Am I infected?

[ali2580]

On the 6th of February I had sex with a sex worker of unknown hiv status in Lahore, Pakistan, this was the first time I had sex with a person that wasn't my wife and I've been regretting it ever since. Her vagina was very dry so I kept fingering her inside the vagina and the clitoris too but after a while I stupidly used saliva from my mouth to use as lube. Weirdly enough after a while she stopped me and told to use oil instead. But by then I had used the same wet hands to put on the condom.. Now I keep thinking what if she was menstruating, I couldn't possibly see anything because it was pretty dark inside the massage parlor room.

For the first week I didn't think much about it but then it suddenly dawned on me 'what if' she was hiv positive and my attempts at making her wet had exposed my gums which bleed when I brush to the virus .. The week after that was full of agony, depression beyond measure.

13 days post exposure I took a quantitative PCR RNA HIV test which came back Negative.

I was joyous for few days but then my wife developed a heavy sore throat/flu and I immediately thought of a connection since we had slept together after the exposure.

The depression came back strong coupled with diarrhoea, chest pains and rare night sweats. It was hard for me to tell if was related to ARS or only because of stress.

On the 10th of March I took a
HIV Antigen/Antibody I&II blood  test, the results came back Negative the following day.

I was thrilled but the joy was short lived since my wife complained of a burning sensation in her chest area and back/ just below the neck but above the middle. This continued for 2/3 days.

For the last 2 days I've developed a severe loss of appetite and night sweats plus today I felt really sick/lethargic the whole day I couldn't even sit on the chair for a long time. Around a week ago something weird happened to my left hand while driving, I felt a severe burning sensation that went on and off and there is a small dot of discolored skin though now the burning sensation is rare.

Now I'm wondering if all this is the real ARS...

All and any hope I have had is from reading archives of Dr Hunter and Dr Hook. In Pakistan hiv is a huge taboo and unlike the developed world where you can openly talk with counselors I only have this forum as my only solace...

Do you think my wife and I could be infected, am I doomed, should I go for further tests?

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hello   You've tested conclusively negative for HIV.  HIV is never diagnosed with symptoms but detected in blood.  You have tested negative.  If you are concerned about your symptoms, please talk to your doctor.  However, issues with appetite are quite common with anxiety so perhaps anxiety would be a good starting point to work on with your doctor. We wish you the best and are now closing this thread.
***  thread closed.***

[ali2580]

The only thing worrying me now is the extreme loss of appetite I'm feeling right now. I can literally feel my stomach growling for food but I've absolutely zero desire to eat anything :(

[ali2580]

Thanks Nik.

In the morning I was euphoric but then I started questioning the authenticity of the lab and whether I should get tested from a better lab or if I need to wait for 3 months for a final confirmation...

I keep falling into this abyss of what ifs. My body which feels tired and sick at the moment is also a contributor. I don't know when will this end :(

[NikLobat]

Listen. I understand those feelings completely. The only thing you need is to talk to someone you trust. He or she will help you point out your silliness (please don't get me wrong. Fears make us silly sometimes). Any kind of 4th gen testing is very very sensitive. None of the labs will make you feel calm. You will always find youself asking what if... Talk to your best friend you will feel a huge relief, you may also cry (It helps trust me) and there's nothing wrong about it. Don't blame yourself cause we all make mistakes and mistakes make us who we are.

[ali2580]

Alright, yesterday 6 weeks and 2 days after exposure I did few more blood tests including an Hiv Antigen/ Antibody and a Hep B test.

Both came Negative.  This makes it my third including the first pcr rna at 13 days, duo at 33 days and now this one.


Is it suffice to say that I'm categorically negative ??? And the night sweats, body fatigue/weakness, burning sensation on my left hand, general feeling of not being well are not linked to  any possible hiv antibodies developing inside the body?

All my symptoms are reminiscent of viral infections I've had in the past, as a result I was very worried that in fact these symptoms I'm experiencing now might be linked to the hiv virus.....

[NikLobat]

I'm really hapoy to hear about your test results. You are safe! Night sweats and fatigue is caused by anxiety I know because I've been there. As soon as I got my HIV negative results all of the symptoms just faded away. I can't really answer about burning sensation in the hand. It sounds like local trauma. If antibodies wheren't present in your organism antigen would ne detected by your 4th gen test. You are good to go and be happy with your life. You didn't have a chance of contracting HIV in the first place. I would suggest to go to your family doctor and tell about hand burning sensation just to put your mind to rest.
Best regards
- nik

[NikLobat]

Hello there. First of all I want to congretulate you on negative hiv result. From exposure you described you have nothing to fear. HIV dies almost instantly when exposed to air or saliva. Also after brushing teeth gum may bleed for a minute or so. 4 weeks 4th gen test is considered conclusive. Symptoms you describe are irrelevant so please stop worrying about them, it's just anxiety and over thinking. I've been there myself. The problem is your feeling of guilt which is normal. Please try jogging or playing some video games your anxiety will eventually go away
Best regards
- nik

[ali2580]

Thank you Nik, I really hope u r right but my mind keeps on going crazy. I feel so emotional and helpless. This recent onset of symptoms has me on the fritz. Too much reading has also made me paranoid like I remember reading that the rare hiv 2 does not produce the Antigen these duo tests look for and maybe if I test again they will find the antibodies this time.

I don't know when this vicious cycle will ever stop and then there is the thought of being infected, the thought of never having kids, destroying my wife's life and so on..

Nevertheless, thank you Nik, your words bring comfort in a terrible time.