worried/confused

Here is my question, on Aug 20 2007 I had protected viginal sex with a female, she has not use any IV drugs or to her knowledge gone out with any males that have sex with other men. So during this event, my condom slipped off, I couldn't tell if it was during or when I pulled out, all the same it was off.  She was tested Oct 25, 2007  9 weeks after our event and 15 weeks from her last unprotected event.  She had sex with another gentlemen it started off unprotected but finished protected.  Her Oct. 25 test came back negative.  On Nov 9 we had sex again, it was protected through the whole event, but as of Nov 20, I started to get sick... I have thrown up had a small bout of diarrhea and have been very dizzy to were I can't stand at times, no other symtoms (symptoms) this has lasted a week now, and no end in sight. No fever to my knowledge either.   My Son who is 17 month, had some kind of virus where he was throwing up to, I wonder if I caught it, he is already better but I see m to be taking longer if that is what it is.   My question is that test good and good for the both of us.  I knew my HIV status before the incident I was HIV negative.  She was the first women other than my wife I had been with in ten years and I was tested in 99.  If she did have HIV is it to late to be showing signs or am I just way off base.  Oh and she was on her period at the time of exposure.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You describe a low risk exposure to a low risk partner.  As you already seem to know, your symptoms are perfectly compatible with the sort of gastrointestinal virus that infected your son.  Statistically, the most likely cause is a bug called norovirus, overall the most common cause of 1-3 day illnesses with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea--and sometimes dehydration, which would explain the dizziness when standing.  (Often misnamed "stomach flu", but of course not influenza at all.)  Acute HIV infection doesn't do any of those things.  There is no need to invoke HIV or anything else related to your sexual exposure.  It's fine with me if your nervousness gets the better of you and you decide to be tested, but from a medical or risk assessment perspective, there is no need.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[ForLyfe]

Thanks for the Help and your time.  I have noticed on the last few post by you and the other Dr.  That you are no longer stating that Heterosexual acts as low risk and not a valid way of getting the HIV.  Have two change they way you have choose to answer the question or has new information come about?  Just curious

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You must be reading the forum very selectively.  I'm not aware of any change.  Nobody ever said that HIV can't be transmitted heterosexually.  On a global scale, that's how most people with HIV got infected.

[ForLyfe]

I guess I took low risk to another level, the 1 and 2000 statement. More so that it was difficult to transmit in a low risk one time unprotected heterosexual encounter.  

[ForLyfe]

Does her test cover me?  I mean I haven't been with anyone other than her and my wife? I understand there was a girl on here Sunny something... that was negative at 4 weeks then at six weeks she was positive.  So I am just checking, I think I might get tested just to make sure.

[ForLyfe]

left this out, is eight weeks long enough?  That is around 98% reliable correct?

[ForLyfe]

I know your not going to answer any of this, but I had one last question.  The female I was with, she supposely wasn't with anyone else unprotected between our incident and her test, but turns out she was... she had unprotected sex a week before her negative test, does that some how make her test null in void?  I mean isn't it basically starting the clock over again?  I mean she would need to wait another six to 3 months for another negative test.  What if it turns out to be positive no tell when she caught it right?  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

What if, what if, what if?  What if you got hit by a meteorite?

Your partner's last unprotected sex "starts the clock" again only if she got HIV during that last sexual exposure.  The statistical chances are zero, for practical purposes-- not only is is unlikely she caught it, but if she did, it is unlikely you were infected.  Please try to think just a little bit logically. The chance you have HIV is literally thousdans of times lower than your risk of dying in an accident in the next year.  That risk, by the way, is one chance in 1,756 (if you live in the US).

This thread is over.

[ForLyfe]

Well that really didn't answer my question.  Is her test valid? for our encounter, I mean it tell us something right?  That before and at the time of our unprotected moment, she did not have HIV correct? I think I should get tested but if I don't have to then I won't.  But I have been hearing that you should wait till six months out.  She took hers at three months.  I have just been having pain under my arm pits ans tenderness under my jaw line, but no fever.  I know about symptoms, but it continues to make me wonder.  I am a married man.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

From all you describe, I see no reason for you or your gf to be tested at all.  But it's fine with me if you decide to do it.  I'm not going to repeat the hundreds of discussions about time to reliably positive HIV test results.  You'll get a good idea by reading almost any 10-20 threads at random; or use the search link and enter "seroconversion", "HIV diagnosis", or "time to positive HIV test".

I won't have any further comments on this thread.

[ForLyfe]

I know you have no futher comment, but I am going crazy not knowing so I have scheduled a test for today, I should know my results by one to two business days. Wish me luck...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We don't need to know the result of your negative test.  I will delete the entire thread if you persist in cluttering it with unnecessary anxiety-driven comments.  This isn't a counseling service.

[ForLyfe]

I didn't understand my results.  Can you not explain... The test covered from birth up until three months ago.  So any unprotected sex in those three months are not covered by this test?  I think that is a fair question.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Good grief.  It says very clearly at the top of the fourm that people are responsible to read it to find the replies to common questions.  I'm not going to answer (again) the single most common question on this forum, the time it takes for HIV tests to become positive.  Read just about any 10 questions at random.

This thread is over.  Any further comments and I will delete the entire thread.  

[ForLyfe]

I did search before I asked this last question.  Didnt see anything that was close to what I asked.  And if I need to be talked to like a third grader, I will call one of my old teachers.  Nice bedside manner.

[ForLyfe]

A related discussion, conclusive was started.

[ForLyfe]

A related discussion, conclusive was started.