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Avatar universal

Mononucleosis and other illness?

My boyfriend has been sick for a while. We went to the hospital (which was a hell of a process- he doesn't have health care) and they diagnosed him with a simple middle earache, we went home, took the anti-biotic azithromycin (not sure on spelling) and waited it out.

After the package was empty, we followed up with the hospital- informing them that nothing was better. In fact- things were getting worse. We figured out he was JAUNDICED. So we cut his intake of tylenol to absolutely nothing.

After that, we waited it out again, they did some blood tests, and called us back later that night. Our spirits were high, and they informed my boyfriend that they had some confidential patient-doctor information to share with him.  He informed them that  I was family, and that he didn't hide anything from me.

The doctor said that that was fine, and told my boyfriend that his preliminary test returned positive for HIV.

Of course- panic set in (at least in me).

The hospital informed us of infectious disease doctors, and advised us to make an appointment with them.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT I REALIZE THAT THE THREAD DOES NOT ADVISE ON HIV/AIDS.

So. We continue on, and did not make an appointment. I was taking all of my hopes that it was a false positive- hoping that the ear infection had something to do with misdiagnosis...

His symptoms were not getting better, so I brought him to a different hospital- Mercy in Coon Rapids- Minnesota.

We sat there in the emergency room for a while, and they did blood tests. I was not in the room, so I did not hear what they said.

My boyfriend informed me later that they told him that he had MONONUCLEOSIS.

My hopes were looking up. There are plenty of things that happen in hospitals that can switch up blood results, mess up tests, etc. I know they're very unlikely, but I do know that some things can mess up the HIV testing...

On to my question-

Can mono give a false positive?

My boyfriend and I were confused as to how he tested positive for HIV. He did nothing to receive it. The doctor actually angered me by saying... here, I'll quote.

doc- "The safest thing you can do is to practice abstinence, even though you obviously don't"

he doesn't do drugs AT ALL, and we're both virgins. I have not been tested yet, though I will once his western blot tests come back. I have none of the symptoms he does, and if the second hospital we tried said nothing about his HIV result...

I don't know, i'm confused. please get back soon?

oh- of course! symptoms

cough, sore throat, nausea, headache, fever of 100-103.2 F, swollen glands and lymph nodes (in neck only), fatigue, occasional vomiting. That is all that I can think of at the moment.
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Avatar universal
oh my god. So- I realize this is WAY overdue, but I thought I'd share seeing as how concerned I was.

Since my boyfriend went to the hospital the second time (Coon Rapids) his HIV test came back inconclusive yet again. At this point we were living in a new city (Near St. Cloud, MN) and the department of Health sent out an agent to do a testing in our home- free of charge. The process involved a sterile environment placed on our coffee table, a couple of needles, and a small testing strip. I have no idea what this test is called, but it took about ten seconds.

My boyfriend was over his mononucleosis by this time, and already was showing signs of recovery. All jaundiced pigment in his skin was gone and he was back to his usual pale-and-not-yellow self.

The agent looked at the strip, said he was negative, and started packing up. I asked him about this strip, however, because one of the lines was off... It looked quite like an inconclusive result. He informed me that that was a misprint- and continued to pack up.

Since the event my boyfriend has returned to his usual self. I'm so happy he doesn't have HIV. I still have yet to get tested, but I don't see much reason to rush. I'm not sexually active, and I don't deal with blood on any sort of occasion that would warrant worry.

Thank you so so so much, Jessi for helping me through this devistating time. I honestly was panicked every day for two months. The stress alone could have killed me. Thank you again for your kind words. If you're ever in Minnesota and need a doctor... Avoid Buffalo's hospital like the plague. Hell- you might be diagnosed with that there, too.
Helpful - 0
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh and since you are in Minnesota - you are lucky.  They have a FABULOUS dept of health, and I would trust any of their HIV testing sites.

Here is a link -

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/hiv/testingsites.html
Helpful - 0
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
Wow he can't catch a break huh?

When he is better from the mono, he should go to an HIV testing site, explain this whole thing, and get tested.  They can do a blood test and ask that it be confirmed with the WB regardless of what the Elisa says.

My guess is that he had a false positive, and somehow the mono is interfering with his testing for HIV.  I see no reason to think he has it whatsoever, but I can also see how this can mess with his mind.

Aj
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yeah, we're both still virgins. My parents have no history of HIV, neither do his... I don't understand why they'd say he was.

but update-- they told him that his test that was positive was the 10 minute test. That was positive, then the ELA (or something like that) was negative. Western Blot said it was inconclusive...

it's like... stop toying with us?
Helpful - 0
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sometimes having another acute virus can cause false positives on the HIV elisa test.  

Are you saying you are both still virgins?  I'm not sure why they tested, unless it was just automatic.

I would ask to get paperwork on all testing.  I can help you figure it all out then, or the HIV forum can as well.

At this point, I wouldn't panic about the HIV.  

And I'm sorry the doc was an idiot at the ER.  ER docs can lack tact, if nothing else.

Aj
Helpful - 0
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