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Avatar universal

Is this hiv?

Hi there, almost 12 weeks ago I had sex with a woman I later found out was hiv positive. I received a phone call from a health nurse advising me of it. Turns out she didn't know at the time but that's beside the point.

Before I knew this I had been experiencing some unexplained issues. Mainly burning after urination... the doctor put me on a whole whack of antibiotics assuming an sti but the standard tests all came back negative for chlamydia ghonorea. He then gave me more antibiotics called flagyl. The burning went away so I was happy.

One week later (3 weeks post exposure) I got swollen glands behind the ear, and same side of face. Doc thought possibly mono so did a bunch of blood tests including an hiv Elisa duo test and prescribed more antibiotics and prednisone....The tests came back clear for all but elevated WBC.

A few days later herpes zoster popped up on the face. Was given antivirals, more prednisone. Two days later extreme groin pain started which turned out to be lymph nodes. This has persisted since along with more lymph nodes swelling on the other side of groin and in the neck. So almost 8 weeks of this progression. I had diarrhea for a few weeks which could have been from all the antibiotics I assume. My rogue has been burning, white, strange edges on the sides. Muscle pains in upper thighs. Mild night sweats off and in the past 5 weeks.

So to summarize, We did an Elisa duo test at 3 weeks again at 40 days which was negative, a rapid Insti test at 7 weeks and 9 weeks both negative.

What is happening? What are the chances i have hiv? Will this 12 week test change to positive?

Please help.

Thank you
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3191940 tn?1447268717
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there - as AnxiousNoMore stated, DUO tests like the one you took 40 days post-exposure are considered by experts to be conclusive at 28 days post-exposure, or any time thereafter.  No one has recommended testing out to 6 months in many years, so your doc is behind the times.

Your tongue issues might be thrush, which is often caused by antibiotics.

It is pretty rare to be infected from a one-time event, but for peace of mind, you could take a final test at 12 weeks post-exposure and put this all behind you.
Helpful - 0
15 Comments
Well I hope you're both right. Something is going on that seems to point to Hiv.
No it isn't pointing toward HIV. What is happening is you are pointing to the disease your test says you can't have because you don't have any medical training., so consider thrush or even another doctor's opinion.
I am far more concerned about the lymph node swelling that has been spreading over the past 7 or 8 weeks to more areas. No I'm not imagining them, they are in fact happening.
You have no medical training and need to accept that fact instead of trying to be a Google doctor.
Not google doctoring at all. Confirmed by a doctor but with no diagnosis is all. Please don't be disrespectful I'm just looking for advice from people who may have experience is a similar situation. If it's not HIV perhaps someone knows a direction to point a doctor in is all.

The 28 day conclusive point of the duo doesn't cover hiv2 antigen as far as I know so that doesn't rule out that very small possibility.

Again, just looking for a little help
You can search other threads on this site and they all say the 4th gen test is conclusive at 28. This is a moderated forum and doesn't have advice inconsistencies..

I'm trying to be factual, not disrespectful, btw.
This is nebulous since it isn't a sentence. "Confirmed by a doctor but with no diagnosis is all." ?
I know it can be very frightening to experience symptoms like this after an encounter with someone who is HIV+.  However, swollen lymph nodes can occur with ANY infection, and HIV is the least likely cause given its relative rarity.

Also, if you were experiencing ARS, the symptoms would NOT last that long.  They last 1-2 weeks at the most.  So, in fact, all signs point to something other than HIV.

It sounds like you're going to take a 12 week test anyway, and then you can put this behind you once and for all.
The lymph nodes swollen and spreading is what was meant by that
I'm so scared to test again. Will the result change?
No one can give you a 100% guarantee about anything in life, but it is HIGHLY unlikely to change.  Test and get it over with.
Going now for a rapid
Negative!
Major congrats!  ANY test is conclusive at 12 weeks, so you can move on from this event knowing you did not get HIV. I hope that your doc is able to get to the bottom of what is causing your symptoms.  There's an infectious disease forum here - maybe someone there will have other ideas for you, since it isn't HIV.
It was 82 days but I'm calling it a done deal! They said waiting two more days won't make any difference.

I can't seem to post on that infectious disease board? I can read it though. Is there something I am missing?
No idea.  If you scroll up and the "ask question" button isn't there at the top, it is probably not seeing you as logged in.  Maybe try logging in again?

If all else fails, there is a "help" link at the bottom of every page, so you could ask there.

And yes, it is a done deal :)
Avatar universal
The HIV 4th generation Elisa duo is conclusive after 28 days, so your 40 was conclusive. No need to keep doing tests when one has already determined your status.
Keep in touch with your doctor if you are concerned about other issues, but you don't have HIV.
Did you do unprotected vaginal or anal?
Helpful - 0
4 Comments
Vaginal unprotected. No other reason for symptoms that doc can find. He's telling me test out to 6 months?
Do you have any suggestions on a direction I could point him in?
He is using very outdated guidelines. You can hunt around this board for more knowledgeable people than me who discuss this. Or maybe one will post on this thread.
What is rogue?  " My rogue has been burning, white, strange edges on the sides. "
Tongue
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