HIV Risk/Testing

[jh83]

Hi Drs,

I suffer from severe OCD and see a Therapist and Psychiatrist for it, so warning, I WORRY A LOT!

I have been married 5 years and both my wife and I are very faithfully to each other. Recently I started worrying about the time before I was married. A year before I was with my wife (6 years ago), I was with a female of unknown status. We played around with our hands for a while, but did not have vaginal or anal intercourse. But while we were playing around some of her vaginal fluid dripped onto my face. I don’t think it got into my mouth or eyes or anything, I can’t be 100% sure.

Two months ago I saw something about HIV and thought back to that experience 6 years ago before I was married and started freaking out. I started Googling symptoms, of course after Googling the symptoms I started to experience the symptoms.

I really started to freak out. I did an OraQuick HIV At-Home test about two months ago. It was negative. I chilled for a few minutes then I started worrying that maybe I did it wrong. Two weeks later I did another one and it was negative. I chilled out for about a month and then I felt like I as having more symptoms so I started to freak out. My wife told me to go to the doctor and get an antibody blood test. Last month I went and had an antibody blood test from LabCorp. It came back negative. I chilled out for a few days and then started freaking out again. Last week I talked my wife into going to the doctor and getting an antibody HIV test. She went and had the same test I had and it came back negative.

I can’t stop worrying, my wife, Doctor, Therapist, Psychiatrist all say it’s in my head and I am causing all the symptoms that I do not have HIV and I need to move on.

A friend told me I could get a HIV RNA PCR test to confirm all my negatives but I can’t afford that.

Do you think my exposure was high risk? Do you think I need to do any more testing? Or is it time to move on because I in fact do not have HIV?

Thank you!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, even 6 years later if you were infected the test would be positive.

Thaks for your tanks. Enjoy your hoidays. EWH  

[jh83]

Thank you so much for your answer, it has help A LOT! One last question and then I am done and moving on.

Does it matter that I tested 6 years after the exposure? Would I still have antibodies? I've read that you might not have antibodies if you are in advanced staged AIDS. But I guess if I had advanced staged AIDS I probably wouldn't of gotten over my Bronchitis I had over this Thanksgiving and died or gotten a lot worse from it. Sound about right? Also if you can answer how long antibodies last that would be great. After that I will leave you alone as you have much better things to do.

I also want to say thanks for answering questions, yours and Dr. HHH's background as insanely impressive and to have the time to help people is amazing. So thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Happy Holidays!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'm happy top add to the chorus of persons who have told you that the events you describe from six years ago not only DID NOT lead to HIV but were no risk for HIV or any otehr sort of STI.  The sort of non-penerative, surface contact with vaginal secretions you describe would not put you at risk for infection, even if your partner was infected which is unlikely.  This is the case even if in some way vaginal secretions got into your mouth or eye- still no risk whatsoever.  You have now validated that you did not get HIV with two HIV tests which certainly would have been positive it you had been infected.  

My sincere advice is to concentrate on your OCD and work to move forward from here. You certainly do not need more testing, nor is there any reason to worry.  For you to get an HIV RNA test would be a waste of money.

I hope my comments are helpful.  Have confidence that you did not get HIV from the exposure you have described.  EWH