Aa
Shed some light on a tricky situation
I was hoping you have some help for a young girl. I know these questions must bother you but I have no where else to turn. I am having trouble finding anything that can assure you 100%. Just as I thought enough time has past (just a little under 3 1/2 years since my last possible encounter) not to worry anymore I come across this article. I don't want to be a pain but this article seems so troubling. I was hoping you can shed some light on this. http://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SUA05/hivtest.php
I am writing this with the most sincere intentions. I don't want to dwell on this but I see so many loose ends. Believe me I would love to put this away forever. If I was your daughter what advice would you have for me? Do you think another test would finally be 100% conclusive? I hope this doesn't make you angry.
I am writing this with the most sincere intentions. I don't want to dwell on this but I see so many loose ends. Believe me I would love to put this away forever. If I was your daughter what advice would you have for me? Do you think another test would finally be 100% conclusive? I hope this doesn't make you angry.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum.
But I'm sorry to learn your inordinate (and frankly pretty irrational) fears of HIV have continued. As discussed in great detail with Dr. Hook a few months ago, and to a lesser extent by me in the STD forum, there is little chance you were even exposed to HIV, and your test results prove without doubt you do not have it.
The article you cite is irrelevant to your situation. It's 18 years old (1995), and the patient described as actually seen a couple years before that -- i.e. 20 years ago. The entire report is based on outmoded HIV antibody tests no longer in use. If the tests done on you had been available at the time of the case reported in that journal article, a positive result probably would have been obtained on the patient's first test and the article would never have been written.
You have already had 100% conclusive testing showing you do not have HIV. You do not need any more tests.
I'm really quite concerned about your continued obsession with this. Abnormal fear of infection -- with HIV or anything else -- sometimes is an early sign of potentially serious mental health disabilities. If you continue to be fearful of HIV after this reply, I recommend you discuss it with your primary care doctor and ask whether professional counseling would be a good idea. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.
In the meantime, I would advise you to entirely stop searching the internet or any other sources about HIV infection, diagnosis, and testing. It is apparent you are latching onto information that inflames your fears (like the article you cited) and missing or ignoring the reassuring bits.
I hope these comments have been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
But I'm sorry to learn your inordinate (and frankly pretty irrational) fears of HIV have continued. As discussed in great detail with Dr. Hook a few months ago, and to a lesser extent by me in the STD forum, there is little chance you were even exposed to HIV, and your test results prove without doubt you do not have it.
The article you cite is irrelevant to your situation. It's 18 years old (1995), and the patient described as actually seen a couple years before that -- i.e. 20 years ago. The entire report is based on outmoded HIV antibody tests no longer in use. If the tests done on you had been available at the time of the case reported in that journal article, a positive result probably would have been obtained on the patient's first test and the article would never have been written.
You have already had 100% conclusive testing showing you do not have HIV. You do not need any more tests.
I'm really quite concerned about your continued obsession with this. Abnormal fear of infection -- with HIV or anything else -- sometimes is an early sign of potentially serious mental health disabilities. If you continue to be fearful of HIV after this reply, I recommend you discuss it with your primary care doctor and ask whether professional counseling would be a good idea. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.
In the meantime, I would advise you to entirely stop searching the internet or any other sources about HIV infection, diagnosis, and testing. It is apparent you are latching onto information that inflames your fears (like the article you cited) and missing or ignoring the reassuring bits.
I hope these comments have been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
For the knowledge of those reading I had 4 or 5 hiv 1/2 antibody only tests at the doctors office within 3 years after the encounter. I did this with two different doctors my gyno and family doctor. However my insurance only sends my blood to one lab. I have not seen my doctor in the last 5 months.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Noted.
I assume you read back to my original post a few months ago and so I did them same. The one thing I notice is I mentioned the oral sex but I did not mention the protected intercourse although I it was protected I never saw or asked about the condom after the act so I would have no idea if it broke. I only say this now so I may find comfort in knowing you know the full story and still feel the same response applies. I have not put myself in any risky situations since. I am hoping and praying I can safely use this as a life lesson learned by years of axienty which has scared me enough to not make the same mistake twice.
And thank you. Your words have not fallen on deaf ears I understand you are more concerned about my mental health I am working on it as best I can I just feel I am all alone in this and no one understands where I am coming from.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I respectfully disagree that "no one understands where [you are] coming from". I'm quite confident that I understand and pretty sure your own doctor does as well. Despite your "deaf ears" comment, it seems clear you remain in denial about the main problem here -- your obsession with HIV even though there was little or no risk of HIV, and even if there was, that the test results prove you were not infected. It simply is not normal to be so resistant to such overwhelming scientific evidence and repeated, reasoned reassurance.
Experience on this forum shows that continued replies to "what if" or "did you really understand" sorts of follow-up comments simply serves to prolong denial and anxiety. I will not play that game. Therefore, this thread is over. If you would like to report the outcome after you have been professionally counseled about it, feel free. Other than that, any further follow-up comments will be deleted.
Experience on this forum shows that continued replies to "what if" or "did you really understand" sorts of follow-up comments simply serves to prolong denial and anxiety. I will not play that game. Therefore, this thread is over. If you would like to report the outcome after you have been professionally counseled about it, feel free. Other than that, any further follow-up comments will be deleted.
Thank you. Your words have been very helpful I will keep reading them until I can accept them. Your work here is priceless.
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