Serious question stemming from unique circumstances
I've posted here a few times before, and have appreciated the comments/advice provided. However, things still haven't been right since my potential exposure (one-time unprotected vaginal
fingerprick and blood draws, and a couple of viral load tests, beyond the three month mark. All negative/not detected. I even had some CD4s. Absolute counts were abnormally low in 2007 (ranging from 410 to 441), but percentages were normal. This had me freaking out. A recent one done by my immunologist showed 529.
My concern is the ongoing battery of medical issues that I continue to deal with. I had two bouts of exudative tonsillitis
around the time of what I thought was seroconversion illness (3-4 days after potential exposure) and was diagnosed with detached vitreous in both eyes shortly thereafter (May 2006). I was diagnosed with Gastritis this summer and sinusitis/rhinitis last spring. I continue to get white coated tounge, am frequently tired. This is along with frequent incidence of what looks like folliulitis on my scalp (base of hair gets a ***** bump) and on my legs. In addition, I needed urethral widening in March 2008, and now suffer from prolonged erectile dysfunction.
The sinus, toungue, and gastric problems have me worried about possible HIV since its my understanding that HIV can create havoc with mucosal linings. One of the things my eye doctor told me was that the vitreous detachment could have come from my body's reponse to fighting off an infection or virus. And the ED from my uretheral surgery makes me also think HIV, since its my understanding that HIV can disrupt nerve connections. My doctor thinks the nerve endings will repair themselves, but its been eight months and I'm only 38. None of these medical issues existed for me before the potential exposure.
Now my question. Is it possible that I have some form of HIV that cannot be detected? In other words, is it possible to have HIV at a level that my body could supress the viral load to an undetectable level without creating a detectable level of antibodies? One thing I was thinking was the person might have had such a low viral load themselves that it remained at a low level and my body was - and still is - able to fight it with low levels of antibody. For some reason, my CD4 was at 410 at one point, now it at the very low-normal range.
All these things, is really making me wonder whether a specialist should look into this. What do you all think?? Please, I come here in all sincerity looking for some additional guidance, and NOT in any way to minimize or make mockery of HIV illness/AIDS.
I appreciate your responses and advice, but I was hoping someone could have answered my question. You hear the stuff about the Oraquick tests, and here and there, you see posts from people who turned positive after the three month window or after they thought they were clearly negative. That's why I asked the question, to see if its possible that one's body can act that way.
Can someone look over my question and provide thoughts? Thanks all.