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HIV Syringe
Hello, recently tested for antibody and pcr test at a gay clinic in LA. I'm a heterosexual male and my exposure was unprotected vaginal. My partner was negative and the only partner I've had for two years. I develop joint pains and muscle aches and my internal doctor told me it was anxiety and depression related. I know symptoms are not a good way to diagnose HIV, so I tested after a 3 month period. However, being overly anxious, I didn't pay attention to the syringe used at the clinic. I know this sound like paranoia, but my weight loss, joint pains, nausea and anxiety panick attacks(even dry skin on fingers), all started six weeks after I tested at the gay clinic. I went back and the nurse there was upset and assured me she was careful. I went to another clinic 10 weeks after I felt like she reused a syringe and got a rapid test. This would have been 20 weeks after my exposure and 10 weeks after my paranoia over the syringe. The oraquick at 10 weeks from my paranoia was negative, and 20 weeks since exposure. Has anyone else had joint and muscle pains and bones cracking from anxiety and depression? Been under heavy stress even noticed stomach rumbling and brain fog, and the join pain is mostly around my hands only, so I don't know if it's because of how I'm sleeping. My question is, why does CDC recommend 6 months for clinical exposure and 3 months for others, is it because people take PEP? And, if the syringe was mishandled by the worker at the clinic, would a 12 week test be conclusive, just to put away my anxiety and paranoia? Thank you for your time and answer.
Give it a rest. You don't have HIV and you didn't have a risk from being tested in a "gay" clinic.
Thank you Teak, my exposure was with a female girl(who tested negative with me), but I tested 17 weeks after that. The only scare I had were the symptoms I developed after testing at a gay clinic. I had nausea, joint pain and muscle aches. This is what started my paranoia over the syringe not being clean. I was under a lot of anxiety and depression, so maybe the symptoms were just induced by that. Also did a full panel test for everything with my internal doc and got a physical exam. He said my blood tests were all normal and hiv negative at even 10 weeks, from the time where I felt like the nurse at the gay clinic used an infected syringe, would have shown up by then. Becomes hard to believe results once you read the symptoms. Big part of me wishes I never read them, lol.
Thanks guys and gals, I appreciate your help. My joint pains were playing tricks on me. Reading over the blogs here really helped; knowing that I'm not the only one with anxiety induced symptoms. Are you guys in the UK? Some blog said UK uses 4th gen test that has antigen and antibody combined. Does it make a difference if I used OraQuick in the States?
Probably due to liability reasons,. 6 months is outdated...the guidelines were changed to 3 months in 2004. There is absolutely NO reason for anyone who had a risk (you didn't by the way, that's irrational thinking) to test past 3 months.
6 months would be recommended for someone whose immune system is severely compromised due to things like chemo, anti-rejection meds after an organ transplant, chronic IV drug abusers. Even people in these categories usually test + within the 3 month period.
Also, the CDC is very conservative as well. The docs on this site say that a test at 4-6 weeks is pretty much conclusive, so that tells you that 6 months is WAY off the mark. WE adhere to the official guidelines of 3 months for a conclusive test.
All of this of course, is irrelevant, as you never never had a risk.
6 months would be recommended for someone whose immune system is severely compromised due to things like chemo, anti-rejection meds after an organ transplant, chronic IV drug abusers. Even people in these categories usually test + within the 3 month period.
Also, the CDC is very conservative as well. The docs on this site say that a test at 4-6 weeks is pretty much conclusive, so that tells you that 6 months is WAY off the mark. WE adhere to the official guidelines of 3 months for a conclusive test.
All of this of course, is irrelevant, as you never never had a risk.
Can any other experts shed some light as to why clinical workers are advised to test at 6 months instead of 3 for the general public? Thanks.
And I saw a link you posted with HIV testing being updated to 3 months by the CDC from six. I called those guys and they said six months and only 97 percent would show in 3 months. I'm just going to do another one in 4 weeks to put away any doubt. Thanks again for your time. This forum is awesome!
Thanks Teak. Do you know why they recommend 6 months for clinical workers? Just curious.
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