Aa
This is my story, can someone answer these questions?
I live in New York City and attend college. In mid-December I got a little drunk after a final and all my inhibitions went. I went home late and went to a
That's great news, lol. But how so? Is it not normal for someone to contract HIV through an open cut?
Thanks
Thanks
just remember I am not an expert on things...
But this quote pretty much sums up the infinitessimal chance you have:
"I went on PEP and finished up about two weeks ago.I wasn't sick in that month but I did have the many side-effects of the drugs.After I was done with PEP I went for another HIV test and that came back negative."
But this quote pretty much sums up the infinitessimal chance you have:
"I went on PEP and finished up about two weeks ago.I wasn't sick in that month but I did have the many side-effects of the drugs.After I was done with PEP I went for another HIV test and that came back negative."
Hi Scared83,
A couple of things to put your mind at ease.
You tested for HIV and it was negative. I don't think you said how long after exposure, but if this was at 6 weeks post-exposure, you can be pretty confident of it as the standard Ab tests would pick up 90-95% of seroconversions by then.
If your cut was covered by the condom, you're still protected. Zero risk. Even if it wasn't, you said it had scabbed over which again would make HIV transmission impossible through such a contact.
There are no documented cases of hand-genital transmission of HIV so you don't have to worry about that either.
The risk of receiving unprotected oral sex is also incredibly low (estimated 1 in 20000) and may well be zero depending on the studies you look at (there's a Spanish study that recorded 19000 events of unprotected oral sex between 135 HIV+ and HIV- couples over 10 years with no seroconversions).
Your symptoms were way too fast for ARS. It normally takes 2-3 weeks for symptoms to develop and even then, it doesn't occur in all people who seroconvert. I'm no doctor, but it looks like a lot of symptoms were more due to the anti-malarials and PEP you were taking...
A couple of things to put your mind at ease.
You tested for HIV and it was negative. I don't think you said how long after exposure, but if this was at 6 weeks post-exposure, you can be pretty confident of it as the standard Ab tests would pick up 90-95% of seroconversions by then.
If your cut was covered by the condom, you're still protected. Zero risk. Even if it wasn't, you said it had scabbed over which again would make HIV transmission impossible through such a contact.
There are no documented cases of hand-genital transmission of HIV so you don't have to worry about that either.
The risk of receiving unprotected oral sex is also incredibly low (estimated 1 in 20000) and may well be zero depending on the studies you look at (there's a Spanish study that recorded 19000 events of unprotected oral sex between 135 HIV+ and HIV- couples over 10 years with no seroconversions).
Your symptoms were way too fast for ARS. It normally takes 2-3 weeks for symptoms to develop and even then, it doesn't occur in all people who seroconvert. I'm no doctor, but it looks like a lot of symptoms were more due to the anti-malarials and PEP you were taking...
Thanks guys! I got tested 5 weeks after exposure and the cut didn't scab over. It was scab which I picked so it was an open cut at that point and wasn't covered by a condom.
That's what I'm scared (very) about. I'm hoping the PEP worked but only GOD knows. I don't know why I still have crazy diarrhea.
That's what I'm scared (very) about. I'm hoping the PEP worked but only GOD knows. I don't know why I still have crazy diarrhea.
I understand that protected is low risk- if any at all- but the exposed open cut has me worried beyond belief.
Your imagination is a very powerful thing.
I know from experience.
You do not have HIV. Neither do I.
Lets try to raise ourselves out of this psychosomatic pit of hell.
I know from experience.
You do not have HIV. Neither do I.
Lets try to raise ourselves out of this psychosomatic pit of hell.
I wish I could. I just can't see how though. I hope, IF i test negative I can get on with my life. But I can't explain why I have diarrhea and fatigue if it's not due to HIV.
First of all, seriously consider the possibility that you do not have the disease.
This possibility is as close to 100% as you can get. No, actually it is 100%
Next, look at all the things that can cause diarrhea and fatigue. Aside from countless bacteria and viruses in the world, you have the possibility that your stress and anxiety from the last 3 months have finally caught up with you.
You also have the possibilty that the PEP caused some digestive problems for you.
Who knows what it is?
These thoughts of doom are a habit, and I know that it is hard to talk yourself out of it, but it is the only way to do it.
This possibility is as close to 100% as you can get. No, actually it is 100%
Next, look at all the things that can cause diarrhea and fatigue. Aside from countless bacteria and viruses in the world, you have the possibility that your stress and anxiety from the last 3 months have finally caught up with you.
You also have the possibilty that the PEP caused some digestive problems for you.
Who knows what it is?
These thoughts of doom are a habit, and I know that it is hard to talk yourself out of it, but it is the only way to do it.
I too am a bit surprised that you would have been prescribed PEP for the encounter that you described. I'd be curious to hear what the doctor would think of this. I would have thought that the risk of an adverse reaction to PEP, which may have serious side effects, would have far outweighed the risk that you might have contracted HIV, thus, it would not have been indicated. Then again, I'm not a doctor, so...
Having said all of this, let's put aside the debate about whether PEP was warranted in this situation, and let us discuss instead your HIV test, which was negative 5 full weeks after finishing PEP. From what I have read, except in cases of coinfection with Hepatitis, PEP would not delay seroconversion much at all, if any. Thus, a negative test 5 weeks after finishing PEP, and 28 days after the initial encounter, really is an excellent indicator that you are indeed HIV negative. I am sure your doctor will want to follow up with a final test at 13 weeks, but, your negative combined with the initial risk factor sounds like you are going to be just fine.
Oops, left something out. Considering that PEP was administered in this case, whether it was warranted or not, your doctor may want to follow up with testing at both 13 weeks/6 months after possible exposure. Sorry about that.
Xhost and all, thanks for your comments. However, I didn't test negative five full weeks after completing PEP, rather I tested negative 5 full weeks after expusre. Just wondering if that is still somewhat conclusive?
Thank You
Thank You
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