Hi!
While seperated from my husband, I had sex on June 29th.
It was protected vaginal sex, but I gave him unprotected oral sex... I have holes in my tonsils, I know this is one route of transmission.....perhaps? There was no ejaculation in either episode, and he was not circumsized. This is the only person I've had sex with my entire life besides my husband.
On July 11th my tonsils swelled up and one lymph node under my chin. I didn't think anything of it, or of the night sweats I had began to have until I researched it online, and that sent me into a tailspin. The symptoms subsided only to return again on July 28th. I had a negative strep and mono test.
On 8/15 I had two rapid oraquick fingerstick tests (the test taker took two at the same time)
the guy I slept with also took a test, and it was negative. This was 6 weeks after we'd had sex and probably two months after he'd had sex with anyone else.
Because my tonsils were so enlarged for no reason, I had them removed for biopsy, which was non cancerous.
On Sept 6th I had another rapid blood test done (11 weeks past) and it was negative. The next day Sept 7th my doc insisted that he run a antibody test too, and it, too was negative.
The symptoms disappeared mid september and returned late October, this time, no sore throat, and no swollen nodes, but the pain in my nodes is intense - in the neck, arms, legs and groin... again, no enlargment but severe pain.
On 11/5 I took a orasure oral test (20 minutes) and it was negative.
On 11/7 I went back to the clinic to ask some questions about the test and the test taker did two more tests just to ease my mind... both negative. This is at 18 weeks.
on 11/9 I went to my doctor and told him I was tired of not knowing why the lymphnodes hurt and the nightsweats were back, he ran another HIV test along with some other blood work - all came back ok, and the HIV test was negative.
Heres the summary of the tests:
8/15 - he tested neg via rapid blood 7 weeks after our sex
8/15 - I tested neg via rapid blood 7 weeks after our sex
9/6- I tested neg via rapid blood 10 weeks past our sex
9/7- I tested neg via lab blood work 11 weeks past our sex
11/5- I tested neg via oral rapid - 18 weeks after our sex
11/7 - I tested neg via oral rapid twice - 18 weeks after our sex (test administer ran two)
11/9-I tested neg via doc office blood work - 19 weeks after our sex.
I know it seems like a lot of testing, but the oral test taker and the rapid test takers both took two at a time... and my doc never likes rapid tests, so he retakes them sometimes ;(
Prior to this, I had NEVER had swollen nodes before, prior to this, I had never had any night sweats. Prior to this, my normal body temp was always 97.6 -- now I have a low grade fever of 99.3 pretty constantly. Prior to this, my arms were not splotchy red and itchy. I have tested negative 8 times all the way to 18 weeks.... but it took 20 doctors to diagnose my congestive heart failure in my 20s, so I have a hard time believing medicine sometimes.
I've read it takes 6 months in some individuals, and I wonder if that applies to me.
Symptoms:
originally swollen throat
then night sweats, painful unswollen lymphnodes throughout body, red splotches all over my arms, intermittent diarhea, inability to eat much, but I think that part is the stress... low grade fever all the time...
here are my basic questions:
1) If I have been having symptoms since July 11th, wouldn't something have shown up positive by now?
2) Since he tested negative too (albeit early) could we perhaps have a strain that doesn't produce antibodies?
3)Do symptoms go away and then return, are they intermittent and do they last four and a half months?
4) Blood work shows there are no other reasons for my illness... so do I need to test at 6 months?
5) I'm just really scared. Husband and I have reconnected, and we have children, and I just want to let go of this part of my life. If I had no symptoms at all, I could easily beleive my test results, but the constant ache in my nodes is a daily reminder that something is wrong.
If you've made it this far, thanks, I owe you one.