Author Topic: how was your "seroconversion"? (Read 492163 times)

isitthatbad · « **on:** February 25, 2008, 05:21:25 pm »

I was very ill, my GP thought i had meningitis i had severe vomitting, severe flu like symptoms and a rash that covered my body as i watched..i lost 1 stone in 1 week it took me 3 months to recover how about you?

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:24:56 pm »

Didn't notice a thing. My seroconversion was a breeze. In fact the only reason I learned I had HIV was because my GP took my sexual history, identified risk behaviours and ordered an antibody test.

Whodathunkit?

Oh and welcome to the Forums.

MtD

BT65 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:27:44 pm »

Is, the only thing I really remember about my serconversion was a lymph node on my neck that swelled out the size of a golfball. But we're all different.

isitthatbad · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:32:11 pm »

thanx for the welcome does anyone else have HIV 1 and 2??

anniebc · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:33:56 pm »

like you I had a very bad seroconversion, I was in hospital for two weeks, lost over 7 kilos..and was literally exploding from both ends for the first week..ok, maybe that's too much information...

..but I survived.

Hugs
Jan

beachdude2003 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:21:09 pm »

I seroconverted the first of December so about 3 months ago. I was sick with flu like symptoms except it was a little different. I have had the flu before but this time it felt a little worse. I had all the symptoms and very bad muscle pain in my legs. Had no energy and was sick for 10-14 days. I am just now getting my energy back. best of luck, R

aliveinla · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:12:55 pm »

Mine was actually happened on a plane to Japan so I thought it was travel related: my ass and skins on the back side of my legs felt itchy and burning. -- i had BB sex being the bottom, so it's not strange it started from my backside. It was such a relief for me to find out that Japan's toilet can spray water when you sit down then blow it dry. :-) It lasted the whole trip but other than that, I was OK and fully functional even went to gym everyday. I knew almost for sure I got it but my partner said he was tested neg. Then 3 weeks later after this, my test came back neg so I put the whole thing behind me and damped that partner anyway and never BB'ed. So the poz diagnosis on 1/22/08 came as a big shock.

Snowangel · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:46:36 pm »

I know when I seroconverted but I can't remember when it was, if that makes any sense. At the time, I just thought I had over done it at work. But I had gotten flu like symptons, had no energy, chills and sweats, slept a lot,out of work for like 2 weeks, then I just went back to work. I think it might have been in 92, maybe early 93. I started meds in 94. I had no idea what it was at the time, my boyfriend knew what was happening, he just didn't tell me $:-\$

aliveinla · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:50:25 pm »

I went ahead and bought a lotto ticket after I was diagnosed, forgot to check until today. I didn't win even $1.

leatherman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:08:19 pm »

There will probably be as many answers as members.

Back in 1992, my late partner ran a low-grade fever for the whole month of Sept, undergoing several exams as he thought it was a recurrence of Chron's Disease (an intestinal problem).

On the other hand, I don't remember having any symptoms at all myself, as it was odd for me to be sick at all back then. I tested "just for the heck of it" two months after my partner's fever ended and got back my poz results that Dec.

After that, we took him to an ID doc and found out how very sick he really was. I didn't get sick until I started taking AZT; while my partner was already quite sick and passed away 18 months later.

Thank goodness the meds have improved.

oh my... · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:24:00 pm »

Developed an ulcer on my tounge that wouldn't heal and continued to get larger causing me to be unable to eat for 8 days, lost 20-25lbs in that time, had flu-like symptoms, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes... When I went to the doctor she found that aside from everything else I also had thrush and after a cbc an extremely low white count. All of my symptoms made her suspect hiv and ordered the appropriate tests.

Ann · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2008, 04:13:06 am »

I don't know if I had a rash or not, because I was pretty much unconscious for about three days. I had a fever of just over 104F. Every joint in my body hurt like I've never experienced pain before (or since). I couldn't stand, much less walk. Even lying down hurt and it was probably a good thing I was passed out for most of it. I didn't have a phone at the time, so I couldn't call for help. All of my friends thought I was out on an extended fishing trip. (I was a commercial fisherman at the time)

Once I was well enough, I made an appointment with my GP. I thought maybe I'd had rheumatic fever, but he said I was too old for that and "it's probably just some virus that will run its course and go away." Run its course and I'll go away, more like! It was another four years before I was finally diagnosed, and only because Foxtrot Charlie named me as a contact when he tested positive after being named by someone else himself. In hindsight, I knew this mystery illness was my seroconversion. All the details fit. Luckily, I didn't infect anyone else during those four years of not knowing.

When I went back to my GP after diagnosis and told him what the mystery illness was, he told me that if I were a gay man, he would have ordered an hiv test for me back then. I gave him a rollicking about the uselessness of the so-called "risk groups" and explained to him he needs to be asking people about risk activities. The silly bugger.

And for any of you nosey people from the Am I Infected forum who may be reading this thread, just because some of us experienced symptoms of seroconversion illness doesn't mean that what you may be experiencing is the same. Many, MANY people experience NOTHING at all. The ONLY way to know if you're hiv positive is through testing, so don't even bother referencing this thread in the Am I Infected forum. Got it? GOOD!

Ann

shellshocked · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2008, 09:32:46 am »

I was infected in July 2007. My seroconversion was also pretty much a breeze. At the time, it didn't even occur to me that my symptoms were indicative of HIV infection. For four days, I had a mild rash, coupled with a slight bout of diarrhea. The rash was maculopapular (i.e. flat and red), appearing only on the right side of my face, neck and chest. At the time, I thought nothing of the symptoms. I was not concerned about HIV infection because I did not (to the best of my knowledge) have any high risk exposures in the months before these symptoms appeared. My ID specialist believes that I was likely infected about two weeks before the appearance of these symptoms. Approximately two weeks before the seroconversion, I spent the night at a bathhouse in London, where I had protected anal sex with several dudes. I also engaged in lots of unprotected oral sex that night. I'm still not sure exactly how I got infected. Through oral sex? Did a condom break? Was I dipped without realizing it? The questions go over and over in my head, but I know that I'll never know for sure. However it happened, I was exposed to a very small amount of HIV, mostly likely in precum. My ID specialist believes that the low inoculum explains the slow and low-grade seroconversion that I experienced, as well as my low viral load.

Oct 9: VL 1400/CD4 670
Oct 29: VL 1200/CD4 500
Dec 11: VL 2500/CD4 470

wishful · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2008, 11:44:49 am »

In retrospect i seroconverted while I was pregnant, same pregnancy I found out my status. I had a major headache and sore neck for about 5-7 days..the headache sudsided with tylenol but once it wore off it came roaring back..I had the chills for a day and some general malaise..but didnt know it then, just thought it was the baby...eventho i felt "different" than i had with my other pregnancies..So it wasnt too bad..im just glad i found out around the same time i was infected...

John2038 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2008, 01:04:59 pm »

Felt 2-3 time a sudden lost of energy for maybe 2 seconds.
Was in Jan 07.
In March 07, swollen lymphs nodes, still there.

404error · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2008, 04:50:38 pm »

I have never been one to get ill or hurt myself. I've never been to the hospital. When I serocoverted it was hands down the sickest I've ever been in my life. I don't know if it was just a seroconversion or if I also caught a flu of some sort at the same time (this started the day before Christmas of 2005) but I was sick for about four weeks. Bone and muscle pain, hot and cold flashes, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, zero appetite etc. etc. I had tickets to the World Junior Hockey Championships that year and wanted to give them away because I didn't want to get out of bed. (I ended up being talked into bundling up and going to the game since it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.) I had also just started a new job since returning home from Europe and had only been there for just under a month when I got sick, there was no way I could take time off. Terrible experience.

deniur efil · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2008, 02:33:03 pm »

what is seroconversion

BT65 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2008, 03:34:51 pm »

That's like the initial stage of grave infection after becoming infected. Someone else can explain it better, I'm sure.

Ann · « **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2008, 04:48:58 pm »

deniur,

"Seroconversion" refers to the point in time where a person's blood (sero = serum = blood) converts from being hiv negative to hiv positive, due to the presence of hiv antibodies. It is the antibodies the tests look for. Some people experience an illness when the process is happening and this is called seroconversion illness. Not everyone will experience this illness. In fact, many, many people don't.

Ann

next2u · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2008, 10:50:42 pm »

ahh, the diarrhea. im somewhat lactose intolerant. the dude i caught it from came over and smoked a lot of pot with me. we got the munchies and ordered a pizza. thought i had extreme diarrhea from the pizza. the next day i was shitting my brains out. then the dehydration, weakness, fever and dizziness set in. i was fucked for 2 weeks. i remember it got so bad i started hallucinating at work. i was squirting liquid out my ass and sleeping all the time. funny thing, my coworker at the time had a bad case of diarrhea too, so we summed it up to stress. all of a sudden, things went back to normal -- supposedly. till this day i still have a hard time eating pizza.

anyhow, on a sidenote, i have a rash on my shoulder. went to my dr 2 days ago. i got my hep a & b vaccine then mentioned the rash. he looked at, said it looked like a scarlatina rash and took a culture from my throat (yeah, i was perplexed by that connection). turns out i have strep throat : ). im not bitching cause my only symptom has been a barely noticeable rash. funny thing - when my doc walked back in the room he exclaimed "you're positive" to which i replied "doc, you gotta quit telling me that." he then told me i had a sick sense of humor and proceeded to prescribe me some antibiotics.

vivyt · « **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2008, 08:22:02 am »

My doctor thought I had mono. Looking back now I know that was when I converted. Almost 2 years later I was as sick as can be.

Texan38 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2008, 01:03:15 pm »

I had night sweats two days in a row along w/ diarrhea then I developed flu-like symptoms. I was, in what I thought, in a monogomous relationship at that time, he was my first relationship and my first lover. Hmm, talk about never forgetting your first!

strykern · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2008, 07:25:23 pm »

I am kinda curious. I am one of those that was surprised years ago to find out I was HIV positive. I don't remember a seroconversion.
Don't remember being ill. None of the typical symptoms.
Is that uncommon?

Ann · « **Reply #23 on:** March 05, 2008, 03:46:10 am »

Quote from: strykern on March 04, 2008, 07:25:23 pm

I am kinda curious. I am one of those that was surprised years ago to find out I was HIV positive. I don't remember a seroconversion.
Don't remember being ill. None of the typical symptoms.
Is that uncommon?

Hi strykern,

I'd say it's common. I know far more people who didn't have any illness they can point to and say "that's when it happened" than I know who did have one.

Ann

planonstaying · « **Reply #24 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:59:49 am »

I had glands in my neck like moth balls
My tonsils were swollen and like the size of half a raisin sticking out of my tongue
I had a low fever
I had the worst malaise i have ever experienced for 2 months
Other than that it was a breeze

I also tested poz during the ordeal
Then it went away over the course of a week and my first blood draw which was the week i felt better was UD to 400ppm...blind luck

edit* when i read it was normally unnoticed or like a bad cold online I laughed. Mine was so bad it was the reason i got tested.

shadowfluid · « **Reply #25 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:15:39 pm »

I had a full body rash, fever for 3 weeks, no appetite, lost 10% of my body weight, respiratory "issues", weakness so bad I couldn't stand for very long, and tested negative so I was pretty distressed to the point of having panic attacks every morning. Thought I was dying. They gave me like 4 different antibiotics including Levaquin for 2 weeks. It was awful. 8 months later i figured it just HAD to be HIV cuz I wasn't sick like that ever before in my life. They told me I was poz at a trailer testing site, gave me some info, and kicked me out within minutes so they could test other people. I don't remember the next few months very well as I was in shock and even told the mailman I was poz. Whoops.

madbrain · « **Reply #26 on:** March 06, 2008, 06:34:45 pm »

I didn't have any illness between my last HIV- test in june 2006 and my HIV+ test in october 2006.

That said, I still think I had an HIV related illness, but before. In early 2006 I had many sex partners, but always safe - or so I thought. I tested HIV negative in early march 2006.

In april 2006 - I had very bad vomitting for several nights long. My throat was hurting like hell and I could barely drink, let alone eat. I became very dehydrated and lost about 10 lbs in a week. I was tested for and diagnosed with strep throat. After I got antibiotics, the illness went away. This was a very bad illness and I have never had anything like it before. That's when I believe my seroconversion illness happened.

2 months later, in late june 2006, I was diagnosed with chlamydia. I retested for HIV, but I still tested negative.

In late october 2006, I tested positive during my routine annual physical. And I had a very low viral load (598).

I think my illness in april was related to HIV infection. I don't know if it's proper to call it "seroconversion illness" since I still tested HIV- over 10 weeks after it. According to current scientific views, I should have tested positive after it if this was a seroconversion illness. So maybe it should have another name. But I still think I was infected already by then, and that this illness was related to HIV - it was not just a plain strep throat.

aliveinla · « **Reply #27 on:** March 07, 2008, 08:16:53 pm »

Quote from: madbrain on March 06, 2008, 06:34:45 pm

That said, I still think I had an HIV related illness, but before. In early 2006 I had many sex partners, but always safe - or so I thought. I tested HIV negative in early march 2006.

2 months later, in late june 2006, I was diagnosed with chlamydia. I retested for HIV, but I still tested negative.

In late october 2006, I tested positive during my routine annual physical. And I had a very low viral load (598).

Brain, I really envy you having low VL and high CD4 count so you don't have to start meds just yet. You must have some good genes. Also on the "safe sex" thing, I think same thing happened to me. The only guy I BB'ed with, whom I thought gave me HIV in April 07 tested neg in December! I tested neg 30 days after my "seroconversion" also, then I never tested until 08 with a poz result. I guess it's different with each person.

madbrain · « **Reply #28 on:** March 07, 2008, 09:05:23 pm »

Hi,

Quote from: aliveinla on March 07, 2008, 08:16:53 pm

Brain, I really envy you having low VL and high CD4 count so you don't have to start meds just yet. You must have some good genes. Also on the "safe sex" thing, I think same thing happened to me. The only guy I BB'ed with, whom I thought gave me HIV in April 07 tested neg in December! I tested neg 30 days after my "seroconversion" also, then I never tested until 08 with a poz result. I guess it's different with each person.

Yes. Maybe those HIV antibodies take a while to develop after the illness in some people. Or the antibody tests just are not good enough.
I only bb'ed with 2 guys during the period in question - my ex who is still neg, and my current bf, who had tested neg in may 2006, but tested poz right after I did in november. I frankly don't think I got HIV from either of them, so it must have been from one of my tricks. But I used condoms every time for anal with everyone else and I was 99% top. I didn't use condoms for for oral, but I never swallowed, so even though I have bad gums I should still not have gotten it. Except maybe from precum from someone who just got infected. I'll never know. This was 2 years ago but I still wonder.

As for the good genes/good labs. I have had a variety of symptoms even though I have good lab numbers. The most notable has been extreme fatigue that goes on and off. Following a cold, I just had a period of 3 weeks when I was sleeping 12 hrs/night . It's finally over now. I think it's got to do with depression, but my doc that I saw today thinks it may be the HIV too. Apparently my body is fighting hard to keep that VL low, and it may be why I have been tired. So he actually suggested today I try the meds. I have to give it some more thoughts.

aliveinla · « **Reply #29 on:** March 07, 2008, 10:20:06 pm »

Quote from: madbrain on March 07, 2008, 09:05:23 pm

As for the good genes/good labs. I have had a variety of symptoms even though I have good lab numbers. The most notable has been extreme fatigue that goes on and off. Following a cold, I just had a period of 3 weeks when I was sleeping 12 hrs/night . It's finally over now. I think it's got to do with depression, but my doc that I saw today thinks it may be the HIV too. Apparently my body is fighting hard to keep that VL low, and it may be why I have been tired. So he actually suggested today I try the meds. I have to give it some more thoughts.

Very interesting. I would guess it's your depression. If you cheer up the "symptoms" might go away.

My last month's CD4 was 394 VL44K but I felt no symtom, no fatigue, nothing. I would think I am neg if I don't have the poz result--I went to three doctors to have it confirmed. I guess my body just let it go w/o much a fight, it fits my personality, I play the hands I am dealt and don't really worry much. with low CD4, maybe next time if I encounter any other disease, I guess I will be sick? But I spent 3 months in China recently breathing polluted air, eating street food, getting drunk almost daily, never had any problem. Maybe I just had low CD4 to begin with? I wonder... I only hope my next lab comes out above 350 so I don't have to take meds... I want to postpone it as long as i can.

BT65 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 08, 2008, 05:27:27 am »

Quote from: aliveinla on March 07, 2008, 10:20:06 pm

Very interesting. I would guess it's your depression. If you cheer up the "symptoms" might go away.

Alive, everyone's body is different. Please be careful when doling out the advice.

loveislovely · « **Reply #31 on:** March 11, 2008, 11:04:20 pm »

I had ZERO signs...well i should mention that my glands were SLIGHTLY swollen..but in the end i followed my heart and went for the test...it was all a dream

now that im thinking back on it, i had spilliting headaches which i didnt think much of it because i stopped drinking coffee/soda and thought i was just getting headaches due to giving up caffeine, not sure if headaches are related to it.

NewYorkKat · « **Reply #32 on:** March 19, 2008, 12:27:56 pm »

Mine was a slight fever for two days but I knew it might have been seroconverting. I messed up on a trip.

I think my immune system handled it very well since I was in perfect health until my infection.

billy · « **Reply #33 on:** March 19, 2008, 01:54:22 pm »

my seroconversion was as follows:
- headaches
- throat hurting
- flu symptoms
- body rash
- swollen lymphnodes (throat and neck)
- fever about 39-41 celcius which last more than 2 weeks
- night sweats
- fatigue
- liver hurting
- kinda strip on my tongue
- no appetite (lost 5-6 kgs / 12 pds)

headaches & throat hurting started on May 4th 2007... tested poz on 23rd May 2007... and felt physically quite welll / all symptoms disappeared mid June 2007

aztecan · « **Reply #34 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:59:14 pm »

Hey Is,

We have something in common. I was diagnosed with viral meningitis and hospitalized. It was nasty stuff.

I lost 40 pounds in a week - and I wasn't fat to start.

My first HIV doc was sure that was when I seroconverted. No proof though. They had no tests in 1980.

HUGS,

Mark

Veritee · « **Reply #35 on:** April 17, 2008, 10:39:28 am »

My husband and I had what we now believe to be sero conversion back in April 2003.

Of course at the time we did not know it was anything of the kind!!

My husband is a seaman ( a marine engineer) and was at that time working away at sea off the coast of Brazil. I thought he was as faithful to me as I was to him - and I had been sexually faithful to him for at least since 1984 at that point ( we are now in our 50s) in fact I have not ever had sex with anyone but him from that time till now, and will not unless he dies - he was/is very unwell with HIV related illness and we are waiting to see if the meds help, but they seen to be and he is getting better slowly now, thank God

But apparently before he was due back home to me in the UK in April 2003, he had shore leave in Brazil and had sex at a party while drunk with a Brazilian woman

So when he came home from sea and 3 or so weeks later came down with this really awful bug - worse than he had ever had before as he is usually a very healthy man, who having worked at sea in many tropical and other countries since the late 70s he had had many bugs he caught while away - but nothing as horrible as this.

he had:
Swollen glands
eyes sensitive to light
flu symptoms
hot sweats followed by cold sweats
sore throat
splitting headaches
watery and explosive diarrhea
And all over rash which started as small red pin pricks, developed to bigger red blotches and then turned purple
weakness/fatigue
temperature in the upper 40s
felt very sick
horrible taste in mouth and food tasted awful
could not eat anything
sudden and quite pronounced weight loss - he also is a slim man and could not afford this weight loss

This lasted almost 3 weeks.

He went to his GP a couple of times, but no one thought it was anything to worry about even though we kept saying he worked abroad on a ship and in Brazil so asked repeatedly could it be a tropical illness? - but was not offered any explanation nor any tests - the GP did not even think of HIV and at the time I was not worried about HIV as I had no idea he had has sex with anyone else..............

and him being mostly ignorant about HIV it did not occur to him either

- I was not unaware of HIV due to my work but he was - he did not connect the two in any way - and of course did not tell me he had had sex with anyone else

Said he did not tell me out of shame ( I though we were very close and he would tell me everything and if I had ever had sex with anyone else I would have told him whatever the consequences, it is just not my way to lie to my partner and soulmate of so many years even about this - so I assumed he would do the same

But he has said he did not tell me because it was so embarrassing even to tell me - as he regretted the incident half way through the act, due to this regret lost his erection and the condom fell off, so what started as protected sex became unprotected ( and pretty unsuccessful) and he was so embarrassed, one because he could not perform and lost his erection, and two because he had been unfaithful!!!!

I know what you are thinking - he could not have got HIV from only once - I have wrestled much with this one and I am sure I will continue to - but this is what he says and I need to believe him as I need to trust him as for us and our marrage it really is 'till death do us part' and have made it clear I want the truth and the truth is better than any lie at this point

Anyway he got better from this horrible infection in about 3 weeks although he said he did not feel 'right' for another month or two.

Then about 3 -4 weeks after he recovered I went down with exactly the same symptoms!!!

Of course at the time we did not know it was HIV sero conversion - but looking back it must have been .....

As neither of us have ever had an illness like this and one so horrible .

Anyway found out we were both HIV in Jan this year when my husband became so ill with PCP he nearly died
So it suddenly fell into place that what we went though must have been sero conversion as it tied in with the only time he says he ever had sex with anyone else for all our marriage and I certainly have not!!

I do not know how people do not get a bad illness around sero conversion as for us it was awful.

But I guess many like us do get an illness - even if it is less severe than we had - but do not suspect HIV?

You would only think of HIV seroconversion as an explanation for a horrible and unusual 'virus' if you had realised that something had happened to put you at risk for HIV within the last 2 weeks to a couple of months or so? ( I believe sero conversion usually happens between 2 to 8 weeks from infection) And also you woud have to know that initial HIV infection can cause an illness and that people have sero conversion symptoms - we never knew this until we were diagnosed and asked if we had ever had such an illness and when? And I do not think our GP (doctor) we saw when we had this illness, knew this either!!!

Veritee XX

traveltramp · « **Reply #36 on:** April 17, 2008, 01:40:46 pm »

I remember it quite vividly. I was leaving for a 12 month trip around the world early May of 2007. It was a Friday, a few days before my trip and some friends invited me to dinner. It hit me like a train. It started like a flu and within the few hours sitting for dinner and drinks I had a fever and I was so sick. For 3 weeks I was sick. Vomit, sweats, fever, chills, dehydration, my skin hurt to the touch. I would sometimes feel better in the day but the night I would soak my bed. I would have to get up every 20 min to go to the bathroom. I had never been so sick in my life. I would lie in bed for days and weeks. I went to the USA to see some family before I left for Asia and I spent my 3 weeks there in bed, all I could do was sleep. I lost 7 pounds. I hated living it was so bad. I did not think that I would ever feel good again... but then I did...

Peter6836 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 18, 2008, 08:47:30 am »

I lost 35 lbs, had a rash, diarrhea spent ten days in the hospital. Went directly to an AIDS diagnosis. I had been tested every year, I never expected that I would be positive. Everyone thought I would not make it. I could not eat, was throwing up, just wasting away. I can not remember too much else of what went on. I eventually came home and my friend cared for me for over a month, I could hardly get out of the bed.
All this said I have gained all that weight back, work every day, and keep going on.
I believe it is different for all of us. My Doctor (who is wonderful) says I am a fast progressor.
Peter

mpls_apple · « **Reply #38 on:** May 17, 2008, 02:11:03 pm »

My seroconversion actually happened in 2005 (i wasn't diagnosed with HIV until 2006) i had a high grade fever for over a week and a half, i finally went into the dr because i was never sick. After many blood tests they diagnosed me wtih CMV, which most people don't get unless they have a compromised immune system. My HIV test at the time was negitive,

My dr's think i was part of the rare population that harbord HIV in my body but didn't serovonvert it for awhile so my HIV test came up negitive

Winiroo · « **Reply #39 on:** May 17, 2008, 04:28:42 pm »

I seroconverted in summer of 1992. I couldn't tell you the day or even the month I just know where I was and it was hot outside. I felt like I had the flu but it wasn't too bad because I didn't see a doctor. Just general malaise.

WillyWump · « **Reply #40 on:** May 17, 2008, 08:31:58 pm »

Mine started with a fever around 101, then all of my glands started swelling including in places I never knew I had glands like the front side of my ears. I then was in bed for about 5 days, night sweats, diarreha (sp?). what I thought was my liver and kidneys swole up so bad I couldnt lay on my sides, my doctor later told me that we have glands in that part of the body and that they had swollen up not my kidneys or liver. Then on the 6th day it all went away except for my swollen glands which I still have, albeit much smaller in size.

dusty99 · « **Reply #41 on:** May 18, 2008, 03:47:13 pm »

I actually have no idea when I sero-converted. it could have been the flu for all I know, as I would get the flu every year. lasts a few days and then is gone. If memory serves, it could have been shortly before I found out I was positive as I had some flu like symptoms around that time. But I can't remember is I had the flu before then. Otherwise, I guess you could say it was an uneventful one.

aliveinla · « **Reply #42 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:00:10 pm »

Since this post is surfaced again, I need to make some correction: I think what I had was Hemoroid, not HIV seroconversion symptom; because I had it again a month ago and was diagnosed of hemoroid, through colonoscopy. A warm sit bath took all the "symptom" away (not hiv virus, too bad). So now I don't know when i was sero converted and I think I had no sero conversion symptom.

Quote from: aliveinla on February 25, 2008, 09:12:55 pm

Mine was actually happened on a plane to Japan so I thought it was travel related: my ass and skins on the back side of my legs felt itchy and burning. -- i had BB sex being the bottom, so it's not strange it started from my backside. It was such a relief for me to find out that Japan's toilet can spray water when you sit down then blow it dry. :-) It lasted the whole trip but other than that, I was OK and fully functional even went to gym everyday. I knew almost for sure I got it but my partner said he was tested neg. Then 3 weeks later after this, my test came back neg so I put the whole thing behind me and damped that partner anyway and never BB'ed. So the poz diagnosis on 1/22/08 came as a big shock.

jshort · « **Reply #43 on:** June 30, 2008, 02:17:39 pm »

Once I was diagnosed I could pinpoint exactly when i converted. I remember being extremely sick. Now Im never sick, hadn't seen my doctor in years, but all of a sudden I ran a high fever, body aches, chills and just felt crappy. I was in bed for a week. After that I got sick 3 more times within the next 3 months then never got ill again. This was about 2 years ago, I wasn't diagnosed until a year ago. I was sick for the first time since I converted in Feb and it was horrible, a week laid up, weakness, sores all over the inside of my mouth. I just hope that every time I get sick it wont be like this.....

oh and when i was sick from converting, i NEVER thought HIV. Heck I was a hetro woman who had only one partner since my split with my ex. Guess that goes to show it can happen to ANYBODY.

morethanpoz28 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 30, 2008, 10:12:53 pm »

My conversion (it sounds so religious!) began with hives for about a week, then very high fever, night sweats and a bout of pancolitis (fun fun fun!). Of course I did not know what was happening until about six months later when I tested positive.

Toodles,
Lisa

derek72 · « **Reply #45 on:** July 10, 2008, 09:23:41 pm »

Mine was pretty bad - I was very sick for about a week. Fever, headache, sore throat, my eyes were sensitive to light, my skin hurt all over, I had fatigue and serious malaise and then a rash broke out all over my chest, face, arms and legs.

When I got the rash I just knew what was happening. This was only the last week of June 08......

markaj · « **Reply #46 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:11:41 pm »

I was the sickest I've ever been. I woke up one morning and just couldn't move. The doc came to see me, took some bloods and they came back as positive for mono and CMV. Apparently my white blood cells looked bad as well - I asked 'could HIV cause that?' (I knew I had put myself at risk), they did a HIV test but that was negative. I then spent 8 weeks off work sick. I had chronic diarrhea, lost 34% of my body weight, suffered nightsweats, joint pains, fever, fatigue, headaches, couldn't eat anything, tonsillitis and came out in a rash all over my body which didn't itch. About the only thing I didn't get was a cold! I just had no energy to do anything. I'd get help into the shower and just curl up and cry. I eventually got out to hospital and tested positive for HIV, secondary syphilis, chlamydia and giardia. This all started Feb 08. I've now had to start meds because my bloods never recovered from seroconversion and they should have done well before now.

planonstaying · « **Reply #47 on:** August 09, 2008, 09:20:11 am »

"I was infected in 12/06. I got tested 1/13. I had started having swollen gland at Xmas and my DR ordered thyroid functions and an ultra sound since it was enlarged. I asked for an HIV test. I got the courage to get it on 1/13. I was starting to feel real fatigued and the glands were worse. On 1/29 I found out I was positive. I wont tell you how bad my ex DR muffed informing me but he couldn't of handled it much worse. I had continued to get sicker in Jan. My neck and underarm glands were huge and tender. i had bone numbing fatigue and was missing a ton of work and i had developed a bad sore throat and my tonsils had gotten swollen as well on one side. It was not like the flu. I missed about 25 working days from 1/1- 3/1. For the most part I would work a half a day if i made it in. I have never felt sicker in my life and had assumed i was far along
I had a blood draw when the symptoms were a little better and they had cleared entirely about 10 days after it. My next Dr who is like no other DR i have ever spent saw spent an hr talking to me about the devastating emotional issues i was experiencing before even looking at my labs. No one expected my labs to be good. They were really great. I am sure it's from swimming in the shallow end of the inbred Irish gene pool. She hyposized and it made sense to me that the reason i was so sick so fatigued so long might of had to do with the amount of energy I was using fighting the infection and reigning it in for the moment but that we would never really know"

or to paraphrase that: It really sucked ass

wow1969 · « **Reply #48 on:** August 09, 2008, 10:32:43 am »

I am soooo jealous ... All of you losing weight while converting .... I have been so stressed in the last month since being diagnosed I've gained 14 lbs in stress eating UGH .... The only symptom I had duing conversion was swollen lymph nodes. My Dr. just thought it was allergies and nothing to worry about. Damn, if I had to get this, couldn't I have dropped 30 - 40 lbs? Serously, I run marathons less weight is a good thing .. <sigh> i guess it's like Lestat about the Dark Gift .... it's different for eveyone.

alberche · « **Reply #49 on:** August 09, 2008, 01:37:54 pm »

Mine was very hard. I felt terrible headache, swollen nods, pain in joints, in lower back, in kneels, my neck was rigid, I had moderate to high fever, completely lost my apetite, had nausea and vomiting, and lost 10 kg (22 lbs) in one week or so. I felt extremelly weak, even picking up my bag seemed to be a colossal effort. Only wanted to be in my bed with my eyes shut. I remember the fresh air entering through the window during the night and how it made me feel better. I felt something like a lack of air, it was even difficult to breath, and the fresh breeze helped me a lot.

All this lasted for about 4 weeks. I had never felt so sick before in my life.

By the third week of sympthoms I "knew" this was HIV. I had a risky sex event about five weeks before all this started. So I decided not to wait for an antibody test and went directly for a viral load (PCR) test. I had results two weeks later: 264.000... My doctor repeated PCR and made all the rest of tests (CD4, blood chem and so on) and, when results came back ten days later, infection was confirmed, very likely to be a very recent infection, not only due to sympthoms, but to my still high number of CD4 (1100) and becasuse viral load lowed itself from 264.000 to 60.000 in 4 weeks. She proposed me to start with meds immediately. So I did.

Every time I think about pill burden and seconday effects (digestive problems from time to time, some tiredness, triglycerides a bit hard to manage...) I just stop and remember how I felt in those terrible days, and how I feel now, much, much better, and pills become just simply a routine, not a burden anymore.

Hugs :-)

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