Aa
Conclusive?
Hi, docs!
Me: 23 y/o hetero male. No history of risky exposures. Always have been very healthy.
Approximately 11 weeks ago: one-time vaginal intercourse (unprotected) with female of unknown status. I tried to use a condom (I was passing in and out of consciousness from alcohol), but I remember her taking it off of me, saying she "was clean." Obviously, she doesn't care about her own health. Exposure was 5 mins.
Ten days later I had a sore throat and some night sweating. No fever, rash or muscle aches. I did, however, have pain in a couple of lymph nodes in my neck. There are a couple in there that are palpable. I had three GPs check them out. None seemed too worried, though one confirmed they were slightly swollen.
I got chlamydia from this too. Female claims she's negative, but I don't think she's very well informed as to her own health. I also noticed that I can feel my groin lymph nodes. Bilateral. I can move them around with pressure, they're kind of soft and no bigger than the size of a pea. I've never checked there before - maybe they've always been there? I had mono 5 years ago and had lymph node swelling then; some never went away. No lymph nodes swollen in armpits. The doctors I've spoken to tell me that HIV isn't at all a problem in the city I live in.
My testing history: (all antibody-only, 3rd generation)
STD/STI/HIV screen at 4 weeks, 5 days: all negative.
HIV test at 6 weeks, 1 day: negative.
HIV/mono test at 8 weeks, 5 days: all negative.
My questions:
1. The lymph nodes I can feel in my groin - would you consider these abnormal?
2. Likelihood of a false negative antibody test at 8.5 weeks? Have you encountered this at your clinic?
3. The fact that I'm feeling healthy and have been able to put on muscle mass in the past few weeks - is this a good sign?
4. I will retest again at 12 weeks. Do you think this test is necessary? If it's negative, should I follow up with a 6 month test?
Once again, a HUGE thank you!!!!
Me: 23 y/o hetero male. No history of risky exposures. Always have been very healthy.
Approximately 11 weeks ago: one-time vaginal intercourse (unprotected) with female of unknown status. I tried to use a condom (I was passing in and out of consciousness from alcohol), but I remember her taking it off of me, saying she "was clean." Obviously, she doesn't care about her own health. Exposure was 5 mins.
Ten days later I had a sore throat and some night sweating. No fever, rash or muscle aches. I did, however, have pain in a couple of lymph nodes in my neck. There are a couple in there that are palpable. I had three GPs check them out. None seemed too worried, though one confirmed they were slightly swollen.
I got chlamydia from this too. Female claims she's negative, but I don't think she's very well informed as to her own health. I also noticed that I can feel my groin lymph nodes. Bilateral. I can move them around with pressure, they're kind of soft and no bigger than the size of a pea. I've never checked there before - maybe they've always been there? I had mono 5 years ago and had lymph node swelling then; some never went away. No lymph nodes swollen in armpits. The doctors I've spoken to tell me that HIV isn't at all a problem in the city I live in.
My testing history: (all antibody-only, 3rd generation)
STD/STI/HIV screen at 4 weeks, 5 days: all negative.
HIV test at 6 weeks, 1 day: negative.
HIV/mono test at 8 weeks, 5 days: all negative.
My questions:
1. The lymph nodes I can feel in my groin - would you consider these abnormal?
2. Likelihood of a false negative antibody test at 8.5 weeks? Have you encountered this at your clinic?
3. The fact that I'm feeling healthy and have been able to put on muscle mass in the past few weeks - is this a good sign?
4. I will retest again at 12 weeks. Do you think this test is necessary? If it's negative, should I follow up with a 6 month test?
Once again, a HUGE thank you!!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you very much for your post and welcome to our forum.
I am goint to try to answer all your questions here below:
1. The lymph nodes I can feel in my groin - would you consider these abnormal?
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WITHOUT EXAMINING YOU PROPERLY. HOWEVER ENLARGED LYMPH NODES IN THE GROIN ARE CONSISTENT WITH AN INFECTION BY CHLAMYDIA. IF THEY ARE INDEED SWOLLEN, THIS COULD BE A POSSIBLE CAUSE.
2. Likelihood of a false negative antibody test at 8.5 weeks? Have you encountered this at your clinic?
IN MY EXPERIENCE, A NEGATIVE HIV ANTIBODY TEST AFTER 8 WEEKS CAN BE CONSIDERED CONCLUSIVE.
3. The fact that I'm feeling healthy and have been able to put on muscle mass in the past few weeks - is this a good sign?
IT IS OF COURSE A GOOD SIGN AND I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU NEED TO WORRY.
4. I will retest again at 12 weeks. Do you think this test is necessary? If it's negative, should I follow up with a 6 month test?
FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE NECESSARY. HOWEVER IF YOU WANT TO STICK TO CURRENT GUIDELINES, YOU CAN HAVE IT REPEATED AFTER 12 WEEKS. THAT WOULD DEFINITLEY BE THE LAST ONE WITHOUT THE NEED TO HAVE ANY FURTHER TESTS AT ALL.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you very much for your post and welcome to our forum.
I am goint to try to answer all your questions here below:
1. The lymph nodes I can feel in my groin - would you consider these abnormal?
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WITHOUT EXAMINING YOU PROPERLY. HOWEVER ENLARGED LYMPH NODES IN THE GROIN ARE CONSISTENT WITH AN INFECTION BY CHLAMYDIA. IF THEY ARE INDEED SWOLLEN, THIS COULD BE A POSSIBLE CAUSE.
2. Likelihood of a false negative antibody test at 8.5 weeks? Have you encountered this at your clinic?
IN MY EXPERIENCE, A NEGATIVE HIV ANTIBODY TEST AFTER 8 WEEKS CAN BE CONSIDERED CONCLUSIVE.
3. The fact that I'm feeling healthy and have been able to put on muscle mass in the past few weeks - is this a good sign?
IT IS OF COURSE A GOOD SIGN AND I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU NEED TO WORRY.
4. I will retest again at 12 weeks. Do you think this test is necessary? If it's negative, should I follow up with a 6 month test?
FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE NECESSARY. HOWEVER IF YOU WANT TO STICK TO CURRENT GUIDELINES, YOU CAN HAVE IT REPEATED AFTER 12 WEEKS. THAT WOULD DEFINITLEY BE THE LAST ONE WITHOUT THE NEED TO HAVE ANY FURTHER TESTS AT ALL.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Sorry for the ambiguity, when I said "female claims she's negative," I meant with regards to HIV, not chlamydia. She said she had been with the same partner for 10 years prior to me.
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