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Please Help DR. HHH - So Stressed Want to Move on
Briefly - I do not even know if I was exposed so I know this is stupid. Like a ******* I got extremely drunk one night at a bar and do not remember what happened - I was hanging out with a nice man (I think and I am female) and do not remember engaging in any sexual activity - however I actually do not remember and woke up at home. Exactly three weeks later came down with a sore throat with difficulty swallowing - lasted 4-5 days. Went to GP one swollen lymph node in neck not sure about other places. Some fatigue and such but I have extreme anxiety issues (can you tell). No fever that I am aware of, no rash that I am aware of so fine - had a rapid HIV antibody test at exactly 40 days negative but I threw up a few days ago and got some bruises on my forehead (which was weird I do bruise easily but that has never happened before) and then even the nurse who pricked my finger for the test was like why won't you stop bleeding -I did stop after a minute. So my questions are if I was positive would the antibody test show it at 40 days? If I was actually having ARS or HIV symptoms would the test be positive? Is easy bleeding and bruising a common symptom of ARS? Can I stop worrying and move on? Please help it is killing me. P.S. I have stopped drinking.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to help. EWH
Thank you very much Dr. Hook - I feel a lot better now.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the clarification. That you remember elements of the evening but not having sex really makes it less likely you had sex. That said, testing is still reasonable.
Yes, antibody tests are 40 days post exposure would detect nearly 95% of infections
Finally, easy bruising is not a typical sign of early HIV. eWH
Yes, antibody tests are 40 days post exposure would detect nearly 95% of infections
Finally, easy bruising is not a typical sign of early HIV. eWH
Sorry can you also clarify (I understand that not everyone gets ARS) but if the symptoms such as easy busing/bleeding were as a result of infection (i.e. were actually ARS) would the test be positive?
I am sorry to bother you as I am sure you are very busy.
I am sorry to bother you as I am sure you are very busy.
Your comments are very helpful Dr. Hook - I do not believe I was drugged although it is possible. I do have some memory related to the "incident" just not full memory and I do not remember any sexual activity at all (I feel like I would remember having sex with someone but I am a very anxious person so I have to question it) - I did not have any signs of physical trauma that I can remember. I also had all of my clothes and money. I also manged to get home so I must have had some awareness while intoxicated. I also tested for other STI's and I am awaiting the results.
Can I just clarify 40 days after the "incident" not the sore throat (the sore throat rectified 2 weeks prior to the antibody test) so would an antibody test at 40 days "post exposure" be 95% accurate?
Can I just clarify 40 days after the "incident" not the sore throat (the sore throat rectified 2 weeks prior to the antibody test) so would an antibody test at 40 days "post exposure" be 95% accurate?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. As you may know, Dr. Handsfield and I share the Forum and I happened to pick up your question. FYI, the reason we share the Forum is because we are like-minded and in years of working together we have not differed in our advice to clients. I will comment on several aspects of your questions.
First, I am alarmed that you seem to have had a "blackout" related to this incident. Am I correct that you have no memory of going home or the events between the time you were talking with this man and waking up the next day? If so, I can't help but wonder if you were drugged. When you woke up was there any evidence of sexual activity or are you worried that this may have happened but did not note abnormalities?
Overall, even if you were assaulted on the evening you mention, the odds that you got HIV are very, very low. You do not know that you had sex, if you did it is unlikely that your partner had HIV, and even if he did, the likelihood of transmission through sexual intercourse is less than 1 infection per 1,000 sex acts. The odds are very much in your favor.
Irrespective of the circumstances under which this occurred, we can be sure that the sore throat you experienced three weeks after the event was not HIV. If it had been, your test taken at 40 days (nearly 60 days) would have certainly been positive. The symptoms of the ARS occur as antibodies begin to be formed.
As for the results if this was not ARS- as already mentioned on the International Forum, your signs were not consistent but HIV can be acquired without experiencing the ARS. If you may have had unprotected sex however, testing, not only for HIV but for other STIs is a good idea. At 40 days about 95% of persons with HIV will have positive tests so your test results are reassuring. The results of HIV tests would be definitive if tested at 8 weeks (56 days). As I mentioned above however, other STIs are far, far more common than HIV. If you have not been I would suggest testing for other STIs, i.e. gonorrhea, chlamydia and perhaps syphilis- these infections can also be asymptomatic.
bottom line, infection is unlikely. You may not have had sex, or been exposed. nonetheless, testing for other STDs is probably reasonable. I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
First, I am alarmed that you seem to have had a "blackout" related to this incident. Am I correct that you have no memory of going home or the events between the time you were talking with this man and waking up the next day? If so, I can't help but wonder if you were drugged. When you woke up was there any evidence of sexual activity or are you worried that this may have happened but did not note abnormalities?
Overall, even if you were assaulted on the evening you mention, the odds that you got HIV are very, very low. You do not know that you had sex, if you did it is unlikely that your partner had HIV, and even if he did, the likelihood of transmission through sexual intercourse is less than 1 infection per 1,000 sex acts. The odds are very much in your favor.
Irrespective of the circumstances under which this occurred, we can be sure that the sore throat you experienced three weeks after the event was not HIV. If it had been, your test taken at 40 days (nearly 60 days) would have certainly been positive. The symptoms of the ARS occur as antibodies begin to be formed.
As for the results if this was not ARS- as already mentioned on the International Forum, your signs were not consistent but HIV can be acquired without experiencing the ARS. If you may have had unprotected sex however, testing, not only for HIV but for other STIs is a good idea. At 40 days about 95% of persons with HIV will have positive tests so your test results are reassuring. The results of HIV tests would be definitive if tested at 8 weeks (56 days). As I mentioned above however, other STIs are far, far more common than HIV. If you have not been I would suggest testing for other STIs, i.e. gonorrhea, chlamydia and perhaps syphilis- these infections can also be asymptomatic.
bottom line, infection is unlikely. You may not have had sex, or been exposed. nonetheless, testing for other STDs is probably reasonable. I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
I may have posted in the wrong forum if so sorry.
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
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