4th Gen Antibody/Antigen and HIV RNA Test at 21 days.

[pok3mon]

Hi hope all are ok for the most part. I'm generally stressed due to this situation and three others unrelated to health/sex. I would say this is likely the most I've ever been stressed out in my entire life.

My exposure is probably high risk? I really don't know how risk is qualified.

I had insertive oral (a few minutes), vaginal (10min or so), and anal sex twice about (8 minutes total). All interactions were "unprotected" with an HIV unknown status friend.

Some background to explain my lack of using the condom (I understand this is not a valid excuse). I have had many many encounters with  this friend over the years and mostly unprotected. I've been tested for HIV and other STDs many times during the six or so years we have been active and I haven't developed any symptoms or had any issues.

All STD tests come back negative. (HIV and other common STD tests).


I'm Under a LOT of stress for reasons unrelated to this event. So I'm not sure how to judge my symptoms.

However, in this particular case about a week after our last interaction. I developed a mild sore throat. A few days later I developed bouts of diarrhea, sweating, fatigue etc and the sore throat kept intensifying. Meanwhile I'm not sleeping well due to stress with other things unrelated to this. I don't think much of it. Then my son comes down with Strep (which was diagnosed by a quick test) during the second week of my bouts with the soar throat I got to my GP and get amoxicillin prescription, based on positive result of my son and my own sore throat, with minimally swollen glands no fever.

I keep taking the medication and there is absolutely no improvement in symptoms of sore throat. Throat gets worse and worse, I'm on day 8 of antibiotics and my throat is in a worse state than it started at. I had a bout of cold sore on my nose (Herpes Simplex 1 that I got from my current live-in FWB). My son is almost done with his treatment and seems to be doing well. He has a little soreness still that can be seen with the naked eye but he says it feels a lot better. But isn't 100% gone, his lymph nodes in neck and under jaw seem pretty swollen still.

My other friend with benefits that lives with me started developing symptoms of sore throat, and general malaise, along with Herpes 1 break out on mouth, shortly after her antibiotics that she was taking for "womanly" issues finishes. Now her throat looks and feels exactly like mine. We have had unprotected tests.

So here I am on day 22 post potential exposure with friend #1. I had a 10 Panel STD test done a day ago Day 21 post exposure. I'm nervously, no panickingly awaiting results.

1. Chlamydia
2. Gonorrhea
3. Hepatitis A
4. Hepatitis B
5. Hepatitis C
6. Herpes 1
7. Herpes 2
8. Syphillis
9. HIV 1 & 2 4th Gen antibody/antigen
10. HIV RNA Early detection test

Based on the HIV tests that are being conducted will a result at this point rule out HIV or do I need to have same HIV tests re-done at 28 days or Antibody test at 3months?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

__suffering_with_anxiety_stress_every_few_minutes___

[pok3mon]

Had Another 4th Gen Duo done at day 34. Couldn't wait and had some major anxiety that I needed to relieve by testing. As my Sore Throat is still here....

Son's sore throat got really bad again and he is back on Antibiotics.

At this point I believe my symptoms are not related to HIV or another STD. Both partners are doing well at this point to. So ...

Day 34: 4th Gen Duo Antigen/Antibody   ---> Non Reactive.


On the lab report this is what *** is called....

" HIV Screen 4th Generation wRfx "

[pok3mon]

Quick Update, it seems though everyone else is feeling better, their throats look just like mine. So I'm assuming this can't possibly be ARS. I hope testing in the future will turn out negative/non-reactive, but the antibiotics not working etc is likely because there was strep at one point that has cleared but maybe there is just something else in the works.

All the winter pollen/weather changes may be what are causing my irritated sore throat.

Day 32.

[pok3mon]

Made it to day 30 without having any more major panic attacks. Over STDs in general and what a bad boy I have been.

I still have moments of acute stress. This type of stress is no joke.

[pok3mon]

I keep having moments when I panic little. Sore throat is still here. But I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't an allergy since almost half way throng my second round of antibiotics and it isn't gone.

FWB #2 and son seem to be doing much better now. So, I hope this is good news on one front. As I'm allergic to ragweed and its been a tough ragweed season so far.  

But still, I go through thoughts and feelings of despair whenever I think about how much I jeopardized my life and the life of others by taking such a careless action.

Maybe this is another life lesson I need to learn. I hope that the waiting itself and stress doesn't kill me. Though I would rather wait to get a conclusive result than get a conclusive result now. Which would only mean one thing.

Just letting everyone know about the emotional side of this "waiting." As it is likely the hardest thing to wait for, but I guess modern tech can't do any better than 12 Weeks.

I still go back/forth about getting another test sooner than 6 weeks. Maybe I might next week but the cost is somewhat high ($79 US) for 4th Gen Duo..... Trying to enjoy the weekend and let more time pass.

Day 31.  

[pok3mon]

Thanks for the feedback malbat, I will avoid this type of behavior from now on. Not worth the stress.

So Everything came back negative, except for HSV-1 which is a relief so far. Since I knew about that, got it from my ex who got it from her mother. I ended up taking the Duo test a few days later at day 24. Due to mix up with the tests ordered.

So, I'm hopeful that no infection has occurred. But Can't be 100% certain until after the recommended time period. 12 weeks.

But, I plan on taking another Duo test at week 6 (42 days). I have about two weeks left for that. I will let you guys know results then.

Please, do not use symptoms to diagnose, this leads to a lot of needless stress which will induce symptoms very similar to HIV. Thereby creating more stress and more symptoms, due to immune system being suppressed by stress.

The best thing to do is be mindful of the facts, if you had non risky interactions chances are nil. If risky chances are small but not worth stressing to the point of panic. Though, I'm saying this as I still continue to have occasional panic attacks through the week.

So tests so far:

21 Days: Negative RNA MTA HIV-1
24 Days: Negative 4th Gen Duo ag/ab

Planned test:

Week 6: 4th gen Duo ag/ab
Week 12: 4th gen Duo ag/ab
Does that sound like a good plan?

[malbat]

Sounds good. A simple blood drawn antibody test at 12 weeks will be sufficient to conclude.

[pok3mon]

I forgot to mention both friends are females and I'm a male.

[malbat]

You definitely had risks with the unprotected vaginal and anal sex. It is advised to use a condom all the time outside a monogamous relationship to prevent infections and  anxiety such as this. Remember, agreeing to have unprotected sex is is agreeing to having risks of infection.

Guidelines are to take an ag/ab test at the 6th week mark for a good indication. This most probably will be your true status. Follow up with a simple ab test at the 12th week mark. It will be conclusive.

Sorry we don't discuss symptoms. Having symptoms or the lack of them are not indicative of your status. Symptoms are useless and are unreliable in diagnosing hiv. Not everyone gets symptoms once infected. Good luck.

[pok3mon]

Took a ab/ag on day 34 almost 5 weeks. I hope this is semi indicative of my status. I'll try to wait until a good bit after my six week (if I can handle the wait) to test again.

Thanks!