POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Someone I Care About Has HIV => Topic started by: curious-guy on March 28, 2016, 08:37:55 am
-
Good Morning,
I am in an unusual situation. My partner tested positive in January and I tested negative. They put me on pep because our last encounter was with 36 hours. I have been on pep for since January. When he went to get his viral load for the first time. His VL was 350 and CD4 count was 850. He was started on meds. We have used condoms every time until Friday when he got is blood work done and his VL was under 20 and CD4 was 900, so he was undetectable. We didn't have sex but I did dip a few times. I currently have about 20 more days of PEP meds left. What are my chances that I was exposed.
Truvada is used to prevent infection which is one of the meds I am taking.
-
Hi
Continue your last days of PEP as your doctor has directed , also read about
Prep and decide if that's an option for you.
I'm also moving your thread to the Someone I Care About forum and change your settings . You will be able to get support and also input from other members.
Best, Wade
-
Thank you wade,
What are my chances of me being ok with him being undetectable, me being on pep for two months going in three already and me being the insertive partner. I am going to get on prep after I am done with pep. I can't believe I am putting myself through this again, but I was reading being undetectable has almost a zero chance of infecting. That is until I read that him get his pneumonia shot and him only being recently undetectable plays a factor. Just want some piece of mind.
-
PEP has an excellent record of preventing HIV.
Guidelines are to test at 6 weeks past PEP and again at 13 to confirm your result. You are going to be fine and if this was your only concern you can expect a negative result.
Best, Wade
-
Hi ,
How long have you been on PEP since your last exposure ?
Pep should have been prescribed for 28 days then you should have tested at 6 weeks. Also note a negative result will rarely change after 6 weeks.
-
I have been on pep since Jan 19th My last exposure was this weekend. I have taken my meds everyday, maybe not at the same time in the evening, but the 90% of the time at the the same time. I take them the same time in the morning since I started. I have taken like 7 test already two rapid antigen/antibody and one HIV 1/2 antibody the day I started. I took an RNA test 7 days after last exposure in Jan. And I took a test at 28 days (24 antigen and antibody) and 34 days (antibody). All were negative. I was suppose to take one this week for my 8 week. The dr said she wanted me on the meds until my appointment next week. I think because I was exposed to the virus for about 5 months before his positive test. Since this last episode I don't know what to think.
-
Hi ,
PrEP is part of the PEP you have been taking, so you have been protected.
All that said just see your doctor and get on PEP as planned.
Best , Wade
-
Wade,
Did you mean to say get on prep as planned?
-
Wade,
Did you mean to say get on prep as planned?
I did sorry...PrEP
-
Wade,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I tried to find information on the internet about the chances of transmission while on pep but couldn't find anything. Can u post something about the diff between pep and prep besides the usual. Just something to talk about truvada being one of the drugs used for pep. I am not sure if I am the only with this question, but I hope this post will help someone else
-
This is posted in my signature and also available at the top of the page.
https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention
It might do you well to look around at the lessons on this site.
Wade
-
PEP is highly effective, however that does depends also on timing when it was started the sooner the better and also adherence plays a factor in PEP being effective.
I was suppose to take one this week for my 8 week. The dr said she wanted me on the meds until my appointment next week. I think because I was exposed to the virus for about 5 months before his positive test.
See normally i would not comment but I must, as I don't want you to have an incorrect understanding about this. PEP is only effective stating as soon as possible and at the latest within 48 - 72 hours post exposure. So whatever risks you took in the months before you found out and than started PEP would not be protected by PEP now. It's that simple.
If i'm honest I'm not even sure why your still on PEP at this stage it's between you and the Doctor at the end of the day but it makes no sense to me.
Jim
-
Jim,
Thanks for the response. I am not sure If I was clear, but the reason she put me on pep is because the last exposure (Jan 17/ 11 pm) was 36 hours before we found out he was positive on Jan 19th and my two rapid test came back negative. He think he was infected in July and we had unprotected sex up until the day he found out. Both receptive and insertive. I am not sure why the infectious disease Doctor wanted me on meds for this long. I was only trying to find out if I am still in the clear if I am taking pep because prep is truvada, which is one of the pills I am taking. I am still currently taking pep. I hope this clarifies everything.
-
Hi
Okay so unprotected intercourse then 36 hours later you started PEP. Jan 2016.
That much I understand.
However why after you had a negative test result 28 and 34 days later your still on PEP as I said is between you and the ID Doc in question but I don't understand the why. Maybe I am just a bit dense today so please do forgive me.
The next step is finish the PEP, test again 6 weeks post PEP as Wade also mentioned and start talking / thinking with you partner about things like PrEP and/or condoms going forward if that's something you want.
Jim
-
I am just confused as you are, but kind of happy she keep me on it. As I said in my first post I inserted my penis in him a few times this weekend when we found out he was undetectable. This was only after being on his meds for little over a month. We used a condom for full intercourse, but I am sure any penetration is risky. Just was trying to see if I am covered since I am still using pep at least for the next 20 days.
-
Yeah, your covered from this incident.
-
Could being on the meds for this length of time be a bad thing. Also could the test I took at 28 (antigen) and 32 (antibody) days be effected by pep. Also could the RNA test I took at 7 days after last exposure in Jan be effected by the meds. I was on the meds for five days. I am sure if I was infected the RNA test would of detected it.
-
None of your tests were affected by PEP.
You were covered by PEP during this incident.
No the meds will not hurt you.
Wade
-
Wade,
Thank you for the information you provided.
-
You're Welcome ,
Good luck with everything.
Wade
-
Gentlemen,
Just have one more question. I'm not sure if this was answered. Could his viral load of been detectable after his pneumonia shot. It was undetectable the morning he got the vaccine, but he do take his meds every morning. I have read two different things. One as long as he is taking meds daily is shouldn't go up and the other one it could go up. If it could go up, how much would it go up if he is less than 20 undetectable.
-
Pneumonia shot / vaccine would not effect his VL.
Besides this blips the partner study so far has indicated no transmission occurred between the partners when the HIV+ partners had a viral load of under 200 copies/ml, either by anal or vaginal sex.
Jim
-
Gentlemen,
I went to see my doctor yesterday and she said I could finish my pep and start using prep the next day. I asked her if the p24 antigen test (27 day) and the antibody test (30 day) post exposure, I took while on pep in February could be affected by the pep meds and she told me no. I am suppose to get my three month test done this week and she is for sure it will be negative because of the two previous test. If they are negative should I wait to start prep or should I start now? She also said because I was on pep and he was undetectable I should be covered for the dipping incident that recently happened. What do you think I should do?
-
Hi,
I think you should follow your doctors instructions regarding PrEP,
and agree you can expect a conclusive negative result .
Best, Wade
-
Just want to make sure that you understand I was on pep doing these test. I have read that pep can effect the test. I know I am prob beating a dead horse but just want to make sure.
-
You have been told several times your tests would not be affected.
Continue to follow your doctors advice and wait for your negative result.
-
Thanks again. I have been told I could be a little confusing when I say stuff, just wanted to make sure.
-
Why is this thread here? It sounds to me like "Am I Infected"
OP - have you finally understood you were ONLY on PEP for 28 days. The rest is PREP. Pre-exposure. For any risk going forward.
This thread doesn't seem to have anything to do with the person you care about. Its your own fear and getting knowledge about HIV and its transmission and how to protect yourself. Good luck to you.
-
Meech,
I have been on pep for 3 months. Truvada and instregess.
-
This forum is for someone I care about,
I thought after reading your initial post that this would be where the conversation would be heading. I can see I was wrong and am locking this thread.