Aa
Symptoms
Hi Dr:
On July 24, 2006, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend of 2 years both vaginally and anal. A few days later he left me and told me he had never been faithful to me...He said that he didn't always use protection. About a week later I started running a fever of 99.2-99.5, was extremley tired, soft lose stool and my tongue turned white. I was so afraid I got HIV so I got tested at 10 days negative, 39 days negative and 58 days negative. After my 58 day test (8 weeks) I calmed down and wasn't so stressed out. However, I still have a white, dry tongue and feel like my mouth is disgusting. I am going to get my 86 day test on October 18.. Is there a good chance I am going to test positive with my tongue being white? Its not a coating or thrush but a white film that won't go away.. .. Please help I am scared to death, I am only 28 and trusted this person with my life... HELP
On July 24, 2006, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend of 2 years both vaginally and anal. A few days later he left me and told me he had never been faithful to me...He said that he didn't always use protection. About a week later I started running a fever of 99.2-99.5, was extremley tired, soft lose stool and my tongue turned white. I was so afraid I got HIV so I got tested at 10 days negative, 39 days negative and 58 days negative. After my 58 day test (8 weeks) I calmed down and wasn't so stressed out. However, I still have a white, dry tongue and feel like my mouth is disgusting. I am going to get my 86 day test on October 18.. Is there a good chance I am going to test positive with my tongue being white? Its not a coating or thrush but a white film that won't go away.. .. Please help I am scared to death, I am only 28 and trusted this person with my life... HELP
Even the doc has agreed to one of the posters in another post that I read the other day when the poster's medical provider wanted to continue testing him to 6 months in presence of the symptoms. So, although there is a lot of knowledge about HIV, there are still loppholes i the available know how and the behavior of infection in a particular individual can vary from1 person to another.
I am myself scared guys and so desperately want to believe in the "time to test positive" threads. But, my fear is that testing for HIV is not a simple black & white situation and involves many grey areas. In the end it's not really only about us people who are worried about getting this infection. I consider myself as a potential weapon for destroying someone's else's innocent life if at all i turn out to be infected.
I am myself scared guys and so desperately want to believe in the "time to test positive" threads. But, my fear is that testing for HIV is not a simple black & white situation and involves many grey areas. In the end it's not really only about us people who are worried about getting this infection. I consider myself as a potential weapon for destroying someone's else's innocent life if at all i turn out to be infected.
You are reading wayyyyy too much into each word. If you have HIV symptoms and test neg at 6+weeks, so what? Your "Hiv" symptoms are not "Hiv" symptoms. Since HIV symptoms lines up with a million other things you certainly have one of the million other things. Most brought on by stress. Your risk factor and testing trumps all your symptoms. If you hav a 6-8 week test your done, move on, audios, next subject.
Symptoms: HIV symptoms dont hang out. They come and they go. If your at 12 weeks and still think your going through ARS your wrong. I have yet to see anything that corralates symptoms that late in the game and ARS.
Symptoms: HIV symptoms dont hang out. They come and they go. If your at 12 weeks and still think your going through ARS your wrong. I have yet to see anything that corralates symptoms that late in the game and ARS.
Guys,
These listing that you have pointed out to are great. Don't hate me for doing this but I would like to question if they really matter especially in case of the following reference from yesterday's post in the STD forum:
Thread Title in medhelp STD forum:
Follow-up from a couple months ago on daughter w/needlestick
Doc's comments - on a 12 week test
that your daughter doesn't have any symptoms that suggest HIV; and the near-zero risk of the exposure itself. Mostly the test results.
We keep on talking about how much can't be read into symptoms but they are for sure taken into consideration by medical community. And what happens if there are symptoms with a negative 12 week test.
I hate to be bringing this forward to your notice but I really felt kind of uncomfortable after reading this.
These listing that you have pointed out to are great. Don't hate me for doing this but I would like to question if they really matter especially in case of the following reference from yesterday's post in the STD forum:
Thread Title in medhelp STD forum:
Follow-up from a couple months ago on daughter w/needlestick
Doc's comments - on a 12 week test
that your daughter doesn't have any symptoms that suggest HIV; and the near-zero risk of the exposure itself. Mostly the test results.
We keep on talking about how much can't be read into symptoms but they are for sure taken into consideration by medical community. And what happens if there are symptoms with a negative 12 week test.
I hate to be bringing this forward to your notice but I really felt kind of uncomfortable after reading this.
I want to calm down, however, when I have my doctor telling me that people don't show positive until after 8 weeks, I about had a heart attack... My test was at 8 weeks and 2 days..
No worries. just checking :)
Ya, I made a typo thanks for catching it.
There is a website rappstreet.org
http://www.rappstreet.org/index.php?module=Ask%20The%20Experts&func=view&id_cat=18
The "expert" sounds alot like Dr.H's writings here. I am not sure hwo the expert is there but he/she repeatedly says over 96 of people infected with HIV will have detectable antibodies by day 30. It is an interesting read anyway. Much along the same lines as this forum.
http://www.rappstreet.org/index.php?module=Ask%20The%20Experts&func=view&id_cat=18
The "expert" sounds alot like Dr.H's writings here. I am not sure hwo the expert is there but he/she repeatedly says over 96 of people infected with HIV will have detectable antibodies by day 30. It is an interesting read anyway. Much along the same lines as this forum.
Is this an error?
" I have yet to see ANY MD's say they have seen a pos test turn neg after 4 weeks. "
Should that say negative at 4 weeks then pos later?
" I have yet to see ANY MD's say they have seen a pos test turn neg after 4 weeks. "
Should that say negative at 4 weeks then pos later?
The CDC says the the "Average" time to seroconvert is 22 days. the average means some before and some after. I think I've heard a means of 9-38 days? If what your saying about your doctor is correct (which I wonder if you didnt hear him wrong) how can 8 weeks or 56 days be less than satisfactory. That tells me that his knowledge in the field of HIV is dated. Most people maybe 90% show up by 4 weeks and you have doubled that. Why is that so hard to believe. I have searched the internet probably more than 99 percent of any doctor on HIV and I have yet to see ANY MD's say they have seen a pos test turn neg after 4 weeks. I mean 0! Even the mods on aidsmeds have never seen it. Massachessets guideline of 6 weeks would easily be debunked if people were getting the all clear at six weeks and coming back pos later. I have yet to hear or read anything on that. Not only that but you have multiple tests which debunk any kind of lab error. Seriously.. it's time to forget about HIV. If you have to have a test do your 10 week and move on. You dont even need it.
Another great read on how HIV is transmitted. Looks accurate to me but I think the article is quite old. Good read nonetheless.
http://www.aproposinc.com/hap/catch.htm
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"The Mechanics of Transmission
In order for a person to catch AIDS (HIV infection), the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) must travel from the inside of one person to the inside of another person, arriving with its RNA strand(s) intact. Then the virus, or its intact RNA strand(s) must get into the new host's bloodstream and then successfully find and enter a T-cell. Once inside a host cell, HIV can prepare for replication. After replication, replica viruses infects other host cells, probably attaching to new host cells when the infected host cell collides with other cells in the bloodstream.
Generally, more than one virus enters the body at one time. More likely, a person encounters dozens, hundreds, or thousands of viruses (or virus-infected cells) during exposure. The more viruses present, the better the chance of one or more viruses succeeding in finding a host cell and replicating.
Viruses are not able to enter the body through intact skin. Therefore viruses must enter the body through an open wound(s) or one of a number of possible body openings. Most of these body openings contain mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are thin tissues which protect many openings and passages in the human body. These membranes secrete mucus. Which contains anti-germ chemicals and keeps the surrounding tissues moist. There are mucous membranes in the mouth, inside the eyelids, in the nose and air passages leading to the lungs, in the stomach, along the digestive tract, in the vagina, in the anus, and inside the "eye" of the penis. Many viruses, if placed on the surface of a mucous membrane, can travel through the membrane and enter the tiny blood vessels inside.
The mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth are often doorways into our bodies for highly infectious viruses such as the flu. You can catch the flu from a person in the following manner: the person coughs in his or her hand, you shake hands soon afterward, and then your virus-carrying hand touches your eye or mouth.
The flu is highly infectious because the flu virus lives in the lungs, throat, and sinuses. Therefore, a high concentration of flu viruses is present in the sputum of an infected person. (Sputum is the substance expelled by coughing or by clearing the throat. Concentration is the number of viruses per unit of volume.) Coughing forces many viruses out of the lungs and into the air or onto the sick person' s hand or handkerchief. The flu virus easily crosses the mucous membrane.
The danger with AIDS is very different. With AIDS, the major infection sites are the bloodstream and the central nervous system. While HIV-carrying macrophages (roving white blood cells that engulf invaders, but are susceptible to HIV infection) are found in the connective tissues of the lung and in oral and mucous membranes, the number of viruses present does not seem great. Thus, HIV is present in low concentrations, if at all, in saliva and sputum. So coughing should not expel a large quantity of HIV, if any. Apparently, HIV cannot cross the mucous membrane very easily, and large concentrations of HIV are probably necessary. "
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http://www.aproposinc.com/hap/catch.htm
===================================================
"The Mechanics of Transmission
In order for a person to catch AIDS (HIV infection), the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) must travel from the inside of one person to the inside of another person, arriving with its RNA strand(s) intact. Then the virus, or its intact RNA strand(s) must get into the new host's bloodstream and then successfully find and enter a T-cell. Once inside a host cell, HIV can prepare for replication. After replication, replica viruses infects other host cells, probably attaching to new host cells when the infected host cell collides with other cells in the bloodstream.
Generally, more than one virus enters the body at one time. More likely, a person encounters dozens, hundreds, or thousands of viruses (or virus-infected cells) during exposure. The more viruses present, the better the chance of one or more viruses succeeding in finding a host cell and replicating.
Viruses are not able to enter the body through intact skin. Therefore viruses must enter the body through an open wound(s) or one of a number of possible body openings. Most of these body openings contain mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are thin tissues which protect many openings and passages in the human body. These membranes secrete mucus. Which contains anti-germ chemicals and keeps the surrounding tissues moist. There are mucous membranes in the mouth, inside the eyelids, in the nose and air passages leading to the lungs, in the stomach, along the digestive tract, in the vagina, in the anus, and inside the "eye" of the penis. Many viruses, if placed on the surface of a mucous membrane, can travel through the membrane and enter the tiny blood vessels inside.
The mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth are often doorways into our bodies for highly infectious viruses such as the flu. You can catch the flu from a person in the following manner: the person coughs in his or her hand, you shake hands soon afterward, and then your virus-carrying hand touches your eye or mouth.
The flu is highly infectious because the flu virus lives in the lungs, throat, and sinuses. Therefore, a high concentration of flu viruses is present in the sputum of an infected person. (Sputum is the substance expelled by coughing or by clearing the throat. Concentration is the number of viruses per unit of volume.) Coughing forces many viruses out of the lungs and into the air or onto the sick person' s hand or handkerchief. The flu virus easily crosses the mucous membrane.
The danger with AIDS is very different. With AIDS, the major infection sites are the bloodstream and the central nervous system. While HIV-carrying macrophages (roving white blood cells that engulf invaders, but are susceptible to HIV infection) are found in the connective tissues of the lung and in oral and mucous membranes, the number of viruses present does not seem great. Thus, HIV is present in low concentrations, if at all, in saliva and sputum. So coughing should not expel a large quantity of HIV, if any. Apparently, HIV cannot cross the mucous membrane very easily, and large concentrations of HIV are probably necessary. "
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BTW, your doc SHOULD have told you. All your symptoms are due to anxiety. Your symptoms match every one of the symptoms I had to a tee. My three tests came back neg. 4, 6, 10 weeks. as will yours. Chill out, you're worrying about nothing.
I cant beieve your doctor told you it sounds like you have HIV. Are you sure you heard him correctly? I would take your 10 week test and be done with it already. You dont have HIV. If your doctor told you that then its time for a new doctor.
Quote from http://www.aegis.com/askdoc/ASKD040617.html
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"The confusion about the appropriate "window" for HIV testing -- that is, how soon after exposure to HIV is an HIV antibody test reliable?-- stems from improvements in antibody testing over the last ten years. With the OLDER tests, antibodies to HIV were RELIABLY detectable 3 -6 months after HIV infection. The NEWER tests are reliable within 3-4 weeks of exposure. Most labs now use the newer test, hence the recommendation to test within one month of HIV exposure. "
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From Dr.Lisa Capaldini, M.D. who has been treating HIV since 1988. I have read up on her previously and she seems to have good credentials as Dr. HHH obviously has. My Dr says basically the same thing as she has wrote above. I think this confusion over the window period #1, costs the health system alot of unnecessary money and 2. alot of unnecessary worry to people. I agree with Dr. H that alot of it is CYA mentality, but unfortunately that's the world we live in.
===============================
"The confusion about the appropriate "window" for HIV testing -- that is, how soon after exposure to HIV is an HIV antibody test reliable?-- stems from improvements in antibody testing over the last ten years. With the OLDER tests, antibodies to HIV were RELIABLY detectable 3 -6 months after HIV infection. The NEWER tests are reliable within 3-4 weeks of exposure. Most labs now use the newer test, hence the recommendation to test within one month of HIV exposure. "
=====================================
From Dr.Lisa Capaldini, M.D. who has been treating HIV since 1988. I have read up on her previously and she seems to have good credentials as Dr. HHH obviously has. My Dr says basically the same thing as she has wrote above. I think this confusion over the window period #1, costs the health system alot of unnecessary money and 2. alot of unnecessary worry to people. I agree with Dr. H that alot of it is CYA mentality, but unfortunately that's the world we live in.
brn_eyed: change the freakin doc!!!!
MF: By no means, I was trying to counter ur claims. Trust me, I don't know enough (as much as you) to even dare to and besides that I have established healthy respect for your opinions on this forum. I am saddened to learn about your husband's chronic infection. But, I would also like to mention that with your attitude towards life and sexuality in general, I am one of your ardent fans and you offer a lot of inspiration to people like me.
MF: By no means, I was trying to counter ur claims. Trust me, I don't know enough (as much as you) to even dare to and besides that I have established healthy respect for your opinions on this forum. I am saddened to learn about your husband's chronic infection. But, I would also like to mention that with your attitude towards life and sexuality in general, I am one of your ardent fans and you offer a lot of inspiration to people like me.
that is an awful thing for your doctor to say. doctors are hit and miss, and this one is obviously way out too lunch. did the forum doctor not just tell you you're okay!???!!!!! you are fine. Dr HHH Specializes in this topic, why can't you trust him. take your 12 week test, but it will be negative.
I was asking about her status because I was going to comment on protecting partners, etc., although now that I think about it, if she's infectious I'm sure she would have had a call from the health department about those very issues ;-)
HBV is just one of those topics that touches my life personally. Most people are like me and resolve it with no problems, but my husband has a chronic infection and the resulting damage is quite serious. Worrying about it keeps me up at night and wakes me at 3am. Not to get anyone all wound up about yet ANOTHER STD, sheesh, but I do think it's sooo important to get vaccinated. He was infected before the vaccine was available, and I received the vaccine too late. My extremely limited experience has been that doctors rarely, if ever, mention vaccination to their patients, so I wanted to take this opportunity to get up on my soapbox about yet another thing ;-)
To the original poster: Wow, I think your doctor is wayyyyy overreacting. Did he he actually say that? It seems to me that everything points to exactly the opposite. Were you going to a STD clinic, or your regular family doctor? Were there maybe some moral judgments involved?
HBV is just one of those topics that touches my life personally. Most people are like me and resolve it with no problems, but my husband has a chronic infection and the resulting damage is quite serious. Worrying about it keeps me up at night and wakes me at 3am. Not to get anyone all wound up about yet ANOTHER STD, sheesh, but I do think it's sooo important to get vaccinated. He was infected before the vaccine was available, and I received the vaccine too late. My extremely limited experience has been that doctors rarely, if ever, mention vaccination to their patients, so I wanted to take this opportunity to get up on my soapbox about yet another thing ;-)
To the original poster: Wow, I think your doctor is wayyyyy overreacting. Did he he actually say that? It seems to me that everything points to exactly the opposite. Were you going to a STD clinic, or your regular family doctor? Were there maybe some moral judgments involved?
Ok everyone, I went to my follow-up doctor's appt yesterday.. and he told me that I should prepare for my 12 week test to come back positive ?? What???? He told me that people who develop white tongues are going or have gone through ARS... And that most of my symptoms sounded like ARS.. please help... he wants me to take another test tomorrow at 10 weeks and then my test at 12 weeks..
I think 2 months is too early to resolve a HBV infection naturally. The window period for detection of HBV is 45 days post exposure so I really doubt within the mentioned time frame it was detected & resolved also. The window period I am talking about is taking into consideration the HBs Ag test. I am not sure if there is a PCR test that can bone for it as well. But, again window for HBs Ag is another issue of controversy where some people say it extends till 180 days whereas others say that 12 weeks test is conclusive.
Re: HBV... did you resolve it, or do you have a chronic infection? I'm assuming the former, but just thought I'd ask. HBV is not a big deal for most people, but some people develop a chronic infection and it can be very, very serious. I would urge everyone to get vaccinated. It's not a big deal and it could save your life.
aidsmed.com is going to freak you out, most of those websites will. you need to and can trust the results u've already had. you can move on now, and enjoy being healthy!! no, a test wouldnt turn positive at 8 weeks if it was negative after 4 weeks.
Ok, I am really scared that's all.. I keep thinking that my next test is going to be positive. I had all sorts of symptoms starting 14 days after... I was extremly tired, white tongue, loose/soft stool, tempatures of 99.1-99.5, and totally depressed. I went online to aidsmeds.com, and they told me that my 58 day test will unlikely change, however, I am so afraid it will..
your throat is almost surly red from Gastro Refluxx. Stress causes the acids to be pushed back up the throat. This can irratate your throat and even turn your tounge white You dont even have a temp. 99.X is normal fluctuation. Like the doc always says, your symptoms are secondary to your testing. Trust your 8 week as conclusive.
Rashes: Really means nothing next to testing. The rash is usually accompanied by a high fever in the eary stages and is short in length. Rashes that hang around or linger are evidence against an ARS rash. Even when people do have symptoms like rashes sore throats and fevers most of the time it is NOT HIV related.
Rashes: Really means nothing next to testing. The rash is usually accompanied by a high fever in the eary stages and is short in length. Rashes that hang around or linger are evidence against an ARS rash. Even when people do have symptoms like rashes sore throats and fevers most of the time it is NOT HIV related.
have you ever found anything about what HIV rashes look like?
the one thing about HIV symptoms that confusses people, is that the web sites that talk about it are vague, one thing I can't seem to find is what exactly does an HIV rash look like? does anyone know?
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