Symptoms

[specialk_2006]

Hi Dr:

On July 24, 2006, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend of 2 years both vaginally and anal. A few days later he left me and told me he had never been faithful to me...He said that he didn't always use protection. About a week later I started running a fever of 99.2-99.5, was extremley tired, soft lose stool and my tongue turned white. I was so afraid I got HIV so I got tested at 10 days negative, 39 days negative and 58 days negative. After my 58 day test (8 weeks) I calmed down and wasn't so stressed out. However, I still have a white, dry tongue and feel like my mouth is disgusting.  I am going to get my 86 day test on October 18.. Is there a good chance I am going to test positive with my tongue being white? Its not a coating or thrush but a white film that won't go away.. .. Please help I am scared to death, I am only 28 and trusted this person with my life... HELP

[specialk_2006]

I keep reading though that any test before 12-13 weeks in inconculusive...

[shygirl1981]

sweetie, you are totally fine. a negative hiv test at four weeks is all you need okay!!! and you waited even longer and still tested negative, so you're in the clear. I'm so sorry about this guy, wow, what a waste of skin. just be glad you're done with it and that you dont have to put up with him anymore.

[specialk_2006]

Oh I have been tested for all the other STD' and those came back negative with the exception to Hepatitis B. My dr said I could have gotten that anywhere though.

[specialk_2006]

Thank you for your answer..and your thoughtfulness.... I am just so worried because of this white tongue.. Why don't I need the 86 day test? My doctor told me I had to be tested at 3, 6, 9, 12... weeks.. I am sure my questions are silly, I am just scared.. and I will be honest I keep researching on the internet and I keep finding all sorts of things.. especially about white tongue.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  I'm sorry you were treated so shabbily and I know it doesn't feel good.  But the chance you got HIV is very low.  More important, symptoms simply do not matter and yours mean absolutely nothing.  Only the test results matter, and yours are negative.  (For innumerable discussions about symptoms, search the archives and threads for "HIV symptoms" and "ARS symptoms".)  Your negative test result at 8 weeks PROVE you do not have HIV; you don't need a 3 month test.  (Search for "time to positive HIV test".)

The more serious potential health risk from your partner's behavior is for more common STDs.  You need to be tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, and possibly herpes, if that hasn't been done.  But mellow out about HIV.  You don't have it.

Good luck--  HHH, MD