Aa
What u think doctor
Hello dr. 8 weeks ago I ended a relationship with a girl who I found out was not the greatest person in the world. 5 1/2 weeks after last exposure I had a unigold rapid fingerprick test done and was negative. At 6 1/2 weeks I developed muscle and joint aches and pains and then at 7 to 7 1/2 weeks developed fatigue and a canker sore.
My questions are the following
1-what are your overall thoughts and your knowledge of that test at that timeline?
2-I know chemotherapy can affect immune systems....what about being around someone on chemo? Can that affect another person? Believe it was the drugs there on.
3-would that test give a good to conclusive result?
4-have you ever seen a negative antibody result at 5 1/2 weeks turn positive later?
Thanks doctor
My questions are the following
1-what are your overall thoughts and your knowledge of that test at that timeline?
2-I know chemotherapy can affect immune systems....what about being around someone on chemo? Can that affect another person? Believe it was the drugs there on.
3-would that test give a good to conclusive result?
4-have you ever seen a negative antibody result at 5 1/2 weeks turn positive later?
Thanks doctor
Went and had a oraquick advanced mouth swab today at 8 weeks and came back negative. Thought I would share results. Thanks doc.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes!
Thanks for your reply doctor....just to clarify if ars symptoms are present then a rapid blood test would be positive? Thanks and have a good night.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
ARS can include symptoms like yours. However, ARS symptoms are pretty much the same as those of at least a hundred other medical conditions, mostly more common than ARS. That's why even typical symptoms of ARS rarely are alarming. And if your symptoms were due to HIV acquired during your last exposure, your blood test would have to be positive.
It's as if you're hoping to prove me wrong, to convince yourself you might have HIV. But this isn't a debate, and you can't talk me into it! Do your best to accept the reassurance at face value and move on.
Really, this truly is not a high risk circumstance. In the nearly 8 years of this forum, no questioner has ever returned to report catching HIV after an exposure s/he was concerned about. If and when it happens, I expect it to be a truly high risk situation, not anything like your experience.
It's as if you're hoping to prove me wrong, to convince yourself you might have HIV. But this isn't a debate, and you can't talk me into it! Do your best to accept the reassurance at face value and move on.
Really, this truly is not a high risk circumstance. In the nearly 8 years of this forum, no questioner has ever returned to report catching HIV after an exposure s/he was concerned about. If and when it happens, I expect it to be a truly high risk situation, not anything like your experience.
Also the symptoms I described do they sound like typical symptoms of ars minus the timeframe? Thanks and I won't bother you no more being that I'm sure your very busy doc. Thanks.
One last question doc and I'll let you go....is it true if someone has ars symptoms in the timeframe that you stated that they come that they will show positive on antibody tests?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That makes sense.
We prolly had unprotected vaginal sex 25-30 times over coarse of a month and half. There was also a week break between the last 4 times and the rest. So if I did catch it odds are it wouldn't have been last 4 times would you agree? That would make that test at 6.5 weeks?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. You don't say what "not the greatest person" means, but presumably you are concerned about your partner's past sexual history. However, if she is not a sex worker and hasn't used drugs by injection, then statistically it is very unlikely she has HIV.
The other thing to remember is that the modern HIV tests are among the most accurate diagnostic tests ever developed for any medical condition. As long as sufficient time has passed after the last exposure, the results always overrule all other considerations, such as symptoms and the type of exposure. As for your symptoms, they came on much too late. Symptoms of a new HIV infection cannot start later than 2-3 weeks after catching it.
To your questions:
1) Five and a half weeks is a little early, but still a negative antibody test at that time would pick up at least 95-98% of new HIV infections -- so your test result is highly reassuring.
2,3) In fact, chemotherapy probably does NOT affect HIV test reliability. That's a theoretical concern, with (to my knowledge) no actual reports that it ever happened. Being around someone on chemo has no effect and does not change the reliability of the test you had.
4) No, I haven't seen this -- but of course that doesn't mean very much. I've never seen someone get struck by lightning, but of course it can happen. Is it possible that someone with a new HIV infection could have a negative antibody test at 5.5 weeks? Yes. Is it likely? No; and combining the nature of the exposure you describe and your test result, the chance you actually have HIV is well under one in a million. But if you want a still higher degree of reassurance, feel free to have another test when 8 weeks have passed. And if your symptoms continue, of course see a doctor to learn the cause -- which isn't HIV from the exposure you have described.
In the meantime, you really shouldn't be at all worried. If you get tested again, you definitely can expect a negative result.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
The other thing to remember is that the modern HIV tests are among the most accurate diagnostic tests ever developed for any medical condition. As long as sufficient time has passed after the last exposure, the results always overrule all other considerations, such as symptoms and the type of exposure. As for your symptoms, they came on much too late. Symptoms of a new HIV infection cannot start later than 2-3 weeks after catching it.
To your questions:
1) Five and a half weeks is a little early, but still a negative antibody test at that time would pick up at least 95-98% of new HIV infections -- so your test result is highly reassuring.
2,3) In fact, chemotherapy probably does NOT affect HIV test reliability. That's a theoretical concern, with (to my knowledge) no actual reports that it ever happened. Being around someone on chemo has no effect and does not change the reliability of the test you had.
4) No, I haven't seen this -- but of course that doesn't mean very much. I've never seen someone get struck by lightning, but of course it can happen. Is it possible that someone with a new HIV infection could have a negative antibody test at 5.5 weeks? Yes. Is it likely? No; and combining the nature of the exposure you describe and your test result, the chance you actually have HIV is well under one in a million. But if you want a still higher degree of reassurance, feel free to have another test when 8 weeks have passed. And if your symptoms continue, of course see a doctor to learn the cause -- which isn't HIV from the exposure you have described.
In the meantime, you really shouldn't be at all worried. If you get tested again, you definitely can expect a negative result.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
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