Aa
Dr Handsfield expertise needed
Have read through the forums for a few days now, decided to post. Had unprotected sex with a female friend of a friend 2 times, the last time being 8 weeks before testing. Was HIV negative. Felt good until I read about the three month window period online. I have seen what you guys have said about why 8 weeks is normally sufficient, but I wanted to ease my mind from your expert opinion.Found out I had chlamydia which got me worried all over again. Not sure how long I have had it, informed previous partners. Probably 4 weeks after sex came down with a bad whooping cough which hurt my chest some, eventually subsided. Had a sore throat one night, lasted maybe a day or two max. No fever, rash, lymph nodes etc. After the cough which lasted 3-4 weeks as I never got it treated, I've been clearing my throat a lot, experiencing nasal congestion, semi dry mouth, slight chest pain, slight itch in throat still occasionally. Have had a white tongue for years I believe, never really paid a lot of attention to it till now- looks more like geographic tongue than oral thrush though however from what I have seen. Originally began to worry when I heard from a friend she has done drugs in the past (not sure what, and probably not IV drugs, but unsure)
Questions are:
1)How often does an 8 week negative later turn positive? Would everyone or almost everyone be positive at this time?
2)Would an HIV fever normally be noticeable?
3)Skimmed forums, saw when you stated Dr. HHH- "Antibody tests are always positive within 1-2 weeks after onset of symptoms , no exceptions to these generalizations" Therefore if anything I experienced was HIV related wouldn't a test be positive at 8 weeks?
4)Is there a strong correlation between symptoms and timeframe of a positive antibody test?
5)I do not think I have oral thrush, but is this common during ARS? The white tongue threw me off when I read about it online even though it doesn't look a whole lot like thrush overall.
Questions are:
1)How often does an 8 week negative later turn positive? Would everyone or almost everyone be positive at this time?
2)Would an HIV fever normally be noticeable?
3)Skimmed forums, saw when you stated Dr. HHH- "Antibody tests are always positive within 1-2 weeks after onset of symptoms , no exceptions to these generalizations" Therefore if anything I experienced was HIV related wouldn't a test be positive at 8 weeks?
4)Is there a strong correlation between symptoms and timeframe of a positive antibody test?
5)I do not think I have oral thrush, but is this common during ARS? The white tongue threw me off when I read about it online even though it doesn't look a whole lot like thrush overall.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sigh. And just what did you think I meant by my last reply? We don't expect much of questioners, but we do expect them to read our replies and not re-ask questions that have been answered. My original response said "If HIV tests are negative (and long enough after exposure), then symptoms and exposure history become meaningless. Your test results prove that your symptoms are not due to HIV. Period, full stop, no exceptions."
sorry to reiterate doctor, but this is a valid concern of mine- i have been itching a lot the past few days , mainly around the butt and groin area which seems to be somewhat red and have read it could be a yeast problem, which worries me slightly. You do not feel I need to be worried? I have read people with HIV are more susceptable to yeast related problems.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There is no difference in test reliability at 53 versus 56 days. Delayed antibody test results are an urban myth. Move on.
When users keep asking anxiety driven questions with obvious answers, like this one plus the two in the past 24 hours that I deleted without reply, the next step is to delete the entire thread without further comment. Especially after the user promised no further questions!
When users keep asking anxiety driven questions with obvious answers, like this one plus the two in the past 24 hours that I deleted without reply, the next step is to delete the entire thread without further comment. Especially after the user promised no further questions!
2 final points doctor (not anxiety driven, just curious) - i have read that seroconversion symptoms are not due to the virus itself - it's a reaction to chemicals that the body creates during the process of creating antibodies. Is there any way a healthy male would have delayed results on a test if my symptoms were indeed hiv related? (beyond the 1-2 weeks you state)
and 2) my test was 53 days, 3 days short of 8 weeks
please don't delete this post doctor.
and 2) my test was 53 days, 3 days short of 8 weeks
please don't delete this post doctor.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The answer is obvious. Yes. Move on. I'm holding you to your promise -- continued anxiety driven questions that have obvious answers result in deletion of the entire thread.
one final yes no question and i will not post again- so from your clinical knowledge and everything you have seen and read i do not need to test again at 12/13 weeks and i can rely on my 8 week result as 100% accurate?
thanks, sorry to worry but your answers have helped a lot
thanks, sorry to worry but your answers have helped a lot
thanks doctor, i will put this behind me and move on with my life. just wanted to make sure 8 week tests were reliable and if there was a big difference between them and a 12 week but i feel confident in my result and you truly helped.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The following threads go into detail about seroconversion window and the reasons why official advice remains 3 months for the HIV antibody tests despite reliable results by 8 weeks. Read the entire thread, including follow-up comments.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Confused-over-testing/show/719310
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Confused-over-testing/show/719310
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
will add one point explaining partly why I was so nervous- I googled (never a good idea I know) my symptoms and came up with esphogeal candida which is specifically hiv related- however I guess that is not really a concern of mine.. Thanks again.
thank you doctor i was just basically concerned whether or not i needed to actually test to 12/13 weeks or not because it took a lot of courage to go the first time and i would like to be able to put it behind me and move on with my life.
so just a couple final points and the thread can be ended.
1) I have seen advice on other sites stating 6-8 weeks is encouraging, but not definitive or conclusive, however you feel i can be fully confident in my 8 week result, because it rarely if ever changes in a healthy individual by 12/13 weeks? I want to be responsible and be able to start a family in the future without worry.
That is basically my only question because I was worried about the timing of my symptoms and the severity of the cough, whiteish tongue and dry mouth, and minor chest discomfort when I heard she may have been fairly promiscuous (I won't judge I clearly have made mistakes myself) and a possible drug user.
Thanks for your time Dr. Handsfield and prompt reply, its an excellent service you provide and the doctor I was tested with recommended returning at 3 and possibly even 6 months, however she must be slightly behind the times? Thanks again.
so just a couple final points and the thread can be ended.
1) I have seen advice on other sites stating 6-8 weeks is encouraging, but not definitive or conclusive, however you feel i can be fully confident in my 8 week result, because it rarely if ever changes in a healthy individual by 12/13 weeks? I want to be responsible and be able to start a family in the future without worry.
That is basically my only question because I was worried about the timing of my symptoms and the severity of the cough, whiteish tongue and dry mouth, and minor chest discomfort when I heard she may have been fairly promiscuous (I won't judge I clearly have made mistakes myself) and a possible drug user.
Thanks for your time Dr. Handsfield and prompt reply, its an excellent service you provide and the doctor I was tested with recommended returning at 3 and possibly even 6 months, however she must be slightly behind the times? Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for reviewing other questions similar to yours. The replies, however, are the same as they always are. One of the strongest continuing themes on this forum is that symptoms and exposure history are always secondary to test results. If HIV tests are negative (and long enough after exposure), then symptoms and exposure history become meaningless. Your test results prove that your symptoms are not due to HIV. Period, full stop, no exceptions. (And in any case, your symptoms are not suggestive of HIV.) To your specific questions:
1) I have never heard of a negative antibody test at 8 weeks later turning positive.
2) Fever with acute HIV usually is quite noticeable.
3) Yes, you correctly interpreted those other responses.
4) I don't understand this question. I think the answer is yes.
5) No, oral thrush (yeast infections) are not common during acute HIV. They are quite common in long-established HIV infection, i.e. overt AIDS. In any case, thrush and white tongue are not the same thing -- and I doubt you have thrush.
If your coated tongue or other symptoms continue, and/or you remain concerned about them, see a doctor or clinic for diagnosis and possible treatment. But don't worry about HIV. Your negative test results prove you don't have it.
I hope this helps calm your fears. Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) I have never heard of a negative antibody test at 8 weeks later turning positive.
2) Fever with acute HIV usually is quite noticeable.
3) Yes, you correctly interpreted those other responses.
4) I don't understand this question. I think the answer is yes.
5) No, oral thrush (yeast infections) are not common during acute HIV. They are quite common in long-established HIV infection, i.e. overt AIDS. In any case, thrush and white tongue are not the same thing -- and I doubt you have thrush.
If your coated tongue or other symptoms continue, and/or you remain concerned about them, see a doctor or clinic for diagnosis and possible treatment. But don't worry about HIV. Your negative test results prove you don't have it.
I hope this helps calm your fears. Good luck-- HHH, MD
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