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HIV exposure, symptoms, false negative test?
Hello Dr.
First I would like to thank you for the wonderful job you are doing on this forum.
I have a problem that from what I saw on this and other forums it's apparently pretty common.
In mid June this year I went to an erotic massage pallor where I received a massage for about 20-30 min and after that a handjob for about 5 min. The problem is that at the time I had lesions on the head of the penis and foreskin. I know this because it was stinging during and after the handjob, especially in contact with water. I didn't think I was at risk at the time but after 2 months, in September I had a sore throat that came with a cough that lasted almost 1 month. During this time I started loosing weight (10 kg until now). In October I had some gastrointestinal problems that lasted for 3 weeks. Diarrhea and sometimes constipation. Since then I couldent sleep normal anymore. I started feeling fatigued and I stil do until now. I had a few night swets and fever with chills. I was at different doctors bu they didn't find anything wrong with me. At this time I was not thinking at HIV, until I red on the internet the symptoms for ARS. I have or had all of them!! From night swets with fever to fatigue, muscle pain, stiff neck and pimple like spots on my body. All of them. Even my vision is a little blurry. I can't think normal anymore
At this time I panicked. I remembered the possible exposure.
At 20 weeks (4 1/2 months)after exposure I had a HIV screening test. I still had and have to this day symptoms. It was a MEIA test using the Abbot Axsym analyzer. It was negative. I believe it was a false negative. Since then I am thinking that I got HIV from that experience even if everybody says its a no risk situation.
Please tell me what should I do in this situation. Should I test again? What are my chances of having HIV from what I described?
Thank you for your time and I expect your answer soon.
First I would like to thank you for the wonderful job you are doing on this forum.
I have a problem that from what I saw on this and other forums it's apparently pretty common.
In mid June this year I went to an erotic massage pallor where I received a massage for about 20-30 min and after that a handjob for about 5 min. The problem is that at the time I had lesions on the head of the penis and foreskin. I know this because it was stinging during and after the handjob, especially in contact with water. I didn't think I was at risk at the time but after 2 months, in September I had a sore throat that came with a cough that lasted almost 1 month. During this time I started loosing weight (10 kg until now). In October I had some gastrointestinal problems that lasted for 3 weeks. Diarrhea and sometimes constipation. Since then I couldent sleep normal anymore. I started feeling fatigued and I stil do until now. I had a few night swets and fever with chills. I was at different doctors bu they didn't find anything wrong with me. At this time I was not thinking at HIV, until I red on the internet the symptoms for ARS. I have or had all of them!! From night swets with fever to fatigue, muscle pain, stiff neck and pimple like spots on my body. All of them. Even my vision is a little blurry. I can't think normal anymore
At this time I panicked. I remembered the possible exposure.
At 20 weeks (4 1/2 months)after exposure I had a HIV screening test. I still had and have to this day symptoms. It was a MEIA test using the Abbot Axsym analyzer. It was negative. I believe it was a false negative. Since then I am thinking that I got HIV from that experience even if everybody says its a no risk situation.
Please tell me what should I do in this situation. Should I test again? What are my chances of having HIV from what I described?
Thank you for your time and I expect your answer soon.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Still no need to test again. If you need to do so for your peace of mind, do so. I am confident your repeat test would be negative. EWH
I sended you a private message.
Thank you dr. for your quick reply. Your words are of high value for me
However there is a problem. My girlfriend started recently to develop the same symptoms as I have including fever, rash, fatigue, muscle sores. This is a pretty big coincidence. I don't believe in coincidences. Is this not a reason to test again?
However there is a problem. My girlfriend started recently to develop the same symptoms as I have including fever, rash, fatigue, muscle sores. This is a pretty big coincidence. I don't believe in coincidences. Is this not a reason to test again?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. In preparing to answer your question I also reviewed your prolonged exchange on the HIV community site and agree with the advice you have received from the folks there. I have several comments which I hope will be helpful but, since past experience often predicts future activities, I need to tell you I will not engage in a prolonged exchange over your concerns, just in case there is that possibility.
1. The experience you describe was NO (zero) risk for HIV. HIV is NOT spread through masturbation or massage, no matter what the lubricant is and whether or not there are abrasions of sores present- not ever. This is true despite the fact that it is typical for person engaged in mutual masturbation to get each others' genital secretions on one another.
2. The symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.
3. Current tests for HIV are excellent including the test you had. In these tests answers are definitive at 8 weeks following exposure. Thus your 20 week results are to be believed. When tests and symptoms are both present, the tests virtually always provide the right answer.
I hope these comments are helpful you do not need further testing or to be concerned at all about HIV. EWH
1. The experience you describe was NO (zero) risk for HIV. HIV is NOT spread through masturbation or massage, no matter what the lubricant is and whether or not there are abrasions of sores present- not ever. This is true despite the fact that it is typical for person engaged in mutual masturbation to get each others' genital secretions on one another.
2. The symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection. When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions). For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.
3. Current tests for HIV are excellent including the test you had. In these tests answers are definitive at 8 weeks following exposure. Thus your 20 week results are to be believed. When tests and symptoms are both present, the tests virtually always provide the right answer.
I hope these comments are helpful you do not need further testing or to be concerned at all about HIV. EWH
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