Aa
5 negative tests in 3 months (am I crazy?)
Hi, I had sex with a girl while I was in mexico ( She was Canadian of unknown status) Im almost 100% sure I used A condom the whole time, but I was pretty drunk. This all happened in October 2010. I slept with here only one time. About four days after I got a sore throat and my tung was kinda white and I had dry eyes), so I went online and checked-out my symptoms (stupid move) After looking for an hour or two, I convinced my self that I had contracted HIV, so I got tested in mexico 6 days after I had slept with her. The test came back negative. I felt relieved, not know anything about a window period, so When I got home I did some more research online and found-out about the three month window period. This is where I lost my mind. I told my Wife about what had happened down South. She took it quite well. I still had many problems with it though, so I got tested at my Doctor in Canada (blood test for most std's including HIV) After two weeks the test came back negative. My eyes where still dry and red and I got a sinus infection, which made me even crazier. I got test at the 6 week mark (Rapid test) and I tested negative again, but I still have dry eyes and tingles all over my body. Then I got tested again at 12 week (Rapid test) Negative. I still have the same symptoms plus I think I have developed some small whit patches on my chest and arms ( I dont know if they where there before) I get tested again at 3 months and 3 days (rapid test) Negative, but I still have all the same symptoms. My wife thinks Im crazy, Im starting to think Im crazy. I have been going to counseling twice a month, but I have lost all drive in life, its been hard on all aspects of my life. I know this is all my fault, but can anyone help me out on this. Just an after thought, but I moved into a new house when I got back from mexico (all hardwood and gas heat, might explain the dryness? I have also gained 40lbs) My doctor sys it might be a fungal infection on my chest.
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Except for potent chemotherapy (e.g. for cancer), probably no medicines at all have any effect on HIV test reliability.
Do not second guess anything I have said. There is nothing that can change the 100% certainty you don't have HIV. No matter what enters your mind as a "what if" or "yes but" question, the answer is the same: you don't have HIV. Please don't be tempted to ask. Just deal with the main problem, which is your mental health, not HIV.
Do not second guess anything I have said. There is nothing that can change the 100% certainty you don't have HIV. No matter what enters your mind as a "what if" or "yes but" question, the answer is the same: you don't have HIV. Please don't be tempted to ask. Just deal with the main problem, which is your mental health, not HIV.
Sorry for this question, But I have taken over the counter sleeping pills to help me sleep, woult that effect my test results?
Thank you very much. Im glad their are websites like this to help people. I am going to therapy tonight (which I have been doing for the past couple months to work past this)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. By coincidence, the is the second question in a row in which I think I can answer correctly based only on the title of the question, before reading anything else. Take a look at the thread immediatly before this one. The point is that if HIV testing is done sufficiently long after the last possible exposure -- typically 6-8 weeks and always by 3 months -- the result overrules every other consideration: symptoms, the nature of the exposure, etc. A negative result 3 months after the last possible exposure proves with 100% certainty that you don't have HIV.
Now I have read the rest. Nothing changes what I said above.
I'm sorry to hear you jumped the gun by telling your wife. (That may have been the best thing, from a relationship standpoint. But if the potential for HIV transmission was the main reason you told her, it was a mistake.)
It is simply not possible to read lists of symptoms of acute HIV infection and conclude that you have HIV simply because some of the symptoms are similar. If one were to list the 100 most common non-injury health problems (common infections, metabolic disorders) and the 100 most common symptoms they all cause, and compare that list to the symptoms of acute HIV, the list would look very similar. Every symptom you list is much more commonly due to garden variety viruses or, in your case, anxiety or depression.
In other words, you need to believe the test results, accept the truth that you do not have HIV, and then start to work with your doctor to figure out exactly what is going on here. My best guess is that almost all you are experiencing is due to some mixture of depression, anxiety, and/or guilt over your marital infidelity.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Now I have read the rest. Nothing changes what I said above.
I'm sorry to hear you jumped the gun by telling your wife. (That may have been the best thing, from a relationship standpoint. But if the potential for HIV transmission was the main reason you told her, it was a mistake.)
It is simply not possible to read lists of symptoms of acute HIV infection and conclude that you have HIV simply because some of the symptoms are similar. If one were to list the 100 most common non-injury health problems (common infections, metabolic disorders) and the 100 most common symptoms they all cause, and compare that list to the symptoms of acute HIV, the list would look very similar. Every symptom you list is much more commonly due to garden variety viruses or, in your case, anxiety or depression.
In other words, you need to believe the test results, accept the truth that you do not have HIV, and then start to work with your doctor to figure out exactly what is going on here. My best guess is that almost all you are experiencing is due to some mixture of depression, anxiety, and/or guilt over your marital infidelity.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
