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Primary HIV symptoms
I'm a 27 year old female. I had unprotected vaginal intercourse 3 times with two different people approximately 8, 5, and 3 weeks ago. Both were ex boyfriends. I found out I had genital herpes after the first interaction. It showed up in a matter of days. I can't remember if any other symptoms existed at that time. I am wondering if I could have aquired HIV at the same time. I did not have intercourse while lesions were visibly present.
The following symptoms started about 6,3, and 1 week after each encounter. I am trying to differentiate between real and possibly psycological symptoms. I've been under an extreme amount of stress and guilt for possibly ruining my life and that of my family and possibly infecting someone.
- Sore throat (was REALLY sore at the beginning now fading) 2 weeks durration
- Swollen lymph nodes in neck - 1.5 weeks
- Anorexia - 2 to 2.5 weeks
- Low oral temperature 96.5 to 97.4 (due to anorexia?) measured for only 2 days now
- Weight loss of 5-8 lbs in 2 weeks (also due to anorexia?)
- no measured fever but even at my low temperature I think I feel warmer than other people in the same room
- Headache (dull feels like my head is full) possibly a tension headache??
- White tongue (anorexia?) - not a coating, just fuzzy and white (think I've seen this before though)
- nausea maybe once or twice and only momentarily, not days or weeks (once when I was trying to make myself
eat breakfast also) - have to force myself to eat, getting better
- fatigue - but sleep has been difficult with this on my mind
NO HIGH FEVER, NOTICEABLE RASH (except herpes), OR VOMITING
1 week ago I took the pcr (is that right??) for hiv antibodies. It was negative. I've been very anxious over the whole thing so 4 days ago I did a rapid result (20 min) test where they do a finger ***** and what looks like a very cheap antibody test. It was also negative and...... 2 days ago did another HIV test for antibodies, Western blot. Will get results in about 5 days, approx 3 to 3.5 weeks from my most recent high risk behavior.
QUESTIONS:
1. Does this sound like the symptoms of primary HIV infection? If no then what?
2. Does HIV almost always have a high fever and rash?
3. Realistically, what are my chances the antibodies could have shown up on my first test only 2 weeks after my last possible exposure? 4 weeks? 7 weeks? I know it can take up to 3 months. I just want to know chances.
4. If my body is newly battling the herpes infection will it take longer than usual for HIV antibodies to show up? Is this anxiety going to affect the test results? Is it causing my illness?
Please only factual information from people who have actually studied the disease outside of the internet or those in medicine or those with HIV/AIDS. Thank you in advance for your help!
The following symptoms started about 6,3, and 1 week after each encounter. I am trying to differentiate between real and possibly psycological symptoms. I've been under an extreme amount of stress and guilt for possibly ruining my life and that of my family and possibly infecting someone.
- Sore throat (was REALLY sore at the beginning now fading) 2 weeks durration
- Swollen lymph nodes in neck - 1.5 weeks
- Anorexia - 2 to 2.5 weeks
- Low oral temperature 96.5 to 97.4 (due to anorexia?) measured for only 2 days now
- Weight loss of 5-8 lbs in 2 weeks (also due to anorexia?)
- no measured fever but even at my low temperature I think I feel warmer than other people in the same room
- Headache (dull feels like my head is full) possibly a tension headache??
- White tongue (anorexia?) - not a coating, just fuzzy and white (think I've seen this before though)
- nausea maybe once or twice and only momentarily, not days or weeks (once when I was trying to make myself
eat breakfast also) - have to force myself to eat, getting better
- fatigue - but sleep has been difficult with this on my mind
NO HIGH FEVER, NOTICEABLE RASH (except herpes), OR VOMITING
1 week ago I took the pcr (is that right??) for hiv antibodies. It was negative. I've been very anxious over the whole thing so 4 days ago I did a rapid result (20 min) test where they do a finger ***** and what looks like a very cheap antibody test. It was also negative and...... 2 days ago did another HIV test for antibodies, Western blot. Will get results in about 5 days, approx 3 to 3.5 weeks from my most recent high risk behavior.
QUESTIONS:
1. Does this sound like the symptoms of primary HIV infection? If no then what?
2. Does HIV almost always have a high fever and rash?
3. Realistically, what are my chances the antibodies could have shown up on my first test only 2 weeks after my last possible exposure? 4 weeks? 7 weeks? I know it can take up to 3 months. I just want to know chances.
4. If my body is newly battling the herpes infection will it take longer than usual for HIV antibodies to show up? Is this anxiety going to affect the test results? Is it causing my illness?
Please only factual information from people who have actually studied the disease outside of the internet or those in medicine or those with HIV/AIDS. Thank you in advance for your help!
I know a conclusive negative takes 3 months. I'm trying to figure out what I'm dealing with in the mean time. If I can't get it off my mind I wouldn't mind trying to figure it out instead.
I suggest you post in the doctors forum if you want specific answers to your questions. I would help but it sounds like an opinion there would be much more assuring for you.
in the doctors forum they will explain that a 6-8 week test result is 95% conclusive as to the result for the 3 month test, in fact the docs say they have never even seen a reversal of the test at the 6-8 week mark...only exception I believe is if someone is taking immunosuppressant drugs.
I agree with joggen, post in the expert forum but I'm sure the only thing that is going to be of assistance to you is the ACTUAL 3 month test result.
relax, your mind is very powerful...don't create issues if they aren't there (and inspecting yourself non stop does not help).
I have genital herpes as well, and when I first got it....I thought my life was over and I must of got other diseases as well because why whould I only get Herpes, I must of gotten other stuff too. BUT that was all I got and I'm the lucky guy who gets constant outbreaks, so I have to be on suppresion therapy (and have been for over 6 years now).
again try to relax, stop with all the tests...give it the weeks needed to get CONCLUSIVE RESULTS.
just my $0.02, which isn't worth much.
-NA
I agree with joggen, post in the expert forum but I'm sure the only thing that is going to be of assistance to you is the ACTUAL 3 month test result.
relax, your mind is very powerful...don't create issues if they aren't there (and inspecting yourself non stop does not help).
I have genital herpes as well, and when I first got it....I thought my life was over and I must of got other diseases as well because why whould I only get Herpes, I must of gotten other stuff too. BUT that was all I got and I'm the lucky guy who gets constant outbreaks, so I have to be on suppresion therapy (and have been for over 6 years now).
again try to relax, stop with all the tests...give it the weeks needed to get CONCLUSIVE RESULTS.
just my $0.02, which isn't worth much.
-NA
Thankyou. I needed to hear more than just a phrase. I'm very worried. I am very anxious. I have been trying to calm down and think I have been able to differentiate real symptoms from psycological ones. Unfortunately, they all seem real right now. I think the worst part is the possibility of hurting those I love with the news if I were HIV positive. You don't know how much I appreciate the time you took to write a little more. Your 2 cents is worth millions :)
I had a negative HIV test at 5.5 weeks from possible exposure.
The only symptoms I'm having now are still a mild sore throat that the Dr says doesn't look inflamed or red...... and sores on my tongue that come and go in a matter of days, sometimes 1, 2 at a time. This has been going on since the other bothersome symptoms went away. The sores/lesions/ulcers are worrying me since they sound a lot like what happens with primary hiv infection/ ARS. They start off as a red sore spot, increase slightly in size, are mostly irregular or with indistinguishable borders, some have looked like they were white with a red border, We did a swab on the back of my throat to see if any bacteria grows. I'm concerned. I am still having symptoms and not in my head. Very real, very present. At 6 weeks out would I still be having these symptoms if it were associated with primary hiv infection? What rediculously priced tests would show a positive if I were indeed positive right now? Any help, please!
The only symptoms I'm having now are still a mild sore throat that the Dr says doesn't look inflamed or red...... and sores on my tongue that come and go in a matter of days, sometimes 1, 2 at a time. This has been going on since the other bothersome symptoms went away. The sores/lesions/ulcers are worrying me since they sound a lot like what happens with primary hiv infection/ ARS. They start off as a red sore spot, increase slightly in size, are mostly irregular or with indistinguishable borders, some have looked like they were white with a red border, We did a swab on the back of my throat to see if any bacteria grows. I'm concerned. I am still having symptoms and not in my head. Very real, very present. At 6 weeks out would I still be having these symptoms if it were associated with primary hiv infection? What rediculously priced tests would show a positive if I were indeed positive right now? Any help, please!
No. Any test taken now CAN tell you if you have antibodies now if they are detectable. But the window period is still three months.
At 6 weeks out you would not still have ARS associated symptoms, you will have to wait 3 months there is no test that is proven to provide conclusive results before this time.
What about the DUO test?
The people at Freedom Health state it is conclusive at 28 days.
The people at Freedom Health state it is conclusive at 28 days.
Duo test are conclusive at 3 months just like all other HIV tests. They aren't even approved to be used in the US because they are of no real benefit.
Interesting, because FH in the UK charges people £95 per Duo test and says you do not need a 3 month follow up after one, and the Terrence Higgins Trust also recommends them at 28 days.
I tested 5.5 or 6 weeks and my rapid test came out negative for the antibodies . My question is i notice also like little red speck on my stomach it's not a lot could that be associated with hiv.2. My situation is this i have back discomfort and my joints feel like i have arithitis could that be associated with hiv? . My last exposure was a month agao.
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