Aa
Just some reassurance please
Hello doctors, I hope you wont be annoyed with me for asking these questions, but I really need to put all this behind me but I worry about things which may invalid my result. I suppose instead of accepting the result, I look for things which may mean I should test again.
I am female and my exposure was one time unprotected sex and unprotected oral with someone I am not in touch with anymore. All STD's negative. Negative HIV test at GUM clinic 3 months in July 2010.
I had posted in the community forum but wanted the peace of mind of a professional such as yourself.
1. I just wanted to know that the topical corticosteroid cream used before, during and after my exposure and during the window period leading up to my test - would not affect my result? Probably used twice a day or does it not matter how long it was used for?
I have done loads of reading of seroconversion and that it's an urban myth to go beyond 3 months but I was worried if using the cream during the window period may change things? And only those on PEP need testing after 3 months?
2. Would any minor hospital procedures (ie laparoscopy for endometriosis, endoscopy, cystoscopy 2-3 years ago) affect my results - I got concerned about a suppressed immunity but perhaps I've misunderstood things I've come across.
3. So basically if I'm not on chemotheraphy, not taking any organ anti-rejection drugs or an IV drug user (or anything else?), I can be confident of my negative antibody result?
Am I over-thinking all this? As you can see, I've been thinking a long time about all this.
Thank you for all you do.
I am female and my exposure was one time unprotected sex and unprotected oral with someone I am not in touch with anymore. All STD's negative. Negative HIV test at GUM clinic 3 months in July 2010.
I had posted in the community forum but wanted the peace of mind of a professional such as yourself.
1. I just wanted to know that the topical corticosteroid cream used before, during and after my exposure and during the window period leading up to my test - would not affect my result? Probably used twice a day or does it not matter how long it was used for?
I have done loads of reading of seroconversion and that it's an urban myth to go beyond 3 months but I was worried if using the cream during the window period may change things? And only those on PEP need testing after 3 months?
2. Would any minor hospital procedures (ie laparoscopy for endometriosis, endoscopy, cystoscopy 2-3 years ago) affect my results - I got concerned about a suppressed immunity but perhaps I've misunderstood things I've come across.
3. So basically if I'm not on chemotheraphy, not taking any organ anti-rejection drugs or an IV drug user (or anything else?), I can be confident of my negative antibody result?
Am I over-thinking all this? As you can see, I've been thinking a long time about all this.
Thank you for all you do.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Original reply: "...the only medications that are suspected to affect the reliability of HIV antibody test results are potent chemotherapy and very strong immunosuppressive drugs. Even these are only theoretical...."
Thread over.
Thread over.
Sorry doctor, I didn't mean catching it via a needle, it was meant to come across as a question to just check that the substance injected wouldn't affect accuracy of testing. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said, "and there is no circumstance that you can think up that will change that judgment" [that you don't have HIV]. And of course nobody ever caught HIV from medical injections by a qualified health professional. Please stop thinking about it and coming up with convoluted circumstances that could change my opinion. It isn't going to happen.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
Doctor. I had remembered another procedure but as it involved injections I thought it best to check. Two years ago I had four (within 6 weeks) alcohol ablative injections in my foot to shrink a mortons neuroma. I'm sure this doesn't change your answers but as I said, being injections, just wanted to check. Thanks
Thank you for your comments. You really are a good man with what you do here. Best wishes to you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No medical procedures or illnesses affect the reliability of HIV testing. I agree you are a bit too "worked up about every possible scenario". Try to let it go. For sure you don't have HIV, and there is no circumstance that you can think up that will change that judgment. All is well.
Thank you doctor. It really does help when provided with a comprehensive answer.
I take it that my hospital procedures would also have no affect? (I think I had gotten myself worked up about every possible scenario) - I wasn't too sure if it was overlooked or incorporated into your answer.
Thanks again
I take it that my hospital procedures would also have no affect? (I think I had gotten myself worked up about every possible scenario) - I wasn't too sure if it was overlooked or incorporated into your answer.
Thanks again
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. We are not annoyed when users ask questions like yours. Just sometimes a bit frustrated when people have trouble accepting overwhelming evidence they don't have HIV and spending what seems (to us) to be a wasted posting fee.
You had accurate replies, even though very brief, on the comunity forum.
Presumably you're in the UK (your use of GUM clinic), where heterosexually transmitted HIV remains rare except in selected population groups, e.g. immigrants from AIDS-endemic areas. If you and your partner both are British, the chance he had HIV, or that you were infected, is extremely low.
1) As you learned on the community forum, the only medications that are suspected to affect the reliability of HIV antibody test results are potent chemotherapy and very strong immunosuppressive drugs. Even these are only theoretical, with few if any actual cases in which these drugs actually had any effect on test results. (I am aware of no such cases.) Certainly steroid skin creams have absolutely no effect on test reliability or window period.
2) Yes, only people treated with PEP need testing beyond 3 months. Even that isn't certain -- it's common-sense advice, with no strong science behind it.
3) Yes.
Thanks for the thanks. I hope these answers help get you beyond your anxieties. You truly should be having no worries about having HIV. Good luck.
HHH, MD
You had accurate replies, even though very brief, on the comunity forum.
Presumably you're in the UK (your use of GUM clinic), where heterosexually transmitted HIV remains rare except in selected population groups, e.g. immigrants from AIDS-endemic areas. If you and your partner both are British, the chance he had HIV, or that you were infected, is extremely low.
1) As you learned on the community forum, the only medications that are suspected to affect the reliability of HIV antibody test results are potent chemotherapy and very strong immunosuppressive drugs. Even these are only theoretical, with few if any actual cases in which these drugs actually had any effect on test results. (I am aware of no such cases.) Certainly steroid skin creams have absolutely no effect on test reliability or window period.
2) Yes, only people treated with PEP need testing beyond 3 months. Even that isn't certain -- it's common-sense advice, with no strong science behind it.
3) Yes.
Thanks for the thanks. I hope these answers help get you beyond your anxieties. You truly should be having no worries about having HIV. Good luck.
HHH, MD
Just wanted to add that I did search but the questions were about short term use (ie a week or so) whereas I used the cream for a while. I can provide the name if it helps
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