefits-of-early-treatment-supports-art-for-all/
People who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately after they are diagnosed with HIV, while their CD4 T-cell count is still high, have a lower risk of illness and death

https://www.poz.com/article/START-results-27299-8892
Gold-Standard Evidence Backs Early Treatment of HIV

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/285972.php?tw
"Delaying ART in patients with HIV reduces likelihood of restoring CD4 counts"

"Elite Controllers Hospitalized More Often Than Those Treated For HIV"   
https://www.poz.com/article/elite-controllers-hospitalizations-26678-5093

ECs on average spent more than twice as many nights in hospital than people on ART, and about 50% more than people not on ART and with detectable viral loads.
After adjusting for various differences between the EC and non-EC population, the study still found that ECs were 56% more likely to be admitted to hospital than
people with undetectable viral loads on ART.

Crowell TA et al. Elite controllers are hospitalized more often than persons with medically controlled HIV. Journal of Infectious Diseases, early online publication. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu809. 2014.

Karris MY and Haubrich RH. Antiretroviral therapy in the elite controller, justified or premature? Journal of Infectious Diseases, early online publication. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu812. 2014.

Cockerham LR and Hatano H. Elite control of HIV: is this the right model for a functional cure? Trends in Microbiology, early online publication. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2014.11.003. 2014.

https://www.poz.com/article/Antiretrovials-Reduce-Cellular-Inflammation-Among-Elite-Controllers-of-HIV-23608-3878
Antiretrovials Reduce Cellular Inflammation Among Elite Controllers of HIV

https://www.poz.com/article/hiv-cardiovascular-elite-controllers-23015-5910
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Remains High in HIV Elite Controllers

https://www.poz.com/article/life-expectancy-24972-2090 (With treatment)
Life Expectancy for Young People With HIV Is Nearly Normal

Starting HIV treatment soon after diagnosis may reduce the risk of developing HIV-related cancer by 74%
http://www.thebody.com/content/79258/starting-hiv-treatment-early-reduces-hiv-related-c.html

Starting HIV treatment soon after diagnosis may reduce the risk of developing HIV-related cancer by 74%, according to a recent study. However, starting treatment does not seem to lower the risk of developing cancer unrelated to HIV, the study finds. The data remained unclear on whether having an undetectable viral load helped reduce the risk of HIV-related cancers.

Researchers for the study, which was published Clinical Infectious Diseases, looked at data from the landmark START study, which was stopped early in 2015 because it found overwhelming evidence for the benefits of starting HIV treatment immediately versus waiting until CD4 counts drop.

https://www.poz.com/article/modern-progress-hiv-treatment-care-likely-adds-decade-life

the average age of death for a 20-year-old starting ARVs with a CD4 count greater than 350 during 2008 to 2010 was 78 years. This latter estimate is excellent news considering the recent push to get people with HIV on treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis, preferably with a CD4 count higher than 500.

The researchers believe that the continued improvement in survival during the first three years after individuals start ARVs has likely been driven by lower toxicities in modern treatments, improved adherence to treatment regimens, efforts to prevent other health conditions among people with HIV and better management of other health conditions that do arise.