Denied PEP and worried now that I may be infected.

[Nicolejae919]

Hi everyone, I had a potential exposure early Sunday morning. A friend and I had sex we started out with protection but after the first round he kept complaining about the condom. We had a brief talk about his status he says he was last tested in January and he had proof of his negative status. We went a second round protected but when we finished there was no condom. I was nervous as hell and panicked. I went to PP on Monday and because I have a certain Medicaid that wouldn’t cover the expenses for all of the bloodwork,  I was turned away for PEP. I spent the next day going to 3 ERs traveling over an hour a way, urgent cares, and making numerous phone calls, to no avail. I am now 72 hours post and I’m losing it over here. I’m scared shitless and can’t believe the way I was denied. Has anyone else had this experience with PEP?  Are there any test that would give me an accurate result this early? Thanks everyone!

[Jim Allen]

Hiya

Look, your friends claimed HIV status or proof does not mean anything to you.

All in all, though, do try to relax. Until the condom vanished you would have been protected during the intercourse, do test to confirm your negative HIV status and prehaps talk to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV going forward.

Guidelines are to test at 6 weeks with a blood-drawn HIV antibodies test, a negative result at that time will rarely ever change. You can repeat for peace of mind and a definite result at 3 months if you wish.  Also, test for far easier to acquire STI's.

Here's what you need to know to avoid HIV infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions. Consider starting PrEP going forward as an additional layer of protection against HIV

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 easier to transmit 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.

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.

[Nicolejae919]

Hi, yes I’m going to talk to my doctor about Prep next week and getting tested for STDs, I’ll test for HIV too, but again in a month or so for a more accurate result. Thank you for responding and helping us all on this forum.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome

[Nicolejae919]

So, I’m freakin our now. I developed a stomach virus with Diarrhea for 2 days, 11 days post possible exposure, the doctor diagnosed me with Gastrotinitus(probably spelled that wrong) I am severely weak and just not feeling like myself now and nauseous And, I found out that the guy I was with is very promiscuous. He still speaks to me and assured me he’s fine, but I don’t believe him. I am scared that I could be going through seroconversion, if I test now and I am going through that stage would I test positive? I know symptoms can’t diagnose you but I’m just nervous

[Jim Allen]

I found out that the guy I was with is very promiscuous

Judgemental and nothing to do with HIV. He might have a very healthy sex drive and act on it, now he could sleep the entire town and be HIV negative and you might have unprotected intercourse once in your life and be living with HIV



Look I am sorry to hear you are feeling unwell, instead of stressing about it and focusing on it see your doctor and treat whatever is making you feel bad, It's not HIV specific.

Again try to relax, until the condom vanished you would have been protected during the intercourse, do a test to confirm your negative HIV status and prehaps talk to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV going forward.

Guidelines are to test at 6 weeks with a blood-drawn HIV antibodies test, a negative result at that time will rarely ever change. You can repeat for peace of mind and a definite result at 3 months if you wish.  Also, test for far easier to acquire STI's.

[Nicolejae919]

Hi everyone, thank you in advance for taking the time to read this post. I had unprotected sex with my ex partner for a total of 5xs. I was tested before we started a physical relationship and was negative. He told me he was as well and I trusted that. We had sex Feb 9, Feb 16, March 7, March 12 and March 31. I was tested twice during our relationship, once at the end of Feb which was negative. I decided it was risky having unprotected sex and chose to get on PrEP I had my 2nd negative test on March 19, 20 and started Prep March 25, 20. I grew nervous when I started getting yeast infections that wouldn’t go away and a small rash under my breast I started to Google my symptoms, then I read that PrEP can cause a delay in a positive hiv test,  so I bought an Oraquick(Mouthswab)  and tested negative on May 12 and June 5. I just want to know if my results are solid? I mean I know you guys aren’t doctors but is there a good chance that I’m negative even though PrEP is said to delay a positive result? I was going to get tested on site but due to Covid they’re still closed. My next PrEP appt isn’t for another 2 weeks. How long does PrEP delay the window period? Thank you all 👋

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

I've merged your threads, please only post in this one thread going forward within the "Do I have HIV" forum. Thanks.

Now, I've read your post three times. To start with your partners claimed testing history or HIV status is irrelevant, as mentioned before and trust does not prevent HIV transmission.

Anyhow, understand that you had 4 condomless encounters within a few weeks before starting PrEP, this is an obvious HIV risk. You also had condomless intercourse within a few days after starting PrEP so before it would offer any meaningful additional protection.

Was the Doctor prescribing PrEP aware that you had such recent potential exposures before you started PrEP? Surprised they gave you the PrEP.

With PrEP & ART usage delay in detection can happen, although fairly rare for any kind of meaningful delay, however, rule of thumb is to add an additional 30 days to the window period before calling a result conclusive.

Now as part of the PrEP routine people should be testing more routinely as a standard for HIV & STI's, so every 3 months. I suggest you continue to do this and let them know when testing about recent exposures and if you want an additional screening after this routine 3 monthly check for peace of mind please do so.

Here's what you need to know 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 might still pose a risk for transmission of other far easier to acquire 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.

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.
 



https://www.poz.com/article/taking-prep-contracting-hiv-may-stall-positive-test-result

https://www.aidsmap.com/news/may-2018/prep-may-make-it-hard-tell-if-someone-has-hiv-infection

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4641668/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5578893/

R.Harrington
https://depts.washington.edu/nwaetc/presentations/uploads/219/nonoccupational_hiv_post_exposure_prophylaxis_npep.pdf

[Nicolejae919]

The doctor knew about the very last exposure, not all of them. I will continue to test, thanks for replying and my apologies didn’t realize I had to post in the old thread.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome.