Aa
questions about HIV
Hello,
I have a few questions about HIV testing and if there is any need for concern in my case;
I had brief unprotected sex with a balinese prostitute (hiv status unknown) whist on holidays at the end of AUGUST 2009, roughly 5 months and two weeks ago. I had tests done 2 weeks ago for HIV/aids.. gonnorhea, hep c and chlaymidia.
I never really thought about my actions until recently when i decided it would be wise to get tested because i was beginning to see my current girlfriend and i wanted to be sure. I was supposed to wait roughly a week for the test results, but in the meantime i did a little research of my own.. i was fine until i googled "HIV in bali" and after that moment i went into shock with what i had read, to say the least i was very afraid and also that maybe i could have infected my girlfriend.
Luckily the results were all negative and the doctor assures me that i will be fine and to be more sensible next time.
I realise that reading online and self diagnosis can be quite dangerous but i did read certain things that did and still bother me a lot and have caused a great deal of stress.
- What is the percentage for HIV test reliability after 3 months?? As i said it has been 5 months for me, and i have never felt sick in any way.
I ask this because i have read that a smaller percentage of people take at least six months to seroconvert, apparently.
- If someone was infected would most people feel a particular way.. i mean to ask would you know that something was wrong with you? Or do most people usually show no symptoms at first?
- When i had my hiv test, would it have been the ELISA test or something else here in australia, such as western blot or maybe some other type of testing?? I never asked the doctor which one it was.
- Do you think it is a good idea to get re-tested after the 6 month period?? I think a negative result at this stage would ease the anguish and stress a lot.
Regards.
I have a few questions about HIV testing and if there is any need for concern in my case;
I had brief unprotected sex with a balinese prostitute (hiv status unknown) whist on holidays at the end of AUGUST 2009, roughly 5 months and two weeks ago. I had tests done 2 weeks ago for HIV/aids.. gonnorhea, hep c and chlaymidia.
I never really thought about my actions until recently when i decided it would be wise to get tested because i was beginning to see my current girlfriend and i wanted to be sure. I was supposed to wait roughly a week for the test results, but in the meantime i did a little research of my own.. i was fine until i googled "HIV in bali" and after that moment i went into shock with what i had read, to say the least i was very afraid and also that maybe i could have infected my girlfriend.
Luckily the results were all negative and the doctor assures me that i will be fine and to be more sensible next time.
I realise that reading online and self diagnosis can be quite dangerous but i did read certain things that did and still bother me a lot and have caused a great deal of stress.
- What is the percentage for HIV test reliability after 3 months?? As i said it has been 5 months for me, and i have never felt sick in any way.
I ask this because i have read that a smaller percentage of people take at least six months to seroconvert, apparently.
- If someone was infected would most people feel a particular way.. i mean to ask would you know that something was wrong with you? Or do most people usually show no symptoms at first?
- When i had my hiv test, would it have been the ELISA test or something else here in australia, such as western blot or maybe some other type of testing?? I never asked the doctor which one it was.
- Do you think it is a good idea to get re-tested after the 6 month period?? I think a negative result at this stage would ease the anguish and stress a lot.
Regards.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you for your post. Let me reply to all your questions as follows:
- What is the percentage for HIV test reliability after 3 months?? As i said it has been 5 months for me, and i have never felt sick in any way.
I ask this because i have read that a smaller percentage of people take at least six months to seroconvert, apparently. AFTER 3 MONTHS IN ABSENCE OF ANY OTHER SERIOUS UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AFFECTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM (LIKE MULTIPLE MYELOMA,LEUKAEMIA,LYMPHOMAS, ETC.), A NEGATIVE RESULT AFTER 12 WEEKS IS TOTALLY CONCLUSIVE AND COMPLETELY RELIABLE, MORE THAN 99.9999%
- If someone was infected would most people feel a particular way.. i mean to ask would you know that something was wrong with you? Or do most people usually show no symptoms at first? 90% OF PEOPLE WOULD EXPERIENCE SOME SYMPTOMS, USUALLY NON-SPECIFIC, LIKE A FEVER, MALAISE, HOT FLUSHES, SWOLLEN GLANDS, SORE THROAT, RASH, ETC. BETWEEN 2 TO 6 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION.
- When i had my hiv test, would it have been the ELISA test or something else here in australia, such as western blot or maybe some other type of testing?? I never asked the doctor which one it was. MOST LIKELY THE ELISA ANTIBODY TEST, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER AS ALL TESTS WOULD BE RELIABLE AFTER SO MANY MONTHS.
- Do you think it is a good idea to get re-tested after the 6 month period?? I think a negative result at this stage would ease the anguish and stress a lot.
NO, IT IS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL. YOU DO NOT NEED ANY MORE TESTS. ANOTHER TEST WOULD REALLY BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
Best wishes,
Dr Jose
Thank you for your post. Let me reply to all your questions as follows:
- What is the percentage for HIV test reliability after 3 months?? As i said it has been 5 months for me, and i have never felt sick in any way.
I ask this because i have read that a smaller percentage of people take at least six months to seroconvert, apparently. AFTER 3 MONTHS IN ABSENCE OF ANY OTHER SERIOUS UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AFFECTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM (LIKE MULTIPLE MYELOMA,LEUKAEMIA,LYMPHOMAS, ETC.), A NEGATIVE RESULT AFTER 12 WEEKS IS TOTALLY CONCLUSIVE AND COMPLETELY RELIABLE, MORE THAN 99.9999%
- If someone was infected would most people feel a particular way.. i mean to ask would you know that something was wrong with you? Or do most people usually show no symptoms at first? 90% OF PEOPLE WOULD EXPERIENCE SOME SYMPTOMS, USUALLY NON-SPECIFIC, LIKE A FEVER, MALAISE, HOT FLUSHES, SWOLLEN GLANDS, SORE THROAT, RASH, ETC. BETWEEN 2 TO 6 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION.
- When i had my hiv test, would it have been the ELISA test or something else here in australia, such as western blot or maybe some other type of testing?? I never asked the doctor which one it was. MOST LIKELY THE ELISA ANTIBODY TEST, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER AS ALL TESTS WOULD BE RELIABLE AFTER SO MANY MONTHS.
- Do you think it is a good idea to get re-tested after the 6 month period?? I think a negative result at this stage would ease the anguish and stress a lot.
NO, IT IS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL. YOU DO NOT NEED ANY MORE TESTS. ANOTHER TEST WOULD REALLY BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
Best wishes,
Dr Jose
3 months is conclusive my freind. You can defo relax mate.
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