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Please Give Me Clarity - CONFUSED
Hi Doctors,
I am in NEED of your expertise. PLEASE READ ALL of my post. For the past 7 1/2 years, I have lived my life in fear due to HIV fears. My boyfriend and I have had a host of symptoms suggesting HIV.
I have been ONLY with my boyfriend in all these years, he is WEST AFRICAN. I only mention this because there are different strains present in these countries - Cameroon..etc.
We were tested 3 weeks ago and had a negative HIV 1/2 Bio Rad Antibody test. I thought I could move on but I was wrong. BOTH MY BOYFRIEND AND I have WORSENING PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY in hands, feet, scalp, face etc.
I know this is a COMMON late stage HIV symptom. I am freaked out...could the HIV test missed a strain unique to Africa? I have researched this condition and HIV Is THE ONLY VIRUS that is possible to explain why BOTH of us would be having these symptoms. THIS IS NO COINCIDENCE.
In addition to this symptom, A YEAR AGO my boyfriend had a LOW WBC of 3.1. HOWEVER, 1 WEEK AGO the WBC rose to 5.1. He has repeated colds, stomach cramps and I have repeated clear watery runny nose, and yeast infections, suggestibve of sinusitis..( A common HIV symptom).
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING ON? I need answers...I am so tired of spending 5 hours everynight on the internet. Please tell me could the test have been non reactive due to already weakened immune systems, or maybe didnt pick up this strain? Please HELP ME.
THANK YOU.
I am in NEED of your expertise. PLEASE READ ALL of my post. For the past 7 1/2 years, I have lived my life in fear due to HIV fears. My boyfriend and I have had a host of symptoms suggesting HIV.
I have been ONLY with my boyfriend in all these years, he is WEST AFRICAN. I only mention this because there are different strains present in these countries - Cameroon..etc.
We were tested 3 weeks ago and had a negative HIV 1/2 Bio Rad Antibody test. I thought I could move on but I was wrong. BOTH MY BOYFRIEND AND I have WORSENING PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY in hands, feet, scalp, face etc.
I know this is a COMMON late stage HIV symptom. I am freaked out...could the HIV test missed a strain unique to Africa? I have researched this condition and HIV Is THE ONLY VIRUS that is possible to explain why BOTH of us would be having these symptoms. THIS IS NO COINCIDENCE.
In addition to this symptom, A YEAR AGO my boyfriend had a LOW WBC of 3.1. HOWEVER, 1 WEEK AGO the WBC rose to 5.1. He has repeated colds, stomach cramps and I have repeated clear watery runny nose, and yeast infections, suggestibve of sinusitis..( A common HIV symptom).
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING ON? I need answers...I am so tired of spending 5 hours everynight on the internet. Please tell me could the test have been non reactive due to already weakened immune systems, or maybe didnt pick up this strain? Please HELP ME.
THANK YOU.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to be of help. Most of your symptoms are among the most common ones that human beings can experience. It's not surprising that the same ones would occur among any two people. It certainly does not suggest HIV.
Thank You So Much. It felt so good to read your words. Please doctor, don't you agree it is odd that both my boyfriend and I would have the SAME SYMPTOMS?
My last exposure was in 2001.
Thanks again and God Bless You.
My last exposure was in 2001.
Thanks again and God Bless You.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. I'll try to help.
The most important thing for you to know is that test results always outweigh symptoms in judging whether or not someone has HIV. The test results always are accurate, as long as enough time has gone by for antibody to develop -- i.e. after a few weeks since exposure. On the other hand, the symptoms caused by HIV are also caused by innumerable other things. That includes peripheral neuropathy. Among every 1,000 people with PN, I'll bet that no more than a few have HIV; the vast majority have some other cause. An PN due to AIDS occurs only in the late stages of disease; if you had that, you would be far sicker than you are.
The same is true of low WBC counts, colds, abdominal cramps, yeast infections,and all the other symptoms you mention etc. And you are wrong that sinusitis is a common HIV symptom; it is not. And yeast infections occur far more commonly in women without HIV than in those with HIV.
As to whether or not you actually have peripheral neuropathy, that requires a professional diagnosis. Do not assume that is what you have if it has not been professionally diagnosed.
Even in people with the combination of all symptoms you and your partner have had, the test results tell the truth. You do not have HIV. Most likely there is no underlying health problem of any importance. However, you should continue to work with your own health care providers if your symptoms continue to bother you. But you can be certain you do not have HIV and do not need any additional testing for it.
Let's not have an ongoing discussion. It is unlikely there is any information you could provide that would change my opinion or advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
The most important thing for you to know is that test results always outweigh symptoms in judging whether or not someone has HIV. The test results always are accurate, as long as enough time has gone by for antibody to develop -- i.e. after a few weeks since exposure. On the other hand, the symptoms caused by HIV are also caused by innumerable other things. That includes peripheral neuropathy. Among every 1,000 people with PN, I'll bet that no more than a few have HIV; the vast majority have some other cause. An PN due to AIDS occurs only in the late stages of disease; if you had that, you would be far sicker than you are.
The same is true of low WBC counts, colds, abdominal cramps, yeast infections,and all the other symptoms you mention etc. And you are wrong that sinusitis is a common HIV symptom; it is not. And yeast infections occur far more commonly in women without HIV than in those with HIV.
As to whether or not you actually have peripheral neuropathy, that requires a professional diagnosis. Do not assume that is what you have if it has not been professionally diagnosed.
Even in people with the combination of all symptoms you and your partner have had, the test results tell the truth. You do not have HIV. Most likely there is no underlying health problem of any importance. However, you should continue to work with your own health care providers if your symptoms continue to bother you. But you can be certain you do not have HIV and do not need any additional testing for it.
Let's not have an ongoing discussion. It is unlikely there is any information you could provide that would change my opinion or advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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