Could I have HIV?

[SwimKing]

I've been donating plasma since april 4th, 2013 about 4 or 5 times with my last donation being on May 10th, 2013. I donated all those times without problems. On May 17th, 2013 I tried to go again and was denied. I was asked to sit down and wait for a nurse to speak to me. I do opiate based narcotics recreationally, I'm afraid such a statement might get me kicked off this forum however it's a crucial part of the situation and I can't leave out this fact. I was afraid they would say something about that so I left, which was utterly stupid thinking back but at the time I panicked. Today, May 20th, 2013 I received two confidential letters from the plasma center both did not say what the diagnosis was only that they request that I come in to speak to them in person, both letters state that 1 of the lab screenings showed an abnormal result. Both letters were hand signed with the date May 17th, 2013. I don't know if they were two separate results or I got two letters for the same thing by mistake.

I can think of only one instance where I could have possibly been infected and that was in the middle of March of 2013, meaning it has only been 2 months. On my first visit April 4th they took a blood sample to be sent to a lab and told me the results would be back in 2-4 weeks. I was not contacted until now. I know I should just go in and see what they say or get a hiv test and I plan to do so however my appointments for both are not until next week and I really need to speak to someone about this now. Members of this forum I feel would be more help than people I know. I know there is a possibility I'm hiv positive but my question is do you guys "think" that's the case? Could it be they really did detect the drugs in my system as I know they specifically test for opiates. If I was HIV+ I think they would have contacted me sooner, I got no phone call from them. Maybe another condition such as hepatitis? What do you guys think?

[jkinatl2]

Honestly, this is situation where a blood test for HIV would be appropriate.

And no, no one has ever gotten kicked off this site for admitting to use opiates. Not going to happen.

But I understand and share your concern. Now it's up to you to follow up. As it has only been two months since the last possible exposure, any test you get will be considered "all but" definitive, yet only a test at three months will meet the current "gold standard."

If you need to seek out a testin facility (assuming you don't have access to an over the counter test) you can look here:

http://www.poz.com/hiv_testing.shtml

There's a place where you can enter your location and be shown the nearest HIV testing facilities.

I would honestly go that route first, rather than use your primary physician. Then you can decide how to use that information as you go forward, either with or without an HIV diagnosis.

[Ann]

Swim,

As Jonathan said, mentioning opiate use - or any other kind of drug use - is not going to get you kicked out of here. The only time drug use will directly result in a banning is when that drug use causes a person to be repeatedly abusive to other members.

You don't mention how you're taking these opiates, but if it involves injection and other people, then you need to be a bit more concerned about hep B and particularly hep C rather than hiv, although hiv is also a concern. You're much more likely to contract a hepatitis virus from sharing drug injecting equipment than you are hiv.

With hiv it's about directly and immediately sharing needles after someone else, with the heps it's about sharing any of the equipment, because they are much more robust viruses capable of remaining viable and able to infect while outside the body (unlike hiv).

This means that even if you're vigilant about using your own needles, but share spoons, water sources, filters or even tie-offs, you are putting yourself at risk for hepatitis. Trust me, you don't want hep C. It's a bitch.

If your opiate use is confined to pills and you haven't been injecting anything, then unless you've been having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse you neglected to mention, then hiv or hep probably isn't your problem.

If the place where you've been donating blood does indeed look for the presence of opiates in your system, those tests are not going to tell them whether pills or needles (or both) have been the delivery system. So they are going to either 1) ask and trust your answer (doubtful) or 2) disallow you from donating on the basis that you may be using and sharing drug injecting equipment. They're probably not going to take any chances and rightly so.

If you've been injecting opiates and sharing any of the equipment, then you need to test for hiv, and hep B and C.

If you've been having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse - with anyone - that you neglected to mention, then you need to test for hiv, hep B and all the other STIs as well.

At test at three months will be conclusive for both hiv and hep.

To avoid hiv infection you need to use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse. It really is that simple.

To avoid hiv and hep B and C while injecting drugs, you need to use your own needles, water sources, filters, spoons and tie-offs. Do not share any drug injecting equipment.

Ann