You are suffering from something, Chapeau, but it isn't HIV. You have had your negative tests, which show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are indeed HIV negative. Sure, something else may be physically wrong with you, but whatever it is (and your doctor seems to think there is nothing wrong with you in that regard), it isn't HIV.
May I suggest something? You say that you are going to test again at some point, 6 months, whatever. While you are waiting to take that test, why not seek out the advice of not only a doctor but also a trained therapist? I don't think I, or anyone on an Internet forum, is going to be able to convince you that your symptoms are not being cause by some disease. Ok, fine. But, what would it hurt to spend your time while waiting to test again in a more productive manner than sitting around your house in sheer mortal terror? In other words, what would it hurt to see a therapist and talk about your fear and anxiety with him or her? I'll answer that for you: absolutely nothing.
Sure, go ahead, if you must, persist in believing that you have been infected with HIV, even though your tests put the lie to the belief. At the same time, go ahead and sit down with a therapist and explain all of the things going through your head. Like I said, what could it hurt? And, the chances are really, really good that it will do you some good, if for no other reason than to just get it off of your chest.
A needle stick. I can only imagine how that must feel. In fact, I cannot even imagine it. It must be one of the hardest things you've ever been through. It's a difficult situation, no doubt. So, get some help dealing with it, chapeau, because you don't have to do it alone.
Good luck dealing with your anxiety and depression, chap.
My Doctor thinks i'm suffering from depression/anxiety and have a problem that makes me think i'm dying. She's insistd that i take yxanex and some other anti-depressant. I really think that it's something medical, i've had too many symptoms, that's the only reason for not being able to relax. I have been ill every since the very next day after the stick happened, with a ton of symptoms. I thought maybe it's hep c, but hep c has almost no symptoms even though i feel i'm expiriencing them. I think the doctors are wrong when it comes to being exposed, i believe that if you are exposed to another disease as well, it may be an inhibitor of a solid test result, don't you think? I had a swollen lymph in my right elbow! How can i dismiss this? Even though it's been 83 days, it's got to mean something, i don't somehow enjoy this but it is a fact. I think the hep-c/hiv would take longer to show up. Hep c takes six months to show. I'm going to try again at six month and two weeks from my exposure date, just for the sake of my sanity.
Relax chapeau you're negative. 3 months is the absolute definite for 99.99% of the population, the other .001 of the population falls into drug users, chemotherapy patients, and you would definitely know if you're in that group. The stress is making your symptoms worse, whatever they are, and believe me stress will **** you up if you allow it to. Tell your doctor to prescribe you some lexapro it works magic.
If i felt normal i would be able to move on, but all of these symptoms can't just be ignored, it's too much of a coincidence in my opinion. I really want to be well, but if not, i think it is my right to carry out a suicide if i think it's too much to bare. People die all the time, every hour, minute and second of every day my friend, it's no great crime to not want to move on if thing are looking bleak.
Nobody will be able to give you exact percentages! You feeling suicidal is crazy. If your were positive, you would still live a very long time. If you were negative you would live a very long time. If worrying about death is your problem, why would somebody want to kill themselves. You will continue to feel like your dying, until you seek medical help. Suicide is never the answer. Life is joyful and you obviously know it, because you don't want to lose it. You are fine. A 3 month negative is a negative. See a psychologist.
Thank you so much CNH, you really went out of your way to obtain some very solid information. My problem is even with two negative test results i'm still dogged with - swollen glands-under jawline,under arms/throat -mucus,/fatigue/blurry vision/white tougue/loss of app/stomach aches when i eat/weird feeling of inflammed liver/spleen/breaking a sweat here and there doing simple stuff/ slight pain in my feet that comes and goes/arms fall asleep more than before in certain positions. My symptoms were strong from the second day after the needle stick i was fatigued, fatigued, fatigued. I have been expiriencing weird sensations down my spine as well. I think the strong symptoms may be making it difficult for me to accept my test results. The gave me a tetnus shot for the infection around the site of the stick (i was red/infected the next day!) and antibiotics. I feel so much like i've been infected from all the symptoms that i can't move on. I'm just wondering if i may have cancer/hiv/hep-c. Do strong symptoms mean a more difficult time turning up -/+ on the test? Could it be the super version of hiv that goes straight to aids? I feel doomed and suicidal regarding my prospects. Very high risk exposure/ very strong symptoms. The best thing! i have going for me is two negs, one at about a month/month and a half or so, and another at 82/83 days (early am july 28/07 was the date of possible infection/last tested 10/19/07). I feel like i'm dying.
A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test detects antibodies to HIV in the blood. This determines whether an HIV infection is present (HIV-positive). HIV infects white blood cells called CD4+ cells, which are part of the body's immune system that help fight infections. HIV causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a long-term chronic disease that cannot be cured.
After the original infection, it takes between 2 weeks and 6 months for antibodies to HIV to appear in the blood. The period between becoming infected with HIV and the point at which antibodies to HIV can be detected in the blood is called the seroconversion or "window" period. During this period, an HIV-infected person can still spread the disease, even though a test will not detect any antibodies in his or her blood.
Several tests can find antibodies or genetic material (RNA) to the HIV virus. These tests include:
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This test is usually the first one used to detect infection with HIV. If antibodies to HIV are present (positive), the test is usually repeated to confirm the diagnosis. If ELISA is negative, other tests are not usually needed. This test has a low chance of having a false result after the first few weeks that a person is infected.
Western blot. This test is more difficult than the ELISA to perform, but it is done to confirm the results of two positive ELISA tests.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This test finds either the genetic material RNA of HIV. PCR testing is not done as frequently as antibody testing because it requires technical skill and expensive equipment. This test may be done in the days or weeks after exposure to the virus. Genetic material may be found even if other tests are negative for the virus. The PCR test is very useful to find a very recent infection, determine if an HIV infection is present when antibody test results were uncertain, and screen blood or organs for HIV before donation.
Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA). This test detects HIV antibodies. Like a Western blot test, it is used to confirm the results of an ELISA. However, it is more expensive than a Western blot test and not commonly used.
Testing is often done at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after exposure to find out if a person is infected with HIV.
This is a thread regarding percentages of conclusivity week by week all the way up until 6 months. My original question was if anyone happens to know this data, and if they can provide it to us here. There has been a lot of different statements made where people only test up until a certain point. Should you continue to test as long as you continue to experience symptoms? Even if you have tested neg.
I knew you had tested out to 82 days, just couldn't remember your risk. A 12/13 week is conclusive days on one end or the other isn't going to matter! you are conclusively neg. For further questions stick to the same thread. You have 4 or 5 different threads.
Needle stick from iv drug user-I wish i was in another boat, but i'm in this one.
I have two negs -one at a month and a half and another at 82/83 days.
I'm hopping it's just hep c i get, but i don't know.
This is tearing me apart extremestress.
I've been looking into suicide very seriously -VERY SERIOUSLY,as in this is no hint, hint,wink,wink.
I'm literally on the brink of waiting to hear the words that i know are coming.
hiv positive/hep-c positive-will for me equal suicide.
No ofense to the courageous folks who are doing everything it takes in the same circumstance, but i don't have the strength my friend.