Aa
HIV Negative but even more restless
Hi
I will dive straight into my question and try to keep it short.
I had an exposure 6 weeks ago now with a bar girl in Asia.
Her HIV status was unknown and we had unprotected vaginal sex.
Got tested on the 38th day Mark with the following:
Rapid antibody test (even though the window is 3 months I wanted to start with this test just to at least give me the slightest peace of mind. RESULT: negative
Combo p24/antibody test. RESULT: negative
Even with these good results with the combo in the correct window I'm feeling even more worried now.
I had a slight rash that could hardly be seen on top of my back (can't remember if was before or after exposure).
But now it has become more visible. (Individual random red spots around top of back. Generating heat and have not joined into one big rash. They resemble heat rash what I've had before and I live in tropical climate. Maybe I'm clinging onto this fact and hoping).
Had Diarrhoea for 10 days. This happened 2/3 weeks after taking antibiotics which Dr said was the cause but still, it would fall into the time frame with the exposure and possible rash.
Then, after being weekend by the diarrhoea i caught a cold with sore throat and stuffy nose. I work around a lot of people and I'm quite prone to getting colds but all these things seem to coincidental, hence why I'm feeling even worse now.
I've had no serious fever or problems with lymphnodes but I'm feeling really down and can't stop worrying. It's effecting me and perhaps making me more sick.
I'm not scared to stand up to my stupid mistake and continue with my life, but I'm due to get married soon and if I'm HIV positive I will be deported and everything will be a huge mess. I have had no sexual contact since and I guess I deserve this for my mistake. I will retest at 2 and 3 then 6 months but the wait will haunt me.
I have read through many other questions like mine but I guess I'm just looking for some helpful words or perhaps reassurance. Many really helpful advice on here and I appreciate the time anyone takes to answer.
My question; is there a chance my p24 levels were too low to detect and also not enough antibodies made to detect at Day 38/39 of exposure.
If I was secoconverting wouldn't that mean antibodies were already in my system?
I'm in a real mess here psychologically, any words will be helpful.
Thank you.
I will dive straight into my question and try to keep it short.
I had an exposure 6 weeks ago now with a bar girl in Asia.
Her HIV status was unknown and we had unprotected vaginal sex.
Got tested on the 38th day Mark with the following:
Rapid antibody test (even though the window is 3 months I wanted to start with this test just to at least give me the slightest peace of mind. RESULT: negative
Combo p24/antibody test. RESULT: negative
Even with these good results with the combo in the correct window I'm feeling even more worried now.
I had a slight rash that could hardly be seen on top of my back (can't remember if was before or after exposure).
But now it has become more visible. (Individual random red spots around top of back. Generating heat and have not joined into one big rash. They resemble heat rash what I've had before and I live in tropical climate. Maybe I'm clinging onto this fact and hoping).
Had Diarrhoea for 10 days. This happened 2/3 weeks after taking antibiotics which Dr said was the cause but still, it would fall into the time frame with the exposure and possible rash.
Then, after being weekend by the diarrhoea i caught a cold with sore throat and stuffy nose. I work around a lot of people and I'm quite prone to getting colds but all these things seem to coincidental, hence why I'm feeling even worse now.
I've had no serious fever or problems with lymphnodes but I'm feeling really down and can't stop worrying. It's effecting me and perhaps making me more sick.
I'm not scared to stand up to my stupid mistake and continue with my life, but I'm due to get married soon and if I'm HIV positive I will be deported and everything will be a huge mess. I have had no sexual contact since and I guess I deserve this for my mistake. I will retest at 2 and 3 then 6 months but the wait will haunt me.
I have read through many other questions like mine but I guess I'm just looking for some helpful words or perhaps reassurance. Many really helpful advice on here and I appreciate the time anyone takes to answer.
My question; is there a chance my p24 levels were too low to detect and also not enough antibodies made to detect at Day 38/39 of exposure.
If I was secoconverting wouldn't that mean antibodies were already in my system?
I'm in a real mess here psychologically, any words will be helpful.
Thank you.
Just to update and let people know the ending of my scenario for future reference.
As you can read from the very firsts posts, I had many symptoms that could of been down to HIV but also could of been many many other things.
I happily accepted my first results but always intended to have one more test just to allow every last peace of my mind to rest.
Like so many, I had symptoms even after I tested negative but I still trusted my results.
Today I just recieved my test results on week 11. Not quite 3 months but I accept that. It was another combo test.
So:
37/38 days since exposure - combo test and seperate Rapid antibody test = negative
11 weeks since exposure - combo test = negative
Thank you for all of everyones comments and help and I will use my experience to try and help others. It's been a great learning experience for sure.
As you can read from the very firsts posts, I had many symptoms that could of been down to HIV but also could of been many many other things.
I happily accepted my first results but always intended to have one more test just to allow every last peace of my mind to rest.
Like so many, I had symptoms even after I tested negative but I still trusted my results.
Today I just recieved my test results on week 11. Not quite 3 months but I accept that. It was another combo test.
So:
37/38 days since exposure - combo test and seperate Rapid antibody test = negative
11 weeks since exposure - combo test = negative
Thank you for all of everyones comments and help and I will use my experience to try and help others. It's been a great learning experience for sure.
Yes you are 100% correct , i got itching first , then red bumps , checked in Google , Seen HIV rash , that's it my life gone :(
I not even did any sex , i did nursing , something i swallowed , started scaring , now every problem i am mixing with HIV symptoms. Sore throat , muscle pain , chillness .... OMG ! I dont know when we are going to get out of this ..
Seriously i went office today after 10 days, i thought if i talk with everyone like before i ll get change , but i started thinking about my sore throat , then chill came sweating ! left office with in 2hours
Almost lost parents , friends ............ i am not even talking with them .
In many county AIDS is a disease , In india OMG !
All i can do is pray for everyone ! the day will come !
I not even did any sex , i did nursing , something i swallowed , started scaring , now every problem i am mixing with HIV symptoms. Sore throat , muscle pain , chillness .... OMG ! I dont know when we are going to get out of this ..
Seriously i went office today after 10 days, i thought if i talk with everyone like before i ll get change , but i started thinking about my sore throat , then chill came sweating ! left office with in 2hours
Almost lost parents , friends ............ i am not even talking with them .
In many county AIDS is a disease , In india OMG !
All i can do is pray for everyone ! the day will come !
This is what I keep thinking.
Just think if you never put yourself in a 'bad situation' and you got chills when switching off AC or you got a runny nose or sore throat.
Would the first thing you thought of be HIV?
This sounds really bad (as it sounds like I havnt learnt from stupid mistakes) but when I was younger and in the military and a bit of a lad I got into a few bad situations regarding women and safety and I was so niave. It's only since getting older and wiser (obviously not so wise now) that I started to care more about consequences.
My point is, I wouldn't of maybe even started all this aggro if I didn't have diarrhea for a long time and when typed into Google.... That was the start of my HIV anxiety.
Don't get me wrong, I put myself at risk and I still wanting to test later on just to absolutely confirm, but worrying will do more harm than good.
Try and take your head away from what happend and take the sexual act out of the equation; is it so obscene to get a sore throat? Have you ever felt and itch in your knee before?
Stay positive. Don't create something that isn't there. Trust helpful comments and trust in proven statistics. On a whole if you read from experts;
The likelihood of actually getting infected
The accuracy of testing eg the combo test
Then you surely must give yourself a small peace of mind. Even 99.8% accuracy of a combo test! it is not a given but the odds are stacked in your favour.
I can't imagine the '28 days" would even exist if that wasn't the proven case. Too much at risk.
Just think if you never put yourself in a 'bad situation' and you got chills when switching off AC or you got a runny nose or sore throat.
Would the first thing you thought of be HIV?
This sounds really bad (as it sounds like I havnt learnt from stupid mistakes) but when I was younger and in the military and a bit of a lad I got into a few bad situations regarding women and safety and I was so niave. It's only since getting older and wiser (obviously not so wise now) that I started to care more about consequences.
My point is, I wouldn't of maybe even started all this aggro if I didn't have diarrhea for a long time and when typed into Google.... That was the start of my HIV anxiety.
Don't get me wrong, I put myself at risk and I still wanting to test later on just to absolutely confirm, but worrying will do more harm than good.
Try and take your head away from what happend and take the sexual act out of the equation; is it so obscene to get a sore throat? Have you ever felt and itch in your knee before?
Stay positive. Don't create something that isn't there. Trust helpful comments and trust in proven statistics. On a whole if you read from experts;
The likelihood of actually getting infected
The accuracy of testing eg the combo test
Then you surely must give yourself a small peace of mind. Even 99.8% accuracy of a combo test! it is not a given but the odds are stacked in your favour.
I can't imagine the '28 days" would even exist if that wasn't the proven case. Too much at risk.
Hi friends, I am in the same boat, had 4 hiv tests so far, day 26 tridot, day 29 hiv1/2 & p24 CIMIA and day 46 hiv1/2&p24 CIMIA, day 80 tridot, all were non reactive,I started a flu in the 11 week, this has made me worried again, going for day 89 th test tommarrow, going to take a combo, please pray for me, if there is anyone from India can he please tell me if lal path labs combo test is a 4th generation, any input or answers will be greatly appreciated
even i want to stop think , daily one new thing is coming , throat infection? bad taste in tongue , irritation , again chills inside outside sweating. I don't why i am getting all these.
I hope you are ok ...
if you fee unwell go to the doctor he is the one who can help you
You are OK >>>> don't think about HIV <<<<
if you fee unwell go to the doctor he is the one who can help you
You are OK >>>> don't think about HIV <<<<
Do you guys know , why i am getting chill in my body all the time , when i switched off the fan /ac . i am sweating with chill.
you are absolutely right the test covers all the knowing types don't pother your self ....
Yes South East Asia. I went to a private clinic in Hong Kong with all state of the art equipment etc. no idea about all these subtypes but a rapid test and a separate combo test should have everything covered. I'm guessing or I would hope that they also double check the results too.
Hi Mate,
You mentioned that you had your exposure in Asia.
Do you mean South East Asia, like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore etc?
I have heard that the strain of HIV which is the most common there is subtype CRF_01 AE. It was formerly referred to as subtype E. Supposed to be more easily transmittable by heterosexual activity.
Do you know if the tests in SE Asia are specifically geared towards this subtype? Or do the clinics in SE Asia use the same same test kits as those used in the USA and Europe?
I have tried to look for this info on sites like Dr. Tan etc but cant find it..
You mentioned that you had your exposure in Asia.
Do you mean South East Asia, like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore etc?
I have heard that the strain of HIV which is the most common there is subtype CRF_01 AE. It was formerly referred to as subtype E. Supposed to be more easily transmittable by heterosexual activity.
Do you know if the tests in SE Asia are specifically geared towards this subtype? Or do the clinics in SE Asia use the same same test kits as those used in the USA and Europe?
I have tried to look for this info on sites like Dr. Tan etc but cant find it..
I understand your pain. U have done all the test and still u are fearing .. your are 100% Hiv free. Even for me everyone say NO RISK but I am getting one by one sore throat cold rash tiredness muscle pain. I dont know why its coming. But I ll do one time 4 th gen test and I won't care after that. You should tell your self u don't have anything. Stress can make everythingeven cancer. Just think else go to hhospital check with doctors. God bless you.
And my wedding is scheduled after 4 months and i told the gal i am not prepared at the moment plus i told this gal about my exposures now i feel she must be feeling how to proceed with me and she is afraid wht if ii am HIV + ...,
God help me and i am destroying my life
God help me and i am destroying my life
Second exposure date is 11th dec 2014..... Sorry for typooo i am very very nervous and shivering
You guys must be feeling why i am going for 16 weeks test..... The thing is that i had two exposures
1. On 9th dec 2014 - It was unprotected exposure with a gal whom i met online and she is bot pros/csw and i got her tested exactly after 45 and 90 days of exposure using DUO 4th gen dr lal path lab delhi india. She never denied me for the tests and she said is having tests for HIV for the first time in her life... She used to have bf 8 mths back and she never had any exposure with anyone except me after 8 months.
2.. On 11th Dec 2015 - i had exposure with CSW which was protected but oral was unprotected. And i got her tested after 50 days and 72 days using duo 4th gen test. But now at 90 days she refuses for testing. And it was really hard for me to get her tested as she always asked for money in return which i uses to pay and it was a quite good amount. And she says her last exposure was 1 month earlier 11 dec 2014. I guided her to stop doing all this which i think she might follow to some extent as i payed her anounts for nothing and i still paid her for her living without any tests or exposure.
I even shared these both incidents with my father and good internal medicine doctors which gave me some relief ... Though after 2 months of exposures when i lost my strength and will power to fight all this.
I had around 12 tests in 3 mths every weeek one test all were duo 4th gen and had viral load test at 6 weeks rna pcr which looks for virus it self and result was non reactive no hiv 1 detected.
And to mention i landed up twice in emergency at best hosps here and they said i was dehydrated and stressed after 1 week of exposures.
I am under huge psylogical stress and taking sessions and anti depreassants still i feel i am not getting well enough...
Please friends and experts here guide me as what shall i do to help my self to come out of it i am typing this in front of church near my home and crying a lot... Pls pls and tell me what are the chances of me being HIV infected ... :-( :-(
1. On 9th dec 2014 - It was unprotected exposure with a gal whom i met online and she is bot pros/csw and i got her tested exactly after 45 and 90 days of exposure using DUO 4th gen dr lal path lab delhi india. She never denied me for the tests and she said is having tests for HIV for the first time in her life... She used to have bf 8 mths back and she never had any exposure with anyone except me after 8 months.
2.. On 11th Dec 2015 - i had exposure with CSW which was protected but oral was unprotected. And i got her tested after 50 days and 72 days using duo 4th gen test. But now at 90 days she refuses for testing. And it was really hard for me to get her tested as she always asked for money in return which i uses to pay and it was a quite good amount. And she says her last exposure was 1 month earlier 11 dec 2014. I guided her to stop doing all this which i think she might follow to some extent as i payed her anounts for nothing and i still paid her for her living without any tests or exposure.
I even shared these both incidents with my father and good internal medicine doctors which gave me some relief ... Though after 2 months of exposures when i lost my strength and will power to fight all this.
I had around 12 tests in 3 mths every weeek one test all were duo 4th gen and had viral load test at 6 weeks rna pcr which looks for virus it self and result was non reactive no hiv 1 detected.
And to mention i landed up twice in emergency at best hosps here and they said i was dehydrated and stressed after 1 week of exposures.
I am under huge psylogical stress and taking sessions and anti depreassants still i feel i am not getting well enough...
Please friends and experts here guide me as what shall i do to help my self to come out of it i am typing this in front of church near my home and crying a lot... Pls pls and tell me what are the chances of me being HIV infected ... :-( :-(
well 12 weeks is still conclusive as per the CDC. 6 months was outdated in 2004 unless your a long term IV user, on aggressive chemo or on antiviral medication for a organ transplant.
Nervouswreck i am with you. Though i tested -ve at 90 days. On 31st march will be going for 16 weeks test and will share the results.
And i am only testing because of symptoms like small white dots under upper and lower lip which i feel i when i touch them with my tongue and still going through diarhea and lost nose infection.
And i am only testing because of symptoms like small white dots under upper and lower lip which i feel i when i touch them with my tongue and still going through diarhea and lost nose infection.
cool , enjoy dude, please be safe here after , even i was scaring , now i am cool ,,,,, i started believe the fact.
Of course I'm no specialist as im the guy who write the original post, but I'm surprised how anxious I was befire and I have been in a few bad situations in the past. I should of known better, I'm an ex- uktra marathon runner and I know that the body has limits but the mind does not. The mind is so powerful and here there are many people that are sinking in their dark tunnel vision.
The reason for my anxiety is due to still being in shock. I was told that my results from combo would be ready befire 3pm and I told them email me if it's positive and don't if it's negative (had to fly home and was going to airport)
Anyway, the hours past and I kept on thinking still a few hours, should get the email in the next hour and will have no worries, time started ticking down, 2 hours left, 1.5 left then got to the last 30 mins before 3pm. I had already convinced myself I was positive and as I walked around the airport counting down the last 30 mins I was a broken man and started to accept saying goodbye to my current life, career and possibly future wife through my resident country not accepting positive expats.
At 3pm I emailed the clinic and asked them to send over my report confirming the positive test and literally 5 seconds after I send it I received an email from them telling me I had also test negative for the combo. I quickly emailed them again and said its negative? And they said yes the rapid test and combo was negative. The time was 3.04pm and I sat and cried on my seat in the airport.
I still didn't feel relieved as I thought I would because I was still suffering from slight diiirrhea and had a cold also with a small rash. I still believed I was positive and sococonversion was happening right now.
Having to go back to work again was so hard, I still felt lifeless and like I had been tested positive. It was because I was still recovering from the cold and now I had a fever and back was burning. The two tests I took must of been wrong and surely I'm positive.
I started then to turn things around and say ok, what about if the diarreahoa was from antibiotics that I took (I don't normally use medication) and then what if I got a cold because my good bacteria was down and ali and infact eaten bad chicken just like the doctor said but what about the few small spots of rash on my shoulders? Looks just just like what rash like I and before but also a possible symptom of antibiotics. Ahhh but no,mum still positive because I stqrted having a fever.......... But wait, this fever only started after taking the pills from the doctor for my cold and virus and on two of the packets in big letters in english it says "may cause fever and etc etc".
It was very hard to look on the positive side of all of this when feeling low and so I write the post. I have been researching so long that I have a wealth of knowledge now about HIV and deep down I knew that even after a rapid test so far out the window and a combo test comfortably past the window, I should of took the negative and start to relax.
But I didn't do this unti the first two comments I recieved in reply to this post. And these comments are all it took to get my head straight again, just some reassurance, this is what many of us on here are crying out for. Someone to say YOU WILL BE FINE EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. What we must first face is that you have to believe it yourself.
I stopped taking the pills for my cold etc and my ever went, I started to relax and be more myself again and the rash has gone.
I could say oh maybe the hiv symptoms are just finishing, I could tirture myself saying it would fall into plausible timescale but no. I'm not going to do this to myself again. When I was doubting myself and the pain I put myself through there was a part of me that just wanted to get the ordeal over with and be positive and move on,
The fact is, I'm negative. Yes it's not 100% and yes I will still get tested on the 90 day Mark, even on the 60 day too but not due to anxiety, but due to me wanting to make sure it's as close to 100% as possible befire I start my new life with my future wife,
Im not a doctor a health care specialist but I can tell anyone this.
NO you can't get HIV from kissing or touching nipples with your mouth.
NO you can't get HIV from rubbing on a stripper even if she looked "damp"
YES you can get HIV from having unprotected sex from anyone
But also you can't get HIV from having sex with everyone.
These test windows are in place because they have been proven, they wouldn't mention them otherwise. As I said I will still get tested later and then I will finally 100% rest but right now, I will take how I'm feeling to how I was feeling when the world was caving in on me.
Note to everyone worrying. Listen to people and accept the facts. Don't fight them.
Thank you
The reason for my anxiety is due to still being in shock. I was told that my results from combo would be ready befire 3pm and I told them email me if it's positive and don't if it's negative (had to fly home and was going to airport)
Anyway, the hours past and I kept on thinking still a few hours, should get the email in the next hour and will have no worries, time started ticking down, 2 hours left, 1.5 left then got to the last 30 mins before 3pm. I had already convinced myself I was positive and as I walked around the airport counting down the last 30 mins I was a broken man and started to accept saying goodbye to my current life, career and possibly future wife through my resident country not accepting positive expats.
At 3pm I emailed the clinic and asked them to send over my report confirming the positive test and literally 5 seconds after I send it I received an email from them telling me I had also test negative for the combo. I quickly emailed them again and said its negative? And they said yes the rapid test and combo was negative. The time was 3.04pm and I sat and cried on my seat in the airport.
I still didn't feel relieved as I thought I would because I was still suffering from slight diiirrhea and had a cold also with a small rash. I still believed I was positive and sococonversion was happening right now.
Having to go back to work again was so hard, I still felt lifeless and like I had been tested positive. It was because I was still recovering from the cold and now I had a fever and back was burning. The two tests I took must of been wrong and surely I'm positive.
I started then to turn things around and say ok, what about if the diarreahoa was from antibiotics that I took (I don't normally use medication) and then what if I got a cold because my good bacteria was down and ali and infact eaten bad chicken just like the doctor said but what about the few small spots of rash on my shoulders? Looks just just like what rash like I and before but also a possible symptom of antibiotics. Ahhh but no,mum still positive because I stqrted having a fever.......... But wait, this fever only started after taking the pills from the doctor for my cold and virus and on two of the packets in big letters in english it says "may cause fever and etc etc".
It was very hard to look on the positive side of all of this when feeling low and so I write the post. I have been researching so long that I have a wealth of knowledge now about HIV and deep down I knew that even after a rapid test so far out the window and a combo test comfortably past the window, I should of took the negative and start to relax.
But I didn't do this unti the first two comments I recieved in reply to this post. And these comments are all it took to get my head straight again, just some reassurance, this is what many of us on here are crying out for. Someone to say YOU WILL BE FINE EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. What we must first face is that you have to believe it yourself.
I stopped taking the pills for my cold etc and my ever went, I started to relax and be more myself again and the rash has gone.
I could say oh maybe the hiv symptoms are just finishing, I could tirture myself saying it would fall into plausible timescale but no. I'm not going to do this to myself again. When I was doubting myself and the pain I put myself through there was a part of me that just wanted to get the ordeal over with and be positive and move on,
The fact is, I'm negative. Yes it's not 100% and yes I will still get tested on the 90 day Mark, even on the 60 day too but not due to anxiety, but due to me wanting to make sure it's as close to 100% as possible befire I start my new life with my future wife,
Im not a doctor a health care specialist but I can tell anyone this.
NO you can't get HIV from kissing or touching nipples with your mouth.
NO you can't get HIV from rubbing on a stripper even if she looked "damp"
YES you can get HIV from having unprotected sex from anyone
But also you can't get HIV from having sex with everyone.
These test windows are in place because they have been proven, they wouldn't mention them otherwise. As I said I will still get tested later and then I will finally 100% rest but right now, I will take how I'm feeling to how I was feeling when the world was caving in on me.
Note to everyone worrying. Listen to people and accept the facts. Don't fight them.
Thank you
I agree , now i don't have that fear , i know how many of them suffering with anxiety . see everyone is not well experienced , they did mistake , they are fearing , even i scared like anything , now i am ok , i am just helping others , if they are fearing they can do 28 days combo test and get relieved from anxiety .
Even i have sinusitis now , its paining badly , i think because of anxiety , our body get chills inside. left rear neck down to ear paining :(. i started believing that because of anxiety.
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