Fear of Hiv

[goinginsane123]

Hi doctor, I had unprotected sex about 10 weeks ago, After three weeks I had a sore throat and a white tongue, and have heard some popping in my ears as well which the doctor said was wax. The sore throat went away but the tongue persist to be white. I took a test a 5 week 3 days negative and a test at 6 weeks 3 days also negative. One was a rapid the other was at a doctors office where I had to wait a week for the results. My question's are if thrush was an ars symptom would it clear up quickly or persist? How conclusive would you say my two test were? Do you think it will change at twelve weeks giving my persistent white tongue? I have been worrying about this day in and day out sense I saw these tongue symptoms. Please Help

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I will be glad to comment.  Your sore throat, popping ears and white tongue is not due to HIV.  If they had been, your HIV tests would have been positive.  Symptoms such as the sorts of processes that cause white exudate on the tongue and mouth (i.e. thrush, oral hairy leukoplakia)  do not precede positive blood tests, they follow them- typically by years.  There are many reasons for your tongue to appear white or gray and most of them have nothing to do with HIV,

The risk of any single unprotected encounter, no matter whom the partner was is less than 1 infection in 1000 and typically far lower.  

Finally, your HIV test at 6 weeks would have detected over 95% of recent infections and a test at any time more than 8 weeks following exposure will be definitive.  You do not need to wait until 12 weeks for a definitive test.  I am confident when you do test again, the test will be negative and when it is, my advice is to not worry further.  

I hope these comments will be helpful.  EWH

[mahant]

A related discussion, fear of hiv me too...!! was started.

[goinginsane123]

A related discussion, 1 year later was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the follow-up.  Yes, a test 15 weeks after and exposure is certainly conclusive.  You can be confident that you did not get HIV from that exposure.  Time for you to move on without concern and time for this thread to end.  Take care.  EWH

[goinginsane123]

Hi doc you were right I tested HIV negative today at 15 weeks. I assume that I can resume my normal activities and consider these results as conclusive? Thank you so much for all your answers defiantly helped me while I drove myself insane. The test a oraquick advance HIV 1/2 blood test came back none reactive thanks for everything.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I recommend that you re-test at this time. The medications you took will not effect your antibody prouction or test results and your test will almost certainly be negative.

Further, fear of testing is silly.  Not testing will not change whether or not you are infected, just your ability to know that you are not (the most likely outcome) or are infected.  EWH

[goinginsane123]

I know that I shouldn't use drugs it's just the only thing that relieves my social anxiety and gives me one night where I can relax in social situations

[goinginsane123]

Hi doc I now have a very bad tooth pain that only goes away with cold water I have read that that means its and infection. I am at the twelve week mark and am afraid to take another test. My question is if I have taken prescription pain pills like Percocets lorercets, and have done other drugs like mdma, could this be the reason that I wouldn't have produced anti bodies yet? and if I get negative at 12 weeks will I have to retest because of this drug use? I don't do them everyday or every week or anything the first time I tried them was like 6 months ago and have done them about once or twice a month since. If I really have thrush or other symptoms that usually happen after the progression of hiv does this mean that the hiv has progressed quicker and I will die sooner? also if I take a long time to make anti bodies does this mean I have a much greater chance of a very short life? Thanks for all your help.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

When you  get results at 8 or 12 weeks which are (in your mind) defintitve, you may post them here.  I am confident they will be negative.  eWH

[goinginsane123]

Well Doctor I appreciate your advice and counsel, I'm very thankful you took time to help reassure me that my test is very accurate. I have been in the past few days accepting that I am HIV positive though I haven't got my conclusive test results yet I'm going to way 13 per Cdc guidelines I find it easier to except that I have HIV and what I'm going to do know to keep myself healthy then spending every night wondering do I have it do I not back and forth checking forums to see how accurate my test results are etc, I hope that I'm wrong but with this persistent dry mouth and pain when I swallow and it even hurts to talk it seems to me that this is to much to just be a coincidence and I am indeed infected with HIV. Again thank you for all your help I will post my final results on this thread, Take care doctor thank you for your support.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The chance that your test results will change between now and 10 days from now (or ever for that matter) are lower than your chances of being struck by lightning.  Personally, I would not be worried at all. Take care. EWH

[goinginsane123]

Hi doc well my test were at 6 weeks 3 days my latest test at least. so the conclusive test you speak of would be ten days later. So my question would be would ten days really be enough for the test to change. Have you ever seen a six week negative test change. I'm sorry to pester you about this doctor I have just been really worried thinking about this at every second and just want some reassurance that it won't change. I really don't want to bother you so you don't have to answer that question i;m just so afraid to take another HIV test and want someone to say that it won't change at 8 weeks or 12 weeks which ever the preference but I understand if you cant give me an answer, I'm not trying to bother you doctor im just a worried man who hopes for the best but prepares for the worst.Have a good day thank you so much for all your responses please don't stop responding or close this thread your words have brought great comfort to my soul take care

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As i said above, your 6 weeks test would have detected over 95% of recent infections.  You can test again at 8 weeks and that will provide a definitive result.  EWH

[goinginsane123]

Thankyou for your reply ive been feeling pain in my toungue and have a dry mouth so i have been worrying i hope that your right that it isnt hiv ill keep you posted with results if that would be ok. Do you think further testing is required? How do you feel about 5 and 6 week test. Thanks for your support doc

[goinginsane123]

I forgot to mention their was also a cut on my penis that I got from her giving me a hand job. Im a hetero sexual male and had one time intercourse with a female i'm uncertain of.