If you think you have HIV...

I want to share my story because I have seen a lot of posts on here from people who are paranoid they have been infected just like I was, despite some not even really being at risk in the first place.

My nightmare journey begin in October last year when I had unprotected sex with a female in Thailand on more than one occasion. It was very silly of me and I will regret it for the rest of my life but anyway...

1 week after my 'risky exposure' I started to feel tingling in my left arm, felt like I had banged my funny bone, about the same time I had what seemed like a head cold, headache, nausea and diarrhea (cleared up after a day).

3 weeks - tingling was persisting and was now in both arms and included shooting pains down the nerves of the arms to the hands with fingers going numb. My mind felt 'fogged' like I had consumed alcohol or something and I had a headache every day for over 2 weeks. I was fatigued, wanted to sleep all the time and was excessively thirsty and urinating all the time. I was feverish and having night sweats, waking in the morning sometimes soaked.

5 weeks - my legs were really starting to ache along with sore feet and arms. Suddenly my arm hairs had started growing to 3 times their normal length and started sprouting in places I never a had before. I noticed skin peeling on the soles of my feet. My tongue was white and I suspected thrush.

By now I was really worried that maybe I have HIV, almost worried to the point of being sick so I arranged an appointment at a sexual health clinic. I was also seeing yellow bruising spontaneously appearing without reason on my arms and legs and petechiae around my body. My body really aching at times as if I had a bad flu and intolerance to exercise. Bad nerve pains and sciatica in my legs, right arm going blue an completely numb and cold.

7 weeks - had ag/ab 4th gen combo test - came back negative, also negative for all other std's and Hepatitis.

8 weeks - had full bloods taken by doctor as symptoms were persisting after negative HIV result. CBC showed lymphocytosis and mild anemia. Doctor suspected a lymphoproliferative disorder as a possibility such as CLL and ordered more bloods for cell marker studies ( i never had this done). Also at this time I was having blurry vision and sometimes flashing lights in my eyes.

Between weeks 6 and weeks 10 I lost 5kg in weight.

10 weeks - aching legs and fatigue still persisting so I saw a different doctor who listened more to my symptoms and ordered specific tests for EBV, CMV, Toxo.

Test results showed lymphocytosis and anemia had resolved and that I have had EBV in the past, toxo was negative but CMV was positive for both igM and iGG. Avidity testing confirmed that it was a primary CMV infection from within last 3 months.

So now I new I had at least an acute CMV infection which I believe can be symptomatic in adults for first time exposure but I was still worried about the HIV possibility.

This tuesday I had the 13 week HIV test which came back negative today and I am so relieved, I really thought I was doomed. I have been told that this test is conclusive and I no longer need to test for HIV.

The reason I am posting this is to let all you people out there who are having symptoms but testing negative around the 6 week mark, go and get tested for EBV and CMV as both of these can cause the mononucleosis syndrome which produces the symptoms I see people say they are experiencing and that I experienced:

Tingling/numbess in arms, hands, feet
Nerve pains
Persistent headache
Extreme thirst/dry mouth
Aching body especially legs and feet
Fatigue
White tongue or thrush
Fever
Night sweats
Blurry vision
Sleeping difficulty
Petechiae
Rash (I had a pink rash that would only appear for maybe an hour at a time and move around the body)

Get tested for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), it was responsible for all these symptoms in me.

Best wishes to all.

[Teak]

You don't have HIV. Your test was conclusive.

[hamsam]

Thankyou Teak, I am not debating my result I am telling my story so others with symptoms can consider testing for things other than HIV.

[Taylor_b]

Thank you for posting. It helped.

[nony606]

thanks very much Hamsam, it gives me relief

[ExtremelyWorried92]

thanks for the tip I am going to ask my doctor if I can get those test you suggested done

[michaelerin]

wow sounds just like my story, was a real help, but I havent got a 12 week conclusive yet. doctor said 62 day 4th gen was 100% conclusive!

[Marky_marc]

Hey guys,

I have had most of the symptoms that hamsam stated, especially the aching legs, tingling feet and white tongue.  I have had a nightmare over the last 4 months with these symptoms even though i had a negative HIV DUO test at 5 weeks which is highly accurate and a 9 1/2 week antibody test to back it up.  I was so worried i never went to the doctors which is silly as my 16 week test has now came back negative (got the result 5 minutes ago).

[parit11]

thanx to all..!!! who discussed their story after they confirmed for themselves that they are not hiv+...
it will really help people like me who are suffering from a paranoa (hopefully)
thanx

[with_no_idea]

Whats ebv cmv ??can u explain pkease.  

[scaredsitless]

Great post !! Really helps your not alone!! We are not alone!! Tks

[cikabell]

this is nice,just want 2 know what u guys think cos i'll soon become hypertensive. i've had all these symptoms after seeing my RVS turn positive from negative after 7wks. Just so we clear got re-screened after my boyfriend tested positive on nov.30. i'm the only person experiencing symptoms. HELP!!!

[Teak]

Go back to your own thread.

[cikabell]

this very nice. what do u all have 2 say bout this? started having these symptoms after my RVS turned positive from negative after 7wks. i got re-screened because my boyfriend's was positive. i'm becoming a hypertensive patient. i'm out of this world as it stands now cos the thought of HIV kills me. i just wish 4 a miracle, HELP!!!

[Teak]

Return to your own thread.