High Risk Lifestyle

I have had high risk encounters. I am not proud of this fact. I had unprotected sex with women I did not know, 1 time including unprotected anal sex. All of these encounters ended over 15 months ago. All one night stands.
The last woman I dated told me she was tested. I took an antibody test at planned parenthood 15 weeks after we had unprotected vaginal and oral sex. It came back negative. I was screened by my doctor at 18 weeks. Negative. Do I need more testing? Can I rely on these results? Is the 6 month window something I should consider because of my previous lifestyle? Thank you for any and all replies. I feel weak, like achey (achy), but I assume this is much too late for ARS. I cannot sleep, but I'm hopeful that it's only stress.

[LIZZIE LOU]

3 months is CONCLUSIVE

[james3765]

Do you think with my high risks, unprotected that testing out to 6 months is neccessary?

[LIZZIE LOU]

3 months is CONCLUSIVE.

[LIZZIE LOU]

WRONG ! ! !

the only ppl who might need to test longer than 3 months are those with a SEVERELY COMPROMISED immune system.  this would include ppl on chemotherapy...taking anti-rejection drugs following an organ transplant...and CHRONIC iv drug users.

THE CURRENT GUIDELINE FOR A RELIABLE AND CONCLUSIVE TEST RESULT IS 3 MONTHS POST EXPOSURE.

[james3765]

I have read this here before. The 3 month conclusive. I called the AIDS hotline, and they said the same, with a 6 week test being a good indicator, 3 months being conclusive if you are not immune system compromised.
I just don't know where that information comes from.
I do not mean to seem ungrateful, I am not, thank you for your posting. I just fear I cannot believe it. I suffer from a dry cough for over a month, sore muscles, I wake up after 3 or 4 hours of sleep with pains in my arms that I cannot atribute to anything.
All during the days my muscles ache off an on. Especially my arms and neck.
I tested out to 4 months, I guess I keep testing.

[LIZZIE LOU]

fear is not fact ! ! !

you have a conclusive test result...kindly move on.  you do not have a hiv concern

[james3765]

Again, I do not mean to sound ungrateful. Sorry if it came off that way. I just fear that I will have to keep testing. Thank you for your replies. I do appreciate them.
I just don't know where the 'immune compromised' comes from.

[Teak]

Your test was conclusive you do not have HIV.

[james3765]

Thank you Teak, thank you Lizzie Lou. I appreciate you both. Very much. My insistence that I have HIV is in no way, shape or form, any reflection on your help. I have done things that I know you can acquire HIV from. I have aches I have never had before. In my heart of hearts, (which I know isn't science or medicine), I know I have this.
I sincerely appreciate  you both, please don't misunderstand that.

[LIZZIE LOU]

with your conclusive test result...this forum has nothing left to offer.

[james3765]

I know, and I thank you both. I do not mean to sound disrespectful in the least. Thank you both for your time.

[james3765]

Did the window period change from 6 to 3 months because of the advances in the tests? I mean, otherwise, how could they know an immune system strong person at 3 months? The planned parenthood nurse told me to come back in 3 months, making a total of 6. The Mass. Hotline says 6 weeks is a good indactor, and 3 months is conclusive too, if all is true, as I pray that it is, why did the nurse say to return in 3 more? If its been over 18 weeks since my last unprotected sexual encounter, would I be suffering from sore muscles and night sweats this far out? My night sweats are not my whole body, just my head, which I believe has always happened, but everything is scaring me now. Would this be ARS now?
Thank you any and all.

[LIZZIE LOU]

3 months has been the guideline since 2004.

[james3765]

is that because the testing has become more accurate?

[james3765]

I just read on a site, and maybe this is wrong, correct me if so.....'may suggest testing out to a year if the person was a known positive'.
This makes no sense to me, if the window is 3 moths, or even 6 months, aren't I testing because I assume the person was pos?
Why would people say 3 or 6 month if this information is true....can someone help me here?
Yes, I'm obviously very scared even with my 18 week negative, b/c over a year ago I was promiscuous.

[LIZZIE LOU]

your test is CONCLUSIVE ! ! !

kindly move on...you do not have a hiv concern