POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: uhondo on December 09, 2013, 09:05:25 am
-
Greetings Poz forum-ers,
One never really knows where one can end up in life. My journey started early last month, Nov. 1 to be precise, when after slight inebriation, i had an unprotected encounter with a girl i had known for ~4 years; we'd never been intimate before...not once! I do not know her status. It really sucks because i was inside her for ~2 minutes, after which i recognized my error and rushed to the shower to wash my member (and thereafter also took a long piss.) She slept over but we did nothing for the rest of the night. Seven or so days later, i developed a sensitive stomach. I was passing soft stool at least once a day. There was also some feeling of discomfort/dull ache in my upper tummy.
Exactly three weeks post-exposure 11/24, due to the intense anxiety i was having about the whole issue, i decided to go to the hospital for tests. I explained it all to the doc on duty, who explained to me that i had to retest ~3 months in order to be certain. Nonetheless, we performed the rapid test (i had an negative hiv result), but was warned that i had to retest again in 3 months to be certain. I am now 5 weeks past exposure and still awaiting ARS, if it hasn't already happened without my knowledge (as indicated by the irritable stomach and bowel movement oscillating between constipation and soft stools). I realize that ARS can be mild, severe or even absent.
I am posting here hoping for a couple of answers (or advice):
a) I know you moderators repeatedly tell forum-ers that only a test can decisively confirm (or rule out disease), but i wonder what additional insight, if any, you can offer me at this point?
I have read a couple of your posts where you advise to test at a minimum of 6 weeks. This is my sixth week and i am yet to weigh whether its worth it to test towards the end of this week, and retest again after 3 months. Or should i just remain patient until 3 months elapses...
I will appreciate any insights regarding my case.
Thanks
-
The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. Most who are infected will test positive by 6 weeks. For various reasons a small number will take longer and that is why we follow the CDC recommendation to test at 3 months for a conclusive negative result.
You did have a risk and will need to test in the time frame I referenced above . Your risk was a lower risk on the scale of risk due to the short duration and you being the insertive partner but low risk does not mean no risk and that why you must test .
Your symptoms are not specific to HIV and could be from anything other . The only way to know your status is to test at the appropriate time . Its your choice to test at 6 weeks or just wait for 3 months for a conclusive result, you should expect a negative test .
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 STDs 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!
-
Hello Jeff, thank you for your response.
I wanted to post an update regarding my case. It has now been 8 weeks post-exposure and so i decided to follow your recommendation to retest after the 6 week mark. I had a rapid ELISA test today that returned a NEGATIVE result. It was quite a nerve wracking wait for the result.
I know i must retest at the 3 month mark but i was wondering, based on your experience, what you would say my prospects are at the 3 month mark. Also, my tummy has not settled down despite all bowel tests being clear.
Hope i have not forgotten to ask anything else since i realize i may only be allowed to post once more.
Thanks to all the forum-ers and moderators.
-
Its rare for a negative 6 week test to go on the be positive after the 3 month mark so you should expect a negative result when you retest .
I haven't seen a 6 week change so you are doing great and I am confident that you do not have HIV and the results at 3 months will confirm it . Best of luck .
-
Thank you for your curt response.
As one can imagine, the recent result, while slighly calming to me, did not alleviate most of my concern. I have a couple more questions which i'm hoping any one of you moderators can answer:
1. If the tummy issues (diarhea-like stools, dull ache, no appetite etc.) were due to ARS, would my 8 week negative test result have been any different?
2. As far as you are aware, are there many recorded instances of an 8 week negative changing at the 3 month mark?
3. Is there any benefit (other than reassurance) of me retesting before the 3 month mark? In 3 or so weeks?
My mind is having a tough time settling. I know that ONLY another test will tell me the truth but i'm just looking for some reassurance.
Thanks
-
1. If the tummy issues (diarhea-like stools, dull ache, no appetite etc.) were due to ARS, would my 8 week negative test result have been any different?
Its unlikely your negative test will change and you are not experiencing ARS this late in the game with a negative result . You symptoms could be caused from many other things than HIV so the important thing is the negative HIV test . If you are sick go see your doctor and see what's wrong .
2. As far as you are aware, are there many recorded instances of an 8 week negative changing at the 3 month mark?
The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. Most who are infected will test positive by 6 weeks. For various reasons a small number will take longer and that is why we follow the CDC recommendation to test at 3 months for a conclusive negative result.
Its rare for a 6 week negative test to change so you should expect a negative result at 3 months .
3. Is there any benefit (other than reassurance) of me retesting before the 3 month mark? In 3 or so weeks?
There is no benefit to testing outside of the testing period window period because it must be confirmed at 3 months anyway so I would suggest waiting .
-
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for taking the trouble to respond. I am still awaiting the 12 week test, i roughly have 3 more weeks. On a separate note, i just came from the hospital after a night of anxiety and a decision to run a 9 week test.....i know you advised otherwise
Anyhow, after a litany from the doctor about window periods and other statistics about HIV testing, my doctor politely declined to run a 9 week ELISA, arguing that since i tested only a week ago it would make zero difference. He wouldn't budge. He sent me away with some anti-anxiety meds and told me he won't see me again about the same issue before 3 weeks elapses. With relation to window periods and all, i would have sworn he had poz.com open on his computer as he said it word for word.
Jeff, i can't put aside the nervousness and that is why i had to run a subscription, just to have someone to talk to and share with.
-
Uhondo,
The doctor said the same thing about the window period as we do because THAT'S THE SCIENTIFIC TRUTH OF THE MATTER. Do you think we make things up here? We don't. We give you the facts.
And the fact is, in your case, that your six week negative result is HIGHLY UNLIKELY to change when you test at the three month point.
If you continue to feel unwell, see a doctor. Whatever is going on has NOTHING to do with hiv.
Please don't think that because you took out a subscription that you'll be able to continually post about this situation. There's nothing further we can tell you, you're just going to have to suck it up and wait for your three month confirmation.
Ann
-
Ann is correct, there is nothing more to add than what we provided already .
Your doctor is a wise man and did whats best for you because indulging your anxiety by over testing is not going to help you one bit . This is a tough time for you but the tough time has an expiration date and that date is when you test conclusively HIV negative next time .
Take your anxiety meds and focus on something other than surfing the web and obsessing over this incident . Best of luck .
-
Thanks Jeff and Ann,
I'm not insinuating that i now have carte blanche to post continually about this matter. I merely had an update but i couldn't share as i had exhausted my quota. With regard to my test, Ann is correct -you both are- about having to 'suck it up' and waiting the full length of the period. My doctor thought so too!
-
Uhondo,
I wasn't insinuating that you were insinuating anything about your ability to continue posting about this matter. I've just seen it too many times where a person thinks a subscription gives them that right to post excessively when there's nothing further to add from our end.
I fully expect you to continue to test negative over this specific situation and you should too. Get busy with other things while you wait out the rest of your window period and the time will go much faster than you may imagine.
And by the way, I hope you also tested for all the other, MUCH more easily transmitted STIs as well. You're much more likely to have picked up something like chlamydia (and you may not even have any symptoms) than you were to have picked up hiv.
Ann
-
Good day Jeff,
Thanks for taking time to help out in the forum (thanks to other moderators too.)
I have been combing the forum just to see and try to understand others experiences. I note that many times you say that "you haven't seen a 6 week result change at the 12 mark" and wonder whether one of the reasons may be that many posters never return to report the result of their conclusive test? I noted that for one reason or another (sometimes due to the posting limits), guys post a couple of times but never return with their final update. Please bear with me as i don't mean to be obnoxious, just seeking some clarification.
Other guys, Ann, Andy, Mecch etc. please feel free to chime in
Thank you.
-
Uhondo,
I wasn't insinuating that you were insinuating anything about your ability to continue posting about this matter. I've just seen it too many times where a person thinks a subscription gives them that right to post excessively when there's nothing further to add from our end.
I fully expect you to continue to test negative over this specific situation and you should too. Get busy with other things while you wait out the rest of your window period and the time will go much faster than you may imagine.
And by the way, I hope you also tested for all the other, MUCH more easily transmitted STIs as well. You're much more likely to have picked up something like chlamydia (and you may not even have any symptoms) than you were to have picked up hiv.
Ann
Ann said it best . We are not going to go endless rounds answering questions . Stop reading the forum and take our advice about not obsessing over this . You anxiety level is not going to abate if you scour the internet reading about HIV .
We have done all we can for you so please read your thread again if you need reassurance . There is nothing more to add or say that we haven't been over already .
-
Hello Jeff and Co.,
I trust you are well. I would like to add an update that this afternoon i managed to convince the doc. to perform another antibody ELISA at 10 weeks post exposure and that was NEGATIVE too (i know you advised otherwise but anxiety got the best of me, even despite anxiety meds.) I then asked my Dr. about the need to retest at 12 weeks and he gave me his honest opinion as a medical practitioner that he does not think the remaining 2 weeks will make any difference, and also that i should put this behind me and go on with my life. His sentiments EXACTLY echo yours (And Ann's.)
Here's what i'd appreciate some insight on:
A) Can i put this whole episode behind me now once and for all? Yeah, i know the CDC guidelines but what is YOUR take following this latest result? I have reread your responses many times but i'd appreciate some final advise especially because i intend to take this latest test as CONCLUSIVE.
Thank you lots Jeff.
-
I'd say that if you are going to continue to worry and doubt, why not re-test at 3 months, collect the inevitable negative result and then get on with your life? It's up to you to decide.
-
I'd say that if you are going to continue to worry and doubt, why not re-test at 3 months, collect the inevitable negative result and then get on with your life? It's up to you to decide.
This ^^^
-
Andy and Jeff,
You couldn't be more succint. All i can say for now is that i intend to have a good night's sleep tonight.
-
Update. You were all correct (of course you were!) My test result did not change at 12 weeks. I actually had to goad the doctor to test me as he did not think it necessary. I suppose there's no need to test out to 6 months and i wish to put this episode behind me.
Thanks for all your words of encouragement and i wish you all well and great health! I'll sure miss you guys......sob
Take care.
-
Another satisfied customer ;) . You are welcome !