Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 07:57:59 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772945
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 375
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 1
Guests: 353
Total: 354

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Welcome to the "Do I Have HIV?" POZ forum.

This special section of the POZ forum is for individuals who have concerns about whether or not they are HIV positive. Individuals are permitted to post up to three questions or responses in this forum.

Ongoing participation in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum (posting more than three questions or responses) requires a paid subscription, with secure payments made via PayPal.

A seven-day subscription is $9.99, a 30-day subscription is $14.99 and a 90-day subscription is $24.99.

Anyone who needs to post more than three messages in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum -- including past, present and future POZ Forums members -- will need to subscribe, with secure payments made via PayPal.

There is no charge to read threads in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum, nor will there be a charge for participating in any of the other POZ forums. In addition, the POZ Basics "HIV Transmission and Risks" and "HIV Testing" basics, will remain accessible to all.

NOTE: HIV testing questions will still need to be posted in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum; attempts to post HIV symptoms or testing questions in any other forums will be considered violations of our rules of membership and subject to time-outs and permanent bans.

To learn how to upgrade your Forums account to participate beyond three posts in the "Do I Have HIV?" Forum, please click here.

Thank you for your understanding and future support of the best online support service for people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.

Author Topic: Very confused and worried  (Read 7075 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Very confused and worried
« on: October 18, 2010, 07:58:01 pm »
Hi, this is my first post here. I hope this topic is appropriate. I was in the hospital last week, where I underwent an endoscopy.They found I have a fungal infection in my esophagus. The doctor said that was "rare" in a non HIV or non immune weakened patient. So they did a HIV test. Here's where I get confused and am still very scared.The next day, they sent a psychiatrist "team" to speak with me, and try to calm me down. Knowing I was to be discharged that same day, 2 nurses visited me a few hours later. The one nurse said she wanted tell me before I left, that the first 2 results came back negative. But she didn't know if the testing was complete? My question is, what did she mean...2 results?? Do they take 3 or more vials of blood and test them all? Because of the sensitivity of the tests, how could I have 2 negatives, and worry about another showing positive? I'm awaiting the results to be sent to my family doc, but I am terrified. I would appreciate anyone responding who might have knowledge of the testing procedure. Like I said, she said the first two results were negative? Thank you so much.    Johnny

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2010, 08:53:08 pm »
Have you ever had unprotected anal or vaginal sex? If so when was your last exposure? Have you ever shared works with other IV drug abusers? If so, when?

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2010, 09:42:48 pm »
About 4 years ago, I had unprotected vaginal sex with a woman or two, while I was divorced. I have never used needles. Like I questioned, I don't understand the "test" procedure. But I've read that in patients with HIV, a fungal esophagus infection would only happen when the T cell count is under 200?? I have no other symptoms, and this infection, or at least the symptoms of,came on acutely, almost overnight.    Johnny

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2010, 10:08:05 pm »
About 4 years ago, I had unprotected vaginal sex with a woman or two, while I was divorced. I have never used needles. Like I questioned, I don't understand the "test" procedure. But I've read that in patients with HIV, a fungal esophagus infection would only happen when the T cell count is under 200?? I have no other symptoms, and this infection, or at least the symptoms of,came on acutely, almost overnight.    Johnny

Hi Johnny,

It is unusual for people with a functioning immune system to develop fungal infections of the oesophagus, but it's not unheard of.

It's also possible to be immunocompromised by things other than HIV.

My advice to you is to contact a doctor who specialises in infectious diseases or sexual health or immunology and seek advice from them.

MtD

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2010, 10:36:29 pm »
I should be getting my test results tomorrow, and some answers. I am malnourished, and my blood electrolytes were low? In the event I would be positive, and my t cell counts are low, will medicine help, going so long without treatment? Wouldn't 4-5 years after exposure be quick for HIV to progress to the point of AIDS?       Johnny 

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2010, 10:39:18 pm »
I should be getting my test results tomorrow, and some answers. I am malnourished, and my blood electrolytes were low? In the event I would be positive, and my t cell counts are low, will medicine help, going so long without treatment? Wouldn't 4-5 years after exposure be quick for HIV to progress to the point of AIDS?       Johnny 

Johnny,

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Wait for your test results and come back to us tomorrow. We can help you more then.

MtD

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2010, 11:16:54 pm »
Okay, thank you.  I will do that ;-)    Johnny

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2010, 07:57:04 am »
Fingers crossed that you get a negative result. Keep us posted.
Andy Velez

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2010, 03:31:52 pm »
Thank you, I will do that. The results are in, but the Doc can't see me until tomorrow, and refuses to give any results, good or bad, over the phone. Just a waiting game now. Trying to stay calm, and all the positive attitudes I have found here have helped very much :-)    Johnny

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2010, 03:40:43 pm »
Thank you, I will do that. The results are in, but the Doc can't see me until tomorrow, and refuses to give any results, good or bad, over the phone. Just a waiting game now. Trying to stay calm, and all the positive attitudes I have found here have helped very much :-)    Johnny

Johnny it is common practice in many places for HIV results to be delivered in person, not over the phone. You should not read that as being indicative of a result either way - rather your doctor is simply following good clinical practice.

Stay calm. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. :)

MtD

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2010, 07:30:21 pm »
Thanks. The docs office did tell me that, and they wouldn't budge <lol> when I practically begged the nurse. I'm doing okay, and I have put this in Gods hands.Simply nothing else to do. Again, thanks for the caring message.       Johnny

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2010, 01:08:14 pm »
Well, I just got back from the docs, and still have no complete answers :-( Apparently, all the "results" aren't in yet. .I saw the lab report, and one result listed was: HIV battery   negative. At the time they tested me, I was told one test would come back in 2 days or less. The other, up to 2 weeks? They send one out, and it takes about 2 weeks?? I just still feel very confused and nervous, although I probably shouldn't be. I had had a one time, vaginal sex encounter with a woman about 4 years ago.I was drinking, didn't ejaculate, and the whole act lasted about 3 minutes, as I was drunk. Nothing risky since. Why 2 weeks for results from one test? I don't understand the testing process. Surely, battery=negative means something good????  Sorry for the bother here, but this has been nerve wracking! Thanks for reading.        Johnny

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2010, 02:38:26 pm »
Yes, "battery = negative" sounds good to me and makes me think you're going to come out of this ok.

While waiting through the rest of the time work on getting busy with other things. It really will help to pass the time.

Cheers.
Andy Velez

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2010, 06:34:42 pm »
Thanks for the reply. After I sent the last message, the doctor's office called again. The hospital had sent my full discharge report. Part of the report, pertaining to my HIV tests read "All of his hiv tests have been negative to this point". The nurse said that that was good news. I'm feeling more relieved, and appreciate all the replies I have received. This site is truly full of so many good people. Again, thanks        Johnny

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #14 on: October 20, 2010, 06:37:16 pm »
Thanks for the reply. After I sent the last message, the doctor's office called again. The hospital had sent my full discharge report. Part of the report, pertaining to my HIV tests read "All of his hiv tests have been negative to this point". The nurse said that that was good news. I'm feeling more relieved, and appreciate all the replies I have received. This site is truly full of so many good people. Again, thanks        Johnny

So there you have it! HIV is not the problem here. :)

As I said, oesphegeal fungal infections are unusual in people with normal immune function but not unheard of. Keep working with your doctor to determine what the problem is.

Best regards,

MtD

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #15 on: October 20, 2010, 08:05:58 pm »
Great! That's very good to hear.

Now just remember to always use condoms for vaginal/anal intercourse and you will be well protected against the sexual transmission of HIV.

Cheers.
Andy Velez

Offline Johnny1956

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2010, 12:06:59 am »
I will certainly be more careful, and hopefully get to the bottom of this esophagitis with my doc. Again, I thank you all, and wish each and everyone of you the best. I will do my best to help people be more aware of this disease, and I pray that a complete cure will be found soon.     Johnny

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2010, 12:12:09 am »
We're glad we've been able to help you with this, Johnny.

Take care,

MtD

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Very confused and worried
« Reply #18 on: October 21, 2010, 08:58:25 am »
Thanks for that thoughtful response, Johnny.

Luck to you.
Andy Velez

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.