Aa
Very concerned about recent infection
On july 1 i had an incident with a woman in which the condom broke and there was a definite possiblity of infection. I don't know her status and can't find out. Around august 2 I began having flu like symptoms went to my dr and diagnosed me with a viral infection. Since doing some research it seems that I had every symptom associated with avr including sore throat fever cough and stiff neck diarrhea and extreme fatigue. I went to another dr to get blood work and HIV test and that doctor diagnosed me with walking pneumonia. Once I heard that I immediately freaked out but was happy to test negative on my august 19 test 7 weeks after possible infection. Then I noticed two lesions on each of my ankles and recently have been having shortness of breath, white patches on my tongue, dry mouth and a new bout of fatigue. I had been taking avelox presribed after the pneumonia diagnosis. So basically my questions to you would be
Does it sound like I am in the small minority where seroconversion occurs after week 7?
Is it possible that the antibioics delayed seroconversion?
I plan in being tested within the next week but is it possible for aids to come on within 7 weeks of infection (I do not have any pre existing immune conditions) and could that produce a false negative when looking for HIV
antibodies?
Thank you in advance
Does it sound like I am in the small minority where seroconversion occurs after week 7?
Is it possible that the antibioics delayed seroconversion?
I plan in being tested within the next week but is it possible for aids to come on within 7 weeks of infection (I do not have any pre existing immune conditions) and could that produce a false negative when looking for HIV
antibodies?
Thank you in advance
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. I'll try to help.
We have made the point innumerable times on this forum: The blood test rules; i.e. test results (beyond the usual window period of 4-6 weeks) always outweigh symptoms in judging whether or not someone has a new HIV infection, even when symptoms are typical of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). With the possible exception of advanced chemotherapy and life threatening (terminal) illnesses, no drugs and no medical condition makes HIV tests false negative. Your negative test result at 7 weeks is virtually 100% proof you do not have HIV.
Also, it is likely you are over-interpreting what you have read about early HIV symptoms. Almost every symptom of any acute infection can be associated with ARS, but most are not: cough, stiff neck, shortness of breath, and diarrhea are not usually present, and neither are skin lesions of the lower legs. Same for dry mouth and numbness and tingling of the feet (your comment below). Equally important, you don't mention two of the most classical symptoms of ARS, i.e. widespread lymph node inflammation/enlargement and skin rash. Many (most?) of your symptoms are typical for the physical manifestations of anxiety.
The level of risk for HIV enters into this. You don't say enough about the sexual exposure for me to judge it, but if you are in the US or other industrialized country and your partner was not at special risk for HIV (commercial sex worker, immigrant from an AIDS-endemic country, etc), it is unlikely she had HIV. And even if she had it, the chance of HIV transmission for any single episode of unprotected vaginal sex averages 1 in 2,000.
Bottom line: You can be very sure you don't have HIV. You should continue to work with your doctor about your continuing symptoms. For peace of mind, s/he probably will recommend another HIV test, as you are planning to do anyway. You can expect a negative result.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
We have made the point innumerable times on this forum: The blood test rules; i.e. test results (beyond the usual window period of 4-6 weeks) always outweigh symptoms in judging whether or not someone has a new HIV infection, even when symptoms are typical of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). With the possible exception of advanced chemotherapy and life threatening (terminal) illnesses, no drugs and no medical condition makes HIV tests false negative. Your negative test result at 7 weeks is virtually 100% proof you do not have HIV.
Also, it is likely you are over-interpreting what you have read about early HIV symptoms. Almost every symptom of any acute infection can be associated with ARS, but most are not: cough, stiff neck, shortness of breath, and diarrhea are not usually present, and neither are skin lesions of the lower legs. Same for dry mouth and numbness and tingling of the feet (your comment below). Equally important, you don't mention two of the most classical symptoms of ARS, i.e. widespread lymph node inflammation/enlargement and skin rash. Many (most?) of your symptoms are typical for the physical manifestations of anxiety.
The level of risk for HIV enters into this. You don't say enough about the sexual exposure for me to judge it, but if you are in the US or other industrialized country and your partner was not at special risk for HIV (commercial sex worker, immigrant from an AIDS-endemic country, etc), it is unlikely she had HIV. And even if she had it, the chance of HIV transmission for any single episode of unprotected vaginal sex averages 1 in 2,000.
Bottom line: You can be very sure you don't have HIV. You should continue to work with your doctor about your continuing symptoms. For peace of mind, s/he probably will recommend another HIV test, as you are planning to do anyway. You can expect a negative result.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, it is not possible. Your negative test results prove that HIV is not a possible cause of your symptoms. Please re-read my replies above, especially the statements about test result always overruling symptoms.
You came here for reassurance and I gave it. Accept it or not, I don't care, but don't argue about it. And stop searching the web for reasons that you really have HIV. It is an unproductive waste of your time, energy, and perhaps mental health.
This thread is over. And don't be tempted to start a new one with a repeat of the same questions. It would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).
You came here for reassurance and I gave it. Accept it or not, I don't care, but don't argue about it. And stop searching the web for reasons that you really have HIV. It is an unproductive waste of your time, energy, and perhaps mental health.
This thread is over. And don't be tempted to start a new one with a repeat of the same questions. It would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).
And to be clear I'm not asking you to try to specifically diagnose PN, I would just like your opinion on its impact on my HIV concern (albeit an unlikely one considering my negative wk 8 result? It could also be an adverse reaction to Avelox antibiotics i was given.
I have read numerous comments by you and I have a great deal of respect of your medical opinion. Exactly 8 weeks after possible exposure I tested negative on my rapid test. As i mentioned in my previous post I have been having burning, tingling and numbing sensations in my feet and hands since week 7. Since then I have had dizziness, diffuculty breathing and bouts of nausea. While I am very happy with my week 8 negative test result, I can't help but wonder if my current symptoms are a result of peripheral neuropathy. As you can see below, when I researched my symptoms The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke prints the following info...
"The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, also causes extensive damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The virus can cause several different forms of neuropathy, each strongly associated with a specific stage of active immunodeficiency disease. A rapidly progressive, painful polyneuropathy affecting the feet and hands is often the first clinically apparent sign of HIV infection."
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm
I'd like to ask you, do you think in some possible way I could be suffering from this condition as a result of a recent HIV infection and still test negative for HIV antibodies at 8 weeks post exposure? Many other sites also indicate that PN is possible in early HIV cases. Thank you sir.
"The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, also causes extensive damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The virus can cause several different forms of neuropathy, each strongly associated with a specific stage of active immunodeficiency disease. A rapidly progressive, painful polyneuropathy affecting the feet and hands is often the first clinically apparent sign of HIV infection."
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm
I'd like to ask you, do you think in some possible way I could be suffering from this condition as a result of a recent HIV infection and still test negative for HIV antibodies at 8 weeks post exposure? Many other sites also indicate that PN is possible in early HIV cases. Thank you sir.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
With modern tests, that simply never happens -- or at least too rare to allow any research study. No particular explanations are known.
If your genital herpes is due to HSV-2, it roughly doubles the chance of catching HIV if sexually exposed. HSV-1 apparently has no such effect, even when the infection is genital. In any case, you still have to be exposed; and double a near zero risk still means near zero risk. (For example, double 1 in a million is 1 in 500,000 *yawn*.)
Feel free to report back if and when you get the negative result of your final HIV test. Until then I won't have any further comments or advice.
If your genital herpes is due to HSV-2, it roughly doubles the chance of catching HIV if sexually exposed. HSV-1 apparently has no such effect, even when the infection is genital. In any case, you still have to be exposed; and double a near zero risk still means near zero risk. (For example, double 1 in a million is 1 in 500,000 *yawn*.)
Feel free to report back if and when you get the negative result of your final HIV test. Until then I won't have any further comments or advice.
Last question, I promise. I know i'm probably getting worked up over nothing but do you know of a common trend amongst those small few that test positive after 7 weeks? Certain pre existing conditions or use of medications? I forgot to mention that I do also have genital herpes for the past 4 yrs and understand that could increase my chances of contracting HIV and other stds. Once again thank you doc.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This doesn't increase my concern about HIV. Your wife might have caught the same respiratory virus that caused your illness.
Thank you so much for your expert opinion. It certainly provides peace of mind. I would like to add that the woman that I had sex with was not a sex worker and regrettably she is not my wife. I have not disclosed this to my wife but prior to my "avr symptoms" I did have sex with my wife. Within the last few days she has complained of a sore throat and sleeplessness which is similar to what I experienced shortly after my encounter with this woman. Thanks again
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I already commented on these additional symptoms. The oral sex carried little or no risk for HIV transmission; to my knowledge, there has never been a reported case of HIV transmission by cunnilingus.
I should add that I did also perform oral on her. Also week seven after possible exposure I've begun to feel numbness and tingling in my feet and hands an just today I noticed that those symptoms are consistent with HIV/aids. I'm not exaggerating any of my symptoms which is contributing to the anxiety.
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