Aa
Going mad thinking I'm seroconverting
10 days ago I penetrated an HIV undetectable guy (he said he's been undetectable for a few years now) without protection. I considered getting PEP at the time, and even took a pill of left over truvada I had in order to give me an early as possible start. However I then found out that in the UK they don't give PEP for exposures with undetectable people, and I reminded myself that the PARTNER study and various others show that the risk of an undetectable person passing it on is either impossible or infinitesimally small as there have been zero transmissions. So I aborted any plans to continue self medicating or to seek a prescription.
However 6 days after exposure I started feeling lethargic and by the 8th day I felt bad nausea in the evening and flushed as well. I had a very restless night that night. But today I feel a bit better but still very fatigued and weak and don't feel like doing anything. I'm convinced this must be seroconversion/ARS as I doubt it could be a normal bug and the weather has been so good where I am and I have been at home in the couple days leading up to this, I just feel it would be a huge coincidence that I got a bug in the same time frame of this exposure. My throat also has been a bit sore on and off when swallowing but it has been like this for a few days prior to even having the encounter, so I am sure that is unrelated.
I've done a load of research online and it says with 4th generation tests, they can detect the p24 antigen after 2-3 weeks of exposure, so following the 3rd week I am going to try to find a rapid test that is 4th generation so I can find out my status immediately, as I am too anxious to have to wait for weeks to be tested, and then have to wait even longer for my results to be processed and fed back to me.
However 6 days after exposure I started feeling lethargic and by the 8th day I felt bad nausea in the evening and flushed as well. I had a very restless night that night. But today I feel a bit better but still very fatigued and weak and don't feel like doing anything. I'm convinced this must be seroconversion/ARS as I doubt it could be a normal bug and the weather has been so good where I am and I have been at home in the couple days leading up to this, I just feel it would be a huge coincidence that I got a bug in the same time frame of this exposure. My throat also has been a bit sore on and off when swallowing but it has been like this for a few days prior to even having the encounter, so I am sure that is unrelated.
I've done a load of research online and it says with 4th generation tests, they can detect the p24 antigen after 2-3 weeks of exposure, so following the 3rd week I am going to try to find a rapid test that is 4th generation so I can find out my status immediately, as I am too anxious to have to wait for weeks to be tested, and then have to wait even longer for my results to be processed and fed back to me.
Do you have an actual question?
3 Comments
Yes, how long after seroconversion symptoms should I be able to test positive on a test for p24 as well as antibodies?
Some people don't experience symptoms at all. Thus relying on symptoms to test or to diagnose is useless. Some experts would say a 4th week Duo would be conclusive. I would prefer to go for the CDC guidelines. A 6th week ag/ab test will give you an excellent indication followed by a 12th week ab to conclude.
But I want to make sure these symptoms are not seroconversion related.
If they are due to seroconversion, when would I in theory test positive?
If they are due to seroconversion, when would I in theory test positive?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
