POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: fakesmile on September 01, 2010, 05:50:30 pm
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Thanks everyone in advanced for your time this is my situation
. I was in the Dominican republic on vacation and met a young lady and had unprotected sex with her after speaking to her she confessed she was a part time csw. I have tested at 8 weeks with the orashure advanced using finger prick it was negative. Were it gets complicated is I was diagnosed with CDIV I asked my Dr what the affect would be on my Rapid test and he was not sure and left it at that. I have been reading conflicting opinions on this some say I will get a false negative others say a test at 3 months is conclusive. what do you guys think.
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You do need to test at 3 months. And yes, a negative at 3 months would be conclusive and reilable.
Do yourself a favor and stop surfing the net for opinions. For sure you will unfortunately find fuel for your worst fears. Get tested at 3 months and pick up what I expect will likely be a negative result after that negative at 8 weeks.
And learn from this experience. You need to be wearing a condom everytime you have either vaginal or anal intercourse. It doesn't matter if you are with a civilian or a professional or what you think you know about the person you are with. A condom is a must everytime. Period.
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Thanks Andy Im in tears as im writing this I feel so hopeless. I dont mean to question you but isnt cvid the lack of the body creating antibodys so how can a anti body test find them if they are not their . I want to understand so I can move on to my next step if I am Poz. I will deal with it. It is the fact of not knowing that I cant handle.
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In just a very short time you can re-test and I expect the result to be negative.
Not so incidentally, HIV is a fragile virus. It is significantly harder to pass from woman to man than the other way around. You had a single possible exposure and the odds are way your favor that you are going to test negative.
Stop with all the drama! You need to work now on focusing your attention on other things in your life instead of feeling sorry for yourself. And don't bother saying you're too worried to think about anything else because I can tell you that response won't fly here.
I expect you to come out of this ok.
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Thanks Andy I feel like a punk for even righting that. Anyways If you guys dont mind I will post my 12 week results
Abrasos
Pepe
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OK, Pepe. We will be expecting to hear from you about your result and I do expect it to be a happy one.
Abrazos.
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Andy one last question I am going for my 3 month test it is a the pcr dna for hiv1 do I need to consider hiv 2 that test is big bucks ( it sucks not to have insurance ) I cant wait for this to be over so I can pop the cork on the moet. ( if you were in south fla i would invite you to the party )
thanks
Pepe
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Pepe,
The DNA PCR test is NOT approved for diagnostic purposes due to a high rate of false positive results. Only the RNA PCR test is approved for diagnostics.
You don't need to be tested for hiv2. It is only found in Western Africa or countries who host West African immigrants.
You are highly unlikely to end up hiv positive over a one-off insertive vaginal experience, even if she is hiv positive. I don't expect you to test positive, no matter what test you use.
Ann
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THanks Ann by the way i love your blog you are also invited to the party :D
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One Last question i promise if I have true ars symptoms that means your body is creating antibodys and a antibody test is accurate. outside the window period 3 months. The cvid has me a little freacked out about the accuracy of the test.
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"Symptoms" are never the way to know anything accurately about your HIV status. Speculating about symptoms is fruitless. Only an HIV specific test at 3 months can give you the accurate and conclusive result you are looking for.
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I understand im just trying to avoid that expensive test and go with the antibody test But my concern is the cvid will get in the way of the test. I guess the big problem I cant get an answer to how the cvid is going to affect the test. Im sure the symptoms I have are more of anxiety than anything else ( I am a single dad of 5 year old triplets my life is anxiety) and im sure when I test it will ease my mind I just want to take the right test
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fake,
Like I told you before, if you go for a PCR (viral load) test, make sure it is an RNA, NOT a DNA test. The RNA is the only one approved for diagnostics, but a lot of doctors don't seem to know (or perhaps care) about that.
How CVID will affect you depends on the type and severity of your particular case. That's why the V in CVID stands for variable. It may not affect the antibody test at all.
Are you being treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapy? Because if you're not, you probably don't have a serious enough case to worry about the antibody test not being accurate at three months. You should be seeing an immunologist about this.
Ann
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No I am no type of treatment it mostly affects my digestive track but I have never had Bronchitis or pneumonia. Im hopping to save some cash and go to DR after I get my tax return.
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Fake,
Ah, no insurance, eh? That sucks. I guess that would rule out getting referred to an immunologist. If you're not constantly getting bacterial infections, you're probably going to be ok with the antibody test as it sounds like your case isn't that severe. Good luck, hope you manage to get insurance some day. You need it with something like CVID and triplets as well.
Just to be clear though, you really are not likely to end up positive over this one unprotected insertive vaginal encounter, regardless of the CVID. I was with a negative man for eighteen months before I was diagnosed. We never used condoms during that time (we did after my diagnosis) and he remained hiv negative. We were together a total of eight years and he is still hiv negative to this day.
Ann
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Thanks Ann your words especially from your personal experience is very reassuring. If your ever in south fla Let me Know and I will hook up with the best cuban food u ever had.
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Fake,
You're welcome. I live on a Rock in the middle of the Irish Sea, so I probably won't make it to south Florida any time soon, but thanks for the offer.
Now do yourself a favour and stay off hiv internet sites while you wait to test. You'll only fuel your anxiety. Go take the triplets out to the beach or something instead. They must sure keep you busy!
Ann
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Thanks
offer is always open
heading to the beach today and I will try to stay off the computer because it defenetly makes me nuts.
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i hope i dont overstay my welcome and someone could answer. I know symptoms dont mean anything but I have to ask. What do the ars rash look like i just got what looks like a dark frekel on my pinky and a lighter one on my neck. the one on my finger is very dark almost brown. I know I should not worry but please if someone can just give me a brief description on what a ars rash looks like. Im so sorry for even asking I cant afford a pcr test and Im very concerned that a antibody test wont work on me. I am waiting till tuesday to pawn my tv to try to get some cash to take a test.
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The rash associated with ARS is flat, red and does not itch. It appears on the torso and sometimes the extremities as well. If ARS symptoms appear they come on at the same time and are gone after a week or two. They do not come on singly, disappear and then others appear.
Hold on to your tv because you're going to want it to use after you have received the negative test results we expect you to receive. You can also use it while you are waiting to get tested which would be a way better use of your time than searching the net for things to scare yourself about unnecessarily or feeling sorry for yourself and working up totally unwarranted drama as you have been doing.
Really.
At the end of all this I expect you to test negative.
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Thanks Andy I know this isnt a support forum but man you sure do give support
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You're welcome.
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Hey Guys just a quick update spoke to doc on my cvid and he told me I should not be worried about antibody development in m y case. I took a oraquick advanced rapid test (finger stick) at 11 weeks and it was negative. I also asked the counselor giving the test (ahf foundation) about oral sex ( me being sucked ) and he looked at me like I had two heads and said HIV was not spread that way . I knew that was going to be his answer from what I have read only worry about the Vag. sex. Anyways so far so good a couple of more weeks and Ill be in much better mental health. I will probably still test a 6 months but I dont think it will change it will just be to confirm what I have been told by you guys
Thanks
Andy and Ann
Love Pepe from Miami.
:-*
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Hey guys just a quick update and even faster question i went for my 90 day test and it was negative. It was a terrible day for me the young man who was their testing before me tested + my Heart felt so heavy for him. I told him about this sight and what an inspiration you guys are (Heroes in so many ways ). It was definitely a 2 xzanax day. So many positive things are going on with me it looks like me and my wife will get back together.
Anyways do you guys think i should test out to 6 months taking into consideration my situation?
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The guy who tested + said it happened because he had just had molar pulled that had not healed and he took a load in his mouth. Talk about bad luck one of the hardest transmission routs and he got it. Thats why I agree with that comment that Ann made on those cdc number 1 in 10000 or whatever. its like playing Russian rullet if you dont watch what your doing. The oral wasnt the problem it was the big hole in his mouth.
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There is no need for further testing. You have reliably tested negative for HIV. Period. End of story.
And you will continue to stay negative in terms of sexual risk for HIV as long as you consistently use condoms for intercourse. No exceptions.
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Thanks Andy
that was a fast response were you standing behind me waiting for me to stop typing.
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Yes, I was.
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Hey guys why do the cdc still hold on to the 6 month test are they just over conservative or do they like freeking people out
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Ann I was reading your blog and im sure you have been told this before you have realy nice eyes ( not trying to flirt just an observation )
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Hey guys why do the cdc still hold on to the 6 month test are they just over conservative or do they like freeking people out
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Ann I was reading your blog and im sure you have been told this before you have realy nice eyes ( not trying to flirt just an observation )
They don't.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/gap/pmtct/Trainer%20Manual/Adobe/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
Number 4
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The CDC only recommends testing out to 6 months in very specific situations such as when the longterm use of intravenous drug use is involved or organ transplant or treatment for an illness such as cancer, all of which has harsh effects on the immune system.
In your case you are reliably negative, Pepe, so take a breath and get on with your life.
Cheers.
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Thanks for the info guys that was a interesting read Rapid . Its funky how when you go to the cdc main page on hiv they give a 97% number which means 3 in 100 wont test accurately at 3 months. I guess its the government being the government. ???
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Hey guys how is everyone doing. Well just a update all tests taken have been negative!!!! I'm coming up to my last test that my doc said I should take he is scheduling a icma antibody test .I never herd of this test and I don't google HIV info cause it drives me nuts. Can you guys give me some info on it.
Best regards
Pepe
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Last test? I am confused. Your last post here was a year ago almost. If there as another incident with in the past three months I understand. If not, then..... really?
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No same incident I'm just going by what my doc. Advised he put me on a testing schedule because of the cvid when I asked him about the 3 month window period he said I fell in the category to test out to one year. I know what your going to say and to be honest I agree but I take blood tests all the time so what's one more except the fact I have to pay out of pocket it's hard to get insurance with pre excisting conditions but that's a whole different topic. I'm just curious why he wants this test all the other ones have been rapid finger prick type which are a lot cheaper
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3 months post exposure is when you can obtain your conclusive negative test result. There are no reasons what so ever to test out to a year.
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Well we have a disagreement with your doctor. I don't know of any situations including yours which would require testing out to beyond six months.
I don't see there is anything more for us to say about the situation. Even when other issues are involved, if you are testing negative at 6 months then you are HIV negative. Period.
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Fully understood guys. Have a great night Thanks for all your help in the past.
Your Cuban friend
Pepe
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OK. Get on with your life, Pepe.
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I'm such freeken idiot. I did something today that is driving me crazy if i could I would kick my own ass. I went and got a elisa test when I should haven't even taken it. I have a autoimmune disorder that from reading can cause false positive. I swear after I get the results I wont even think about this chapter in my life. Not a question but I needed to vent.
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Yeah baby!!!!,!, Negative. Negative . Negative.
God bless all you muchos besos
Pepe
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That's great.
Now how about letting go of this stuff and getting on with your life.