HIV?

[A]

I was suspected of exposing to HIV in the beginning of last year. i got almost all HIV related symptoms around 4 weeks later which including lipodystrophy that makes me suffering a lot even now. i did 2 HIV antibody tests 6 and 12 moths later respectively, the results were all negative. 1 PCR DNA test (6 month) was also "undetectable". but i have since suffered extreme tiredness especially the symptoms of lipodystrophy with which whatever how much food i eat the fat failed to coming back. on the contrary, my arms and legs become skinnier while the fat on my neck, belly and waist continue to accumulating. i did CD4 count test one year later. the result is CD4: 24%, 350 cells/mm3. CD8 27%, 390 cells/mm3. CD4/CD8 ratio is 0.89. CD16/56 NK cells 30% 430 cells/mm3. i was told by an immunologist that my symptom and T-cell result might be caused by the Cushings' diesease. but there are 3 obvious differences between my symptom and C-disease. (1: i don't have diabetes while most patients of C-Disease suffer insulin resistance. 2: i have been sufferring weight lost rather than weight gain. 3: the facial wast occurring on me is definitely different from the "moon face" happened on patients of C-Disease as my cheek and area around my eyes sink heavily.) Therefore i want to know if i 'm a HIV+ now although my antibody test has been negative. 3 reasons i don't believe I'm a HIV- because 1. the symptoms of lipdystrophy is an indicator of HIV infection under my understanding as i have no other diseases, after checked by a specialist, that can cause it. 2 some people in the world don't produce, as a result of HIV failed to integrate or replicate into the host's DNA for unknown reason, or produce very low amount of antibody so that their result to antibody and PCR DNA test is always negative. 3 my inverted CD4/CD8 ratio which is also the indicator of HIV infection. please help me and i look forward your reply! thanks

[RapidRod]

You don't have an HIV concern, you have a conclusive negative test to prove it.

[Andy Velez]

Although you have not indicated what your "exposure" to HIV was, that's actually irrelevant now. You have more than reliably tested negative for HIV.

As for your symptoms, there is nothing HIV specific about any of them. You ought to be discussing your concerns with your doctor(s). None of the details you are reporting would invalidate your negative test results.

This is not an HIV situation. Period.

[A]

Hi Andy and RapidRod,
thanks for your reply firstly! but how about my low CD4 count-350 cells/mm3 which should be recommended for starting medicine in parts of the US? and my inverted CD4/CD8 ratio? the immunologist who suggested my result of T-cell and symptom might be caused by Cushings' disease even didn't try to follow up any relevant test for Cushings' disease after mentioning of it to me because she could find no indicator from my whole blood test that i need to do it. so if one of my symptoms, lipodystrophy, is really caused by that disease or there is tiny possibility of its existence, there is no reason the immunologist didn't try to follow it up. it just doesn't make sense, isn't it? i knew i would be told here that my negative result of HIV antibody is conclusive, but these symptoms, accompanied by more serious tiredness and weakness, have become more unsustainable to me now. it is even hard for me to maintain the basic daily activity of life.
so could you please let me know if there is any other test of HIV which is able to detect this virus effectively, not the antibody, or exclude its existence for me? thanks
A

[Andy Velez]

Yah, yah, yah. You don't need any other HIV test(s) because you have reliable tested negative. You ARE HIV negative. Period.

CD4 cells are affected by all kinds of bodily changes. If you have concerns about your health you should dscuss them with your doctor. They have nothing to do with HIV. End of story.

[Ann]

A,

Why do you think you were exposed to hiv in the first place?

Some people have CD4 counts on the lower end of the scale normally. You may be one of those people.

The lipodystrophy that some hiv positive people experience is caused by some of the older meds used to treat hiv. It is not caused by the virus itself.

Maybe you need to find a different doctor who will follow up on your concerns. I would suggest you start with a General Practitioner rather than an Immunologist.

Whatever is going on, you have conclusively ruled hiv out of the picture. You do not have hiv.

Ann

[A]

Dear Ann,
thanks very much! your instruction is one of kind and constructive reply i have rarely had from professionals.
yes, i know low CD4 counts can be a result of normal variations. but how how about my CD4 percentage 24% which is hard to be fluctuated by normal variation or causes? there is a man who failed to produce HIV antibody until being treated by certain medicine that reduced the amount of his viral load so that triggered his immune response of HIV. please read it on the link http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/45/5/1659.pdf . this man was early identified by P24 antigen test during his early stage of infection which is the shortcome of P24 test and the reason parts of the US have given it up-only or very effective for recent infection-while his result of HIV antibody was continuously negative over 7 months. i did my first P24 test but was already 6 month mark. there is also an article about seronegative infected individuals on the link http://aidsperspective.net/blog/?p=199 which is written by an expert too.
as to lipodystrophy, some experts say it can occur at any stage of infection depends on the strength of individuals immune system and some patients of HIV said they suffered such symptoms even before they stared any medical treatment.
i don't know what i can do now.
A

[Matty the Damned]

Dear Ann,
thanks very much! your instruction is one of kind and constructive reply i have rarely had from professionals.
yes, i know low CD4 counts can be a result of normal variations. but how how about my CD4 percentage 24% which is hard to be fluctuated by normal variation or causes? there is a man who failed to produce HIV antibody until being treated by certain medicine that reduced the amount of his viral load so that triggered his immune response of HIV. please read it on the link http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/45/5/1659.pdf . this man was early identified by P24 antigen test during his early stage of infection which is the shortcome of P24 test and the reason parts of the US have given it up-only or very effective for recent infection-while his result of HIV antibody was continuously negative over 7 months. i did my first P24 test but was already 6 month mark. there is also an article about seronegative infected individuals on the link http://aidsperspective.net/blog/?p=199 which is written by an expert too.
as to lipodystrophy, some experts say it can occur at any stage of infection depends on the strength of individuals immune system and some patients of HIV said they suffered such symptoms even before they stared any medical treatment.
i don't know what i can do now.
A

A,

You are not listening.

Your HIV testing history demonstrates that whatever is the cause of your immune system problems, it isn't HIV.

We cannot help you determine what is causing those problems. As Ann has told you, you should see a new GP and take it from there.

MtD

[A]

Hi MtD,
the reason i posted here is because all my Drs-GPs, specialist, immunologist...have given no explanation or cause to my symptoms and blood test results. it was not they didn't want but just couldn't. the explanation for the T-cells result from the laboratory is virus infection, autoimmune dieseas, subacute inflammation or drug use. but as i said before, all the possibilities had been ruled out by my Drs after being checked physically except for virus infection.
thanks anyway
A

[A]

Hi Ann,
I'm waiting the PCR RNA result a test i did more than 1 week ago. i will know the result tomorrow so I'm so nervous now. but i promiss i will definitely move on if the result is negative, because all conclusion i have received is I'm HIV negative. I'll let you know then.
thanks
A

[A]

Dear All!
thanks much for all advice and suggestion i have got here. i just got my result of PCR RNA. It is negative (undetectable)! as i said I'm totally relieved and moved on. It was as if a nightmare to me. thanks, especially to Ann.
A

[Ann]

A,

That's good news indeed.

I hope you can get to the bottom of what's going on - if anything actually IS going on. As I mentioned the other day, some people just have naturally low CD4 counts.

Make sure you use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple! Read through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them correctly and with confidence.

Ann