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Testing and symptoms
Dear Dr, thnk you ahead of time for your responses. I am a 23 year old male who lives in Texas, I had an unprotected sexual encounter with a woman of unknown status ( vaginal sex ) where i climaxed inside of her (stupid I know) on jan 6. a couple weeks after the encounter I came down with testicular aching and severe headaches that would come and go and vary in severeness as well as severe muscle twitching in my calves and hamstrings and muscle aches and pains as well, I had a fever also. Since the onset of these symtpoms the muscle twitching and headaches are an everyday thing and vary in severeness. I was tested for chlamydia, ghonnore,hsv,ebv,Hep,Hiv at 11 week mark and all neg. Symtpoms have persisted so I have tested for HIV with an ELISA blood drawn at 11 and 14 weeks and rapid test at 17 and 20 weeks mark and all negative. I am trying to move on but the symptoms persisting is not allowing me to do so and I am afraid that I have contracted HIV. I have taken two rounds of doxycycline and still symptoms persist as well as tetracycline. My questions are: 1.) are these symptoms typical of ars? 2.) Are my symptoms consistent with peripheral neuropathy? 3.) is a 20 week rapid oralquick swab hiv1/2 test 100% conclusive? 4.) what are chances of not seroconverting until 6 month mark? 5.) Can I move on despite symptoms persisting?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Read my reply above. I haven't changed my mind. If I were in your position, I would never have been HIV tested at all; would never have stopped having sex with my wife; and if for some reason I had been tested, I would have stopped after a negative result at 6-8 weeks.
Accept the reassurance you have had and move on. This thread is over.
Accept the reassurance you have had and move on. This thread is over.
So despite symptoms doc, I can consider my 20 week neg rapid test 100% conclusive? I only ask because I am in a serious monogamous relationship now and would not want to infect my new partner. If you were in my shoes knowing what you know would you not be worrying about hiv at this point at all?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Epididymitis is extremely unlikely, in my opinion. It doesn't just cause testicular aching, but enlargement and marked tenderness to touch; and sexually acquired epididiymitis generally has obvious urethral discharge. Based on your description, I would not have prescribed doxycycline or any other antibiotic, and I don't expect it to make any difference in your symptoms.
In most people with symptoms like you have, the most common explanation probably is anxiety that is amplifying normal body sensations to the point of discomfort or pain. But if the symptoms continue, of course return to your doctor for further assessment.
None of this alters my judgment about HIV.
In most people with symptoms like you have, the most common explanation probably is anxiety that is amplifying normal body sensations to the point of discomfort or pain. But if the symptoms continue, of course return to your doctor for further assessment.
None of this alters my judgment about HIV.
Do these symtpoms sound familiar to you at all doc? I have been to my doctor and all he does is give me doxycycline and send me on my way. He thinks my symptoms are caused by acute epididymitis because it all began with testicular aching and this was caused by a chlamydia infection i had previously... I just can't get an answer and am looking for a little guidance on this
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw this before I replied above; it doesn't change my opinion or advice. HIV doesn't cause such symptoms.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
The vast majority of women in the US of "unknown" HIV status (999 out of 1,000) do not have HIV, so you probably were not exposed. Your symptoms are definitely not those of HIV. I doubt you have peripheral neuropathy, but in any case that's a complication of overt AIDS (typically years after catching HIV), not of acute HIV infection.
But most important, the test results prove you don't have it. The level of risk doesn't matter (you could have mainlined HIV infected blood) and the symptoms would still be irrelevant even if you had classical ones. It is not possible to have HIV and still have negative HIV antibody tests more than 6-8 weeks (and for sure 12 weeks) after expousre. That includes all antibody tests, including rapid tests. It never takes 6 months; that's an urban myth left over from older HIV tests that haven't been used for more than 10 years.
Continue to work with your doctor or clinic if your symptoms persist or you otherwise remain concerned. But you can disregard HIV. No chance.
Regards-- HHH, MD
The vast majority of women in the US of "unknown" HIV status (999 out of 1,000) do not have HIV, so you probably were not exposed. Your symptoms are definitely not those of HIV. I doubt you have peripheral neuropathy, but in any case that's a complication of overt AIDS (typically years after catching HIV), not of acute HIV infection.
But most important, the test results prove you don't have it. The level of risk doesn't matter (you could have mainlined HIV infected blood) and the symptoms would still be irrelevant even if you had classical ones. It is not possible to have HIV and still have negative HIV antibody tests more than 6-8 weeks (and for sure 12 weeks) after expousre. That includes all antibody tests, including rapid tests. It never takes 6 months; that's an urban myth left over from older HIV tests that haven't been used for more than 10 years.
Continue to work with your doctor or clinic if your symptoms persist or you otherwise remain concerned. But you can disregard HIV. No chance.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Forgot to mention that my nodes under my arm pits are sensitive to the touch as well my hands and feet have sharp pains that come and go.
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