POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: itsalrightma on June 23, 2006, 01:27:18 am

Title: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on June 23, 2006, 01:27:18 am
Hi! Just have a couple questions...i had unprotected vaginal sex in late march, and was tested for HIV at 10.5 weeks...negative. is this conclusive? I have had some irregularities in regard to my health lately..i had bacterial vaginosis 2 months ago, a UTI and yeast infection 2 wks ago, and what I think seems to be another yeast infection.  Also, I had the flu w a sore throat and extremely achy body around the time I had a UTI..maybe this was connected? I think the reason why I had all of these vaginal problems was because that was the first time I ever had unprotected intercourse; maybe the semen altered my vaginal pH.  I also have myself convinced that I have oral thrush (my tongue is a tad whitish, but the doc said it was normal...if it was thrush the doctor would have to diagnose it, correct? also, I am aware that perhaps this could be due to the flagyl i took for the bv) I am, however, quite nervous about maybe these things being connected to HIV and it would be VERY helpful to have some input.  Thank you so much. peace to all.
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Ann on June 23, 2006, 08:05:46 am
itsalright,

Symptoms or the lack of symptoms mean nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Only testing at the correct time will reliably inform you of your hiv status.

An hiv test is not considered conclusive until it is taken at the 12-13 week mark. Although your 10.5 week negative is unlikely to change, you should test again so you can put this behind you.

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 disease.

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.

I fully expect your conclusive test to also come back with negative results.

Ann
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on June 23, 2006, 11:29:58 pm
Thanks for the info.  If I were infected to the point that I was having recurring yeast infections, etc, wouldn't my body already have developed the antibodies to the virus? and therefore I would have tested + at 10.5 weeks if hiv were what was causing these problems?
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Ann on June 24, 2006, 05:47:44 am
itsalright,

Yes, that is an accurate assessment.

Once a woman gets a yeast infection, it is very easy to keep getting them. We all have the organism (candida) that causes yeast infections in and on our bodies all the time. We also have beneficial bacteria that keep candida in check. Things like antibiotic use and changes in the pH levels in your vagina can upset the delicate balance between candida and beneficial bacteria and cause what we call a yeast infection. All I have to do is look at a bottle of antibiotics and I get one - and that's been going on since I was fifteen. It's nothing to do with hiv.

As for your hiv result, it is absolutely unlikely to change. However, I have to stick to the official window period of 12-13 weeks and that is why I suggest to you to get your conclusive test so you can put this behind you with complete confidence. A conclusive negative result will allow you to move on with your life without having a nagging doubt at the back of your mind.

And please, look through those condom and lube links in my signature line. Be sure to check out the bottom three links on the left-hand side of either of those pages. They talk about female condoms and female condoms also protect against hiv infection and very importantly, they give you the control over condom use. I sometimes use them and they're very good. But even if you choose to stick with the traditional male condom, you can make sure your fella is using them properly, so get reading!

Please remember to insist on condoms in the future. You don't want to end up with hiv and condoms will prevent that happening to you.

Ann
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on June 24, 2006, 07:12:20 pm
Alright, I will go get tested again in a week so I'll know for sure.  I've been getting quite a bit of acne on my clavicle/shoulders area...although I'm prone to acne this seems much more than usual.  Can the rash that accompanies hiv infection resemble acne (i.e. whiteheads that can be popped)?
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Ann on June 24, 2006, 07:15:50 pm
itsalright,

The ARS rash does not resemble acne is any way. It also does not itch.

I'm sure you are going to be alright. Just get that conclusive negative so there is no doubt in your mind about your status. Hiv is nothing to guess about.

And please remember the condoms in future!

Ann
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on June 28, 2006, 09:53:08 pm
So I went yesterday to get my conclusive test (13 wks), but they wouldnt give it to me! (and wasnt it national hiv testing day?! hmph!) They said I had to wait another 3 months for another one...So i went and got the home access test, and it went well, but i have some questions...they come with 2 lancets with which you are supposed to prick yourself...the first one worked but I didn't bleed enough to fill in the circle that the blood is dropped on...so I went to use the second one, but it didn't work! So I dipped a needle in alcohol and had to puncture my skin a few more times in order to collect sufficient blood.  Would this affect the test in any way?  I hope it wouldn't give me a false positive...blood collected is blood collected, right? regardless of the way it was obtained? (as long as it was steril)...thanks! ill be back on in three days w my result!
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Ann on June 29, 2006, 05:10:46 am
itsalright,

That won't make a difference to your result.

I would imagine that you were refused a test yesterday because you recently tested negative and they put you into a new window period - not an extended one. I would take that to mean they think you are hiv negative and there is no point in testing again - until the end of a new window period. When people test regularly as a matter of routine, there is no point in testing more than once every three months. You have to draw the line somewhere on the routine deal, although for the majority of people, once or twice a year is sufficient unless they are regularly having unprotected intercourse.

Ann
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on July 04, 2006, 11:09:40 pm
negative. thanks for the  patience, ann.
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: itsalrightma on September 14, 2006, 01:33:25 am
ok. My yeast infections will NOT go away. it's aggravating.  I had a 13.5 week negative, but i have had constant yeast infections and body achiness with fever.  Those are my only 'symptoms'.  I know my test was conclusive, but my doctor says these problems really point towards hiv and he wants me to take another test. blah, just when i was all stoked not to have it.  seroconversion symptoms would have stopped and not been constant, correct? because the yeast infections! (gotta love being a woman  :-\) also, yeast infections wouldnt happen right away, right? I read somewhere it takes awhile before those kinda infections happen due to hiv.  and since ive had all this stuff going on, i would have tested positive, yes?  my doctor has tested me for all kinds of things and is really pushing this... but i think im ok. input?
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Matty the Damned on September 14, 2006, 01:35:48 am
Get another doctor.

Your 13.5 week test is conclusive. Many people who do not have HIV suffer from yeast and other fungal infections. Such infections are not uncommon nor are they specific to HIV.

MtD
Title: Re: 10.5 week conclusive?
Post by: Ann on September 14, 2006, 05:25:11 am
its,

I agree with Matty. Get another doctor's opinion.

You may also consider seeing a nutritionist. Persistent yeast infections in women can often be kept going by a diet high in sugars and processed foods. Not all doctors agree with this, but many women do find relief through dietary changes.

There is also the possibility that if you are having unprotected intercourse with your boyfriend, that he has an overgrowth of yeast in his urethra and keeps passing it back to you. There is also the possibility that if you are having intercourse with condoms, that you are actually sensitive to latex. The itching and burning this sensitivity can cause can be mistaken for the start of another yeast infection. If you are using condoms with spermicide, you might also be sensitive to the spermicide.

You have conclusively ruled hiv out of the picture. Good luck exploring other avenues to deal with your - very common in hiv negative women - persistent yeastie beastie problems.

Ann