Do I need to be worried?

[pige1234]

Hi everyone,


I don't know if you are able to give me some reassurance but I really hope so.
The 29th of September I started a relationship with a guy. We were both tested for HIV before starting our relationship (12th and 14th of September) and before the 29th of September I didn’t have sex with him.
At the end of October I had a urinary infection and because it was taking a lot to go away I decided to get tested for STDs. I still had a light GNU and the doctor told me that it was better to test my partner as well.
The 12th of November the tests came back all negative for me, but HIV positive for my partner.
As we had unprotected sex few times and once it was 12hours before the results, the doctor decided to put me on PEP for 28days that I finished the 10th of December, obviously this would have covered just that time and not before.
Now, I was usually insertive a part from 2 occasions: once he came inside and once he came on my back (both the times between the 11th and the 18th of November).
Before beginning the PEP I didn’t have any symptoms like flu or anything and all the tests resulted negative. I did a test the day I begun the PEP (negative), one 5 days after (negative) and one 3 weeks after (negative).
More or less 15 days after the beginning of the PEP I started having a strong pain to my neck and upper back on the right side only, a bit of pain on my left knee and some pain under my right armpit.
The neck pain and the armpit pain usually started few hours after waking up in the morning and the pain to my knee was random, but mostly if I was seated for too long.
I waited one week before going back to the clinic as I thought it was stress, but after one week, the pain was still there. Once at the clinic the doctor visited me and didn’t find anything strange or anything that could have shown seroconversion, but as I was worried they did another blood test.
I had my results after one week and everything was negative. In the meantime, the pain in my neck and back completely disappeared but I still had it behind my knee and under my armpit.
The reason I’m worried is that the pain behind my knee and under my armpit are still here, I thought they were a kind of PEP side effects, but it’s now 4 days that I finished.
Do I have to be worried? Do you think the pains I have are seroconversion symptoms?

Thanks in advance for your help

[Teak]

1. If you had ARS you wouldn't still be having symptoms
2. Your test was conclusive, which means your signs and symptoms have nothing to do with HIV.
3. Work with your doctor to find out what is causing your signs and symptoms.

[pige1234]

so fever, lymph nodes and all the other stuff would have made the test positive if they were ARS symptoms?

[Teak]

You have tested conclusively negative for HIV.

[pige1234]

I'm really sorry if I'm writing again here.
This is my situation at the moment.
Got tested after 3 months on the 14th Feb, negative. Tested again 7th March Negative.
Lymph Nodes are still there and swollen (subclavicular, armpit and groin, all left side), still feeling down and few lines of fever (37.2-3). Went to GP, found bigger spleen and liver, did a blood test and EBV it came unsure results.
Is there anything related to HIV?

[Teak]

Yes.

[pige1234]

Thanks!
But what i meant was: if my lymph nodes are swollen for HIV infection, would the finger test detect it?

Thanks

[Vance2335]

3 months is when a conclusive test can be taken for a risk.

[pige1234]

Hi,

Just an update and a small question.
I went to the clinic and did the tests. I've been tested for all the possible stds. I did the blood test for HIV and the rapid test as well.
The finger test came out negative. My question is, how accurate is this test? With the finger test negative the blood test should be negative too right?

Thanks

[Teak]

Has nothing to do with HIV.

[pige1234]

I don't have pain where the lymph nodes are swollen. But in different areas, behind my leg and elbow plus where the spleen is.

[Teak]

There is no pain with HIV swollen lymph nodes. Stop poking and prodding them or you'll cause the to swell and hurt.

[pige1234]

Hi,

I'm going to the clinic on Monday, but I'm still a bit worried.
The two lymph nodes are still there and swollen. I starting having a small pain on the left side of my neck/shoulder. I have a slight pain on my right elbow, behind my left knee and in the area where the spleen is.
I'm becoming worried and worried as I don't understand what this can be and I still think that I might have taken the risk somehow!!

[pige1234]

Ok.
I'll try to stay calm and I will probably go to the clinic just to check why these 2 lymph nodes are enlarged.

[Teak]

HIV is not transmitted by oral sex.

[pige1234]

I mean, my partner is positive and even if we tried to avoid oral sex! There few times with oral sex even if without ejaculation.

[pige1234]

Even if i did oral sex?

[Vance2335]

Your nodes at this point have nothing to do with HIV. It is out of the time frame when symptoms might happen.

[pige1234]

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. Are you saying so cause those are lymph nodes not active during ARS or why?

Thanks

[Teak]

Has nothing to do with ARS.

[pige1234]

Hi,

I am sorry if i'm writing again. In 3 weeks I will have my last test (after 3 months) but it's now few days that i have some swollen lymph nodes.
I have one just below my clavicula and one in the inguinal area, both on the left side. I'm a bit worried.

[pige1234]

ok, thanks. I'm at week 9-10 after exposure.

[Teak]

If one has ARS, the symptoms come on 2-4 weeks post exposure and last for 1-2 weeks.

[pige1234]

Yes, unfortunately I know that.
my question is more, how long should it last to be normal flu and how long should it last to be seroconversion?
Moreover I just have temperature and runny/blocked nose, I don't have swallen lymph nodes or sore throat and on many websites it says that the temperature comes with sweats, chills and sore throat.
I just would like to be less worried.

[Teak]

3 months post your last dose of nPEP is when you can obtain your conclusive negative test result.