I'm worried I'll never recover from this anxiety - please help!

[worriedscared24]

Hi everyone,

I have been an avid reader of this site for the past three months and it has helped me a great deal with advice and support.

I live in the UK and three months ago I had unprotected vaginal sex with a British male (I am female) three times over the course of a weekend. Ever since this time I have been scared stiff that I have contracted HIV. I can't even think about sex. During this exposure the male in question did NOT ejaculate inside me but I am aware of pre-***.

From two weeks on until now so approx, 10 weeks I have a sore throat, left side of neck and white tongue which will not go away. I received antibiotics for the throat and it has not disagreed which worries me hugely.

The male in question assured me on multiple occasion that he did not have HIV and proved this to me by taking a full STD check exactly 2 weeks after our encounter. This included a HIV DUO test. They all returned negative. What worries me is that he could be in his window period and still not showing Positive on tests.

I have also had multiple tests:

4 weeks Post Exposure (DUO) - NEGATIVE
6.5 weeks Post Exposure (DUO) - NEGATIVE
8 weeks Post Exposure DUO - self-sample finger prick sent to lab (Roche) - NEGATIVE
9 weeks Post Exposure (not sure if was DUO but was GUM clinic) - NEGATIVE
11 weeks Post Exposure DUO - self-sample finger prick sent to lab (Roche) - NEGATIVE

I plan to take another DUO at 13 weeks post-exposure which will be in 4 days time.

What worries me however is I still won't be able to accept this result because of information on a 6 month and even one year window period. I have seen comments on I-base from a user saying he tested negative 6 months after exposure and then 14 months he was positive. I cannot keep testing for this long, I need to move on my life. The fact that no test is 100% scares me - what if I am the anomaly?

With this amount of testing - do you guys think there is any chance with this level of testing I could still return a positive result after all this time?

I know made an awful decision and I am scared I am going to regret this mistake for the rest of my life. I would really appreciate your opinions, thank you.

[Ptrk3]

Since you are familiar with this site, you know that we don't assess symptoms of potential HIV infection since symptoms, if they occur at all, vary widely.  You should not assess them, either.

You did have a risk for HIV infection, as you correctly acknowledge, so it was wise of you to test for HIV antibodies.

Most experts assert that testing for HIV antibodies be conducted six weeks after potential exposure, then at 13 weeks past potential exposure for confirmation of the six week results.

It is very good news that you continue to test negative for HIV antibodies 11 weeks after potential exposure.  The odds are vastly in your favor that those results will remain negative in two weeks time when you take a final confirmatory test.  Results rarely change so many weeks in.

As to your potential failure to accept a negative result as final, that is an issue you alone can resolve.  Perhaps you can speak to your healthcare provider for assurances that your upcoming test is conclusive and, if you still can't accept the negative results, seek assistance in how to best deal with your anxiety.

[worriedscared24]

Thank you so much for your response I really appreciate it and I hope to move on from  this experience. If nothing, it has taught me a lot and rest assured I will never have sex without protection again.

In your valued opinion and experience (or any other of the moderators) - have you ever seen a 13 week negative duo turn to positive, providing no other exposures? And considering I will have had 6 negative DUOs under my belt? Say in 4 or 6 months? I'm sorry to ask, there is just so much information on the subject and I believe I've read every article going on the subject 

Again, many thanks for your opinion.

[Jim Allen]

No matter what generation of test 3 months is conclusive, there is no need to test beyond that point for an exposure.

The test results post 6 weeks will rarely change, so see the 3 month test as something is to confirm the result you already have, after that you need to move on with your life

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.