Aa
AmI in the clear
Dear Dr.
I am 36, caucaioun, and a heterosexual female. I had an affair with a man, we had sex twice unprotected vagianlly and orally. I am not concerned about the oral from posts I have read. My husband knows of all of this and we are seeing a marriage therapist. The man I was with is caucasion and heterosexual. We are not speaking and and he basically got mad when I asked him to test. I went to my obgyn of 18 years at 3weeks from the first exposure, this would have been about 2 weeks and 4 days from the second exposure. He ran a complete aarray of tests. Everyhting came back negative. I knew that is was probably too early for the hiv test so I did it again at six weeks from the first exposure which would have been 5 weeeks and 4 days from the second exposure. It came back negative, also. Just wondered what your thoughts were on this. The week before I had the second hiv test I was on antibiotics and was taking xanax from the worry and stress. Not surer if that would effect the test. I have fibromyalgia, geographic tongue, and they are testing me for lupus, not sure if that matters. Frankly, I am scared to death. Any help you can lend would be appreciated.
I am 36, caucaioun, and a heterosexual female. I had an affair with a man, we had sex twice unprotected vagianlly and orally. I am not concerned about the oral from posts I have read. My husband knows of all of this and we are seeing a marriage therapist. The man I was with is caucasion and heterosexual. We are not speaking and and he basically got mad when I asked him to test. I went to my obgyn of 18 years at 3weeks from the first exposure, this would have been about 2 weeks and 4 days from the second exposure. He ran a complete aarray of tests. Everyhting came back negative. I knew that is was probably too early for the hiv test so I did it again at six weeks from the first exposure which would have been 5 weeeks and 4 days from the second exposure. It came back negative, also. Just wondered what your thoughts were on this. The week before I had the second hiv test I was on antibiotics and was taking xanax from the worry and stress. Not surer if that would effect the test. I have fibromyalgia, geographic tongue, and they are testing me for lupus, not sure if that matters. Frankly, I am scared to death. Any help you can lend would be appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1,2) >99% of people with new HIV infections have positive results by 5+ weeks. Combining the low risk your affair partner had HIV plus symptoms that don't suggest HIV plus the test results, your ID doctor is correct: You can be 100% certain you don't have HIV. Some experts recommend a final test at 3 months, but that's icing on the cake that really isn't necessary.
3) No medicines affect HIV test result reliaiblity. Lvaquin certainly does not.
4) ARS doesn't cause sore throat as the only symptom, and doesn't last this long.
All is well. Take care.
3) No medicines affect HIV test result reliaiblity. Lvaquin certainly does not.
4) ARS doesn't cause sore throat as the only symptom, and doesn't last this long.
All is well. Take care.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It isn't normal to be so resistant to the facts and professional advice. Counseling may be in order to determine why knowledge of these things isn't working to calm your fears. But that is not something appropriate for this or any other online service. I suggest professional counseling out of compassion, not criticism.
That's all for this thread. No more commnets will be accepted.
That's all for this thread. No more commnets will be accepted.
I am writing to you because today I went and took my 8 week test, or almost 8 weeks. This is exactly a week after I took my last test. Anyway, for some reason this has me more anxiety riddled then the others. I had to take two ativan to calm myself down. I have no clue when the results will come in, could be several days. I called the lab tonight and they acted all weird saying they were in progress, I know my Doc wrote stat. I know I shouldn't worry about it, but do you even think there is a chance it will be positive. i swear I have now had a sinus infection for 5 weeks now, probably due to the stress. I just want this to be negative so I can stop testing. I am sorry for writing you, I just needed some reassurance. Thank you so much, you have no idea what your help means to me. I just know that if something is wrong with me my husband will leave...I am frightened.
Thanks Doctor. I actually feel confident with what you have told me regarding my 6.5 day test. i have read quite a bit about testing in Mass. and they seem to go with the 6 week. It sounds to me like the 3 month is for people who are not sure when their last exposure was, on chemo or iv drugs, and organ transplants. The only thing that raised a red flag with me was they gut I was with is back with his wife. 3 years ago they had split up and she was dating a hispanic guy who went to jail fro drunk driving, of course my mind starts racing because I am thinking maybe in jail he was having sex with men. I know it is crazy. Anyway the guy I was with got back with her and they had a baby, so I assume she was tested for hiv, they lived in MI. Is it really a moot point since I have my 6.5 week negative , meaning it really doesn't matter if he was or wasn't because I have my negative.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There's really no need for additional testing. However, many health agencies still recommend final testing at 3 months. We have explained many times on this forum why that is overkill and rarely necessary. Still, if it makes you nervous knowing that is the advice of some experts, you might have a final test at that time. It's up to you.
Doctor,
I just wanted to let you know that I have felt so much better this week, your help was a great reassurance. My husband asked if I needed to get a 8 week confirmation test and I said from what I felt I got from you that I could stop testing. I was just confirming. Have a good day.
I just wanted to let you know that I have felt so much better this week, your help was a great reassurance. My husband asked if I needed to get a 8 week confirmation test and I said from what I felt I got from you that I could stop testing. I was just confirming. Have a good day.
Thank you. You really helped wrap my head around all of this. Your patients are lucky to have you. I have learned my lesson and plan on taking care of my marriage. Hugs from Tx!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Best wishes to you.
Got my test results, it was negative. This is 6 weeks and 5 days since last exposure. So I am on board with you after tthinking ratioanlly for the mornig and I am good to go...no more testing. Sorry I got so irrational and crazy, I was being ridiculous. Happy Spring!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The chance of a common cold is 10,000 times more likely that HIV as an explanation for your symptoms. You don't have HIV. Test whenever you want; you can continue to expect negative results.
Please accept the reassurance and move on. I will have no further comments; this thread is closed.
Please accept the reassurance and move on. I will have no further comments; this thread is closed.
Dr, taking an ambien and going to bed. I am hoping my test comes back tomorrow. I have one last question and I will not post anything other than my results.
I had the cold/sinus infection that lasted from 2 weeks exposure until 4. I know that stuff is not considered ars related.
What has me reeling, it is the only thing, is at exactly 5 weeks and 3 days from exposure I got that nasty sore throat and swollen glands that lasted exactly a week. My concern is if that was at all ars related will my test from today, basically a week and 2 days after sore throat begin be accurate? The nurse at the obgyn looked clueless. Have a goodnight and I hope I have good news to report back. My issue is I have 4 little ones and I am just so scared of not being here for them.
I had the cold/sinus infection that lasted from 2 weeks exposure until 4. I know that stuff is not considered ars related.
What has me reeling, it is the only thing, is at exactly 5 weeks and 3 days from exposure I got that nasty sore throat and swollen glands that lasted exactly a week. My concern is if that was at all ars related will my test from today, basically a week and 2 days after sore throat begin be accurate? The nurse at the obgyn looked clueless. Have a goodnight and I hope I have good news to report back. My issue is I have 4 little ones and I am just so scared of not being here for them.
I went to my obgyn this morning and had them do another hiv test. I should get the results by Monday. I figured since it was seven weeks and one day from first exposure and 6 weeks and 4 days from second this should put me at ease. Hoping it is negative then I can put this to bed!
Thanks for everything. I really appreciate the help, reassurance and advice. I can now stop worrying and enjoy my life.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice. As for sex with your husband, no distant resource can guarantee someone isn't infected. But if I were in your situation, knowing what I know, I would conintue unprotected sex with my wife without concern for her health and safety.
That should end this thread. Take care.
That should end this thread. Take care.
Oh. Sore throat lasted only a week. I had a severe sinus infection at 2 weeks post exposure, I am wondering now if the sore throat was residual from that. You had said you read my other posts, did you see the one about gon. and chlamydia? I tested negative at 2.5 weeks after exposure with a swab test, there was blood on the sample from the end of my menstrual cycle. My doc said that it is fine, but I had read it can cause a false negative. Wondered if you thought I should repeat. My hep b and c were negative at 51/2 weeks so is that an accurate time frame? Sorry I forgot to put this in my last post. Rest assured thias is the last post from me.
Thanks Dr. H...I am glad I came to this forum and got the answers from you, I feel that a huge weight has been lifted. Like I said, I think it is guilt and the fact that his health seemed poor and he said some odd thin gs to me aboput his health. So I am assuming I am fine to have sex with my husband? My husband is less concerned than me which is so funny. We are going to therapy and our dead set on repairing our marriage. I have low thyroid and my meds are a bit off which also drives my anxiety. I am happy to hear that you truly feel all is well and I am going to take that and run with it. So I truly do not need to test unless it is just for my anxiety?Again thank you and no offense, but I hope to NEVER have to post here again. I just need to be safe and stay in my monogamous marriage!!!
Thank you soooo much and thanks for taking a look at my other questions. The last test I took was 6 weeks from first exposure and 5 weeks and four days from second exposure. An infectious disease doc in the area had said that he believes that negative is accurate. Today is seven weeks from the first exposure and I was thinking I would get tested tomorrow. I asked him to test, but he got mad and said I was insane. He seems to have health issues which is where my fear is driven from.
1. would that last test at 6 weeks from first exposure and 5 weeks and 4 days from last exposure most likely be accurate?
2.My Doc feels I am fine for whatever that is worth, should I not have unoprotected sex with my husband?
3. I am on an antibiotic,levaquin(sp) right now, will that effect a test?
4. So a sore throat at 5 and a half weeks exposure that lasts a weeks is not ars and I believe is too late for ars?
I think I covered everything. THANK YOU sooooo much. I will try to stop worrying about this, I am sure it is guilt driven. This guy is just known to get around from what i have found out and he does seem to have health issues. Again, thank you, I do feel so much better.
1. would that last test at 6 weeks from first exposure and 5 weeks and 4 days from last exposure most likely be accurate?
2.My Doc feels I am fine for whatever that is worth, should I not have unoprotected sex with my husband?
3. I am on an antibiotic,levaquin(sp) right now, will that effect a test?
4. So a sore throat at 5 and a half weeks exposure that lasts a weeks is not ars and I believe is too late for ars?
I think I covered everything. THANK YOU sooooo much. I will try to stop worrying about this, I am sure it is guilt driven. This guy is just known to get around from what i have found out and he does seem to have health issues. Again, thank you, I do feel so much better.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. I also glanced quickly at your discussions on the community forums, where you had accurate advice. There is no basis for being "scared to death" about HIV. You don't have it.
The odds your new partner had HIV are near zero; if he had it, the chance you were infected through only 2 unprotected vaginal exposures is in the range of 1 in 1,000; and almost all newly infected people have positive HIV antibody test results by 5 weeks. Taking all these odds together, the chance you caught HIV is less than 1 in a million. But if you want final reassurance, have a final test 6-8 weeks after the last sexual encounter. (Or talk to that partner and find out if he has been tested. If so and had negative results, obviously that would prove you couldn't have caught HIV from him.)
No illnesses delay HIV tests turning positive or otherwise alter the reliability of test results. In theory, certain very severe illnesses -- e.g. terminal cancer -- could do it, but even these are theory only with few if any cases of it actually known to happen. Certainly fibromyalgia, lupus, or other autoimmune conditions cannot do it.
Your negative test results prove that something other than HIV was the cause of your sore throat etc. And acute HIV infection doesn't cause only a sore throat, geographic tongue, etc. There are hundreds of more common causes for such things.
Bottom line: Mellow out and stop worrying about HIV. Your risk was so low that you really didn't even need testing for it. But for definitive reassurance, have a final test in a few more weeks. It will also be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
The odds your new partner had HIV are near zero; if he had it, the chance you were infected through only 2 unprotected vaginal exposures is in the range of 1 in 1,000; and almost all newly infected people have positive HIV antibody test results by 5 weeks. Taking all these odds together, the chance you caught HIV is less than 1 in a million. But if you want final reassurance, have a final test 6-8 weeks after the last sexual encounter. (Or talk to that partner and find out if he has been tested. If so and had negative results, obviously that would prove you couldn't have caught HIV from him.)
No illnesses delay HIV tests turning positive or otherwise alter the reliability of test results. In theory, certain very severe illnesses -- e.g. terminal cancer -- could do it, but even these are theory only with few if any cases of it actually known to happen. Certainly fibromyalgia, lupus, or other autoimmune conditions cannot do it.
Your negative test results prove that something other than HIV was the cause of your sore throat etc. And acute HIV infection doesn't cause only a sore throat, geographic tongue, etc. There are hundreds of more common causes for such things.
Bottom line: Mellow out and stop worrying about HIV. Your risk was so low that you really didn't even need testing for it. But for definitive reassurance, have a final test in a few more weeks. It will also be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I just wanted to add that when I had the second test I had a sore throat thta lasted a week. No fever, just a sore throat .
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