Aa
Please Dr H, I am very worried about these night sweats
Hi Dr H,
Doctor, your opinion will be invaluable to put my mind at ease. I have looked through almost every one of your responses and am comforted by your advice.
My encounters were low risk over the past few weeks and involved protected sex, with the most recent on 14/10. The most recent encounter was a blur due to alcohol so I became increasingly worried the next day. So much so that HIV has consumed my mind.
I have had severe night sweats that have really made me frightened. These night sweats lasted for 6 days and commenced 11 days after possible exposure with a drenching night sweat on day 13. I have also felt very fatigued, had diarrhea etc during this time. I note you said that “HIV cannot cause symptoms without being detectable in the blood". Blood was drawn for a quantitative PCR test 9 and a half days after the incident which returned “undetectable” at <40.
Given the result of my PCR test, is it safe to say that my symptoms and night sweats are most likely caused by anxiety or something else besides HIV?
Your response really will mean a lot to me doctor and help me sleep at night. I was on a heavy load of antidepressants at the time and my acts were just so uncharacteristic. I had severe anxiety while waiting for the results of my PCR test.
Thank you very much for your time doctor.
Doctor, your opinion will be invaluable to put my mind at ease. I have looked through almost every one of your responses and am comforted by your advice.
My encounters were low risk over the past few weeks and involved protected sex, with the most recent on 14/10. The most recent encounter was a blur due to alcohol so I became increasingly worried the next day. So much so that HIV has consumed my mind.
I have had severe night sweats that have really made me frightened. These night sweats lasted for 6 days and commenced 11 days after possible exposure with a drenching night sweat on day 13. I have also felt very fatigued, had diarrhea etc during this time. I note you said that “HIV cannot cause symptoms without being detectable in the blood". Blood was drawn for a quantitative PCR test 9 and a half days after the incident which returned “undetectable” at <40.
Given the result of my PCR test, is it safe to say that my symptoms and night sweats are most likely caused by anxiety or something else besides HIV?
Your response really will mean a lot to me doctor and help me sleep at night. I was on a heavy load of antidepressants at the time and my acts were just so uncharacteristic. I had severe anxiety while waiting for the results of my PCR test.
Thank you very much for your time doctor.
G'Day Doc - just a quick question. Why do all the HIV hotlines say a PCR RNA is most accurate in the second week of infection and thereafter not very useful? Is this so people wait for an ELISA or is there a basis in science?
My 6 week test came back negative, although, liver enzymes are up...
Anyway, from what I have read, my 10 day PCR together with my 6 week negative is almost 100%.
Thanks again doc and I just wanted to let you know my result. I might go for an 8 week test given the liver thing.
Anyway, from what I have read, my 10 day PCR together with my 6 week negative is almost 100%.
Thanks again doc and I just wanted to let you know my result. I might go for an 8 week test given the liver thing.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't know. I have no further comments. This thread is closed.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't know the cause. Not HIV. All further questions to your local health care provider(s).
Doc, please, my last question.
My night sweats from days 11 - 17. Viral load test undetectable at day 10. ELISA came back negative at day 27. Safe to say night sweats due to anxiety?
Thanks again, if I know the night sweats are anxiety related then I can move on.
My night sweats from days 11 - 17. Viral load test undetectable at day 10. ELISA came back negative at day 27. Safe to say night sweats due to anxiety?
Thanks again, if I know the night sweats are anxiety related then I can move on.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I have no further comments. Ask the docs who tested you or read the innumerable discussions on this forum in response to the same questions.
G'Day Dr H,
Sorry I couldn't help myself and got an antibody test @ 4 weeks (27 days) which returned negative. I recall from other posts this is about 90%?
Together with my viral load test (quantitative PCR test) at 10 days which returned undetectable at <40 and my very low risk activities (protected oral sex from swingers), should I test again in a few weeks or, in your medical opinion, can I let this go once and for all?
Sorry I couldn't help myself and got an antibody test @ 4 weeks (27 days) which returned negative. I recall from other posts this is about 90%?
Together with my viral load test (quantitative PCR test) at 10 days which returned undetectable at <40 and my very low risk activities (protected oral sex from swingers), should I test again in a few weeks or, in your medical opinion, can I let this go once and for all?
Thanks Dr H. I know I took all the precautions but just got really really scared after learning the woman was a swinger for 10 years, but, having said that, all “one night stands” have multiple partners.
The night sweats were quite severe but i'll have to let it go - no one ever got anything from protected oral. Now my mind is making up "foul play" theories that perhaps something happened when I fell a sleep which are just paranoid.
Even so, the possibility of having an undetectable viral load at <40 when severe night sweats occur a day or two later is really small. While the PCR test was a bad idea, it really has put my mind at ease that perhaps my night sweats are a result of anxiety.
Thanks again.
The night sweats were quite severe but i'll have to let it go - no one ever got anything from protected oral. Now my mind is making up "foul play" theories that perhaps something happened when I fell a sleep which are just paranoid.
Even so, the possibility of having an undetectable viral load at <40 when severe night sweats occur a day or two later is really small. While the PCR test was a bad idea, it really has put my mind at ease that perhaps my night sweats are a result of anxiety.
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The Melbourne SHC is probably the best of the lot - but some would give that nod to Sydney - let's just say they are the two best, truly world class. It was a mistake to "beg for the PCR test", but in any case it is time to just drop the whole thing. You have overreacted in a big way and it's time to accept the multiple reassurances and carry on with your life.
Again, Dr H, thanks so much for your advice, it has really made me feel a whole lot better. I will not post any further, just wanted to say thanks.
I have seen a nurse at the Melbourne SHC and three different doctors (GP's) who have all advised that I do not need an HIV test so that, combined with your advice, has really put my fears to rest. In truth, I had to get on my knees and beg for the PCR test.
Thanks again Dr H! ... by the way, you're a living legend at the SHC!
I have seen a nurse at the Melbourne SHC and three different doctors (GP's) who have all advised that I do not need an HIV test so that, combined with your advice, has really put my fears to rest. In truth, I had to get on my knees and beg for the PCR test.
Thanks again Dr H! ... by the way, you're a living legend at the SHC!
Hi Dr H,
I just came from the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic.
My name was called and the interview with the nurse lasted less than a minute.
I explained that I had suffered from a week of night sweats after being anxious about my sexual activities.
He asked three things:
- "Do you have sex with men?" No, I replied.
- "Do you use condoms?" Yes, always, I replied.
- "Have you ever used IV drugs?" No, never, I replied.
He looked at me square in the face and said, "we don't need to see you". He didn't care about the details of my activities.
Based on my extensive research on HIV, I tend to agree that HIV can only be transmitted from unprotected sex and IV drug use. The other grey details are just a anxious mans dilemma.
Having attended a catholic school for 12 years, we were made to beleive that HIV can pass through condoms so that was on the back of my mind.
I will have a test in a few weeks - it will be negative. Then I will find myself a long term girlfriend and be done with all this STD stuff!
I just came from the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic.
My name was called and the interview with the nurse lasted less than a minute.
I explained that I had suffered from a week of night sweats after being anxious about my sexual activities.
He asked three things:
- "Do you have sex with men?" No, I replied.
- "Do you use condoms?" Yes, always, I replied.
- "Have you ever used IV drugs?" No, never, I replied.
He looked at me square in the face and said, "we don't need to see you". He didn't care about the details of my activities.
Based on my extensive research on HIV, I tend to agree that HIV can only be transmitted from unprotected sex and IV drug use. The other grey details are just a anxious mans dilemma.
Having attended a catholic school for 12 years, we were made to beleive that HIV can pass through condoms so that was on the back of my mind.
I will have a test in a few weeks - it will be negative. Then I will find myself a long term girlfriend and be done with all this STD stuff!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice. I'll just repeat that your local SHC would be a great source for expert care if you remain concerned.
Hi Dr H,
Thanks so much for your reply. I had met the women on the night and one said she was a swinger going on 10 years after our encounter which really got me thinking - my encounters were low risk because all I did was have condom protected oral sex but on the last incident I am not sure due to alcohol. No vaginal sex, of that I am 100% certain, but they did clench and scratch my back and abs a lot, possibly after touching themselves.
I have felt very guilty and have had high levels of anxiety. I began to worry the day after the incident with the swinger.
All my research indicates I was not at risk but the intense anxiety continued. Then the night sweats began and I just became very worried. I am not sure if I had a fever but on the 5th night sweat I went to see my doctor in the afternoon who took my temperature and said it was in the "normal range".
I have no rashes, no swollen lymph nodes (but I am not sure what swollen nodes feel like, I just inspected my neck, groin and armpits but nothing, no pain). Just night sweats, some fatigue, lots of insomnia and no appetite whatsoever.
Thanks so much for your reply. I had met the women on the night and one said she was a swinger going on 10 years after our encounter which really got me thinking - my encounters were low risk because all I did was have condom protected oral sex but on the last incident I am not sure due to alcohol. No vaginal sex, of that I am 100% certain, but they did clench and scratch my back and abs a lot, possibly after touching themselves.
I have felt very guilty and have had high levels of anxiety. I began to worry the day after the incident with the swinger.
All my research indicates I was not at risk but the intense anxiety continued. Then the night sweats began and I just became very worried. I am not sure if I had a fever but on the 5th night sweat I went to see my doctor in the afternoon who took my temperature and said it was in the "normal range".
I have no rashes, no swollen lymph nodes (but I am not sure what swollen nodes feel like, I just inspected my neck, groin and armpits but nothing, no pain). Just night sweats, some fatigue, lots of insomnia and no appetite whatsoever.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
One of the most misleading things someone can do to assess the chance s/he has a new HIV infection is to look on the web for lists of symtoms. There is not a single symptom that, by itself, indicates HIV. And every HIV symptom is more common in other health problems that are far more frequent, even for people at high risk for HIV; and in people at low risk (e.g., non-injection drug using heterosexuals), for practical purposes HIV is almost never the cause. Night sweats are a good case in point.
Second, night sweats are simply a manifestation of fever. Every health condition that causes fever can cause night sweats, which result when a persons' high temperature drops rapidly during the night. That's all it is. Sweating at night, without fever is not evidence of any infection at all; mostly it just means the room is warm (or the covers too heavy), or a hormonal or psychological problem.
Finally, it is true that if someone has symptoms of acute antiretroviral syndrome (ARS, primary HIV infection), generally the virus is detecable in blood.
So adding up the odds--your partner(s) didn't have HIV ("my enounters were low risk"), the expousre were protected by condoms, you have night sweats but do not mention fever, you describe no other symptoms to suggest HIV (diarrhea isn't an issue in ARS, only with overt AIDS), and your PCR is negative--there simply is no realistic chance you have HIV. Had you been my patient, I would not have done the PCR test. (There is a significant risk of false positive results--and you would really have been a basket case if the result had been positive, while you waited for addtional tests to prove you didn't have HIV after all.) But the negative result is reasonably reassuring evidence you don't have HIV.
From your username, presumably you are in Australia. Your country's sexual health centres (SHCs) probably comprise the world's very best network of STD/HIV clinics. If you live near any mid- to large population center, visit the local SHC if you remain concerned. In general, the clinicians there probalby know more about HIV and ARS than I do.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Second, night sweats are simply a manifestation of fever. Every health condition that causes fever can cause night sweats, which result when a persons' high temperature drops rapidly during the night. That's all it is. Sweating at night, without fever is not evidence of any infection at all; mostly it just means the room is warm (or the covers too heavy), or a hormonal or psychological problem.
Finally, it is true that if someone has symptoms of acute antiretroviral syndrome (ARS, primary HIV infection), generally the virus is detecable in blood.
So adding up the odds--your partner(s) didn't have HIV ("my enounters were low risk"), the expousre were protected by condoms, you have night sweats but do not mention fever, you describe no other symptoms to suggest HIV (diarrhea isn't an issue in ARS, only with overt AIDS), and your PCR is negative--there simply is no realistic chance you have HIV. Had you been my patient, I would not have done the PCR test. (There is a significant risk of false positive results--and you would really have been a basket case if the result had been positive, while you waited for addtional tests to prove you didn't have HIV after all.) But the negative result is reasonably reassuring evidence you don't have HIV.
From your username, presumably you are in Australia. Your country's sexual health centres (SHCs) probably comprise the world's very best network of STD/HIV clinics. If you live near any mid- to large population center, visit the local SHC if you remain concerned. In general, the clinicians there probalby know more about HIV and ARS than I do.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
