Could this be late ARS?

[leigh1978]

Over the course of about 2 weeks, I had unprotected heterosexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, and very briefly anal) several times with a man of unknown HIV status.  I tested negative at 6 weeks after our last encounter.  Then, at 9 weeks, for a few days, I had several of the ARS-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and weakness.  This was also the same time that I quit smoking.  Would 9 weeks be too late to experience ARS, considering that my immune system was probably compromised up until then by my smoking?  Of course, I've been horribly, horribly anxious and depressed, worried about my HIV status, so maybe that's behind the muscle pain and weakness.  I'm going back to the clinic for a follow-up test at 12 weeks.

Also, while reading about HIV recently, I realized that I could have had an exposure about 8 months ago when deep kissing a man with bad oral health (he was missing several teeth).  I don't know if he had any gum bleeding or not.  I don't think I did at the time but I'm not sure.  I also briefly performed unprotected oral sex on him, but we quit pretty quickly because he couldn't keep an erection (he was significantly older than I am).  He didn't ejaculate, but I don't know if there might have been "pre-cum."  I'm assuming that since I tested negative recently, I didn't catch HIV from him.  But now I'm scared that maybe I did catch it from him and that this was merely a false negative, since Oraquick has kind of a bad rate of false negatives.  How likely is it that I caught HIV from just kissing and the brief oral?  If I did catch it from him, could that cause me to have late ARS if I got reinfected from this most recent guy?

Also, in between the two guys I had a hospital stay and my white blood cell count was on the low end (4100).  Would this be low enough to indicate that I had HIV from the first guy?  If not, would it be low enough to delay seroconversion if I got HIV from the second guy, so that my 6-week test wouldn't be very reliable?  I do plan to re-test at 12 weeks for a conclusive result, but it would be very comforting if I could hear that my 6-week negative is unlikely to change.

Thanks!

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Look your risk was unprotected intercourse both vaginal and anal.
The kissing was not a risk, no risk whatsoever.

The WBC counts mean nothing, its not used to diagnosis HIV, ill go one better and say someone with HIV, even acute could have a normal WBC range even when the CD4 cell counts that HIV infect are low.

The 6 weeks result is unlikely to change however indeed test using an HIV antibody test 3 months post last exposure for a conclusive result and going forward use condoms.  Make sure to also test for other easier to transmit STI's whilst you are testing for HIV and repeat STI testing at least yearly as routine.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, every time, no exceptions.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices which may be described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get fully tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected intercourse occurs

Also note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms and the only way of knowing is by testing.

More information on HIV Basics, PEP, TaSP and Transmission can be found through the links in my signature to our POZ pages, this includes information on HIV Testing

Kind regards

Jim

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[leigh1978]

Thanks for the response.  I have another question that has started to scare me to death.

I'm about to have my 12-week test to get a conclusive result.  In the meantime, I've been careful not to expose my kids to any risk, like making sure not to get blood anywhere when I had a cut.  But I'd always read that saliva was no risk for transmitting HIV so I didn't worry about my daughter occasionally eating from the same food I was eating and she kissed me (closed mouth of course) on the lips some. Now I just read somewhere that HIV can actually occur at high levels in saliva during the acute phase.  Might I have passed it on to my daughter if I have it? I'm scared sick!

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Unless you are having unprotected intercourse with your family members they are at no risk. I don't care what you think you read.

HIV isn’t transmitted By hugging, shaking hands, sharing toilets, sharing dishes, kissing, through saliva, tears, or sweat

HIV does not remain infectious outside the human body, once hiv finds itself exposed outside the body to air, small changes in temperature, pH / moisture it damages the virus receptors leaving it unable to infect.

People living with HIV are no danger living with family or other people and many like myself are parents.

Test and move on with your life, stop reading rubbish.

Jim

[leigh1978]

Thanks, Jim.

One last question.

I took my original, 6-week Oraquick (oral) test at a clinic.  When I hit my 12th week, I had some complications that prevented me from getting to the clinic, so I bought an at-home Oraquick (oral) test.  I took it and it was negative.  I've seen that Oraquick can have false negatives, especially the at-home version.  Should I feel pretty sure that I'm negative, with the 6-week and 12-week tests both showing negative, or should I get a blood test done?

Thanks!

[Jim Allen]

Hi

False negatives happen as people take the tests incorrect or too soon so before the 3 month mark. If you bought an approved FDA test it has to show the correct accuracy.

However you also had risks for other easier to transmit STI's, so I still recommend going to your doc and get tested for them and I also still think you should stop reading rubbish online.

Whatever you do, make sure going forward to use condoms for any intercourse, and test at least yearly for STI's including but not limited to HIV as routine.

Jim