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Author Topic: Anxious about my test  (Read 1524 times)

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Offline eleven

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Anxious about my test
« on: April 26, 2017, 09:54:53 am »
Hi,
I am a 22 year old woman from the UK who suffers from diagnosed health anxiety. I got an HIV test from my doctor about a month ago because of a flare up of severe anxiety. I told her I thought I had been exposed 2 years previously due to a broken condom. I don’t know which test was used (I was far too scared and anxious to ask questions), but blood was taken from my arm and sent to a lab and 3 days later it came back negative. I also apparently was tested for hepatitis c which triggered my anxiety a little because I didn’t ask for this test and was a little worried the results were mixed up. I realise this is very unlikely and probably an irrational response due to my health anxiety (also my doctor obviously reviewed the results and would have questioned a test she did not ask for).
However, my anxiety has flared up recently and I realise I may have last been exposed 20 weeks (and approx. 3 days) before my blood was taken and sent to the lab. I had unprotected sex with an ex-boyfriend on less than 10 occasions. I know he was tested and negative for all stds prior (including blood taken for HIV, syphilis etc.) which is why I didn’t mention it to my doctor as a potential risk. However, recently I began to think he could have been in the window period. I am still friends with him and I know he tested negative for all stds a month after we finished, and I’m pretty sure this does cover 3 months between his tests (it was a short relationship) and at the GUM clinic he was tested in, they do duo antigen antibody tests. Therefore, it seems very unlikely I was exposed to an HIV positive person at all. I am not 100% sure his tests were within the 3 month window period (although it is very likely) which is why I am worried. I also know I should rely on my results and my results alone.

Therefore, bearing in mind I did not tell my doctor about my more recent exposure, are my results still accurate? She would not have used a different test if she knew? Am I right in thinking ALL HIV tests are conclusive after 3 months, regardless of the type used? And my doctor wouldn’t have interpreted my results differently because she thought my exposure was a while ago? I’m assuming that if any HIV specific antibodies were detected in my blood, they wouldn’t dismiss it because I said my risk was from years ago and they would expect a positive result from then to look differently?
I would greatly appreciate any responses, I would like to believe my test result, especially because I don’t want to waste any resources on unnecessary additional testing but anxiety means I can’t let these obsessive (irrational?) ‘what if’ thoughts go and move on with my life.
Thank you so much, I appreciate all that you do here.

Offline Wade

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Re: Anxious about my test
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2017, 10:45:03 am »
His tests mean nothing and do not matter, yours do however.
You received a negative result at 20 weeks past exposure, a confirmed result is at 13 weeks, you do not have HIV.

Anxiety is not pleasant but it is also not a risk and that's all you have. Use Condoms and have safer sex going forward, it is safe to move on.

Wade
HIV 101 - Basics
 HIV 101
 You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
 HIV Transmission and Risks
 You can read more about Testing here:
 HIV Testing
 You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
 HIV TasP
 You can read more about HIV prevention here:
 HIV prevention
 You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
 PEP and PrEP

Offline eleven

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Re: Anxious about my test
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2017, 02:14:10 pm »
Thank you for your reply.
I will try my best to move on past this.

Offline Wade

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Re: Anxious about my test
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2017, 08:27:37 am »
You're Welcome
HIV 101 - Basics
 HIV 101
 You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
 HIV Transmission and Risks
 You can read more about Testing here:
 HIV Testing
 You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
 HIV TasP
 You can read more about HIV prevention here:
 HIV prevention
 You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
 PEP and PrEP

 


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