POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Sslp on August 29, 2013, 08:29:40 am
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Hello everyone I'm a new member to the community after countless days of going crazy on the Internet googling symptoms and HIV situations I have finally decided to come forward and ask people for their opinion.
There's no way to not come off as desperate in these subjects.
On July 27 I had unprotected sex with a partner of unknown HIV status. Our exposure was 10 minutes tops probably vaginal only. About five days ago I started feeling very strange with a weird flu that is really taking a toll on me I have had sore throat I had a mild fever and some fatigue. The sore hroat has been persistent for five days now the fever has subsided after taking antibiotics for it . As a sidenote I usually do get a throat infection when I do come down with the flu. I have someone of a congested nose still an overall fatigue on day five. On day 30 after the exposure I took an Elisa fourth-generation p 24 duo test that came back negative. I have read on several places that this may not be a conclusive test. Should I retest again at the six week mark?
Are my symptoms ars ? This is a flu but a very strange one I have never felt like this before it is definitely tired me more than a normal flu some people around me have got a little sick as well the changing climates usually causes flus around here could be anxiety thanks so much guys I really appreciate all the help and all the input that you could provide I'm sure you do all understand how frustrating it could be
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sslp,
Neither symptoms nor even the lack of symptoms will ever tell you a single thing about your hiv status. ONLY testing at the appropriate time will.
The earliest you should test again is at six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.
A six week negative is highly unlikely to change (a four week negative isn't likely to change either, but six weeks is better) but MUST be confirmed at the three month point.
You need to learn from this and stop putting yourself at risk for hiv through having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.
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.
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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann