Wow, thanks doctors and your right, get tested.

[faithinhouston]

I am writing this message to everyone and to the doctors here.
Late February had a dull aching feeling in scrotum and diagnosed for the next month with Epididymitis.
Truthfully was really scared it was HIV, didn't tell my parents, friends, or even girlfriend for almost a month.
Hadn't had any type of sex with her after dating for a month.

Well I went for a HIV test here almost a month ago due to what I thought was symptoms of HIV.   I mean EVERYTHING from lymph pain, a little hairy thrush on back of tongue, numbness, tingling in hands, feet, back of leg charlie horses, dizzyness, night sweats bad first 3 weeks which slowly have subsided since then, all started on Feb 22.   Went on Tetracycline for 15 days and then to 2 other doctors who gave me Cipro for about another 20 days.  They didn't help!  AT ALL!

Since then, went back to Urologist, THE best medical center in the country and he couldn't help and sent me to an internal doctor, went for CT and have enlarged lymph nodes?

Finally went back to the HIV specialist today, it's been just over a month since my test and scared, and after 40 minutes in the room almost alone, ID doc came in and told me I tested negative on an ELISA test !!!  about 10 weeks after risky exposure!   WAA HOOOOOO!  

Message of this story is , that I was totally figuring that I was positive, and you have to get a test and protect yourself in every situation.  A friend of mine has a friend we went to college with whose parents died in about 1990 from AIDS.

Just remember get tested and protect yourself.    And do someone else a favor you care about and tell them about it and encourage them to look up HIV and the complications in life it can cause.

Good luck everyone and hope this helps at least 1 person!

Docs, thanks for your devotion to medicine and helping people.  Everyone, take a few minutes to tell someone in their family or a friend about things that can hurt them that they don't know about.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for your follow up.  Glad to hear that your test came out negative.  Take Care. EWH

[faithinhouston]

ID doctor gave me results of HIV test.  Looks like was a PCR (?).  

NEGATIVE once again !   They still can't figure out what the problem with me is.  The referral game continues.  

Thank you again.  

Best wishes to you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm sorry for what you are going through but i agree with you and your doctors that getting to the bottom of it is important.  To that end with the tests that you have to date, I am confident that your HIV tests will be negative once again.  Please remember there are many, many things that cause enlarged lymph nodes that are not HIV.  My wish for you is that your tests will confirm not only that it is not HIV but, even more importantly, that it is something that can be readily treated.  Please d let us know what your tests show.  Hope all goes well.  EWH

[faithinhouston]

Doctors, I have been through so much since last posting, haven't opened my bottle of Tequila yet.  I'm still having medical problems and this is the 4th week I haven't been back to work.

Since I last posted, I've received my latest ct scan results which internal med doctor referred me to an Oncologist.  The CT said I possibly have Sarcoidosis,Lymphoma, or Carcinoma.  He did 3 cancer tests and a PET scan which showed enlarged lymph nodes in my chest.  He ordered a surgical biopsy of the swollen lymph nodes between my lungs.  He thought it was probable I had Lymphoma but definately some kind of Granuloma.  During the surgery came out and told my family that I did not have cancer after they looked at it in the microscope (I guess) and sent 3 lymph nodes off for culture and biopsy.   Cultures came back neg and still looking at biopsy after 2 weeks ago from surgery.  They say it could take up to 4 weeks to show some kind of fungus.

They have referred me over to a Infectious Disease doctor who after seeing once and showing her my negative HIV result wants to retest me for HIV.  She has sent in a HIV-1 RNA test.
The last negative HIV test was 12-13 weeks post oral sex and 6 months post unprotected vaginal sex lasting about 15 seconds.
I had had another negative HIV blood test done at 8 weeks post the oral sex.
These tests were done by Labcorp and assume they were ELISA tests.
I have not had any type of sexual activity since last HIV negative test.

My question is do you think I will still receive a negative HIV-1 RNA result from this latest test done today?

I've seen at least 8 doctors, 1 emergency room visit, 13 office visits, 24 needle sticks total, 3 CT scans, 1 PET scan, 1 set of x-rays, and a surgical biopsy of Lymph nodes between my lungs.

Its been a real rollercoaster mentally and physically lately and I would appreciate it if you could answer my HIV question or have any other feedback.  

Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Congratulations.  EWH

[faithinhouston]

went yesterday got my neg result on an Elisa, and wanted to double check and run some generic blood tests which may help him understand what's going on with me.

Got another neg Elisa today !!!!!

Wha-hooo     Just bought me a $100 bottle of Tequila to enjoy with fam and friends this weekend.

Thanks docs for your helping everyone!  have a great weekend.