Re: Low White Blood Cell Count

[dolls005]

My husband and I have been married for a year and have a 14-month-old daughter. We have been together for 10 years but took a year break. During that time I had high risk, unprotected sex a few times. I was tested three months after the last possible exposure, 10 months, and then at 11 months. They were all negative. I finally accepted my status with help from you and moved on. My husband has slept with three people besides me, over 10 years ago, all fully protected so he doesn't have much of a risk. For the last few days he has had a fever, night sweats, and headaches. We went to the doctor today and he told us he had a very low white blood cell count and is sending us to a specialist next week. My first thought was cancer until I looked online and everywhere seems to say a very low white blood cell count is an indication on HIV infection. Could my negative tests have been wrong?

[Matty the Damned]

Dolls,

The only way to know if your husband has HIV is for him to have an antibody test performed. White blood cell counts are not necessarily an indicator of HIV infection as many things can cause low white cell counts.

I urge you or your husband to ask for an HIV antibody test when you visit the specialist, if one is not offered. Just because he reports having protected sex, doesn't mean he did. Also please remember that symptoms mean nothing when it comes to diagnosing HIV.

Best wishes,

MtD

[dolls005]

I understand and although I know he is honest with me as I am with him I will have him ask for a test. Can I be sure I did not transmit it to him with my negative tests as described above?

[Matty the Damned]

No Dolls,

Your tests indicate that you were conclusively negative at the time you tested. And so you cannot have infected him, if he is indeed positive.

If you've had unprotected anal or vaginal sex with you husband subsequently to your negative testing, then you should test again.

MtD

[Ann]

Doll,

There seems to me to be a small element of doubt here and what I would suggest is that you both test together. This will remove any lingering doubts and give you an answer once and for all. From all you've told us, I'm fully expecting negative results.

And as for your internet searches returning hiv results, well, the internet is a bit hysterical like that. Many different things can cause a low white blood count - and conversely, hiv isn't necessarily one of them. My WBC (I've been poz ten years) is always in the normal range. It's generally only a certain subset of WBC that becomes depleted with hiv and this subset is not usually measured in hiv negative individuals.

Both of you test for hiv and collect what I fully expect to be negative results - so you can concentrate on finding out what is really going on with your hubby.

Good luck

Ann

[dolls005]

Thank you both for your replies. I am sure that after my tests out to 11 months that I am HIV negative. I talked with my husband and he said of course he will get tested but he was told at his physical last year that he did not need one since he has had no risks and I had tested negative at the appropriate times. His only risk was me and I tested negative. I just don't know if I can go through another test again. It was a terrible year when I worried and I really just want to put it behind me.

Do you think it's OK if he tests negative to just move on? I have had no risks since 11 months prior to my last test except with him. If he was positive that would be a different situation but I really don't think he is. I just looked up low white blood cell count online and HIV was everywhere. It started me worrying again. I really think I have tested conclusivley as you have said. If he is negative do I really need another test? I have a baby and I don't want to be anxiety ridden and unable to concentrate on her....

[Andy Velez]

A low white blood count is absolutely NOT an HIV-specific occurence.

While I don't see it necessary for you to get tested since you have those multiples of negative results and way beyond the necessary 13 weeks, I do see it a wise precaution for your husband to get tested because of those long past unprotected incidents. In all likelihood he will test negative, but HIV is never something to guess or live in doubt about. So get tested together, collect what I expect will be negative results and find some happy way to celebrate your results.

Good luck.

[dolls005]

Thank you all so  much! I think the work you do to get information out and help people is quite amazing. I'm sure the hysteria is quite annoying at times to say the least...but you keep helping anyway! Thank you again!

[Andy Velez]

You're welcome. I'm glad you found the exchanges here to be helpful.

Cheers,