testing or counselling ???

[fort]

Hi all ,
         You guys been doing wonderfull work . 
         Finally anxiety got the best of me and i m posting the questiong in this forum .Plez help me out
       I had erlier been posting in medhelp support forum .

 EXPOSURE AND POSSIBLE RISK:   I   had been visiting sex workers here in india.
and i have had protected sex around 5 times with different workers . but during one exposure my condom was loose and she was mensturating so i had a elisa test at 15 week mark.

But as i have read more and more on internet my worry about other exposures has increased . i had 3 more exposure after that exposure all of them where condom protected.But before the act theres was a bit foreplay and probably we both were naked at that time and i didnt had a condom on .i dont know if tip of penis came in contact with vaginal fluid.
\i dont know the status of the girl but she had told me once that she recently had pnuemonia ... which after reading on net i came to know is common in hiv+ ppl.
my last exposure was 8 weeks ago from the negative test .


HIV TEST REPORT:
             reading : 0.57 s/co  interpreation:negative   diltution : undiluted

After reading on net i came to know that elisa uses dilution. So i got confused that may be they messed up with the test .
 called up the lab and talked to the doc who had signed my report.
She told me that its wriiten undiluted coz the sample is taken neat .
dilution happens inside the machine .also assured me abt the results
Its was 3rd gen automated elisa.

Prevously i had talked to a differnet doctor in lab but she had given me a differnet answer .
Both suggested me to test more by  PCR method if i remain worried   .
Though the doc who had signed my report assured  me abt the result n told me not to go in technicality as its all automated there.


I felt good after doctors reassurance but like all worried wells fear crept in again .
Please tell me was the doc right ? Could there be an error in automated elisa ...?
Do i need counselling or more testing

Thanks

 
   

     
 

[Andy Velez]

Given what you have reported I don't see any cause to be concerned about HIV. You seem to be consistently using condoms for intercourse. That's exactly what you should be doing. As long as you wear latex condom everytime it doesn't matter whether you are with a professional or a civilian. Condoms don't care. They provide equally effective protection.

None of the other activities or details put you at risk for HIV.  I also don't see any reason to doubt the reliability of your negative HIV test result.

You do need to be aware that other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV. Since you are sexually active it would be a good idea to regularly have a full STD panel done. Annually is good and every six months is even better.

At this moment I don't see any basis for concern about HIV on your part. I would caution you against continuing to surf the net because I can absolutely assure you that if you do that you will inevitably come up with (mis)information to feed your worst fears. All to no good purpose nor with any basis in HIV-science.

Cheers,   

[fort]

Hi andy ,
            i was worried abt the incidence with mensturating sex worker.
            condom was loose and  there was no erection . i took it out as soon          as i saw blood(fortunately i was standing during intercourse) .My test was 15 week from that incidence .
             Thts y i asked abt the test .Is there any chance the test was wrong in automated elisa.
             

[RapidRod]

You didn't have a risk, so there is no chance the test being wrong.

[Andy Velez]

Your test result was reliable.

This is all about feelings and not facts, menstrual blood notwithstanding. Really.

You're HIV negative. Period.

[fort]

Hi Andy, Rapid
                      Thanks for ur support .
                     After your reassurance , i have decided  that i ll have one more test 2mrw.
                     And put this thing to rest once and for all. I m stuck in Life .Its been three months
                     to the test and if any small symptom occurs i get occupied with HIV fears.
                     I had white marks in mouth and thought it was oral thrush. it turned out to eb cheek bite.Gone now..and many things like that have happened.i have not been able to concentrate on work.

                    PLease tell me if CMIA test is as reliable as Elisa . I m going to the most advanced lab of the city but they say  they dont do ELISA but CMIA.

Thanks

[Ann]

fort,

Some say the CMIA method of testing for hiv 1&2 antibodies is more sensitive than the ELISA, so you have no worries. It's a newer method that seems to be gaining favour.

You did not have a risk and you have already tested conclusively and reliably negative. If you go ahead with another test, the result will also be negative. It's your money.

You do not have hiv.

Ann

[fort]

Yes Damm right ... i donot have hiv .
I got the result 7 month result  : Non reactive today
Elisa fourth generation.

All u guys are just perfect evaluating the risk .
During these three months  I have read thousands of replies here from Ann ,Andy ,rapid,Jk,matty..
I think advise given here is just rock solid with proper explanations.
Readin others forums confused me .
Dr bob probably recomends a test for just everything .
Dr h would soimetimes recomends a 6 week test , some times 8 week,
and in one reply he recmmened a 3 month test after protected sex with known + . I was confused like hell .Coz it was a good bet that one of the CSW i had sex with was hiv+.

I just wanna thank u guys from the bottom of my heart.
 Wish u loads of happiness .All of u would always be in my prayers.
cheers

[Andy Velez]

Congrats on your happy news. Celebrate that gift by always, ALWAYS using latex condoms for intercourse.

Cheers,

[Ann]

Coz it was a good bet that one of the CSW i had sex with was hiv+.

Fort,

I hope you've learned that you can't tell someone's hiv status by looking at them or by what they do for a living. You need to "bet" that ANYONE you have sex with is hiv positive and protect yourself accordingly.

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

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 - no matter what your partner does for a living - and you will continue to avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[fort]

 Hi guys,
          M sorry to be back  .
         But this time i have problem with two sores(looks like ulcers) on my scrotum and some in thighs which do not look like ulcers .
         Which have developed after some burning.
         today i have given blood for HSV 1 and 2 IGm anf 2Ig4 tests
        and VDRL test.i ll get results tomorrow.
       

      Please answer my queries.

1) the sores( one pretty big around 2 cm diameter another small 1/2 cm diameter) are painfull . How likely can they be herpes.I had protected sex all the time .
     
2)Can an outbreak occur 5 1/2 months later .If yes does this mean i m immunocompromised?? Do i need more hiv testing ?

3)are these test realiable???

4) Do i need HEP B testing i havent had any symtoms like flu .fever or swollen glands after 5 and 1/2 months of last act of protected sex. 

5)Is kissing a vector for Hep B transmission.?     


Thanks

[Ann]

Fort,

You do not have hiv. You have tested reliably and conclusively hiv negative.

You need to show those sores to a qualified doctor. We cannot diagnose you here. This is an hiv website and in this particular forum we only give risk assessment, testing information and safer sex information. Go see your doctor about your other concerns.

There is nothing more we can do for you here.

Ann

[fort]

hi Ann,
            I m from india .Doctors here  are pretty conservative.
            I had gone to a specialist doctor  today. He says i need to tested    for        HIV after 6 more months and also said that condoms do not provide full protection against  HIV as the vaginal secretion mite come in contact with an unnoticed cut .Reading on this forum and others forums i have learned  thats not a risk as outside the body HIV transmission doenst occur and also HIV is not found( very less) in the outside vaginal secretion .
I wonder why the doctor doesnt know all this .
Thats the reason why i wrote here .  Please help me out if u can

 

[Ann]

Fort,

Even if you go by the doctor's incorrect and outdated window period, you are hiv negative. You tested negative at seven months.

There is nothing new to say to you. Re-read your thread.

You are hiv negative and it's time for you to move on.

Ann