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Worried - Late Sero
Hi, doc! Sorry to bother you again, but I'm really worried. I know that it is said that oral sex with a woman is little to no risk, but I have my doubts. It was my only exposure in a long time. Tested negative at 9 weeks and 12 1/2 weeks. PCR RNA and PCR DNA undetectable at 6 weeks. PCR RNA undetectable at 9 weeks. Should my doctor used a PCR DNA at 9 weeks? These tests give me much hope, but my symptoms persist 13 and 1/2 weeks after possible exposure. White tongue that stings at times. Feel a sore throat coming on. Very sore, heavy feeling in neck. Prickley/slight itchy feeling on skin. Red bumps appearing on my upper legs (this one really scares me). I ran on Saturday and my lower legs felt extremely heavy. There is a white substance where my gums meet my lower middle teeth (unless it is the gumb that is white). Not having the flu symptoms 2 to 4 weeks after possible infection, would that delay the onset of antibodies. How you one tell when someone turns positive after infection on one who does not have symptoms? I need some help!! Very anxious
"I'm not upset with you, just trying to reinforce the message. Call it tough love. Take care. "
This reply made me smile...:-)
This reply made me smile...:-)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm not upset with you, just trying to reinforce the message. Call it tough love. Take care.
Doc, didn't mean to upset you with my questions. Just scared. Thanks for responding.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The moderators don't expect much of questioners, but we do expect them to read and pay attention to our replies. "Is it possible...?" I suppose so, but I don't really know. But your results are negative. I'm trying to reassure you but you are trying hard to convince me and yourself that you might have HIV. You're just going to have to accept the hard reality that you do not.
The last sentence of my reply above meant what it said. This thread is over.
The last sentence of my reply above meant what it said. This thread is over.
Hi, doc. I don't mean to take up your time but please explain my testing. First, my question about turning positive was asked because I did not have the typical flu symptons associated with ARS. I wondering if, because of that, I havn't yet developed antibodies.
5 weeks -negative elisa
6 weeks - PCR DNA and PCR RNA undetectable
9 weeks - negative elisa, PCR RNA undetectable
12 1/2 weeks - negative elisa
If I don't have antibodies at 6, 9, and 12 1/2 weeks, wouldn.t the PCR's at 6 and 9 weeks detect a ton of the virus if I had it? Is it possible for an hiv+ person to have no antibodies and no detection of the virus at 6 and 9 weeks? Please answer
5 weeks -negative elisa
6 weeks - PCR DNA and PCR RNA undetectable
9 weeks - negative elisa, PCR RNA undetectable
12 1/2 weeks - negative elisa
If I don't have antibodies at 6, 9, and 12 1/2 weeks, wouldn.t the PCR's at 6 and 9 weeks detect a ton of the virus if I had it? Is it possible for an hiv+ person to have no antibodies and no detection of the virus at 6 and 9 weeks? Please answer
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The wording of your question suggests you have previously asked it on this forum -- but I can only find a discussion on the HIV community forum. However, the responses there were accurate.
As you were told, the exposure carried little if any risk, regardless of whether you "have doubts". But let's say there is a risk, maybe as high as 1 in 10,000. Let's combine that statistic with the odds that your partner actually had HIV (from your description of "low risk", let's say 1 in 1,000), the chance of a negative PCR at 6-9 weeks in someone who actually has HIV (say in 1 in 100?), and the odds of a negaive antibody test at 12 weeks (say 1 in 1,000). That makes your risk of actually having HIV 0.0001 x 0.001 x 0.01 x 0.001 = 0.000000000001. That is 1 in a trillion. That means if you took that risk once a day, it would take longer than the history of the universe for you catch HIV. In other words, it is impossible you have HIV.
As this forum has repeatedly pointed out, symptoms never mean HIV in the presence of negative testing (as long as testing is done more than a few weeks after exposure). And your symptoms don't suggest HIV anyway -- they don't even hint at it.
"How you one tell when someone turns positive after infection on one who does not have symptoms?" By the test results, of course.
So I'm sorry, but you're just going to have to accept the reality that you did not catch HIV. Work with your personal health care provider to learn the real cause of your symptoms.
My final thought reacts to "I need some help! Very anxious". That is not a rational response to this situation. It is not normal to have such difficulty accepting such strong scientific evidence and suggests to me that you might benefit from professional counseling. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
We're not going to get into any "yes but" or "what if" follow-up questions. It is time for you to move on.
Regards-- HHH, MD
As you were told, the exposure carried little if any risk, regardless of whether you "have doubts". But let's say there is a risk, maybe as high as 1 in 10,000. Let's combine that statistic with the odds that your partner actually had HIV (from your description of "low risk", let's say 1 in 1,000), the chance of a negative PCR at 6-9 weeks in someone who actually has HIV (say in 1 in 100?), and the odds of a negaive antibody test at 12 weeks (say 1 in 1,000). That makes your risk of actually having HIV 0.0001 x 0.001 x 0.01 x 0.001 = 0.000000000001. That is 1 in a trillion. That means if you took that risk once a day, it would take longer than the history of the universe for you catch HIV. In other words, it is impossible you have HIV.
As this forum has repeatedly pointed out, symptoms never mean HIV in the presence of negative testing (as long as testing is done more than a few weeks after exposure). And your symptoms don't suggest HIV anyway -- they don't even hint at it.
"How you one tell when someone turns positive after infection on one who does not have symptoms?" By the test results, of course.
So I'm sorry, but you're just going to have to accept the reality that you did not catch HIV. Work with your personal health care provider to learn the real cause of your symptoms.
My final thought reacts to "I need some help! Very anxious". That is not a rational response to this situation. It is not normal to have such difficulty accepting such strong scientific evidence and suggests to me that you might benefit from professional counseling. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
We're not going to get into any "yes but" or "what if" follow-up questions. It is time for you to move on.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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