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Avatar universal

Very worried, HIV exposure

Hi everyone,

I will start with my story shortly, first some additional info. I tested negative 3 months ago and since then and even before this is my only exposure as I was in a monogamous relationship.

In my stupid story, like almost every story here, a lot of alcohol is involved. Suddenly after a proper quantity of alcohol I've got the brightest idea ever, to have sex with CSW. So I had sex with one, I used condom but at some point it broke and I knew it, but I don't know why I didn't withdraw immediately. Maybe after a minute or a little bit more we switched and I received very long unprotected oral sex, some deepthroat.
This was my exposure.

The problem is that 2 and a half weeks after the exposure I've got very strange symptoms. I have no fever or rashes, but what concerns me is a severe sore throat and swollen glands all over my body ( under jaw, behind knees, groin) and very painful joints. They hurt awfully, and mostly my hands(fingers and wrists) and legs(knees, ankles and achilles tendon) but also in my back and neck . I went to my doctor and he prescribed me an antibiotic - Augmentin - 5-day course - no effect, it's all the same.  I am very tired all the time and I lost 6kg in 3 weeks.
I am very worried now, I am obsessed of the idea that i've contracted HIV. I can't even have a good night sleep.

Can you please advice me what to do. I had one of these 4th gen rapid DUO tests 21th day post exposure and it came back negative, but I know that it's a bit early and they are not sensitive at all and I can't trust them.
What should I do? When should I get tested? I am planning to have another DUO test at 4 weeks but this time I'll have laboratory one. Please advice.
Best Answer
Avatar universal
Symptoms are useless in predicting infection. Furthermore you do not report having had a high fever. And if your symptoms were ARS related, but they are not, but if they were ,your DUO test would have been positive...but it wasn't.
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Avatar universal
Thank you Teak,

I know that mine was high risk exposure, I just needed some peace of mind at this point. Definitely I will have one more test at 3 months. I also have this severe sore throat and terrible headache for 2 weeks now, I went to the doctor a few times, he prescribed me all different kind of antibiotics, pills and whatever you can think of and there is no improvement. Do you have any idea what might be the reason for this symptoms?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
  In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results

UK Fourth Generation  Testing
http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Guidelines/Testing/GlinesHIVTest08.pdf
Post testing
Page 11
The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This result is very, very reassuring. But to be ok with the guidelines, you must have another test at the 3 month mark. Read this answer and sleep well tonight : http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/hiv-test-after-4-weeks/show/1694891
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again,

I just had this test: SD Bioline 4th gen ag/ab rapid test. It took 20 minutes to get the result. It came negative. It's been around 27,5 days from my exposure. I know that Teak advised me to wait for the 3 month antibody test, but I needed some ray of hope. I have all these symptoms for around 10 days and I am going crazy... So what do you think? Is this result optimistic? Some say that it's around 90% accurate at this time, but I am still very concerned.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No, use condoms for penetrative sex until you obtain your conclusive test result.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So does it makes any sense to spend so much money on these tests if they are not conclusive? And if I am positive, does the treatment start immediately, because if it does, I will get tested, despite the fact, that it is expensive. Can you please give me some clarificiations what happens if you test positive?
Thanks for all your answers
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There is no guarantee, reason for the antibody portion of the test and the 3 month window period.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok, If I assume that these are ARS symptoms and I have them from the 20th day post exposure, Is my second 4th Gen DUO test on 28th day going to be positive? If it's negative can I be sure, that these are not ARS symptoms? And also is there any difference in sensitivity and specificity of 4th gen duo lab test and the rapid test? Last time I had the rapid one, but now I am considering to have the laboratory test.
What do you think?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
We never speak on symptoms because they are generic to many other illness's and not everyone gets them.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok, I know this, but what about my symptoms? Do they mean something? I think that I have 8/10 from the ARS symptoms list. I am missing only fever and rash. And what do you think about his 4TH GEN DUO tests? Are they reliable on 28h day post exposure? I mean does it make sense having one or better wait for the 3 month antybody test?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
3 months post exposure is conclusive.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello Teak,

I see that you're the most experienced member here or at least one of the most experienced. While I was reading some posts here in the forum I saw that you teach HIV education so I don't want to bother you but may I have your assessment of my situation as well?
Thank you very much,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for the quick responds hangon51,
I hope  you're right!  I know that symptoms does not serve to diagnose HIV. But the problem is that these symptoms don't go away for more than a week now. And maybe I had this test done very soon after the symptoms appeared. Is it possible to have swollen glands, headache, aching joints and fatigue but no fever caused by just a cold and last so long. I will get tested in a few days, so next week I will know for sure.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok, but what about all these symptoms that I have? As I am reading everywhere, they are all ARS symptoms, so I think that I've contracted HIV for sure.  Really no fever and rashes, but all others that are in the list of ARS symptoms are here. And also this terrible headache, I am not sure if it's an anxiety driven or just another ARS symptom. This will make me go crazy...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's definitely too early to trust the result. Having said that, any negative, especially a DUO is encouraging.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your answer.

So does this test that I had at 3 weeks post exposure should release my anxiety a bit or 3 weeks is too early to trust this result?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The only conclusive test is a simple antibody test at 12 weeks post exposure.
Rapid or lab based makes absolutely no difference.
A DUO or combo test is great for early detection but it does not take away the need to get a conclusive, basic AB test at 12 weeks.
Helpful - 0
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