Last answer. You are being silly. As i said above, abnormal LFTs are not a typical part of acute HIV. This will end this thread. EWH
Last very quick question/confirmation (I promise).
So based on your answers above, is it possible to say with complete confidence that, IF my LFTs were elevated as a result of acute HIV infection (which i have read is possible), there is no way that they would have stayed elevated for 4 months post-exposure. Is that correct?
Thanks again - and that will be my final question.
If you re-read my answers I hope you'll see that the symptoms you report do not suggest recently acquired HIV. As for timing, 8 weeks is at the outer limit of when we might see the ARS and then only rarely. Certainly any symptoms later than that are not due to recently acquired HIV. EWH
Doctor,
I guess what I am asking is, based on the symptoms, coupled with the timing of those symptoms, can you reassure me that it is (almost) a sure thing that these are not HIV related?
Thanks so much Doctor.
Thanks for your fast response.
Just a quick follow-up. You discussed symptoms but not timing in your answer. Does the timing of the symptoms (i.e. 8 weeks and 16 weeks after exposure) also suggest that these are not HIV related, or are these occurring within the window period.
Welcome to our Forum. I suspect that the two events you mention are unrelated and that you do not have HIV. You really do not even know that you were exposed and even if you were, the fact is, few CSWs in Dubai have HIV. The symptoms you describe in November sound far more like a cold or other community acquired, non-STD viral infection than HIV. Early HIV typically is accompanied by high fevers, muscle and joint aches, rash and other symptoms. While I am not trying to talk you out of testing for HIV and other STDs as I think they are useful for anyone who may have been exposed to new or potentially infected sex partners, this is not something I would worry about a lot based the history that you provide.
With respect to your elevated LFTs, the degree of elevation you mention is modest and is unlikely to be a sign of recently acquired HIV. Liver function abnormalities are not a typical sign of early HIV and in your case, between your travels and your acknowledged heavy alcohol intake, I suspect one of these is a more likely cause of the abnormalities than anything else. If the tests are still abnormal when you repeat them, my advice would be to seek the advice of a health care provider.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH