hiv 4 week tests and some bumps symptoms

[sandybhag]

How soon would you know the symptoms?.
Is hiv half antibody test result accurate after 4 weeks of sex?

I had protected sex with an escort 6 weeks before and I don't know her hiv status. I did use the condom correctly but the second time my condom was a little folded at the tip and I pulled out thinking it was broken. They were good condoms. Ever since I had sex with her, I had pimples near my genitals(near pubic hair on upper  right side). I ran to a doctor and he ordered HSV1,2 and RPR tests and they all came out negative.Then I consulted another family medicine doctor and he said it could be hsv2 or follucilitis and gave tablet (Azythromycin & prednisone) and they went down.
A week later rashes started appearing and they disappear within minutes and that got better.
After that, I had tingling sensations in my anus, near genitals and foot mainly and that got better.
Currently, I experience symptoms like little red bumps and some wounds that look like bug bites. Every now and then I feel like my lymph nodes are swollen in my neck but they are not really.
At 4 weeks, I requested doctor to order HIV 1/2 anti body test and RPR Syphilis test and they came out negative.
I then had itch on my neck(group of small pimples) and two pimples(looks like ant bites) started growing on my cheek but this time they are not with pus but moderately itched. With all this I had some tension under neck and felt swollen lymph nodes and went to a dermatologist who tested my dead skin where I had an itch and said it is nothing like chlamydia, gonorreah or herpes. I now have a check up in 2 more weeks and then I will have an another hiv test done(8 weeks) done.

I never had high fever or sore throat or sever chills.
Throat feels like lumps but not really. I don't do drugs.

Any suggestions on future hiv tests and what kind of test is reliable at that stage?
Can I trust my current hiv test results?


Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

Your worries are over (or should be).  The most important information you provide is your negative HIV test result.  Well over 90% of infected persons have positive antibody tests by 4 weeks, and all people with HIV symptoms have positive tests by that time.  And if your test was a duo test (for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen), the negative result is 100% reliable, with no need for further testing.

Symptoms are the least reliable of all ways to judge whether or not someone has HIV.  Even the most typical symptoms of a new HIV infection are almost always due to other common, mostly minor medical conditions -- and in any case, your symptoms aren't typical for HIV.  The same is true for exposure history:  no matter how high the risk of HIV may have been at the time of exposure, test results always overrule.  So even if you knew your partner had HIV, and even if the sex had been unprotected, I would reassure you there is virtually no chance you were infected.  And in fact, it is statistically unlikely a partner like yours was infected, and the sex was condom-protected as well.

In other words, testing always overrules exposure history and symptoms, and you can be virtually 100% confident you don't have HIV.  If your previous test was a stand-alone antibody test and not a duo, then you can have another at 6-8 weeks to make the result definitive.  Contrary to popular belief, it really isn't necessary to wait 3 months -- see the thread below for more discussion on this point.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700

So don't worry about your symptoms. If they continue or you remain concerned, see a doctor about them -- but you can ignore HIV as a possible cause.

I hope this has helped.  Best wishes--- HHH, MD

[scarednavyman]

A related discussion, Cut on base and testicles was started.

[mhsere]

A related discussion, HIV worried in China was started.

[Rajeshtom]

A related discussion, after test was started.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You would be welcome to start a new thread either on the STD forum or the herpes forum. If you do so, be prepared to provide more detail about exactly what test(s) were positive for HSV-2 (PCR, culture, or blood antibody test, and the location of the lesion(s) tested if it was a swab test for PCR or culture.

[sandybhag]

I was diagnosed with hsv2. Doctor said that they found hsv2 in my DNA after the lab swab. I now have two mouth ulcers inside my upper lip from the past 2 weeks and they are 2-3mm size. They are not going away. My tinglings went down because I used valtrex and no fever or chills. I had sore throat but that was only a day.I will assume it because of anxiety or weather changes.

They are not going away and my girl friend had cough for 2 weeks which got down after using nyquil a little but still coughing every now and then.I will assume hers is because of regular climatic changes.But, my mouth ulcers are not going down and this is big thing for me now. I can't get infectious disease specialist because they only see on primary care physician referral. My doctor he said it is genital herpes on the first look (even before my lab swab) which is good.

Funny thing is I never performed any oral on the escort nor touched her a lot except few parts of genitals and mine was condom protected act too.Even if I have to assume that the condom has broken(which I can't say because mine were latex . They were not used because I used it from my own pocket). My 47 days syphillis VDRL and hiv half anti body were negative.


May I know which forum is the right place to post?. can this be a side effect of using anti- biotics?

Sorry for posting here again. Tell me the right category I will start a new thread.

Thank you for you patience.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There's no need for apology -- but we do ask users to understand and follow the rules and policies.

I suggest you rely on your dermatologist -- but if you don't trust his expertise, it shouldn't be hard to find another one.

That will end this thread.  Time to move on.

[sandybhag]

sorry for the inconvenience doctor. I accept your words..

my dermatologist is helpless doctor because he can't conclude it as herpes. I gave a lab swab and I hope that should justify my herpes hsv1 or hsv2.
I will trust that I don't have hiv, but I would repeat it just for my happiness at 3 months duration.

You certainly did gave relief with your risk assessment long time before.

I was just asking because you must have analyzed lots of these cases and make me direct that way. So is the reason I posted a pic for help.Sorry for the inconvenience again.

Have a nice day doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You need to accept the fact that you do not have HIV; and we do not speculate about causes of symptoms other than HIV.  As you already know, we also do not look at clinical photos; we make no exceptions.

Most non-medically trained persons "can't figure out" what might be causing their symptoms.  That's why there are doctors and clinics.  I suggest you visit one.

That will end this thread.  Good luck with it.

[sandybhag]

Hello doctor,

My 7th week hiv half antibody test is negative(EIA I guess)
I wouldn't ask you much on this but the bubbles are appearing on my penis root, tingling sensations and some tenderness in neck muscles are still there.
I am posting a picture because for clarification and can you please take a look a that and let me know what it could be so that I will post on that forum. I know that is not according to forum rules but please help me identify doctor.


http://imageshack.us/a/img837/9052/viid.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img32/5155/wa9g.jpg

I just can't figure out what this could be.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As I said above, "Well over 90% of infected persons have positive antibody tests by 4 weeks, and all people with HIV symptoms have positive tests by that time."  Your negative test at 4 weeks is virtually 100% reliable.  

[sandybhag]

One last question -

I didn't have a duo test.Do you say that, any half anti body test should be able to detect HIV virus at 4 weeks?.

I shall keep you posted my 8 week test results.
Now I feel why parents should talk to kids about these topics.

People whoever is reading this, please do not risk yourself in dangerous situations.

Be good Do good.Work out, stay fit. Have fun.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This information doesn't change my opinion or advice.  Acne has nothing to do with HIV or other STDs.  I will also add that whenever someone suggests his or her own symptoms are due to anxiety or other psychological/emotional origin, usually s/he is correct.  Do your best to stop worrying so much over a protected sexual exposure and a sexual decision you regret.  Deal with that part as you need to, but you can rest assured you acquired neither HIV nor any other STD from it.

[sandybhag]

I am little concerned because my girlfriend started experiencing the acne like pimples. She is healthy person and I am a little concerned about what to do.

Some other symptoms that are minor but have to say that

1) hives like pimples they only itch  a little once in a while but with come as red bumps.
2) feeling that some parasite is crawling near my genitals, especially near the pubic hair region. My right testicle does pain once in a while for a minute. I don't know again if it is because of too much attention to my body.
3) during initial days I had low back pain but now it is little.
4) Throat muscles were tensed for a week. I dont feel them anymore may be because after hearing my hiv 4 week test results.

I do think that sometimes my anxiety has caused my lymph nodes swollen feeling.I will definitely breathe if some expert suggest my future steps.

My parents never talked about diseases and to me I was thinking it is all good as long as you have protected sex regardless of the person. I regret now. Lesson learned.


Thanks.