Confused

[Scared_sweet_girl]

Hi Dr. HHH,

I am just rather confused on this testing process and was hoping you could help me out.. In the months of June/July I had a couple encounters of unprotected sex with a guy I knew, however, I don't know his HIV status.  I was tested at 10 weeks and it came back negative and will be going in for my 13 week test.. However the health educator advised me that my test was not conclusive until 6 months past exposure.  Is this correct? I am a total wreck now because I have been stressing out this whole time thinking I have HIV due to some symptoms.  And I know that symptoms don't mean anything.. I read the CDC guidelines and if I read them right they say that testing at 3+ months is 97% accurate.. Can you please help me get myself together, I am rather scared here. I am rather scared as you can tell..

[anxietyX5]

I always wondered why all of the information on the internet, and at health clinics are so different regarding the window period. why wouldn't all these places be updated? I would really like to know.

[sparkeler]

You should talk to a therapist.  H.I.V. is a devestating disease, but very hard to contract.  Are u continuously having sex w/someone who has hiv?  Have you had sex w/bisexual or gay men?  Do you have sex w/i.v. drug users?  Do you use drugs?  Do you have sex w/monkeys?  (I'm kidding about that last part, just trying to lighten you up.)  Honestly, your 6 week test proves that you don't have it.  Do something for yourself, anything that makes you warm and fuzzy inside, to forget about hiv! Stop chasing a disease you dont have.  Honestly, if you find it hard to let of the fact that you don't have hiv, take your 6month test, and in the mean time, please look in to some therapy.

[Scared_sweet_girl]

You guys are wonderful... so you really do think my test will stay negative.. oh god I hope so!!! I know it was a stupid thing to do and it will never happen again.. I feel like such a dork being so paranoid over this.. it has really consumed my life.. I have a hard time working and focusing on things..

[shygirl1981]

if you had a negative result at 10 weeks you are in the clear, you don't have hiv!! the only reason your health provider said that was to cover his own butt. apparently they don't want people testing at 4-10 weeks, and then running around declaring that they are hiv negative. It's still conclusive, but I think the 3 months is just a general guideline, but you are fine.  do you have contact with this guy anymore? is there any reason you suspect him to have put you at risk? even so, 10 weeks is plenty. you don't even need to test again, just stay safe and be wise in who you choose for a partner.

[Scared_sweet_girl]

Yes, I still talk with him as we were friends before all of this.. it just sort of happened a few times.. I will never again of unprotected sex.

[sparkeler]

You say your test was negative, but your still experiencing *sympotms*.  Hun, if your *symptoms* were due to hiv, your test would have been positive.  You can't have symptoms of hiv and have a negative test.  Your 99.9999999999% hiv negative.