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Can I be certain NO HIV?
I will be quick and simple. I have read numerous threads but would still like your input DRs. I have tested out to six months post exposure by various means(rapid, EIA, ICMA antibody testing) for HIV. I am still having symptoms(sore throat, muscle twitches, and more recently increased floaters), and am worried. I just got my 6 month EIA test back yesterday and it was NEGATIVE for HIV. Should I test any further for this or can I be certain and 100% confident? I am married and do not want to infect my wife. Please give me your thoughts.
Thank you for your response. I just wanted to have reassurance with symptoms that I am having and be confident I do not have it. I dont want to harm patients, wife, or others. I will look elsewhere for etiology. Just dont know where to start. Floaters--which are new, are most concerning. Thanks again Dr.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As a medical professional you shoiuld no better than to be asking these sorts of anxiety driven questions. You do not have HIV, you numerous negative tests of different types PROVE this without question. No infection - none!! Anxiety dirven questions about different HIV strains, etc are silly. You do not have HIV. End of discussion. EWH
I just wanted to thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my LAST post on this thread. As a medical professional I am very concerned. Thank you
I know Vance commented but could you please answer. Thank you. It will be the last time.
Are you actually reading what Dr.Hook has written? Because no matter how you want to phrase your question, the anwer is still the same. Go back and re-read what Dr.Hook has already written, he has already answered you.
Oh and if he had any doubt in his original answer he would have written about it, you are asking the same anxiety driven question over and over, adding to your story trying to find a way that you have HIV. You do not as you were told in the free community and as Dr.Hook has stated several times.
Oh and if he had any doubt in his original answer he would have written about it, you are asking the same anxiety driven question over and over, adding to your story trying to find a way that you have HIV. You do not as you were told in the free community and as Dr.Hook has stated several times.
Doctor, this will be my last dialog with you. If you could would take the time to answer a few other things I would greatly appreciate it.
1. With the various testing I have had(ICMA antibody, PCR-DNA, RAPID testing, and EIA antibody) how likely would it be that I could fall into that 1% that is not detected by 6 months?
2. Is there any reason I should tell my wife I am concerned about this? We have discussed the happenings I have had.
3. Does having a throat problem for now 5+ months change your opinion? I have seen various drs.(ENT) and nothing found.
4. To preceeding question, any reason to have RNA testing done?
5. I do have some peripheral neuropathy at times. Does that change your opinion?
6. I have tested with two online companies. One that used labcorp and other Quest. Is there any reason not to believe the validity of the results? I have received the actual lab copy as well.
7. Does the vast increase in floaters change your opinion. As an eyecare professional I dont see other cause besides PVD, vitreous hyalosis.
8. Would current EIA/ICMA testing pick up the odd/variant strain if I indeed had that at 6 month testing mark?
Dr. H, I appreciate your time. These will be my last questions. If you could please answer and give me your FINAL thoughts I would be greatful.
Thank you much
1. With the various testing I have had(ICMA antibody, PCR-DNA, RAPID testing, and EIA antibody) how likely would it be that I could fall into that 1% that is not detected by 6 months?
2. Is there any reason I should tell my wife I am concerned about this? We have discussed the happenings I have had.
3. Does having a throat problem for now 5+ months change your opinion? I have seen various drs.(ENT) and nothing found.
4. To preceeding question, any reason to have RNA testing done?
5. I do have some peripheral neuropathy at times. Does that change your opinion?
6. I have tested with two online companies. One that used labcorp and other Quest. Is there any reason not to believe the validity of the results? I have received the actual lab copy as well.
7. Does the vast increase in floaters change your opinion. As an eyecare professional I dont see other cause besides PVD, vitreous hyalosis.
8. Would current EIA/ICMA testing pick up the odd/variant strain if I indeed had that at 6 month testing mark?
Dr. H, I appreciate your time. These will be my last questions. If you could please answer and give me your FINAL thoughts I would be greatful.
Thank you much
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As a health care proivider, I am suprised that you are asking me to repeat myself. This will not change the answers.
1. See earlier answer. You do not have HIV.
2. Yes, you woul dhave antibodies.
3. No, these medications would have no effect on your test results.
4. No
5. No need for further testing.
EWH
1. See earlier answer. You do not have HIV.
2. Yes, you woul dhave antibodies.
3. No, these medications would have no effect on your test results.
4. No
5. No need for further testing.
EWH
Hello Drs and I hope you are having a good weekend. I also wanted to ask you a couple other questions. I am an optometrist so I do know about relevant and irrelevant symptoms. I am still having: lump in throat, pain in right groin in morning only, red cherry spots on skin, left abdominal pain, muscle spasms, and LOTS of new floaters OD>OS. I have had my other partner(ophth) take a look and he sees nothing of importance on dilation. I have had multiple partners (female) in past years. As I told you before, I have had DNA-PCR testing around 6 weeks post last exposure and EIA test done at 26 weeks which was negative for HIV 1/O/2. I also had previously done, rapid testing by fingerprick around 15 and 21 weeks. My questions are, 1)can I be 100% confident of no HIV infection despite persistent symptoms. 2) If I was infected prior to this last exposure, wouldnt I show antibodies by now? 3) Could any medications(finesteride/ fluconazole (100-200mg/day for about 5 weeks)) affect these latest tests? 4) Could it be something odd like HTLV I/II? 5) Should I test again for HIV or anything similiar. I would really appreciate your knowledge on this. I had one other thing to add but cannot for the life of me remember it. If so, will you allow me to return for that point? Thanks and have a safe and Happy Easter weekend.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, given your test results now, six months following your exposure, you can be completely confident that you did not get HIV. Therefore you are not a risk of any sort to your wife. Further testing would be a waste of time and resources.
As for your symptoms, the symptoms you describe are common, non-specific problems of the sort experienced by many people. While some people with HIV may experience some such symptoms they are very, very much in the minority and the vast majority of people with floaters, sore throats, muscle twitches, etc do not have HIV, just as you do not.
I hope my comments are reassuring. you have nothing to worry about from the exposure you describe. EWH
As for your symptoms, the symptoms you describe are common, non-specific problems of the sort experienced by many people. While some people with HIV may experience some such symptoms they are very, very much in the minority and the vast majority of people with floaters, sore throats, muscle twitches, etc do not have HIV, just as you do not.
I hope my comments are reassuring. you have nothing to worry about from the exposure you describe. EWH
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