11 Week 5 Day Result, I can't accept it

[scaredtodeathHSVHIV]

RISK: I'm a 25 year old white male and this partner was around a 40 year old black female who may have been a street worker. I don't remember any of the sex act.  From what I can tell I met her on the streets that night after drinking downtown. I apparently met her on the walk to my car. She prayed on me.  I remember seeing a used condom next to my bed the next morning but there was no cum inside of it. I recall one part of the act, asking, "why is my condom off." Furthermore, I had a small red rash almost wound on the lower staff of my penis the following days. The next week I went for immediate testing: My entire life STD free.  But my IgM for Herpes was Positive! Increasing my HIV risks.  2 weeks post exposure a Dentist confirmed I had Geographic Tongue. I felt very sick, with swollen lymph nodes. The swollen lymph nodes lasted just like ARS.  I also had a constant pressure in my ears during this time constant with HIV infections.  

I called and asked if she would get tested for HIV, she said no.  The 2nd time I called, she said "don't call me again. I have children. No one has ever accused me of this and I've had plenty of partners."  So at 3 1/2 weeks I wanted a HIV DUO Blood Test. But I later found that it was a "NORMAL HIV BLOOD TEST," not the DUO.

I developed a small white bump on the head of my penis, right on the rim that blends in with the skin, which alarms me because it hasn't gone away.  This led me to last week. At 11 weeks and 5 days I went to get a Oral Mouth Swab. It came back NEGATIVE
1.) 11 Weeks and 5 days is only 82 days post exposure. Is this conclusive?
2.) "3 months," does that mean 12 weeks, 13 weeks, or 90 days. I'm very confused. If it is 90 days then I wasn't even close to being conclusive.
3.) Shouldn't I still be concerned if I did in fact have unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman, despite a negative at 82 days?
4.) The Expert at the clinic said that I must come back at "6 months for a conclusive result. WHY!?

PLEASE HELP ME

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The HIV lab tests are among the most reliable diagnostic tests ever developed.  Negative HIV tests 6 or more weeks after exposure always overrule symptoms and exposure history.  As you have been told repeatedly (REPEATEDLY!) on the community forum, your test results prove you don't have HIV.  Your symptoms don't matter; the test results show something else is the cause.  To your specific question:

1,2) Yes, your result is definitive.  The stand-alone antibody tests are definitive at 6-8 weeks, despite formal advice for 12-13 weeks from some sources. The exact time frame for definitive results isn't all that precise.

3) No, you should not be concerned.  You are wasting a lot of emotional energy on a situation that should be leaving you relaxed and mellow.

4) Some experts take hyper-conservative views.  I can't help that.

I'm going to close with a reminder about the excessive posting warning you have had on the community forum.  It will not be tolerated here.  There will be no argument or discussion.  Accept the reassurance you have had.  If you cannot or will not, it is evidence of a mental health problem that probably would benefit from professional attention.  It is not normal to be so resistant to scientific evidence and reasoned reassurance.

HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I cannot help that you are "still having much much trouble with this".  Your follow-up quesitons are irrlevant, because test results always rule.  Your negative results make any and all questions about the risk of exposure irrelevant; no matter how high the risk, the test results prove you weren't infected.  A negative oral swab test is just as reliable as any other HIV test.  And no, there are no situation in which it is necessary to wait 6 months for reliable HIV testing.

You are obviously obsessed with this and my guess is that these additional comments are not going to settle your fears about it.  That's the nature of obsession -- there is always a "yes but" question.  However, I will not play that game.  Your thinking on this is truly irrational and abnormal; if you continue to find yourself worrying you jmight have HIV despite the unequivocal scientific evidence and repeated, reasoned reassurance, then you will need to seek professional counseling about it.  This suggestion is made from compassion, not criticism.  But whether or not you do that, this thread is over.  And please do not be tempted to start a new thread on this forum with the same questions; it would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).

Good luck with it.

[scaredtodeathHSVHIV]

oh and P.S.

I'm still unsure of this as well:

I didn't have an "HIV Lab Test" at 11 weeks and 5 days. I had a Rapid Oral Mouth Swab....I don't know if that changes your opinion at all, or if in fact that constitutes a "HIV Lab Test," but to me that would seemingly mean a test in which one's blood was drawn.

You said, "The HIV lab tests are among the most reliable diagnostic tests ever developed.  Negative HIV tests 6 or more weeks after exposure always overrule symptoms and exposure history."

But I only had a ORAL MOUTH SWAB TEST.

[scaredtodeathHSVHIV]

Dear Doctor,

Happy New Year. I'm hoping this will be a good year for me and that I can accept my NEGATIVE result and MOVE ON.

But, I'm still having much much trouble with this. I guess I just need clarity on one thing, and I still don't understand, and I hope you can clear it up for me:
1.) Lets say the woman I had unprotected sex with is indeed HIV positive (and she fits the demographic more than any other girl/woman I have ever been with: 40 something black woman, tattoos, ghetto, and possible street worker), IS A 12 WEEK TEST STILL CONCLUSIVE, or
2.) Are these the SITUATIONS, HIGH RISK, when ONE NEEDS TO WAIT 6 MONTHS?!
3.) Are there ever any SITUATIONS where ONE needs to WAIT 6 MONTHS? And
4.) Can you clarify this sentence:
"So even if your partner had HIV -- and statistically, she probably did not -- you were unlikely to be infected."
Does that mean that my 11 week 5 day NEGATIVE is CONCLUSIVE, or "LIKELY" CONCLUSIVE?1

-SCARED

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are indeed beating a dead horse.  Remember that HIV is hard to transmit.  Among married couples in whom one person has HIV, on average it takes 5 years of regular unprotected sex before the other is infected.  Almost nobody ever gets HIV after a single exposure!  So even if your partner had HIV -- and statistically, she probably did not -- you were unlikely to be infected.

The time to a definitive result isn't all that precise because it would be impossible to do the kind of research that could determine an exact figure.  The important thing is that with the modern HIV tests in use today, almost no HIV experts have EVER had a patient with HIV in whom it took more than 6 weeks or so for a positive result.

So don't worry about "3 months".  It truly doesn't matter.  Your result at 11+ weeks is definitive and proves you didn't catch HIV.

There will be no further discussion; please do not reply.  There is nothing more this forum has to offer you. You'll just have to accept the advice you have had.  Good bye and good luck.

[scaredtodeathHSVHIV]

P.S.
I didn't have an "HIV Lab Test" at 11 weeks and 5 days. I had a Rapid Oral Mouth Swab....I don't know if that changes your opinion at all, or if in fact that constitutes a "HIV Lab Test," but to me that would seemingly mean a test in which one's blood was drawn.

So, this coupled with my above question about timetables, these are my main confusions and scares. I simply can't grasp or understand if my RAPID ORAL MOUTH SWAB at 11 weeks 5 days is sufficient, when some say 12 weeks, some say 13 weeks, some say 90 days, and still others go with 6 months.

This will be my last post, but I do really hope you can help me understand these last 2 coupled questions if and when you have time. I'd greatly appreciate it. Maybe it will help me move on with my life and grab a hold of a future I once thought was so promising. Because ever since this event I've put my entire life on hold. It has been extremely hard and grueling.

[scaredtodeathHSVHIV]

Doctor,

I greatly appreciate your quick and informative response.  I have read the medhelp guidelines and I apologize for my state of anxiety and my numerous posts on the previous forum.  I do truly appreciate the help I was given there as well. I don't know how I would have made it 3 months without their insight and understanding.  I don't want to upset you, but I guess I just can't get over the following:

1.) I don't know her status and she seemed to fit the demographic, and, MAINLY
2.) My vast confusion over what constitutes "3 months."

I know that you, of all people, are one of the greatest experts on this.  So reading that "stand alone antibody tests are definitive at 6-8 weeks," is very very reassuring and I feel almost something I can take to the bank...

But what followed scared me, and again, is my main confusion, "The exact time frame for definitive results isn't all that precise."  So, what exactly does that mean?!  

Again, I'm sorry if I'm "beating a dead horse." I know I'm a smart young man....but I simply can't grasp the discrepancy of the different timetables I've seen and whether or not, due to my risk and possible exposure, which timetable I fall into.