POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: ToWorryorNotToWorry on May 11, 2013, 10:31:39 pm
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Hi, I'm having trouble dealing with this..overly obsessive, scared, anxious, and stressed. I kindly ask for a little insight..
My risk: brief (15 seconds) unprotected receptive oral without ejaculation (me on him). Possible risk factors: canker sores (me), HIV+ (him) and recently diagnosed (maybe higher VL, maybe not), large amount of precum (him). Also had unprotective insertive oral (but I know that is not a real risk). I've read so many conflicting opinions on this risk...1/10,000, 1/2,500, etc all the way to 3-8% of all newly diagnosed (by self-report) I don't know what to think.
Negative Tests so far: Rapid AB Uni-Gold at Days 15, 17. Rapid AB at Day. Neg. RNA PCR Quant. (<48). Rapid Uni-Gold at Day 38. Rapid Clearview AB at Day 51.
Possible symptoms: Days ~31-36: fatigue, chills, body aches (also sneezes/nasal congestion). No fever, diarrhea, night sweats, rashes, etc. or similar.
I've read too much research. I could think about the risks forever. I know official conclusive test is at 3 months, but help me please put this in perspective as I get there. There is a lot of misinformation out there...for example, the reliability of the Rapid Tests I've read is actually closer to a lab EIA 2nd gen I've learned (maybe only about 80% accurate at 6-8 weeks) so when I read 50% at 2 weeks, 75% at 3, and 95% at 4, I think that may be true for laboratory 3rd/4th gen tests, but not for the rapids.
How much stock can I take in any of these tests together before more? Thank you so very much.
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You didn't have a risk and can count your rapid test as conclusive proof that you are HIV negative . Your saliva contains proteins and enzymes that damage HIV and render it unable to infect . There have been no fewer than three separate serodiscordant couples studies (where one person is HIV positive, the other negative.) These couples were tracked for three. five and ten years. The couples used condoms for penetrative vaginal and anal sex, but NO BARRIER at all for oral sex. Any kind of oral sex.
These studies yielded NO infections.
We do not discuss symptoms because they are not specific to HIV and could be any one of thousands of conditions . Its also too much to factor in as to give percentages or odds at how much of a risk a situation is because a risk is a risk and no risk is of course , not a risk .
The only way to know if you are HIV positive is to test and you have done that and it was negative . If you aren't already having regular, routine checkups, 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 STD's 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!
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Thank you for your reply---
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Im not sure why you chose to edit out your questions ... We use the latest science when doing risk assessment and also rely on our years of experience in dealing with HIV .
Our goal is to give up to date information that can assist in prevention as well as getting people tested and into treatment when necessary . Accurate information about how HIV is acquired and treated also helps in the fight against stigma . In other words if we thought you had a risk we would not hesitate to say so .
There is allot of old out of date information about HIV on the internet and the CDC is slow to update its information as well but I really don't like to comment on what other sites say , instead I offer that we stand behind our assessments .
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Im not sure why you chose to edit out your questions ... We use the latest science when doing risk assessment and also rely on our years of experience in dealing with HIV .
Our goal is to give up to date information that can assist in prevention as well as getting people tested and into treatment when necessary . Accurate information about how HIV is acquired and treated also helps in the fight against stigma . In other words if we thought you had a risk we would not hesitate to say so .
There is allot of old out of date information about HIV on the internet and the CDC is slow to update its information as well but I really don't like to comment on what other sites say , instead I offer that we stand behind our assessments .
I am just quoting moderator Jeff so you understand that this forum is not at all equipped to handle the level of irrational phobia your posts illustrate.
Receptive oral sex is considered safer sex here. Nothing but sex with your own hand, alone, is SAFE sex. But oral sex has time and again been disproven as a viable method of HIV transmission.
I sincerely hope that the OP continues therapy in his efforts to rid himself of these irrational thoughts. I do not for a moment believe that rational discourse can penetrate irrational ideology. This forum simply cannot support such a discourse.