Stressed

[Witsend]

Hi people, I had a risk about 16 weeks ago where I had protected vaginal sex but my penis wasn't erect with a csw. Only penetrated about 5 times. After that she tried to get me erect by inserting her fingers in my anus but she definitely had vaginal secretions on her finger. 8 weeks later I came down with a very bad case of conjunctivitis and very sore throat. My eyes cleared after viral and steroid treatment. During the coarse of my sore throat I took amoxicillin thinking it was bacterial but stopped half way through realizing it may have been viral. After all this I started a coarse of flucloxacillan for a pilonidal sinus on my rectum and three days after that my forehead started peeling revealing a rash which turned out to be seborrhea. Also at the same time I developed what appears to be guttate psoriasis. I had 3 HIV combo tests at 8 12 and 14 weeks all negative but have read that you can be HIV positive but seronegative. My seborrhea is getting worse and psiriosis is no better. Could it be possible I'm one of these people or do you think my results are conclusive? I'm really freaking out. Thanks

[Ann]

Wits,

You are conclusively hiv negative. No surprise there, as you did NOT have a risk for hiv infection.

Being fingered is absolutely not a risk for hiv infection, regardless of what is on the other person's fingers. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering (either way) and you certainly weren't going to be the first.

Protected intercourse is just that - protected against hiv infection. There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

If you continue to feel unwell or have problems with your eyes, see a doctor instead of trying to diagnose yourself. You need to understand that there are other STIs out there that are MUCH more easily transmitted - and both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause conjunctivitis.

Whatever is going on with you has NOTHING to do with hiv. You have conclusively ruled hiv out as a possible cause. The only time a person might be hiv positive but test hiv negative is when they have tested too early in the window period. You have tested outside the window period and you are conclusively hiv negative.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[Witsend]

Thank you for your quick reply Ann. I really am freaking out though as seborrhea is known to affect 90pc of HIV poz people. Also do you know much about seronegative HIV positive incidents? I know you are very knowledgeable on all things HIV and your opinion will put my mind at ease. Is it possible with modern testing or was it only at the start when testing was in its early stages?

[Andy Velez]

Your doubts and fears notwithstanding, seborrhea is not an HIV specific happening. You have reliably tested negative for HIV. You are in fact HIV negative which as Ann has told you is not surprising since you did not have a risk for HIV.

Discuss your skin problem with your doctor if it persists. This is not an HIV situation. Period. 

[Witsend]

Ok thanks for that but do any of you guys have any information on HIV positive seronegative cases? I ask this for the simple reason that you guys know more than I do about HIV. Was it a thing of the past due to testing being not as good back then or is it still happening? Do you guys know of any current cases or is this subject taboo for obvious reasons? I myself and I'm sure other people would like to know aswell. Thank you.

[Ann]

Wits,

What part of YOU DID NOT HAVE A RISK FOR HIV INFECTION did you not understand?

And as I already told you, the only time a person might test negative while actually having been infected with hiv is when they test too early in the window period. This does not apply to you.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.

A six week (or more) negative is highly unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at the three month point (when there has been a risk, you did not have a risk), but is highly unlikely to change.

Stop chasing a virus you do not have and go see a doctor about your problems. Whatever is going on is NOT being cause by hiv - you do NOT have hiv!

Ann