So Scared!!!

[Rima1]

I am devastated. I have read many posts here and I know that a test should be conclusive at 12 weeks. But I am scared to death, as the symptoms persist (and they got worse) after 5 months. Please give me an honest opinion, taking into consideration my exposure and my symptoms. I was in a relationship for 2 years. My last exposure was in Jan 2014, unprotected vaginal encounter (I am female). After 2 weeks I started having 2 cold sores, sore throat, very dry mouth (still lasting), severe night sweats (they last till now, after 5 months), 3-4 painful mouth ulcers in the back of my mouth, near my tongue (that last till now), some small pink and brown dots scattered throughout my body (they last till now), extreme fatigue, oral thrush. I lost 10 kg in 2 months. At 6 weeks I found a swollen lymph node in front of my left ear and another one under the same ear. I also started having burning and sharp pain in legs and groin area, and the pain got worse until now. At 2 months mark, I found a growth under my tongue, in the left side (salivary gland?) and 4-5 soft swollen lymph nodes in my neck (they are still there). At 3.5 months, all of a sudden, my submandibular glands got swollen on both sides (lasting till now). At 4 months I discovered swollen lymph nodes under my armpits and in my groin area ( many of them in groin area). At 5 months I found a swollen and hard lymph node in the back of my head on top of spine (occipital?). All the symptoms last to date and they became worse. Right now I have generalized lymphadenopathy (in front of left ear, under both ears, neck, under jaw, back of my head, armpit, groin), night sweats, 3-4 ulcers in the back of my mouth, on the right wall, extremely dry mouth (I lost enamel on 5 teeth), weakness and severe pain in legs and in the groin area, small pink and some brown spots under skin (they have been there for 4.5 months), extreme fatigue, oral thrush, swollen submandibular glands (visible), and many more. I tested negative with Abbott Architect Ag/Ab at 2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18 weeks and with INSTI at 18, 22 weeks. Please don't say I need mental help. All these persistent symptoms point out to HIV. I am afraid I am infected with a rare group (N, P) or strain which was not detected by the tests (as my ex partner was exposed  to an unknown HIV type in Middle East, in December). The person he had sex with might have had sex with somebody from Cameroon, or West Africa. People travel and so does HIV. I am afraid that the Abbott Architect and INSTI tests have reagents for the groups and strains most common in North America (as the kits couldn't be tested on samples of blood infected with rare groups or strains). There were many cases when somebody was negative on a type of test and positive on another, due to assay limitations. What test, do you think, I should take? Should I have a Real Time RNA PCR, or Western Blot, or any other test? Please, please, please assess my whole situation. Thank you so much.

[Rima1]

Teak, I know, but all these symptoms scare me and make me doubt the test reliability. My fear is that the test has its limitations (as there is no perfect test) and it wasn't able to detect a certain strain or mutation of HIV. As I said my ex partner was exposed in Middle East and I tested with a kit tested on groups and subtypes common in North America (please don't say I need psychological help). All the symptoms last for 5 months and they got worse (No disease starts 2 weeks after a risky exposure).
- a big mouth ulcer unhealed for almost 6 months
- salivary glands swollen, with swollen lymph nodes in parotid and submandibular (they can be felt)
- generalized lymphadenopathy : neck (front and back), jaw, armpit, groin, even in face
- enamel loss on 5 teeth due to lack of saliva
- oral thrush
- severe, burning pain in legs and in groin area (lasting for 5 months)
- small pink and brown spots under skin (petechial), started at 1 month mark and the number increases

Thank you, Teak, for your patience.

[Teak]

You have an 18 week negative test result.

[Rima1]

Teak, I had unprotected vaginal exposure. And all of these started 2 weeks after. I have been going through hell for 5 months.

[Teak]

You never had an exposure and don't need testing.

[Rima1]

Teak, you are very right that HIV has NO specific symptoms. Those who look for fever, rash, sore throat are wrong. HIV hits in different ways, but it DOES. On the other hand, with all due respect, you are wrong when you say that a test at 3 months is conclusive, with disregard to symptoms or exposure. I understand that this is the policy of the forum. But in my case it is wrong. I am sure that the test has limitations and it didn't pick it up. It's not anxiety, but facts. You said HIV is not my concern, based on results. But unfortunately only HIV is my concern. Nothing else could explain:
- a big mouth ulcer unhealed for almost 6 months
- salivary glands swollen, with swollen lymph nodes in parotid and submandibular (they can be felt)
- generalized lymphadenopathy : neck (front and back), jaw, armpit, groin, even in face
- enamel loss on 5 teeth due to lack of saliva
- oral thrush
- severe, burning pain in legs and in groin area (lasting for 5 months)
- small pink and brown spots under skin (petechial), started at 1 month mark and lasting

I appreciate your efforts to advise everybody, but in my case, the result is wrong. I cannot get PCR RNA, without disclosing my identity. I am lost.

[Teak]

If you feel unwell, see a doctor. HIV is not your concern.

[Rima1]

Thank you, Teak, for your opinion. I understand that you trust a result more than anything else. of course I don't want to have HIV. But I cannot lie to myself. It's hard to ignore the lymph nodes, when I feel them all over my body (neck, in the back of my head, in armpit, groin, and in my chest as of yesterday). It's hard to accept a negative result, with my visible swollen submandibular glands, mouth ulcers, severe pain in legs, night sweats, extremely dry mouth (loss of enamel). I really believe that something is wrong with my results (maybe lab errors, or, as I said, a strain of HIV undetected by the kit I had). All these symptoms are not due to anxiety (especially many swollen lymph nodes). But thank you for your opinion.

[Teak]

You do not have HIV.

[Rima1]

Teak, thank you so much for your reply. Please bear with me. I know it sounds crazy, but is it possible that the tests I had not to detect a certain group or strain of HIV? Would you take a different test if you were me?  My symptoms scare me, especially generalized lymphadenopathy, the swollen nodes in my parotid (in front and below my ear), the swollen submandibular glands, the ulcers in my throat, the ongoing pain in my legs. Would you find any explanation for all these lasting symptoms? Everything started 2 weeks after the unprotected encounter and all the symptoms (which got worse) point out to HIV. Please, Teak, take the time to assess the whole situation. Please give me an advice and your detailed opinion on my situation, besides seeing a doctor. I am lost.

[Teak]

You do not have an HIV concern.