Aa
Seriously conflicting info. Please, Dr H, I know your are an authourity in this field.
I'm a 29 year old male, no drug use. Always been healthy. I had a brief exposure on the 29th of Dec, 06. I had a couple of minutes of unprocted vaginal sex ( Very drunk in the back of bar) with a girl of unknown status, Neither of us finished, it was pretty quick. Afterwards she told me that she was a lesbian, which didn't really make me feel any better.
I tested negative for claymydia, Gonorea, and HIV, at 18 days. I went back to my Dr. at 33 days and tested negative for hepatitis and HIV. Both HIV tests were the ellisa antibody. since then I've spoke to the girl and she has assured me that she has no health issue for me to worry about. (it turns out I knew her girlfriend). She said she gets regular checkups, but you never know these days.
Now, the people at Aidsmeds, have told me that the 33 day negative is meaningless, and a total waste of time. This really scares the hell out me because I've had a ton symptoms. My lymph nodes have been very achy, for weeks. Lots of pain in my legs as well. I have not had any fever though. Just lots of pain in my groin area.
Is my 33 day negative really worthless? Please Dr, I'm freaking out.
I tested negative for claymydia, Gonorea, and HIV, at 18 days. I went back to my Dr. at 33 days and tested negative for hepatitis and HIV. Both HIV tests were the ellisa antibody. since then I've spoke to the girl and she has assured me that she has no health issue for me to worry about. (it turns out I knew her girlfriend). She said she gets regular checkups, but you never know these days.
Now, the people at Aidsmeds, have told me that the 33 day negative is meaningless, and a total waste of time. This really scares the hell out me because I've had a ton symptoms. My lymph nodes have been very achy, for weeks. Lots of pain in my legs as well. I have not had any fever though. Just lots of pain in my groin area.
Is my 33 day negative really worthless? Please Dr, I'm freaking out.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Probably none make that claim, but the reasons are regulatory and legal, not scientific. It doesn't mean early testing doesn't give reliable results. See innumerable other discussions about seroconversion window and time to positive HIV antibody tests. No continuing discussion here.
What manufacture says that their test is reliable at 4 weeks?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Don't over-interpret the supposed criticism. As I said, the advisory board has some respected experts, and I'm sure they mean well. But Scared as Hell clearly got some misinformation (or they worded a response in a way that was easily misinterpreted). The general warning holds: for aidsmeds.com and all other health sites run by and for people with a particular health problem--whether HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, liver disease, arthritis, you name it--users should understand there is a strong chance of bias. I don't say people should not use such sites. I do say they should not rely on them as their sole source of health advice and other information about the condition.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
I have been a regular reader of both this site and aidsmeds.com.
I dont think the criticism against aidsmeds.com is justified. From what I can see, the advice they provide with regard to testing etc has always been similar to what Dr H says here.
Please check out the lessons section of aidsmeds.com as well as numerous replies by modetrators like Ann, Andy etc in the "Am i infected" forum.
I dont think the criticism against aidsmeds.com is justified. From what I can see, the advice they provide with regard to testing etc has always been similar to what Dr H says here.
Please check out the lessons section of aidsmeds.com as well as numerous replies by modetrators like Ann, Andy etc in the "Am i infected" forum.
People talk so much about window period here. However, nobody has yet brought a sure case where it took more than 3 months for seroconversion. They said they have reported a very few cases ever. But I am still waiting to see a case in this forum even if report by ao wonderful doctor.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I looked up aidsmeds.com. Note its byline, "Founded and operated by people with HIV". That is a giant red flag: for any medical condition, not just HIV/AIDS, websites operated primarily by people affected by the condition are prone have inflated, overly dramatic positions about that condition. Surely there are exceptions, and aidsmeds.com lists some accomplished medical advisors. But almost certainly those advisors are not the ones answering posted questions. There is no reason to suspect they or other medical interest websites are out to scare people and most don't intentionally give misinformation. But they come from a particular perspective and should never be trusted sole source of information. Always remember that there are zero regulatory restraints on the web; websites are under no legal requirement to assure truthful information.
Non reactive means negative. Alot of sites try to scare people. For instance, I took a quiz on line to see if I was at high risk for hiv. If your answer was yes to anyone of their questions YOU WERE AT HIGH RISK & SHOULD BE TESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. So pretty much anyone who wasn't a virgin was high risk. It was ridiculous. I guess they try to scare people. For what? I have no idea. Your fine. I agree alot of true lesbians don't have one night stands in the back of a bar with a guy! Too funny.
original poster: "when my Dr. gave me my results, he said it was "nonreactive", and not to worry."
I recently did a fair amount of research on worried wells/HIV anxiety. Apparently appropriate verbiage is particularly crucial when dealing with this population. According to what I read, doctors and other health care providers should never say anything like "nonreactive" or even "Your HIV test was negative," because that can seem ambiguous to the patient and trigger these kinds of lingering concerns. Instead it's better to clearly state, "You don't have HIV." Not that it matters, but I thought it was an interesting point.
Dr. Handsfield: THANK YOU for that comment on aidsmeds.com. Having HIV or any other disease sure doesn't make you an expert. Jesus, the HIV educator where I work has been HIV positive for almost 20 years, and routinely gives out completely wrong information. And having a disease certainly skews your perspective on prevalence, risks, treatment, etc. There's no way you could possibly be objective when it touches your life personally. Great comment.
I recently did a fair amount of research on worried wells/HIV anxiety. Apparently appropriate verbiage is particularly crucial when dealing with this population. According to what I read, doctors and other health care providers should never say anything like "nonreactive" or even "Your HIV test was negative," because that can seem ambiguous to the patient and trigger these kinds of lingering concerns. Instead it's better to clearly state, "You don't have HIV." Not that it matters, but I thought it was an interesting point.
Dr. Handsfield: THANK YOU for that comment on aidsmeds.com. Having HIV or any other disease sure doesn't make you an expert. Jesus, the HIV educator where I work has been HIV positive for almost 20 years, and routinely gives out completely wrong information. And having a disease certainly skews your perspective on prevalence, risks, treatment, etc. There's no way you could possibly be objective when it touches your life personally. Great comment.
monkeyflower said"Dr. Handsfield: THANK YOU for that comment on aidsmeds.com. Having HIV or any other disease sure doesn't make you an expert. "
Thank God these words came from an expert in the field.....I was thinking of posting exactly what monkeyflower said but then I saw the above.
I completely agree.
Thank God these words came from an expert in the field.....I was thinking of posting exactly what monkeyflower said but then I saw the above.
I completely agree.
I really appreciate your quick response, you guys can't imagine how stressed out I've been over this whole thing. I've totally made myself sick with the amount of anxiety I've had. I got a sore throat, headache, and a cough (wich has been going around) over the last couple of days, wich has sent my anxiety into overdrive. Thank you guys!
I'm curious, when my Dr. gave me my results, he said it was "nonreactive", and not to worry. That is the same as its negative right? I'm sure that was a stupid question, but I had to ask.
I guess my only other question is why do other sites like Aidsmeds, post such different, conflicting information. I mean, they said my exposure was definetly high risk. Are they just trying to scare people? In any case, thanks again. The work your doing here means the to people when their in crazy situations.
I'm curious, when my Dr. gave me my results, he said it was "nonreactive", and not to worry. That is the same as its negative right? I'm sure that was a stupid question, but I had to ask.
I guess my only other question is why do other sites like Aidsmeds, post such different, conflicting information. I mean, they said my exposure was definetly high risk. Are they just trying to scare people? In any case, thanks again. The work your doing here means the to people when their in crazy situations.
Your test is reassuring, not 100% conclusive. That said, you really didn't have a risky exposure. Test once more if you must. It will be negative.
No - not worthless - wait for the doc but I'm sure he'll tell you that your risk was low and that at 33 days it's a pretty good bet (90% or greater) that you do not have HIV.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
All I can do is repeat what you have seen me state in response to other questions. I HIV antibody tests marketed commercially, especially in the US and other industrialized countries, are usually positive (at least 90-95% of the time) within a month of a new HIV infection. Combining that with the low risk nature of your exposure (brief, with a partner who assures you of her health) means you can be absolutely certain you didn't catch HIV during that event. Your symptoms don't suggest HIV.
By the way, lesbian women in general are less likely to have HIV than heterosexual women. (Although that might not apply to lesbians or any other women who sometimes have sex with men they just met in a bar!)
Bottom line: Relax. Feel free to post my comments at 'Aidsmeds' to help straighten them out.
HHH, MD
By the way, lesbian women in general are less likely to have HIV than heterosexual women. (Although that might not apply to lesbians or any other women who sometimes have sex with men they just met in a bar!)
Bottom line: Relax. Feel free to post my comments at 'Aidsmeds' to help straighten them out.
HHH, MD
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