POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: disi on March 20, 2007, 03:57:43 pm
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Hi everyone,
My story is, i'm a gay male, and about eight months ago, i had unprotected anal sex with someone of unknown status, a few weeks later, i became ill, and experienced what i feared may be symptoms of acute HIV infection, i had a rash on my chest, swollen glands in neck and groin, and pain under my arms, sore throat, headaches, loose stools, you name it, i had it. I went to be tested at around six weeks, thankfully it was negative (as were the testds for all other STI's). I went to the docotr as the symptoms had not cleared up, i underwent routine tests and had a full blood counts etc taken, all returning normal. I decided to go for a test at four months, as the symptoms had still not cleared and no cause nor explanation had been found, again, the test returned negative. I would love to accept these results and move on, but my symptoms are still bothering me, i still have swollen glands allover my body, a rash covering my chest and stomach, a constant dry and sore throat, headaces, and fatigue. My doctor still cannot find any explanation, and i am growing increasingly concerned. I can atribute a lot of my symptoms to stress, headaches etc, but i have read that swollen glands etc are not brought on by stress, and an infection has to be present. If these symptoms were due to HIV, would it be impossible for one of the tests not to have found it by now? Has anyone ever seen such symptoms last so long? The rash wrries me too, would this be present for such a long time? Please if anyone coud help me, please do, i don't know what to do next? These symptoms are all very real, and causing me a great deal of anxiety.
Thanks very much,
Worried in the UK
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To answer your questions directly.
Yes it would be impossible for the test not to have caught it at the 4 month mark as long as that was your last unprotected incident.
ARS symptoms do not last as long as you've had yours. We have seen symptoms last that long but they are not HIV specific in any way.
The rash can be a number of things. Continue to work with your Dr or seek a second opinion if you feel he is not answering your questions and moving you closer to a correct diagnoses. Trust in your healthcare provider is a KEY to great health and getting you the answers you need. Make sure you find that and you will find the answer. HIV is not it based on what you have told us.
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Disi-
I know that this will sound strange, but the stress of worrying about potential HIV exposure (in your case, very real) can cause your body to mimic symptoms of infection although no such things has actually taken place.
Whatever it might be, you cannot be HIV+ based on the info you've provided because a 13 week test is conclusive. A four month test is beyond any shadow of a doubt.
Continue working with your doc to see if there might be an underlying physical cause for your complaints, and may I suggest the possibility of benefit from a mind/body discipline like yoga? It helped me out at a time when stress was ruining my life.
Brent
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Hey,
thaks for your replies, i went to see my doctor again this week, for the past few appointments, i have sort of "kept a brave face", and just told her about the symptoms, and let her asess them, and not told her how im feeling, this week, i sort of broke down, and told her im still petrified that i may have been infected with HIV. She was really understanding, and agreed that my body is indeed 'telling' me that i have HIV, and she suggested i go to see a psychologist, i have agreed to this, and am now on a wating list to go seo someone about my fears. She also let me take another HIV test, (now about eight months) to help put my fears to rest. Hopefully, the result will be negative, and the combination of this, and some help for what's going on in my head will soon have me feeling better.
By writing in this forum, i am just looking for some reassurance from people who have some knowledge of the disease who can assure me that my symptoms are not due to HIV, and i thank you so much for your replies.
I will let you know how things go with the psychologist, and the result of my test....should have the result in about a week...please bear with me if i go crazy in the next week waiting, although i have had so many people tell me my symptoms are not due to HIV, there's still a part of my head that nags all the time...'what if what if'...
Thanks again,
disi
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disi, it's great that you're going to see some that will help you deal with your fears ! The mind is a complicated thing as you can experience it.
I send you millions of hugzzzzzzzzzzzz and wish you well :) :) :)
Milker.
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Disi, all of your symptoms notwithstanding I do expect you will continue to test negative for HIV as long as you haven't had any unprotected incidents since that one many months ago.
Getting some support with the emotional aspects of whatever is going on is a very plan. You've been isolated with this worry for far too long and that alone can wreak havoc with your immune systems.
It's also good to follow up further non-HIV testing with your doctor to clarify whatever else maybe going on. Once HIV fears settle in everything often gets (mis)interpreted through that mindset and I think that's what has been going on with you.
This is NOT an HIV situation. Collect what I expect will be another negative result. Keep us posted.
Cheers,
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Hi,
Thanks for the quick replies, I hope so much that you are all right about the stress playing tricks on my body, having never really been ill before, it's just all a bit scary that it happens after I stupidly have unprotected sex. Will try not to think about it all for the next week or so, thanks again for your replies and thoughts.
I have read a few of your posts Mike, and am sorry to read about your diagnosis, and im sending you a huge hug back!
Will be in touch soon with my result,
anyone got any ways to keep me going out of my mind in the mean time, let me know! :-)
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*should read milker not 'mike'...sorry, it's late, im off to bed!
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My advice to not worry for a week.
Stay busy. If you have a hobby DEVOTE yourself to it.
Stay OFF the internet and for gods sake do NOT search for all the what if scenarios. You will drive yourself nuts.
Hang out with friends, this is good to do any time.
Collect your negative result and BANG on with life you go!
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Thanks for your help and adivce,
Im in my second year at uni at the moment, so i have plenty to be getting on with, will try and throw myself into that and keep away form the net, thanks guys, keep up he good work!
God bless!
Disi
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Well folks, I was walking past the doctors today and thought i'd go in on the off chance my results were ready, they were. The woman behind the desk told me i would have to make an appointmet to get them, or leave my number and someone would get back to me. I told her that i wanted someone to call me. I asked her if she had them up on her screen, she said yes, but she was not able to give it to me, as she may lose her job, I gave her my best pupy dog eyes and said, is it okay?...she smirked and said 'it's fine, you can go out this weekend and get bladdered now'...I had to walk sideways through the door as the grin on my face was so large...a few moments later, i get the call confirming that the test was negative "no antibodies were found", by this time im in the library and have to just say "okay, thank you very much, goodbye"...i pack all my things up, and just take a walk with the biggest grin from cheek to cheek!
I'm still going to go for the therapy, there is till something in the back of my head going "what if, what if", "what's the rash?". Todays test is seven months and one day since my possible exposue, so the logic part of me is telling me im fine now....no chance of late seroconversion!?!
Like i say, im gonna start the therapy, ad hopefully, i'll soon be right as rain!
Thank you so much to all of you who have posted. One thing that this whole ordeal has shown me, is how strong all those people are who are infected, it has ruined seven months of my life, and i do not have it, those of you who do, you have my utmost respect, and i wish you all the very best of health, and i sincerly hope one day we will find a cure for this!
Thank you once again for this great sevice, you are all wonderful people,
many many thanks!
Disi.x
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Congrats on that happy if not unexpected test result.
If you have any continuing symptoms that's something to discuss with a doctor. It doesn't change the reliability of your negtative test result.
Good luck and time to get on with your life!
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Hi,
I read that if someone was infected with HIV and Hepatitis at the same time, that seroconversion can be delayed as late as 9 months. I am now in worried well hell again, i tested negative at seven months, but now my doctor wants to test for hepatitis because of a snumber of symptoms, i am now scared that if they think i may have hep, that seroconversion may have been delayed. I have alsorts of unexplained symptoms, and am terrifed again...any help would be great!
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disi,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
It's more likely that hepatitis would take its time in showing up if you were infected with both at the same time.
As long as you have not had unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse since your last test, I fully expect you to continue testing hiv negative. You are already conclusively hiv negative.
Good luck with the hepatitis testing.
Ann