Herpes Zoster and HIV

[Toro86]

On 26th Dec 14, I was engaged in risky sexual behavior. I don't even remember if I had sexual intercourse or not as my anxiety has taken over. Next morning after the incidence I experienced shooting pain in my left chest which a week after developed into shingles.

On 30 Dec 14 I was tested for HIV and tested negative. My question, was my shingles symptom of HIV infection? as I read the shingles is OI in HIV.

Thank you

[alpha_index9]

Good to hear back from you. Your test is conclusive and you need not worry. Acyclovir medications did not put you at any risk.

[Toro86]

Hi Alpha_index9,

I just received a HIV rapid test result that I did on 13 March 2015, so exactly 11 weeks. Unfortunately at this clinic the only available test was rapid test. My blood was drawn at that time. The rapid test was Oncoprobe HIV I/II antibody. The result was non-reactive/ negative

The doctor mentioned the window period of 3 weeks-6 months, and suggest me to return on June. As I asked to her what are my chances of turning into positive, she shy away from answering.

Should I be worried? is my result conclusive? Especially the fact that I took acyclovir to treat my shingles around 1 week after the possible exposure

Thanks

[alpha_index9]

You are welcome. You are fine. If you don't remember anything that happened means you had passed out and if one passes out after drugs or alcohol one cannot perform.

[Toro86]

thank you for your answer and support. I do hope that I'm OK

[alpha_index9]

Are you stressing your self too much after the event? like sleepless nights, skipping meals etc? Chicken pox is a type of herpes virus. It has got nothing to do with diagnosis of HIV. Shingle out breaks are often seen when body is stressed, crash dieting or when the digestive system is at toss at a greater level. If you have chicken pox, please start  the medications as this virus is contagious. There is no cure but we often see out breaks and this can be controlled with Acylovirs etc which a doctor proscribes. We all have had shingles/ chicken pox when we were kids, the virus never dies but we dont see the out break often. Do not worry. If you are really unsure of the penetration that happened, you can test yourself with a 4th gen duo test after 28 days and I am sure you would be fine. Sustain from sexual encounters when you are drunk or drugged. This is the situation when maximum people take risks.

[Toro86]

Hi alpha_index9, thank you for your answer

I have visited a doctor and was confirmed as shingles. It was my first outbreak, as a child I had chickenpox. I'm very anxious as it happens immediately after that risky action.

[alpha_index9]

Hi, a full intercourse is done in senses even if one is drugged or drunk as to perform the act one needs to be energetic and in senses and hence people remember the act but anxiety rules over the situation. Symptoms do not define presence of HIV. Regarding shingles, they are not diagnoses personally unless its an outbreak of an old infection. If this is the first time you got the boils/rash/blisters, you cannot conclude they arw shingles. You can visit a doctor.

[Toro86]

thanks for the answer

but, is shingles a common symptom in early HIV infection? or does it happen later on much later on late-stage HIV

[Anxietysuck]

i dont think so

hiv symptoms comes with morre than two symptoms
testing before a month isnt conclusive
go get tested now with combo or 4th generation elisa it will be conclusive

and the pain in ur chest isnt related