POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: chronicworrier on June 11, 2006, 11:19:16 pm
-
Hello.
1. Is there anything testers can do to guard against delayed seroconversion? Or, is it one of those things that if it happens to you, you just have to rue your luck? I ask this because I read a response from a doctor on TheBody stating that 'more than a few people' have converted after the one-year mark (!!). One person converted at 42 months. Some people apparently do not even produce antibodies.
2. I tested negative at 12 months. Yet, my symptoms persists. Are there any set of symptoms people should watch out for that might indicate delayed seroconversion?
3. My exposure was in Bangkok. Are there rare strains in Thailand that wouldn't usually be detected on a rapid test?
-
You do not detail the whys of delayed seroconversion in your post. Chemotherapy, IV drug use.....those are major reasons for delayed seroconversion. The basic rule of thumb is, if you had one of the main causes of delayed seroconversion, you'd know it.
You are HIV negative, please continue working with your Dr to find out the cause of your malaise, its very disturbing to think that you might not find out what's really wrong with you because your a fixated on HIV: something you don't have.
You are HIV negative.
Sae.
-
Thx Sae. Ok, I'm neither a drug user not undergoing chemo.
Why? Mainly because of problems I have been facing with my neck glands. They are not all that big (<1cm) but there are palpable all the time and I'm constantly feeling them whenever I turn my head. Is this normal? I have also suffered from weight loss and often down with all sorts of infections. My immune system seems to be at rock bottom these days. I've also experienced "ARS" at 2 weeks after exposure.
Please understand that I'm trying not to be fixated by HIV. It's just that the severity of the illness makes me want to rule it out with at least 100% confidence.
-
You've tested negative. You didn't have ARS and leave your lymph nodes alone that is enough reason to cause them to swell.
-
Chronic,
You need to be working with a qualified doctor to get to the bottom of your physical problems. No one can diagnose you over the internet, you must see someone face-to-face.
Now that you have ruled out hiv, you can start to look for other causes to your problems. And as Rodney says, keep your hands off your glands because touching them all the time will make them swell and keep them swollen. It can take several weeks for them to return to normal after being irritated by constant touching.
And by the way, you never said what your possible exposure was. Unless you had unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, you probably weren't at risk of infection anyway.
Regardless, you are hiv negative. Protect your status by using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions. Please read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use those condoms with confidence. Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) for links to the AIDSmeds transmission and testing lessons.
You are hiv negative.
Ann
-
Dear all,
Hi, I would like to ask question here. I used to log in the the old page. Now I can't seem to find my thread. Ann, Andy can anyone help me. Sorry, don't know what to do.
Sacramento
-
Sacramento, start a new thread of your own for your question.
-
1. I read so much about delayed seroconversion I'm so concerned it might be me. Are you 100% sure I'm negative?
2. Are lymph nodes normally palpable? If I can touch them, does that mean that they are swollen? Once i'm most concerned about are a little less than 1cm (submental neck nodes), 1.2cm subjugular left node. I'm quite a slim guy - 5'11" 64kg. I promise I'll stop touching them from now on, but if you could tell me what they're normally like I'd be grateful.
3. Also, I'm concerned about 2 exposures: a. broken condom during intercourse (12 months ago); b. protected intercourse but masturbation using cervical fluid on condom (hand-genital transmission) - fluid kept in mucous membrane of foreskin for at least a few hours (9 months ago). I'm more concerned about the 12 month exposure, which is why I say I've tested out to 12 months, not 9 months. Is my 9 month exposure a low/medium/theoretical risk? Even his the lady was HIV positive with high viral load?
Thanks
-
<<1. I read so much about delayed seroconversion I'm so concerned it might be me. Are you 100% sure I'm negative? >>
Reading something does not make it accurate, even if it makes you afraid.
Lymph nodes are palpable, especially during periods of sickness or emotional stress. Yes, they swell then, too. And when you start poking at them, they can stay that way for a long time. Quit it.
There is NO risk in mutual masturbation.
Your broken condom did not result in HIV infection, as you tested negative at the appropriate time.
It's time to let this go, and I submit that this forum (and all the other HIV sites you seem to be reading) are prolonging, not alleviating, your fear.
-
Dear JK, I've read numerous of your post and I'd just like to say you've educated me A LOT about HIV. I was half wishing you could share with me your thoughts about my exposure and testing experience... but i daren't ask that you do. Simply with those few words from you have calm a lot of my nerves. Thanks for the advice. I wish you best of health.
-
oh, one last question JK.... I know you're Mr. Science at this forum... but is there any scientific basis of your statement that emotional stress can cause lymph node swelling...? I have to say this is the first time i've read it anywhere on the web! Cheers.
-
http://www.learnersonline.com/weekly/lessons03/week44/index.htm (http://www.learnersonline.com/weekly/lessons03/week44/index.htm)
It's actually pretty common knowledge.
-
Hope someone can advice.
1. Does using someone's vaginal fluid (cervico-fluid on condom as well?) in masturbation led to infection?
Can I get HIV by just masturbating with my partner?
Masturbation is one of the safest sexual activities you can engage in. It is safe for semen or vaginal fluids to contact healthy, unbroken skin in mutual masturbation. Healthy skin (no open cuts or fresh sores) provides very good protection against HIV.
(http://www.aidatlanta.org/education/faq.shtml)
Mutual Masturbation - Touching and rubbing each other’s penis or vagina is safe. However, there are some circumstances under which mutual masturbation can be unsafe:
* Cuts or sores on the hands and on the penis or vagina; * Using someone else’s pre-cum, cum or vaginal fluid as a lubricant; * Rubbing the penis underneath the foreskin of another persons penis when cuts are present or if pre-cum or cum are exchanged through the opening of the penis; and * Rubbing the vagina against another vagina where cuts are present or blood or vaginal fluids are exchanged.
(http://www.acon.org.au/health/index.cfm?doc_id=1145&cat_id=30)
2. Does healthy skin also include uncircumcised people? Does the foreskin transmit HIV as efficiently as an open wound? Or does healthy foreskin safe?
3. Did I need to test to begin with?
Thank you.
-
If you read the LESSONS section of this site (or reread it) it stipulates that mutual masturbation does NOT facilitate HIV infection.
Not even (insert caveat here). No way.
-
FINAL FINAL QUESTION
Not even (1. I'm uncircumcised w/ all the dendritic cells fully exposed 2. It's cervico-vaginal fluid used 3. High viral load 4. Fluid kept under foreskin for a prolonged period). No way? ??? :o
Not even a little bit of risk? Not even with all the symptoms in the world? :-\
Please be honest.
Thanks!
-
FINAL FINAL QUESTION
Not even (1. I'm uncircumcised w/ all the dendritic cells fully exposed 2. It's cervico-vaginal fluid used 3. High viral load 4. Fluid kept under foreskin for a prolonged period). No way? ??? :o
Not even a little bit of risk? Not even with all the symptoms in the world? :-\
Please be honest.
Thanks!
These what-if's are getting silly Chronic. Your questions have been answered. Mutual masturbation is not, never has been and never will be a risk for HIV infection. Seriously, read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) again. It contains the links to the answers you need.
MtD
-
I respectfully withdraw from this disintegrating conversation.
best of luck with your sexual future.
-
I apologise if I have overstepped my mark there with the questionings.
I withdraw from this forum today. Thank you for your advice and help.
Respectfully.
-
Chronic,
Mutual masturbation, as you have been told, is not a risk of hiv infection in any way, shape or form.
Besides, even if you had full, buck-naked, condomless anal or vaginal intercourse, you have a twelve month negative test result. You are hiv negative, period, end of story.
Mutual masturbation is NOT a risk for hiv infection and you have a conclusive negative result to prove that. You are hiv negative. Time to move on.
Ann