HIV Prevention :: Test Negative But Have All Symptoms
Dec 6, 2013
MY Story started 2 years ago . I met a wonderful girl and we had both vaginal and anal sex. It wasnt until I finished we realized the condom has broken . After we found out she started crying and told me I needed to get checked . I ran away from relationships and sex life for 2 years because of fear because every 3 weeks or so it seemed I had another HIV symptom. Well I met an amazing girl got a test done professionally oraquick. Came back negative still scared but figured I tested welllll after the window period can I trust this can I live my life ?.is therw anything else it could be
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Well my situation is I had an exposure back in mid May, and I was tested with 4th generation blood lab test at just a day or two under 6 weeks, which came back negative.
I don't recall having any flu like symptoms such as sore throat, night sweats, or diarrhea, but I did have some dizziness when I moved my head up and down, and I had some fatigue, as well as a slightly runny nose at times, and I had some slight body soreness, but none of this was super strong and I did not miss any days of work or anything. I also had no appetite for a few weeks and lost about 5 pounds or so (I work out frequently). But honestly I could attribute the lack of appetite and subsequent weight loss to extreme anxiety, and also not going to the gym as often out of slight depression/fatigue/anxiety. I also had what I thought to be rashes (basically reddish areas on my cheeks, forehead and shoulders, but no bumps or anything), to which my doctor on the day of my test said were 'unimpressive' (meaning not resembling hiv rashes), and what I thought were swollen and sore lymph nodes, my doctor also checked and said he noticed no swelling, even though I thought they were. He also was very clear to tell me that one could not diagnose hiv through symptoms, but only a blood test. He also made it clear that if the results from this first test come back negative that I couldn't celebrate, as it can take up to three months for someone to show positive (full disclosure, he is a GP, and I don't think had much experience in hiv, and I also do not know how well versed he is in 4th gen testing parameters).
So as mentioned, had a 4th generation duo lab test after leaving my doctor (went to quest diagnostics) which was at just under 6 weeks, which came back negative. (I will tell you I was extremely surprised when I got called a couple days later and was informed the results were negative. I would've bet money at that point that I was going to hear 'positive', and even though I remembered being told not to celebrate, I felt so so happy and relieved. I even regained my appetite at this point, and felt better in general, started going back to the gym more regularly, etc, so I know anxiety is playing at least a part in the way I was feeling).
Then about a week later I got in the mail the script from my doctor for my follow up blood test, with instructions to go back for the follow up mid-late August.. which even though I was already aware of, just thinking about having to get tested again brought all my anxiety back.
I'm trying to really believe in those (just under) 6 week duo negative results before I go for my next test, but my anxiety has basically not allowed me to relax or accept those results being at least a strong indicator. I even called the Pennsylvania state hiv hotline a few weeks ago, and they said a 4th gen test at the point when I took it was MORE than ample time for the antigens/antibodies to form to a detectable level, that the 4th gen test is the best test available in the world, and at that by 5.5 - 6 weeks that was more than enough time for the 4th gen test to provide a correct, conclusive result. She basically told me over the phone that my test result was conclusive and my symptoms don't matter.
I felt a little more confident then, But what worried me some was at about 8.5 weeks (mid July), I got a painful sore on my gum that lasted about 2 weeks, and then at about 11 weeks (early August) I developed some small pink bumps on my left elbow, lasting maybe a week. And I'm not sure if this is anything, but for about 2 months now, the palms of my hands are consistently red with white blotches (not peeling or anything, and they turn white when I press on them), and also my fingernails have become pale (not white exactly, but a very pale shade of pink). Could these things be caused by anxiety? I have read that nails can become pale/white with hiv, but would that happen this early (less than 3 months), or is that more of a late stage thing? (Also, they haven't become brittle or cracked or anything, just pale).
I know that nobody on here can guarantee anything obviously, but I guess I'm just looking for someone to hopefully instill some confidence in me that these symptoms are being brought on by my anxiety, and that based on my negative duo test at just under 6 weeks, I should feel confident going into my 3 month test.
(which I am about a week or so away from, whenever I drive up the courage to go in--as much as I want to hear negative and breathe a sigh of relief and just move on, I don't know if I'm ready to hear the results are positive if that's the case).
I've just been engulfed in this stuff all summer, googling constantly and reading and self diagnosing and building anxiety. I was even up the mountains at a bachelor party this summer and found time to sneak away from my friends to Google hiv symptoms and test info---it's become obsessive.
I've read some posts that say a duo lab test which is negative anytime after 4 weeks is conclusive, and that is essentially what the hiv hotline advisor told me as well, some places said 6 weeks, etc, but I just have a hard time accepting that, esp with the cdc guidelines of 3 months, and with the symptoms I mentioned having.
So even with these '28 day conclusive' claims, and even though I had my test at just about 6 weeks and it was a duo blood lab test which from what I read seems to be all but conclusive, I still find myself worrying greatly about this next test at the 3 month mark, which I would accept as conclusive, but in my head, I'm already anticipating bad news. Is my negative 4th gen test at almost 6 weeks pretty much conclusive? Is it probable that a test just under 6 weeks can/will turn positive?
If anyone could offer some opinions on my whole situation to hopefully make me feel better, I would greatly appreciate it. I also apologize for the length of my post.
(Also I am I 29 year old heterosexual white male living in USA, in good shape, workout often, never have done drugs or cigarettes, rarely drink, and I have always had a strong immune system. Also, I am feeling fine physically currently, even with the symptoms I mentioned having now. Anxiety level still high though.)
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I'm still freaked out and stressed even had a sleepless night,yesterday I went for an hiv test,1st test came back positive,they ran another test that's called "1st respond to hiv" it came back negative,the nurse said we should re-do the tests again,they where done both of them again and they came back negative,I'm on separation for almost 7months now and breast feeding my partner came to visit me for a night a month ago,we had an unprotected sex,he even told me not to worry about anything,what you think I should do, Stressed and confused"
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recurrence of fever after 6 months after negative tridot test is this hiv
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My risk was unprotected vaginal sex with a female. We both had a drunken night and made a poor decision on not using protection. The next day I asked her status she said she was negative for hiv. Four days later we decided to do a rapid oraquick finger test at our local clinic. Mine and hers both came negative. We parted ways and I began with the "what if" factor. So I continued to test for hiv frequently 4 week 5,6,8,9 week negative. My question for you is since it is a oraquick finger test 2nd Gen I believe. Is it accurate at my 64 day 9 week test. Will it turn positive at 12 weeks?
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Approx 3 months ago I had brief unprotected sex with a casual sex worker when the condom broke ... 1 min tops ... 3 days later I started getting tingly & wave feelings through my body accompanied by derealization headaches , feeling hot but no temp & nausea ... And just feeling unwell in general since then I have had full std test at 6 & 12 weeks all negative ... But still suffer from ongoing body ache , nausea & headaches & tingling feet ...
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Recently i had protected vaginal sex with a csw for 2-3 minutes in Thailand, & i had shaved my pubic region just before 2 hours of having intercourse.
Though i am sure condom did not break, i am fearing that shaving super facials cuts may transmit HIV to me even though after shaving there was no visible cuts / broken skin.
After this incident, i had rapid blood HIV tests at 8, 10,weeks & 3 months (88 days) which were all negative, but still after 10 weeks i am having mild sore throat, a little white tongue & diarrhea problems for more than 10 days.
please answer my question.
1) Have you heard of any person got hiv due to shaving pubic hairs before having sex?
2) Do you consider my 88 days HIV negative test conclusive? or i have to test again?
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Risk: unprotected cunnilingus and protected vaginal sex (my oral health jacked up missing teeth and cavities )
Symptoms: flu sore throat, white dry skin, black rash on arms, lymph nodes neck groin and armpits, white tongue, oral thrush, burning sensation back stomach lips groin and face, loose stool, dark colour urine, weight loss..
Test: 6 and 8 weeks antibody and antigen.. negative results
How accurate is hiv test at 8 weeks, I'm scared results would change when I test at 12 weeks because I'm still having a lot of symptoms including lymph nodes it driving me insane
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I just want to start by saying I'm an 18 year old female and have made some mistakes. In mid July(almost 5.5 months ago) I had brief unprotected sex with someone I did not know (huge mistake). It was less than 30 seconds and he did not ejaculate inside me. I felt fine until around October where I began to get worried about having an STD. I went to the doc and they cleared me of any sti but would not do any blood work because I had tested negative 3 months ago. I tried to explain to them it had been exactly 3 months since the encounter so I wanted to be retested but they refused, even though there is a lab on site. So I went home and in November bought an oraquick oral swab test at Walgreens. At 127 day past the encounter I took the oral swab and it was negative. I was eating a little before the test so three days later I bought another at 130 days and it was also negative. After this I felt way less anxious and I was able to enjoy my thanksgiving and felt like my normal self again. About a week later I feel a swollen lymph node on the side of my neck. It's still there, and not painful. No sore throat no fever. I seem to be experiencing loose stools though. So 141 days post exposure I took another oraquick test and it was negative. This time I followed the instructions to a t. Still worried about lymph nodes took another at 147 days and it was negative as well. I just can't relax because of the swollen lymph nodes. The reason I haven't been back to the doc is because I go every 3 months for a depo shot. My next appointment will be 6 months after encounter and any blood work would be definitive. I know this is a long post, but I can't help it I feel so anxious and depressed. Is there any way these tests are not picking up the antibodies? Why swollen lymph nodes if I haven't been infected.
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I never been sexually active in my life (Never had sex before) except THESE BIGGEST SINES I EVER MADE in my life, I know I'm dumb and stupid, I'm too scared I need some conforte here please:
First time in my life I had sex (unprotected) was 8 months ago (August) with an escort girl. Second exposure was 5 months ago (December), I met a girl offered me massage she was a transsexual. she rubbed her penis on my back and anus (I think with no condom) cuz she ejaculated on my anus and back. (No penetration) Third time with the same transsexual in March with condom but also (no penetration).
I saw the ad for (Oraquick in Home Oral swab) on TV and the internet so I decide to get tested. I had tested for other stds as well Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia they were all negative. I tested for HIV (Oraquick in Home Oral swab) up to 8 months after First Exposure. I tested for HIV (Oraquick in Home Oral swab) and 5 months after Second Exposure.
I followed the instructions, and tested after 3 months exposures "ALL NEGATIVE".... I'm not gonna argue with you about my persistent symptoms (Muscle and joint aches, my both knees are red and aching my legs and some twitching and stabbing pain arms, neck and shoulder.) that's starts 5 months after the first exposure and still occurring till now they come and go. I know you don't discuss symptoms here.
1) What are my risk assessments regarding my exposures described above?
2) Do I still Need to test or get a different type of testing?
3) Are my persistent symptoms related to HIV?
4) Are my oraquick tests I took reliable and accurate???
5) Am I conclusively Negative do Not have HIV?
6) Can I MOVE ON with my life with 100% no worries?
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I'm pretty sure I have HSV 2 (herpes) but I never got a culture, never had noticeable recurrent outbreaks, and have had a negative IgG blood test so I'm a little confused and want to know others opinions.
Almost exactly 2 weeks after unprotected intercourse I got:-
-3 hard red bumps/sores in a row in my pubic hair region (about the size of a pencil eraser)
-A few days later: extremely itchy vaginal area and thick, yellowish smelly discharge which lasted a couple days
-Possible "flat" sores on labia minora area (white circular discoloration, did NOT look like typical herpes sore clusters)
-The red sores on my pubic area seemed to crust over/come off (became flat, smooth, and whitish) after about a week then went away. I never noticed any fluid in them or oozing.
I never experienced any swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, or clusters of white pimple-like sores. I have never noticed any re-current outbreaks. I have no history of HSV 1.
Two years after possible initial outbreak I finally got a blood test: HSV 1 & 2-Specific Ab, IgG; Venipuncture
HSV 1 IgG: <0.91 Negative
HSV 2 IgG: <0.91 Negative
(index: 0.00-0.90, Equivocal .91-1.09)
I know there are lots of cases of people not producing antibodies, so I'm wondering if it's worth getting a Western Blot? Do you think the only explanation for my symptoms is herpes?
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I have the symptoms of lyme except for the characteristic bull's eye rash - chronic pain, numbness/tingling, fatigue, bad memory.
The ELISA test came back negative, I am thinking of getting the Western blot test done. Can the Western blot come back with a false negative?
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i had my period last june 9 2014, then on june 27 and 28 i had a light spotting.den, i felt something's wrong with me..there's a feeling or slight symptoms of a pregnant woman..a boobs are tender to touch and painful..my body feel hot like i was having a light fever..than july 1 i take a pregnancy test and shows positive but faint line.. then, july 2 to 8 i got again spotting.. and goes away.. july 14 i took another pregnancy test shows again positive faint line.. i went to my ob july 18 just to know her what's happening on me. i had that light spotting again..and in transvaginal ultrasound shows that there was a thickening of the lining tells me that i am positive. 5 to 6 weeks, but i have a cyst considered benign.nothing to worry about she said. she gave me medicine duphaston good for 10 days, and i'm going to come back for a follow up appt. on july 28. again the spotting continues sometimes light bleeding, sometimes full on my liners. another medicine duphaston gud for 5 days she gave me because on the ultrasound she saw only thickening of the linings and the baby wasn't developing. then, this day august 1 i came back for the final appt, i took a blood test and shows negative. transvaginal ultrasound shows again the lining on my ovary.
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I know the cdc says 9-11 days for test early rna test, due to scheduling conflicts where does that leave an 8 day negative result in the grand scheme of things?
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About 2 weeks ago I had encounter with a younger woman who I am unaware of her HIV status. Being that I don't put anything past anyone, I'm totally freaked out about it. She wanted to have sex but I told her I didn't have a condom so she insisted on giving me oral instead. Immediately after that, I was having these weird stomach feelings. I'm not sure if it was from guilt or what, but now I am having aching knees. Last week I was stretching them so im not sure if I irritated my tendons or what but I am totally scared. I took an oraquick HIV test which came back negative.But my question is, what is my risk from catching hiv from this encounter? I have been killing myself with anxiety, depression, and stress from this and school (I am a nursing major). My nerves are bouncing through the rough. I have never had this type of stress from a sexual encounter, I just want to put it all behind me and live a healthy life. I have too much to look forward to in the future.
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I had 3 oraquick negative results at 3 months, 3 n half 4 months and a week past my exposure. I know the whole conclusive thing at 3 months but it's just so hard for me to believe the results when my body is acting as if something is wrong. I've had multiple symptoms at 11 weeks after the exposure and my wife had some too. They all point to one thing which makes it hard for me to believe my results. I wouldn't be worried with a negative result and no symptoms or one or two but in my case I've experienced nearly every symptom and so has my wife. I'm taking the cmia duo test for some reassurance because I swear my body is letting me something isn't right. I'm 26 and never experienced any type of sickness like this before, and I'm very healthy and everything so I don't know what's wrong! Lost for words!
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I took the OraQuick test today it has been a year since I had relations with the person in question so i know I have waited long enough for an accurate result but i made a mistake, I was so anxious before taking the test today, I forgot to wait before swabbing and I was chewing gum before I took the test.
I got a negative result but will me chewing gum a few minutes before result in a false negative?
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3 months is a very long time to wait for a test and very anxiety provoking. I understand that one can do a blood test in a shorter amount of time but I have a fear of needles (and also a fear of the oraquick test as well) but I suppose I would feel more comfortable with Oraquick than a needle being put in me.
How accurate would Oraquick be at detecting antibodies at 6 weeks? What other non-needle related tests are out there that can be performed with good accuracy at 6 weeks? Also, are urine tests just not used to screen HIV anymore? If so, why not? Are they innacurate?
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So my last cycle was in may, No cycle as of yet. But hpt came up negative twice. Yesterday I had sex, I ending up spotting. This morning was a brown discharge. I thought my cycle was going to come but it didn't. when should I take another hpt
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So my story goes, between 5-10 years ago I had a few(approximately 4) unprotected sexual encounters. I never gave it a second thought as I was young and invincible plus, I had no reason to doubt the women I was with. Recently I started getting worried that I may have contracted hiv at some point during that time; a highly unlikely and unreasonable fear, but none the less it has been causing me extreme anxiety. Last week I decided to take an oraquick at home test and the results came back negative, easing my mind at that time. I then began to wonder if I preformed the test to the exact specifications (I was worried I may have drank some water in the 30 minute window before testing). So again, I went and bought another test, was sure not to drink for an hour before and again got a negative result.
My mind was at ease until I read that these tests have an 8% chance of false negative; which is strange because its the same test administered in clinics with 99% accuracy. My question: are the causes of false negatives typically due to user error or testing before the window period is up? Do I have anything to worry about?
I am considering taking another test or perhaps going to get a rapid blood test. I know my odds of being positive are extremely low but I keep focusing on the what if. Please help and thank you!
P.s. already in the process of scheduling an appointment to figure out this irrational anxiety.
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I made a horrible mistake back in July of this year. I had very brief unprotected sex with a csw. When I say brief, 10 seconds or less. Still a risk I know. Since then anxiety has gotten the best of me. Starting at the 11th week post exposure up until 4 and a half months post exposure I have taken 5 Oraquick Home test. All negative and followed the directions. The problem is all the stuff I read on the internet. Most if it's good, but then there are a few things that scare me and make me wonder if my test were right. I know not to believe everything I read on the internet, but it still scares me. I have had no symptoms and feel great other than my anxiety is through the roof. In all honesty, can I trust the home test results and quit worrying?
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