Welp, here goes my story.. :(

[mortified_mami]

Thank you for accepting me into the forums,

Im a 25 year old female, had unprotected sex with a male who is a native African man around November 11th (scary stuff I know.) As we were dating we used condoms with our first encounter but our second encounter was unprotected and he ejaculated inside me. My anxiety didnt come until after we broke up a couple weeks later due to one of his lady friends coming out to me about his infidelities.

From there my anxiety grew and I decided to get tested around mid December (rapid hiv test) which came back negative. Briefly relieved I then researched that was not enough time for conclusive results so I then tested again around January 19th which came back negative again. Now its February and I believe me getting testing after February 11th will be precisely three months for a conclusive answer? Correctly?

My symptoms so far, Not too long around I did get a sore throat that went away, then I got a full on cold and sore throat that lasted for a week then went away. Now I have neck soreness, right lymphnode gland feels sore, left armpit is sore, and I think I couldve seen a swollen lymphnode on my groin area a couple weeks after having sex with the african. I got really hot at night and daytimes sometimes briefly.

I also noticed while we were together he complained about having a cold and and sore throat and I seen tiger balm, muscle soreness cream in his room, also, he mentioned he had ulcers and he was very very fraile and skinny.

I need answers guys, my anxiety is reaching an all time high as this february date approaches. Is my negative January 19th test 3 months from November 11th?


HELP.

[RapidRod]

Symptoms or lack of will never tell you anything about your status Your upcoming test will be conclusive.

[mortified_mami]

So vague..

thanks anyway.

[RapidRod]

To the point and factual.

[Ann]

Mami,

Neither symptoms nor the lack of symptoms will ever tell you a single thing about your hiv status. ONLY testing at the appropriate time will.

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 negative is highly unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at the three month point.

Your test on January 19th was ten weeks after the incident on November 11th. You can test again for a conclusive result at any time now, as anything past twelve weeks is conclusive. I absolutely do not expect your result to change but you need to test to make certain.

You should also be tested for all the other, much more easily transmitted STIs and you can also test for them now. You need to know that some STIs (notably syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia) can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the ONLY way to know is to test.

You really need to learn from this and make sure condoms are being used in future. It doesn't matter if the guy is African, Asian, North or South American, European or Martian. It doesn't matter what he does for a living, how healthy he looks, or what music he likes. Hiv doesn't discriminate and neither should you.

You need to assume ANYONE you have intercourse with is hiv positive and protect yourself accordingly. Sexually speaking, the ONLY true "high risk group" is that group of people who have unprotected intercourse and guess what, that now includes you.

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.

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.

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

Ann

[mortified_mami]

Thank you, Ann.

Im going to go take my test next week when I have the funds to afford it because PP doesnt cover tests taken too frquently. I was tested for STI's both times I was tested for hiv and they came back negative. Ive been celibate since my lasy encounter with this guy.

I'll keep you updated, Hoping for a third negative result, inshallah.

[Ann]

Mami,

As you have already tested for the other STIs, you do not need further STI testing at this time. Most of the other STIs will be picked up on the tests by ten days to two weeks, so you're ok where they're concerned.

You only need to confirm your negative hiv test result. Again, I do NOT expect anything other than another negative result, but you do need to test again to make sure. Let them know at PP that you only need to confirm your hiv status after the incident in November.

By the way, as a woman who relies on PP for her sexual health care, you may be interested in this thread which is posted in another forum. Please do not respond in that thread (it's in a forum where you are not permitted to post), but please do read it so you can be aware of the kinds of issues PP faces in today's economic and political climate. Please support your local PP in anyway you can, and pass the message on to your friends. Thanks!

Ann

[mortified_mami]

Thank you, im really .worried and stressed right now even though my test is days away I.just have this uneasy gut feeling. I need a.friend to talk too,I'm going crazy. Help, please.

[Ann]

Mami,

Sorry, but we're not here to hold your hand while you wait to test.

The only thing I can add is to say once again... I DO NOT EXPECT YOUR RESULTS TO CHANGE when you confirm and neither should you. "Gut" feelings are not facts. The fact in your case is that you are highly unlikely to go on to test positive following a six week or more negative result. I've yet to see it happen in this forum and I do not expect you to be the first.

Ann

[mortified_mami]

My test is tomorrow morning, so the moment of truth is just hours away for me, I will be sharing results as soon as i get them. prayers needed, thank u for ur continual support.

[Andy Velez]

Just chiming in to say that like Ann I expect you to continue to test negative. Your previous test was at a reliable enough point to make it very unlikely that you will do anything but test negative again.

Cheers.

[mortified_mami]

Just chiming in to say that like Ann I expect you to continue to test negative. Your previous test was at a reliable enough point to make it very unlikely that you will do anything but test negative again.

Cheers.

Thank you so much, you guys hAVE literally saved my sanity through these trying times. Ill never forget this!

[Andy Velez]

We're glad you found the exchanges here to be helpful.

Cheers.

[mortified_mami]

Negative.


once again thank you all the kind words and information youve offered. many blessings to you guys <3