POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: scarednm on September 18, 2006, 09:40:24 pm
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I am very worried about whether or not I might have contracted hiv. I am a straight man that met with a random woman one night. heres what happened.
- Kissed for a few minutes
- Fingered her for a few minutes
- oral sex performed on me
- oral sex on her outside of her vagina for under a minute
one week later I had a cold sore (went away), at two weeks I had a white tongue (went away after testing), tested - with a home testing kit at 4 weeks (non FDA approved), at almost 6 weeks I am still very worried and I have had diarehha for the past couple of days. Also, felt a little tired. Please help with any feedback!
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scared,
Nothing you list is a risk for hiv infection. Please read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the Transmission Lesson link so you can gain a better understanding of how hiv is and isn't spread.
If you want to avoid hiv infection, here's what you need to do:
You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.
Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.
If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.
Use condoms for intercourse and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.
Ann
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Thanks Ann,
I feel better after reading your reply, just a couple other questions, I was terrified (wasnt sleeping good, drinking myself to sleep, and it was all I could think about) could this have caused symptoms? also, how accurate are the non-fda approved tests like the one I took?
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Eventhough you said you used a non-FDA approved test, it doesn't matter. You didn't have a risk.
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1. You were not at risk for HIV in the situation you are concerned about. Period. End of story.
2. Why in the world would you ever use a non-FDA approved test? They are easy enough to obtain from any number of sources. In any case the issue is irrelevant in this case because you weren't at risk.
3. You should be discussing your symptoms with a doctor if any are still troubling you.
4. Neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms will ever tell you anything accurately about your HIV status. If there is a genuine risk, which there wasn't in this case, the only way to know your status accurately is to get tested at 13 weeks past the most recent risky incident.
Clear?
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Thanks for the help, I feel stupid that I worried myself to death over this. I think the point is that you should always be careful.
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sorry to chiime in again, just wanted to clarify, is going down on a girl risky (which I mentioned that I did), I have seen in other forums that you say it is? I am still feeling a little scared about the situation, still having mild diarehha, feeling tired, and not feeling like myself. please help with any feedback!
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No, except for some STDs.
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This is not an HIV situation.
If you're having troubling symptoms go see your doctor.
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Hey Guys Back Again,
I am sorry to bother you guys, I did not mention that the woman I was with had a pierced lip (and I think that she had slept with a lot of people), does this matter? I never had any of these symtoms before and I have read that a cold sore and white tongue is cause by a attack of the immune system, also still feeling really tired and itcy. Please, what could cause these symtoms, they seem like hiv????
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NO that doesn't matter. You didn't have a risk for HIV and HIV does not have specific symptoms. See your doctor if your symptoms persist. They are not HIV related.
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Rapid Rod,
Man you guys rock, I promise I will not bother you again, I am just a hypochondriac. I think once I realize I am ok I will feel better
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Pierced lip, schmeerzed lip. Your mind is just working overtime with scary thoughts that have no basis in HIV science. No kidding.
You weren't at risk.
It's not surprising you have been having those symptoms when you have been so stressed. Of course check them out with a doctor to be sure about anything else as a cause, but stress can wreak all kinds of hell with your immune system.
Thankfully, this is not an HIV situation.
Cheers,
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hello.
i am a 27 year old male, about eight weeks ago i had oral sex with a prostitute and she also performed oral on me. since then i have had symptom that i have not had before including fever, dry mouth, and fatigue which i looked up on-line and saw that they were all possible hiv symptoms! now i am a little scared. was i at risk for hiv? second, I have actually gained about 5-7 pounds since then, would this be possible if i had recently acquired the disease?
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For starters, read the lessons in the opening link in this section on Transmission and Testing. You'll get all the basics there that you need.
Receiving oral is absolutely no risk for HIV transmission and giving oral to a woman is more theoretically risky than in actuality. The lessons will fill you in on the specifics.
Neither a weight gain nor a weight loss would ever tell you anything accurately about your HIV status, nor would the presence or absence of any other symptoms. If you ever had a genuinely risky incident such as intercourse without using a condom, then taking an ELISA HIV test at 13 weeks is how you definitively know your HIV status. Hopefully you will always use condoms for intercourse whether you are with a professional or a civilian so you won't have that worry.
This time out thee is no cause for concern. But read those lessons. This epidemic is going to be around for a longtime to come and no one can afford to be ignorant about HIV.
Cheers,
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worried1,
Can I ask why you are using different usernames while posting to our forums? Thus far, you have also used scarednm (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=4003.0)
Please realize that this kind of activity is disrespectful of other forum members, as well as our moderators. People spend a considerable amount of time helping others in these forums. Using multiple accounts is at the very least annoying, if not deceiving and disrespectful of others. It is also against our Terms of Membership (http://forums.poz.com/Terms.htm) which you agreed to when you became a member. This information is also contained within the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), which you should have read by now. So really, you have no excuse.
You must realize that the answers won't change, no matter how many names you post under.
I would appreciate a reply to this message, and I hope you will commit to using just one account - preferably your original one. If not, you will be banned from further access to the forums.
Ann
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wow, you guys got me. i am a little embarrased. the fact is that i am experiencing changes in my body that i cannot explain and i am very scared. i know that something is effecting me and when i came to this site all i hear is that you are ok even though there has been documented cases of indviduals that were affected in the same way. i hope you guys are right and will be taking another test, by the way, never get headaches and have had really bad ones lately, also my cold sore has healed a little but has been here for about three weeks. please forgive me, and still talk to me, it wont happen again. thank you so much for your help!!!
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scworried,
I've merged your two threads and disabled your second account. Stick to your original username from now on or you WILL be banned, no questions asked. Got that?
i am experiencing changes in my body that i cannot explain
Maybe that's because you are not a doctor. If you're worried about your body, go see a doctor. You are not qualified to diagnose yourself and we can't diagnose you either.
Getting a blowjob is not a risk for hiv infection, as you have been repeatedly told. As long as you haven't been having unprotected intercourse with anyone - and I mean anyone, not just sex workers - then there's no reason at all to believe you are hiv positive. Go read my first response to you again. And again, until it sinks in.
Ann
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Guys,
Thanks for your patience, you guys have been more than helpful, i know you ruled out blowjobs and kissing but I never got a real clarfication on going down on her, what would have to happen for hiv to occur, and how rare would this actually be? Also how many people actuall show symtoms that have hiv, and is dry mouth/white tongue common within a couple weeks, these are the only symptoms that have been driving me crazy about if i was infected, they both went away after about a week.
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It's so rare, it has never happened. Again you haven't had a risk.
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To the guy who had the white tongue and the diarrhea... those are also symptoms of stress, which results from excessive worrying! Worrying weakens your immune system, which could be why you got a cold sore. There are lots of explanations for your symptoms. When I'm really worried I don't sleep well and don't eat well, get the runs, dry mouth, bad breath, itchy skin, etc. Those have been my stress symptoms since I was a kid. Now I'm stressing about my own HIV scare (I was with a guy for 4 months who turns out to be a manipulating liar who was in rehab hospital last year and slept with a "questionable" woman who was also hospitalized for drugs. He doesn't shoot up (only pills, alcohol, and a psychotic break after attempted suicide), but I don't know if the woman did). Anyway, I'm freaked out about this, but I see that SO many other people are just as freaked out as I am. AIDS is one of the scariest things I can think of. So my stress symptoms are back and I got an HIV test today. I'll feel much better in a few days when the results come back (well, assuming that they're negative, which God I hope they are!)
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Bean, please keep all you thoughts and questions in your own thread.
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wow, i hope that bean is right, are all of my "symptoms" usually caused by stress, how many poelple actually get these specific symptoms during ARS. Thanks
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Rapid?
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Scared,
Nothing that you have brought to this forum, including the oral each way, has been a risk for hiv infection.
Stress can cause all sorts of symptoms to crop up. It's also possible for you to get other sexually transmitted infections in your mouth/throat such as herpes or gonorrhea, but NOT hiv. If you're worried about your mouth, go see a doctor or dentist. Whatever is going on has NOTHING to do with hiv.
Ann
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back again, i know you guys have told me that i have no risk, i believe you but want to take one more test to be sure, i am going to receive another non fda approved test i got on-line, i tested negative the first time with it at 4 weeks, it would be eight weeks when it this time. my question is how accurate are they, they claim to be 99.9%. please dont tell me i am stupid for doing this.
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How accurate would a non FDA approved test be. Who would no, but since you don't need to be tested to begin with it doesn't really matter now, does it?
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how accurate would a FDA test be at eight weeks?
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It would me pretty accurate.
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scared,
From what I understand, the non-approved test available over the internet is one that returns a lot of false positives. Since you didn't name the test kit, I can't be sure on that. But buying a non-approved test is throwing your money away. Next time you get the urge to do that, throw it my way instead, ok?
If you can't bring yourself to believe us that you had no risk, you might as well wait for the three month point and get your conclusive answer then. Of course, from our perspective any test you take will be conclusive as you didn't have a risk, but it's your money and your life.
Just don't be surprised when you get your negative result.
Ann
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would you suggest not even using it, I have not felt sick at all and never got a fever or swollen lymth nodes, it seems the symptoms I had were from stress and I have not lost any weight but gained a couple of pounds, the test is the one were it has two lines a "C" and "T" if they both turn pick it means positive, also the test also claims to be 99.9% accurate.
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scared,
The test you describe is the one I had in mind when I said they have a high rate of false positives. If I were you, I would throw it in the trash where it belongs. I think the FDA has tried several times to shut this company down, but it would seem they're still in business. ~shrug~
Symptoms or even the LACK of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv - and I'm telling you that for future reference only as you didn't have a risk to begin with. You don't need to test at all.
If you insist on testing, go to the HIV testing center database (http://www.hivtest.org/index.htm), enter your zip code and find an anonymous testing center near you. Stop messing around with unreliable tests.
The bottom line here is that you haven't had a risk, you don't need to test and if you do, you will test negative.
Go forth and use condoms for intercourse.
Ann
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Rapid, Ann, and Andy. Thank you sooo much for your help, went and got a rapid test today and it came back NEGATIVE! I THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING ALL OF MY QUESTIONS!! I never knew that stress could cause so many symtoms to the point where you think that you are sick. Again, thank you so much if it wasnt for you guys I would have went crazy!
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ok back again >:(, i thought it was over, i tested (-) with the home kit i bought on line at 7 weeks (thought 8, but was wrong). I am now having really bad headaches again, i read this can have during seroconversion??? anyway, please tell me that i should not be scared still. thanks
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Give it up. You did not have a risk, so there will be no seroconversion, no matter what you think.
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so could you honestly tell me something, considering fingering, kissing, and oral both ways, what would acually be the chances of getting infected?
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Zero, nilch.. You won't be getting infected from the situation you described.
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rapid, how accurate are the orasure oral test at arounf eight weeks??
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Accurate as the others. Which you still would not be conclusive until your 12/13 week results.
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so there would be achance of a negateive at eight weeks and a positive at twelve??
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I have never seen it happen. It's just that the CDC says, three months. It is more or less a CYA protocol.
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ok, i oredered an oraquik oral test on-line, i will take it at eight weeks. if it is negative would you still suggest me testing again?? (i know that you said i dont have a risk, but i want to have conclusive results so I can live my life again)
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If it will settle your mind, test conclusively at 3 months..
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there is no other test that can be conclusive before 3 months??
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scared,
It doesn't really matter when you test, it will be conclusive as you didn't have a risk. You have to actually have a risk of infection before you can become infected.
Ann
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Ann,
I understand that you are probably tired of answering my questions, i dont blame you, i just want to be able to have a clear mind and know that I have nothing to worry about, i am going to take the orasure oral test I ordered on-line and I will test again at 12-13 weeks, just wanted to know how accurate the orasure oral was because I believe on the site I ordered it from said it should be reliable after 28 days, is this probably true for someone that would have had a high risk?? heres the link.
http://home-hiv-tests.com/
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scared,
The ONLY hiv test kit that is approved for home use is the Home Access test. The Orasure test should only be administered by someone who is trained in their use.
And before you ask, no, I don't know why someone is selling them over the internet. Anything for a buck if they can find someone silly enough to buy.
Ann
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are these test hard to perform on yourself??
also , if you dont mind me asking (if this is out of line please tell me and please do not answer) have you and your husband (who I believe is (-) ever worry about using a condom for oral sex if these is no risk? and obviously you kiss, this would acually prove to me that my one encounter was like you all have tried to tell me NOT A RISKY SITUATION, thank you
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scared,
We do not use a barrier for any type of oral sex. We've been together for over seven years and he remains hiv negative. We only use condoms for intercourse.
The problem with the home tests - other than Home Access which has to be sent away for analysis - is not so much in giving the test, but interpreting the result. You'd be best off not bothering with it.
You'd be better off going to the HIV testing center database (http://www.hivtest.org/index.htm) where you enter your zip code to find a testing center near you. You most likely can find an anonymous, free testing center near you.
But this does NOT change the fact that you didn't have a risk.
Ann
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Ann thank you so much for answering such a personal question :), you guys have done more than enough!!!
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"There have been studies of serodiscordant couples and in the couples who used condoms for intercourse, but no barrier for any type of oral, not one of the negative partners became infected. Not one.", Ann I got this off a thread that I read, is this true? Where could you research this? Is this is true then why is it all over the internet that oral sex is risky and scaring the hell out of half the people that post here? (Including myself) Anyway, thought this was very interesting. Thanks
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scared,
Yes, it's true about the studies. If you'd bothered to read the Welcome thread like I asked you to when you first came here, you would have also read the Transmission Lesson where these studies are mentioned.
The only explanation I can offer you as to why other sites continue to scare monger is that they have a religious and/or moral agenda. We do not. We stick to the science here and leave the moral judgements to others.
Ann
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so with my risks, are you telling me that i would be one of the first to be infected with the following symptoms (which I originally posted)
- Kissed for a few minutes
- Fingered her for a few minutes
- oral sex performed on me
- oral sex on her outside of her vagina for under a minute
Thanks!!!!!!!!
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52 posts and you keep asking the same questions over and over again. YOU DID NOT HAVE A RISK, ok, that's enough.
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dude im sorry, but i still been feeling a little sick and my lymth nodes under my jaw and behind my ears seem to be bothering me!!! ??? ???
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Again you didn't have a risk. If you have swollen nodes go visit a doctor because it is unrelated to HIV.
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im going to finally test with the western blot, i have all the symptoms that i have never had, my lympth nodes are swollen worse than ever, still have a little white tongue, cant sleep, HEADACHES like never before, flu like symptoms, i am so itchy all over, and i have dandruff (which i have never had???) WOW, you guys claim it cant happen from my risk factors (which i am not lying about!!!!!!!!!), but im telling you if i test negative i will be completely shocked,what else could be my symptoms??????????/ ??? ??? ??? ???
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You did not have a risk and I don't understand why you would go to a doctor and the doctor would give you a Western Blot test. If you gave a doctor the information you have given here and then the symptoms you gave. NO doctor would do an Western Blot test on you.
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Scared, it's time to call a halt here with you as far as HIV is concerned.
As you have been told repeatedly, you were not at risk. So every way you work it to come back in with another quest for reassurance is really not addressing whatever is driving your fear.
If you have ongoing physical problems you need to discuss them with your doctor.
If you can't let go of this totally unwarranted fear about HIV then you should see a therapist or other mental health professional and discuss the emotional aspects of the situation. Perhaps you have some feelings about the sexual act itself or other circumstances related to it. Whatever it is, this is not the place for sorting that out.
We can't help you with that and you have already gotten whatever we can provide you with here.
This is NOT and HIV situation.
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setting my last hiv test up this week, it is at an advanced hiv testing center using the 3rd generation micro-ELISA, how accurate will this test be around 8-9 weeks, by the way still having that damned white tongue?????????????
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oh and also fatigue, diarehha, and ithy skin, these symptoms are off and on just really wondering what the hell is up with this on going white tongue??????????//
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scared,
If you're worried about your tongue, go show it to your doctor or dentist. We cannot diagnose what's going on with you here.
What we CAN tell you is that you didn't have a risk of hiv infection in what you brought to us. You are seriously in danger of being given a four week time out for continually posting over a no risk event. A time out will encourage you to go get the face-to-face doctor appointment you need.
You did NOT have a risk of hiv infection.
Ann
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Ann,
I am really sorry for the multiple posts but did not get the last answer i posted about testing answered (nothing about my risks). I have an appointment set up tomorrow at a real clinic (no home test) I will be taking the 3rd Generation Elisa test, just wanted to know how accurate this would be at 2 months?? just want to be sure! Thank You and I will not post again until I get my results
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For you it will be conclusive. You did not have a risk.
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scared,
If you ever have a REAL risk, such as unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, then a conclusive result can only be had at three months - and it doesn't matter at three months what the generation is.
However, as you did NOT have a risk, any test you take at any time WILL be conclusive.
And I've still got my finger on the time out button. Post anything other than your test result and you'll have one.
Ann
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Ann,
Got my results today and just like you said they were negative, i feel like an ass for posting so many times and wasting your time. THANK YOU so much for putting up with me. I am very thankful I had someone to listen to me (I am a new college graduate in a new town where I know NOBODY) again, thank you, Rapid, and Andy.
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sorry but no response :(, I should be negative right?
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scared,
You are conclusively negative and we didn't need a test result to tell us that. You had no risk to begin with.
Ann
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hello,
one LAST question I PROMISE, would the 3rd gen at two months be accurate for anybody even if they had a high rsik? would drinking alcohol cause a false positive since it can hurt thr immune system as well. Thanks WONT POST AGAIN IF THIS IS ANSWERED
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You did not have a risk, and any test at anytime would be conclusive for you.
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sorry, just wanted the question answered ???
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also, who fits in the category of a late seroconvertor?
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Long time IV drug users, people on chemo, people who take anti-rejection drugs for transplants and people that are immuno suppressed.
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thanks Rod for clarifying, you are the man!
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would this be the group that doesnt seroconvert after 4-6 weeks?
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This would be the cause of some not converting at that time frame and would need to be extended longer.
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sorry, but could this be a normal person who is healthy, but for some reason seroconcerts later, has this happened before?
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The answer is no. It doesn't happen to healthy individuals.
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thanks man
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Finally going to get one more last test results to be sure nest week (3 1/2 months later), had a rash on my upper thigh for a few weeks thats caused me to do so? any suggestions what this might be?
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scared,
A rash could be anything. See your doctor.
Ann
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Thanks, really scared to get my results back but after 15 1/2 weeks these results would be conclusive right? I am using the Home Access Hiv-1 test I bought on-line. Thank you
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???
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scared,
Of course it's conclusive. Anything past 12-13 weeks is conclusive - and you never had a risk in the first place. Don't be too shocked when your home access returns another negative result.
Ann
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i just read your posts and wondering how u feel?
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stressed,
If you have an hiv concern, you need to start your own thread. Posting questions in someone else's thread is condsidered thread hijacking and we do not encourage that practice here. We also do not encourage symptom hunting, which is what I have a feeling you are trying to do.
Before you start your own thread, please read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), take note of our posting guidelines and follow the link to the Transmission Lesson. If you still have questions after doing all that, feel free to ask - in your own thread.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Ann
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Just as Ann said, my results were negative. Thank you for your help :)