opinion

[sarahd18]

Hi doctor , I just wanted your opinion on this situation. After months of recurring yeast infections, sore throats with red spots, swollen lymph node in my right arm pit and left side of my neck, I was basically convinced I had hiv and prepared myself for the positive result that I was going to get when I got tested. When I got tested it was 16 weeks after a protected exposure.(I convinced myself the condom must of broke) and 7 months after an unprotected exposure with my boyfriend at the time. I'm a female . The unprotected sex lasted a minute and he pulled out before ejaculating inside me. That was our one and only time n it lasted about a minute. The test that I had done was negative. With all my symptoms, I couldn't really except the negative so I keep thinking my results were mixed up. After a billing problem I found out I only had a western blot done ,no positive elisa just one negative wb. I understand its only used as a confirmation test. I talked to a Dr that said I wouldn't need additional testing even though its only used as a confirmation . He said one of the reasons its only used as a confirmation is it has a high indeterminate n false positive rate . But a negative at 16 weeks indicates I don't have hiv. OK I shouldn't be paranoid anymore right? Well I am! When I got my test done, I was called 24hrs later that I can come in for my results. This is not unusual. I'm usually always called the next day. But my HOURS of searching the internet I read wb's take longer for results. So now I'm even more paranoid my test was mixed up! I guess all I'm looking for is your opinion. Is it safe to moveon That I dnt have hiv ,even with my current symptoms?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I recommend against any more HIV testing.  And no, I am unaware of any instances of a lab mixing people's HIV test samples.  As you can imagine, they are EXCEEDINGLY careful about it.  Can't you just imagine the legal consequences and expensive lawsuits of someone getting a wrong result?

Please try to accept the unequivocal scientific evidence and reasoned reassurance you have had and move on.

[sarahd18]

I have just one more question. Though I had a negative test well beyond the window period , would you suggest another test? I know it sounds a little silly but my swollen lymph nodes make it hard to get hiv off of my mind and I can't stop wondering if there was a mix up in the lab?! My exposure was in Sept. I've had discomfort under my arm for a long time now. It wasnt until march when I felt a swollen lymph node on my neck and near my elbow(which I still have). I didn't have ARS and the lymph nodes are about 1cm, hard and painless. I was never to concerned about HIV because I didn't think I was a risk. I used condoms consistently for 3yrs with a guy I was seeing and the one time we had unprotected sex he didn't ejaculated inside me. Also, he became really freaked out about the situation ,not because of stds, becAuse of the chance of me getting pregnant. I don't think he's the type to go around having unprotected sex. He did move to NYC  last year and I know their HIV rate it very high. He told me he was tested last march and Jan of this year. I really don't believe Him about January because I think it was to calm me down that he's ok. As such as I don't want to think I was a risk, I really was. My mom was a social worker for people living with hiv/aids for many years. She reminded me of the risks everyday. I also had protected sex in December. I can't help but think the condom broke and I didn't realize. Do you believe my results even with my swollen lymph nodes. Have you ever heard of anyone's samples being mixed up in a lab? It might sound silly I'm just worried.

[sarahd18]

Thank you, I appreciate your response! :) makes me feel 100% better!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  The bottom line is very good news:  you don't have HIV.  In fact, there really should have been no suspicion of it to start.

First, test results always overrule symptoms in judging whether or not someone has HIV.  As long as enough time has passed since the last exposure (never longer than 3 months), there are no exceptions.  Never.  Second, although it is true that yeast infections may occur more commonly in people with HIV, the overwhelming majority of persons with recurrent yeast do not have HIV.  Repeat:  almost nobody with recurrent yeast end up having HIV as the explanation.  Third, your other symptoms are not typical for a new HIV infection.  And fourth, it is statistically very unlikely your boyfriend had HIV; probably you were never exposed to the virus.

You also are mistaken about the time to perform an HIV Western blot test.  The test itself requires a couple of hours.  All time beyond that is taken by the time for specimen transport, storage in the lab until enough specimens arrive to allow cost-efficient testing of several at once, and conveyance of results to the doctor's office.  That often takes a week, but results often are available within a day.

In other words, the reply from potter800 below (before I wrote this response) is exactly right.  For sure you don't have HIV.  You can stop worrying about it.  If any symptoms continue that concern you, keep working with your primary care doctor or clinic to learn the cause.  It isn't HIV.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[potter800]

Hello.Well,I am no MD.

But I am sure you are ok based on the details you present above.

Dr Hook or Dr Handsfield will tell you this soon.With a negative Western Blot at 16 weeks,you can be sure you did not contract HIV FROM the situation you describe.

Best regards.