HIV or Crazy???

[rationalfears]

I am a 22 y/o female. I had  unprotected encounters over years, 1st was 8 years ago. Im still in contct with all but 1 of  men, and most now have children. I'm  hoping it's encouraging of their HIV status. Had possible exposure at a nail salon. - Cuticle torn, bleeding etc. Don't know if tools were steralized, or if techs hands were intacked. 1.) would this in fact be considered a risk by you?  I started having unexplained symptoms- : Low platelet (100 000), fatigue, recurring mouth lesions, swollen salivary glands(dentist ?'d HIV),white bumps on gums, diarrhea for 2 weeks, 18lbs weight loss, recurring yeast rash under skin fold(over weight), sudden acne flare, dry mouth, itchy boil-like pimples around hair follicles and occasion "floaters".
I tested for HIV in October. This was outside the 3 month period for any sexual encounters; only 9 weeks from nail experience.:NEGATIVE. I am still concerned. My NP is of little help. She doesn't want to test me again, nor is she interested in finding a cause for my symptoms. I live in small community, so the nearest hospital sends a tech to our local doctors office who collects blood here, takes it back to that hospital who then sends it off to another hospital 2 hours away for HIV testing.I am married and have a 2 year old baby girl, the unfortunate part is that somehow, my OBS  clinic "failed to complete HIV testing during prenatal testing". Just found this out a short time ago. hubby has had night sweats.Now I'm also fretting about my beautiful baby. 2.) Do you think my community situation makes it more likely for a blood mixup within the labs?? 3.) Do u think that my symptoms look like HIV? -new, or advanced? 4.) Is it possible  my tests were wrong, that I am infected & the test missed it? - can this happen in  new AND advanced HIV infection? how sick would be considered "advanced" enough to fool an HIV test? 5.) Would a 2y/o old have showed symptoms by now, if infected at birth and receiving no treatment?  PLEASE HELP

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We don't expect much of the questioners on this forum.  However, we do expect them to read our answers and pay attention to them.  Re-read it, especially "your symptoms and the level of risk are irrelevant:  it is not possible to have HIV with negative HIV tests more than 3 months after exposure."

Please also re-read the last paragraph of my reply above.

This thread is now over.  No more comments, please.

[rationalfears]

AS in seroconversion illness, I mean.

[rationalfears]

ok, one last question. i remember after my last unprotected encounter outside my husband, I was sick 5 and a half weeks later, seemed like a flu: head pain, fever, chills, achy body, sore throat. This lasted only 2.5 days . - Thinking outside the box here, does this also not set off any alarms. (it WAS NOT flu season).

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The answers you had on the HIV community forum, in two different threads, were terse but accurate:  your test results PROVE you did not catch HIV.  All the "risky" situations you describe in fact are zero to low risk.  And your symptoms do not suggest HIV -- not even a hint.  But both your symptoms and the level of risk are irrelevant:  it is not possible to have HIV with negative HIV tests more than 3 months after exposure.  In other words, I agree with your NP that additional HIV testing is not necessary.

To your specific questions:  1,5) There is no rational basis for fear your baby has HIV.  2) No, I see no reason to suspect mixup of blood specimens  3) Your symptoms don't even hint at HIV, early or late.  4) There is no chance your tests missed an HIV infection.

Your inability to accept the overwhelming evidence you don't have HIV, plus the overall tone of this question and the ones on the community forum, suggest an underlying emotional problem that would benefit from professional mental health attention.  Please discuss that aspect with your NP; I'll bet you will find her quite receptive to it.  I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.

Good luck--  HHH, MD