HIV risk assessment 1 year after exposure

[pratyman]

Dear Docs,

I really need your help yet again.
I have consulted you previously about the same exposure in the following link:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Do-i-need-further-testing-after-a-negative-rapid-HIV-antibody-test-at-105-weeks/show/1977644?camp=26

As mentioned in the post. i was tested -ve on a rapid blood test 6,7 and 10.5 weeks after possible exposure and since then have tested 4.5 months and 8 months after exposure with both tests -ve, the exposure was in 5th may last year and the last test was on January 8 this year.
I am suffering from loose/soft stools with increased flatulence intermittently since last 1.5 months(2.5 months after the last test) with frequency not more than 2-3 a day.  i saw a docor and she suspects gastritis and gave me omeprazole, however, why i panicked is because i read today that gastritis can be caused by HIV/AIDS. My questions are:
1. is it possible for me to have a 8month -ve rapid blood test and then turn positive
2. can gastritis be caused by HIV?
3. do i need to test again to settle this? or any more rigorous test?
Really need your help and a few words of advise on this. i have person in my life now who means a world to me and i do not want to lose her or cause her harm.

Sincerely,
Pratyman

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back to the forum.  But I am surprised and disappointed that you continue to be concerned about having HIV.

Quoting from our previous discussion, I said "Your test results PROVE you did not catch HIV.  How high the risk was at the time makes no difference and neither do your symptoms.  The test results overrule everything else."  And you expressed thanks and relief with your closing comment, "I am much relieved now.  I will consider this conclusive and try to put this behind me and move on."

As for "i read today that gastritis can be caused by HIV/AIDS", you need to stop searching the internet for HIV symptoms. HIV/AIDS is statistically associated with almost all symptoms humans ever experience. You could replace "gastritis" with a hundred different medical conditions or symptoms like cough, headache, skin rash, neuropathy, diarrhea, hair loss, weight gain, weight loss, fever, or deformed fingernails -- I could keep going forever.  The point is that it doesn't matter what symptoms you have now or what symptoms you may develop in the future:  you do not have HIV from the sexual exposure you asked about last yeare.  Unless and until you have a new high risk exposure, you can be 100% certain you don't have HIV.

Those comments cover all three of your specific questions, but so there is no possibility of misunderstanding:

1) No.

2) I don't know if HIV can really cause gastritis.  But HIV isn't the cause in your case.

3) You don't need any more HIV testing, and there are no tests any better than the ones you already had.

I hope these comments will help you to finallly put to rest your apparent anxiety about that sexual exposure and HIV.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the thanks.  I'm glad to have helped and hope it sticks this time.

[pratyman]

Thank You Dr. Handsfield.

To be honest i am disappointed with myself too. Every time i had a negative test or spoke to you i felt relieved but it was always short-lived. i have not been very healthy in the last year and that fuels the anxiety. every time i have a sickness i find myself looking and reading if it could have been caused by HIV. i am not sure its due to the guilt caused by the regrettable act or some other obsessive behavior. i will try my best to cope with it and not to obsess over it.

As always you and Dr Hook are doing a great service to the likes of us, god  bless you.

thanks again