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Worried and can't sleep
Dear Doc,
First time I got tested for HIV was 6 years ago after having unprotected sex with multiple partners, the location was an STD clinic in Manhattan. It came out negative and I wass very happy. Fast forward to last September (2009) I saw a German website on AIDS which said one of the symptoms of the disease is rash, which I had during the month of April and May. Since six years passed by I couldn't clearly remember if I got tested 90 days past my possible exposure and decided to get tested again. I went to the same public clinic in Manhattan since they give the results the same day. Both the quick result and the result over the phone came out to be negative.
Two weeks after getting tested I had a sore throat, without significant fever and the lymph nodes behind my jaw were mildly enlarged. Since I read so much about ARS symptoms I immediately freaked out about a possible reuse of needle. During my visit they pricked my three times to find the vein although the latter two needles were clearly out of the plastic bag I didn't pay attention to the first one. I also remembered the spot where they tried for the first time was a little more red than the latter two. I know the procedures for not reusing the needles and the safety precautions however since human element is always present I believed that there was room for mistake.
Hence I got tested at 24, 55 and 90 days all came negative. The lab that conducted the tests was a local one in Brooklyn used by my PCP and the test that they perform is Elisa by Abbott HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) EIA. Unfortunately I don't know which generation it is.
I am currently recovering from a flu but the wet cough seems to linger on for the past 11 days or so. I also have cold blisters for the past 3 weeks, and recently I got so scared that my sleep is disturbed. I read on the CDC website that although 90 days (3 months) is encouraged you should really wait another 3 months to be 100% sure. What is your take on this?
First time I got tested for HIV was 6 years ago after having unprotected sex with multiple partners, the location was an STD clinic in Manhattan. It came out negative and I wass very happy. Fast forward to last September (2009) I saw a German website on AIDS which said one of the symptoms of the disease is rash, which I had during the month of April and May. Since six years passed by I couldn't clearly remember if I got tested 90 days past my possible exposure and decided to get tested again. I went to the same public clinic in Manhattan since they give the results the same day. Both the quick result and the result over the phone came out to be negative.
Two weeks after getting tested I had a sore throat, without significant fever and the lymph nodes behind my jaw were mildly enlarged. Since I read so much about ARS symptoms I immediately freaked out about a possible reuse of needle. During my visit they pricked my three times to find the vein although the latter two needles were clearly out of the plastic bag I didn't pay attention to the first one. I also remembered the spot where they tried for the first time was a little more red than the latter two. I know the procedures for not reusing the needles and the safety precautions however since human element is always present I believed that there was room for mistake.
Hence I got tested at 24, 55 and 90 days all came negative. The lab that conducted the tests was a local one in Brooklyn used by my PCP and the test that they perform is Elisa by Abbott HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) EIA. Unfortunately I don't know which generation it is.
I am currently recovering from a flu but the wet cough seems to linger on for the past 11 days or so. I also have cold blisters for the past 3 weeks, and recently I got so scared that my sleep is disturbed. I read on the CDC website that although 90 days (3 months) is encouraged you should really wait another 3 months to be 100% sure. What is your take on this?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your test results prove you do not have HIV and that something else is causing your symptoms. Undoubtedly your PCP has told you the same thing. The test "generation" is irrelevant: even with the older generation tests, all newly infected people had positive results by 3 months. (The only significant differnece in newer versus older tests is whether they are positive in the 2-6 week range.)
As discussed many times on this forum, some public health agencies, including CDC, take hyper-conservative stances on HIV test timing. There is no need to be tested beyond 3 months.
It is not possible that HIV has anything to do with your cough or "cold blisters". I'm a little skeptical you have oral herpes that has lasted 3 weeks. That's a lot longer than normal. See a provider if they don't heal up promptly. But this doesn't affect my opinion about you not having HIV.
Your anxieties about HIV, however real they may be, are not rational. If you are unable to move past these fears despite the reassurance you have had from your PCP, and now this forum, discuss it with your PCP. There might be an underlying emotional issue that needs to be resolved, perhaps by counseling. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Happy holidays-- HHH, MD
As discussed many times on this forum, some public health agencies, including CDC, take hyper-conservative stances on HIV test timing. There is no need to be tested beyond 3 months.
It is not possible that HIV has anything to do with your cough or "cold blisters". I'm a little skeptical you have oral herpes that has lasted 3 weeks. That's a lot longer than normal. See a provider if they don't heal up promptly. But this doesn't affect my opinion about you not having HIV.
Your anxieties about HIV, however real they may be, are not rational. If you are unable to move past these fears despite the reassurance you have had from your PCP, and now this forum, discuss it with your PCP. There might be an underlying emotional issue that needs to be resolved, perhaps by counseling. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Happy holidays-- HHH, MD
Thank you Doctor, actually the cold sores (aka Oral herpes) has been on 4 different occasions during the past three weeks first two has healed in a week and the latter to is about to heal. I am assuming, given your response and my anxiety, it might be caused by stress. If they repeat again I will see a MD for sure. Thank you for your time for the response and happy holidays to you as well.
PS: I have had cold sires since I was a little kid.
PS: I have had cold sires since I was a little kid.
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