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[lola1973]

Hello Dr.,
Five weeks ago I had unprotected sex with an old boyfriend(married). I know, not smart but here is the question. He has been married since 2000 and has three children. When I questioned him after the fact he said he was tested well before he married and he is sure his wife was tested with each pregnancy. His wife also breastfed for two years with each child. I was tested and a year ago and have not been with anyone but him. He says he has not been with anyone but her and then me in the past 9 years and I truly believe him. We made a mistake while drunk and it will never happen again. It was unprotected and that is my concern now. I have no problem with taking a home access test at 6 weeks, but here is the issue. I have epstein barr(due to mono at young age) and hashimoto's thyroiditis. I have heard certain things like autoimmune diseases can cause false positves, should this be a concern? I know you cannot go on symptoms for ars and the only thing I have had in 5 weeks is an inner ear infection and I due have geographic tongue whih I know flairs up when I am stressed. Like I said he has been more than forthcoming about calming my fears, but I just wanted some expert advice . Thnaks so much

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, neither your thyroiditis, nor your prior EB virus increase your chances of having a false positive test result.  . Same for HPV.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sounds like your situation is about as good as such things can get.  Your partner has been forthcoming about his circumstances and as best I can tell, things sound as though he should be believed. If what you say is correct, he is very low risk.  Since he is low risk, your risk of infection from him  is also low.

Having said that there is no reason no to get tested.  you are right that your thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease but there is no reason to think that currently available HIV tests, including Home Access will not provide an accurate reflection of your antibody status.  You can take the test with confidence that your results will be an accurate reflection of your circumstances and do not need to worry about an elevated false positive rate.

As for the symptoms, indeed you do know what I will say.  Worrying about symptoms is truly without merit.  Please ignore them.  I hope this is helpful.   EWH

[lola1973]

Thanks, I will tell him there is no need. Take care.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Personally, I would recommend you to now stop testing.  It is time to move on past this.  Take care.  EWH

[lola1973]

Doing really well and feel good. He asked me if I wanted him to test further(at 3 months) and I wasn't sure of what to say. It was very nice of him to offer.  The only other person he was with in the two months before we were together was his wife of 8 years. Just wondered if you thought it even to be needed. I really would like to move on from him so if it isn't needed I would rather just sign off from this. Let me know.Thanks

[lola1973]

Good news!!!!! His test came back negative today and he just faxed me the paperwork. I feel so much better, thank you so much for everything!!!!!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, I'd include the neck soreness as well.  EWH

[lola1973]

Dr. Hook,
   Thank you so much. Last night was the first night that I actually slept well. My anxiety has gotten the best of me and I have learned a very good lesson from all of this. I hope that you are right about the tests and if it does turn out to be ok I will never make a mistake like that again. I am sure you are right that anxiety can manifest itseldf in many ways and that is probably what has happened. I guess the neck and back stiffness and soreness along with the hives scared me because this is something that I haven't experienced. Does the neck thinh kind of go along with the hives and tingling in your book as anxiety? Nevertheless I will just have to wait and I am hoping for a positive outcome.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I remain confident that both of your tests will be negative.  Hives and the tingling that go along withthem can be due to lots and lots of things, particularly things that are in the environment.  In some people, anxiety can even do this. On the other hand, HIVs are hardly ever associated with HIV.  Hang in there, I am confident the tests will be negative (and remember, when his tests come back negative, you're home free since he can't give you something he doesn't have.  Take care.  EWH

[lola1973]

We have both been tested now. His test is due back sometime between this Thursday and next Thursday .Mine is due back the following week. He showed me his HIV test from 2004. I am just still a bit anxious due to some occurences two weeks ago. At five weeks and three days after encounter I got hives. I had them for two weeks and the only thing that helped them were a cortisone shot, prednisone, and zyrtec. At the same time I had a stiff/sore neck and tingling sensations in face and extremities. I was feeling so good about everyhting until the hives and neck thing happened. I know I have to wait on the test results and I was feeling confident that they would be negative, but those things I had happen were just so weird and out of the ordinary. I guess I just wondered what your thoughts on these symptoms were? I just have noone else to go to and I am so close to having answers, but just need some reassurance.

[lola1973]

I am very happy,I showed him this thread and he agreed to go get an HIV test to calm my fears. I went with him today to planned parenthood. They asked if he had ever had Hepatitis and he told them he had mono/epstein barr. He did have a form of hepatitis with the mono in 1992.Should he have said that he had hepatitis due to mono or are they looking for something else? I am praying that these illnesses he has had don't create a false positive.Thanks again and hopefully we get good news in 2-3 weeks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There are several viruses which cause mono.  Epstein Barr virus and CMV are the two most common. Once a persons has mono due to EB virus, they will not have it again.  The virus is present in their body and will remain there.  At a later date, the infection/virus may cause other illness but ot mono.  Same is true for CMV.  Last answer.  EWH

[lola1973]

I know you are right and anxiety is the key issue here. Confused though by your answer.What you are saying is you don't have flare ups after mono? I am taking a deep breath and letting all this go. thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Infectious diseases such as mononucleosis have highly variable courses.  That said, what you descibe would be most unusual.  The first thing that occurs to me is to wonder about the accuracy of some of the diagnoses he received.  Please stop worrying about a suppressed immune system - you are letting your anxiety get the best of you.  I say this in all sincerity.  EWH

[lola1973]

Thanks so much, I ordered the test and will take it next Friday at the 6 week mark.I did find out one more key piece of info. that I was wondering about. He had mono at 17 years of age(now 34) that brought on hepatitis. He was sick for agood 6 weeks. My concern was that he said for a few years after that he had flares up of epstein barr. I was sick at one point in 2000 and when they ran blood I showed antibodies to epstein barr. My question is why the flare ups,isn't that usually due to a suppressed immune system? I probably am reading too much into this ,but just wondered. LAST QUESTION I PROMISE!!!!!

[lola1973]

Also, what I forgot was the epstein barr and the chance of a false positive. Either way I plan on taking the test at 6 weeks. Years ago I was diagnosed with HPV after a pap came back showing a problem  and I had cryosurgery. Since then I have had normal paps for 8 years now, i just wondered if HPV increased chances of Hiv contraction? Sorry, i just forgot to add that to the original question. Thanks so much and you will not hear from me again.

[lola1973]

Thanks so much, I feel much better. You do feel that the autoimmune disease will not increase my risks of a false positive?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Home access is fine.  I would accept the results of the six week test.  You do not need further testing.  

There is nothing in your history or description to cause me to recommend testing to further sort things out.  On the other hand, you describe unprotected sex with a new partner.  Thus you qualify for periodic STD "screening (testing in the absence of symptoms) because you have had multiple partners over a period of less than a year.  As a matter of personal protection, we recommend annual testing for anyone who has had a new partner in the past year (we consider this to be health maintenance- we also recommend you get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly).  EWH

[lola1973]

Thanks so much! Do yuo suggest testing at 6 weeks, 3 months or both?You do feel Home Acees is o.k. or should I opt for something else? The other thing is do you feel that I should be tested ? Thanks again.

[lola1973]

Thanks so much. Do you suggest testing at 6 weeks or 3 months? You do feel that Home Access is o.k. or should I opt for something else?