POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: veryworriedguy on May 14, 2012, 11:40:42 pm
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Hello,
I had a one time, anal exposure, I was the receiving one.
I got tested at 4 months for HIV, and my results were negative. The doctor that tested me told me that I should go back and get tested again in another 6 months, because it was still possible. (I have a feeling that doctor wasn't very experienced). I read that the CDC said that 97 percent of people test conclusively at 3 months. What about the other 3 percent? Why do they take longer? I'm really worried. I think I have anxiety attacks.
I got a blood test at Kaiser. I'm not sure about the specifics, and stuff.
I've asked people at TheBody.com and one doctor told me that with p24 and HIV RNA tests, 6 months is obsolete.. Whatever that means.
So my main questions here, are:
Am I HIV negative (4 months)?
How Accurate are blood tests? (I got mine at Kaiser)
I just recently developed Allergies. Does this have anything to do with HIV?
Do I need to get tested again?
Can I forget about this?
THANKS FOR READING ALL THIS! I REALLLLY APPRECIATE IT.
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For years now, three months has been the gold standard for testing windows.
You are reliably HIV negative
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Hi Everyone,
I had a one time exposure, where I was the receiving end.
I did get tested at 4 months, for HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. I tested back positive for Chlamydia, and they gave me one time antibiotics.
My questions are:
Are all of my results conclusive?
What other things do I need to get tested for, or is that it?
Should I go back to the clinic to make sure the clamydia is gone?
THANKS! (:
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I've merged your threads here. As stated in the opening thread in this section, members are to always write in the same thread. Don't start anymore new ones. Thanks for your cooperation.
Our focus here is strictly on HIV. A negative at 4 months for the other STDs as well as the others is excellent. Only syphilis has a 3 month window as does HIV, so you're clear on that.
Check with your doctor for an all-clear. That's what I expect you to get but checking in with your doctor is always a good idea. In general we recommend that anyone who is sexually active ought to regularly have a full STD panel done. That means at least once a year and more often if there are any troubling symptoms.
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Well, What's a full STD panel??
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It's a list of standard sexually transmitted diseases which are commonly checked for these days.
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Alright then. Thanks.
Lastly, How come the CDC says 97 percent of people get their conclusive result at 3 months, and some take up to 6 months!? Please Help.
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http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results
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Oh. Well thank you very much! But I'm not an adult though. I'm a teenager. Does this still apply?
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Yes.
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The exceptions for testing up to 6 months are situations which involve longterm intravenous drug use, organ transplant or treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer. Otherwise whether teen or adult, a negative at 3 months is conclusive.
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I asked my doctor today, and she said that 6 months is the only conclusive date.
She must be unaware of how it's changed to 3 months. She wouldn't let me get another blood test either (It has been 5 months since my exposure).
I can move on from here, right?
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I asked my doctor today, and she said that 6 months is the only conclusive date.
She must be unaware of how it's changed to 3 months. She wouldn't let me get another blood test either (It has been 5 months since my exposure).
I can move on from here, right?
She is absolutely unaware. The window period has been three months for years and years.
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I've asked people at TheBody.com and one doctor told me that with p24 and HIV RNA tests, 6 months is obsolete.. Whatever that means.
Worried,
Obsolete means out-of-date. Ancient. Kinda like cathode ray tube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube) black and white television sets are obsolete. Or twelve-inch vinyl record albums. Or cassette tape Walkmans. They may still be hanging around here and there, but no body uses them anymore.
Same with the six month window period for hiv testing. It still gets talked about, but nobody who keeps up with the modern world uses it. Three months is the gold standard and has been for years now. Please explain this to your doctor (or send her to our lessons here) and tell her "welcome to the 21st century!" :)
I get it - you're a young dude and all this is bewildering and a little scary. But trust us, if we thought you needed further testing, we'd tell you in no uncertain terms. You don't. You are conclusively hiv negative.
Please, please learn from this and stop having unprotected intercourse. You've got your whole life ahead of you and you don't want to spend it making doctor appointments, having regular blood draws and taking pills every day.
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.
ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER TESTING AT THIS TIME, 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
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Thank you guys so much! :)
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Worried,
You're welcome.
Now go away. ;) You don't have hiv and as long as you use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently (all the time), you will continue to avoid hiv infection. It really, really is that simple!
Ann
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I'm really sorry to bother you guys, but.. :'(
I recently started having a itchy and sore throat. It's pretty bad and it's driving me crazy. Would it be possible that it's ARS? Do I need to get tested again?
It's just a itchy sore throat, nothing else. It's been about 5 months since my exposure now.
Thanks. >.<
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Worried,
Why would it be ARS when you have already tested CONCLUSIVELY hiv NEGATIVE?
If your sore throat continues to bother you, go to a doctor. It's definitely not being caused by a virus you do NOT have.
You do NOT have hiv!
If you read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
Please consider yourself warned!
Ann
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I'm a nervous wreck.
My teen clinic doctor, Personal Doctor, and the Infection Disease doctor at Kaiser all said that my results were promising, but I still need to wait to 6 months.
I will never make that kind of mistake again. All this trauma and anxiety isn't worth it.
Thanks for your guys' help. I guess I just have to wait to 6 months.
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You are of course free to do what you choose to about testing. But you are already reliably HIV negative.
Anyone who suggests further testing to you is misinformed. It's unfortunate that such a recommendation just unnecessarily feeds your fears because I can tell you without any reservation that HIV is not your problem. Period.
Just get on with your life is my recommendation and forget about any further testing. Really. But like I said, it's up to. We've done what we can do for you in this setting and HIV is not your problem.
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Thanks for supporting me until now. I really appreciate it.
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You're welcome.
And really, get on with your life. HIV is not it for you. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't know.
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Hi once again,
This has been on my mind since the very beginning. Are you guys HIV positive? Also, are you guys Doctors? ???
Just curious
Thanks.
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Hi once again,
This has been on my mind since the very beginning. Are you guys HIV positive? Also, are you guys Doctors? ???
Just curious
Thanks.
■Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result, or no-risk situation will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
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Guy,
I'm hiv positive, but I'm only going to speak for myself on that (hiv) score. It's not my place to reveal the hiv status of other people.
We're not doctors, but those of us who are authorised to answer questions here have been hiv transmission, testing and awareness educators for at least ten years, and some of us double that and more. Between us we have over 100 years experience.
You can trust us when we say that you are conclusively hiv negative. We want people to accurately know their hiv status. If there were any doubt, we would recommend further testing. We have NO doubt that you do NOT need further testing.
I'm giving you that time out you've been warned about. Do not attempt to create a new account to get around your time out because if you do, you will be permanently banned.
Ann