I read that you cant just go by symptoms..what rapid kit did you buy?
I bought the one from Walgreens that's on their website. I will do the test and send it in tomorrow.
What bothers me is that my wife is showing the same symptoms. Hers aren't as severe as mine except the rash covers the soft inner forearms completely.
What really scares me is that we have a young daughter. (7months)
I would never have done what I did, but she only has sex with me about once every other month and it had been a while... the girl on the trip was beautiful and eager to be with me and I caved in. Now I shudder to think I may have killed my family. I had no idea my wife would want sex the night I got home--after a 2 month dry spell... had I only not been so foolish.
The more I read on here about thrush, the better I feel about my case of it. The Dr had me convinced that the antibiotics didn't do it. He would have ordered an HIV test, but it was a Saturday and the labs were closed--and I had another trip to go on--this time no funny business. I learned my lesson last time. :(
I know that a test result is better than symptom-based diagnosis, but the wait is killing me! I can't tell her until I know for sure. ...and I may not have a solid diagnosis for 2 more months! If it's negative every time, then the wait will have been worth it.
I just want to be around for my daughter's high school graduation in 18 years.
I did the rapid test this morning and it's on it's way out.
The bad news is that the thrush came back! This time it's worse than it was last week. Last time it was on the roof of my mouth, this time it's on the roof, sides of my tongue, back of my tongue and throat area.
Today I feel worse than I have ever...
I dread my results...
Didn't you read the paperwork. Home Access tests are not conclusive until 3 months post exposure.
I wanted to see how it came out at 4 weeks--I work for a medical company that services blood serum analyzers and I did have an exposure accident in December.
If I am showing neg I may go ahead and try to file a report because there really isn't any way to know which place I got infected if I am. My cut was minor, but I was working on an instrument that processes HIV and HEP. I think that a negative result would help ease my mind a little. Once I file a report, I will begin ELISA testing.
I would have filed before, but coworkers told me it was nothing to worry about and I am new to the field.
So you had unprotected sex with a stranger and then you had unprotected sex with your wife?
Man, you should not have done that.
Sorry to point this out, but I think is important to remind to those persons going throught a similar situation, to use condoms and/or avoid sex with their partners until their negative status is confirmed. Our partners should not pay the mistakes we do.
Said this, I really hope everything will come out OK.
I understand and agree 100%. I NEVER should have done what I did. I let the little head do the thinking and may have cost my wife and possibly my child thier lives.
All it took was one really bad decision to cost me EVERYTHING. I am sure that if she and/or the baby are infected, that she will leave me and I will lose what is most precious to me. I will live out the rest of my days alone, working for money to pay for their treatment.
I am 38 years old and I am at the happiest point in my entire life... I REALLY screwed up. I may lose it all at once--and worst of all I may be taking it all away from the two people I love the most in this world.
Suicide sure seems like a proper ending, but that's the coward's way out and I am no good to either of them that way. It's not about me anymore. I would suffer the most awful, painful death only to spare them this tragedy. Otherwise my life will be dedicated to them.
What's done is done and I cannot change that. I can only make the best of it all and if either of them are infected, see that they get the best treatment that I can provide for them until I am no longer able. I will even forego my own treatment if I can only afford theirs.
The reason I worry about my baby--soon after the "encounter" my baby jammed a finger into my nostril and cut me with a fingernail and I bled. I didn't see any blood on the finger, but it was probably still there. Where do baby's hands always go? That hand was in the mouth before I knew it--and I didn't have a clue as to my possibility of infection then.
I will forever be remorseful. Please let me be HIV negative...
I don't use to suggest this test, but since you're so anxious, an HIV PCR Test would rule out virtually any HIV infection at this point. For the protocol, however, you must to confirm it by the 3 months antibody test.
"An RNA PCR test will produce a positive test result within two to three weeks. A DNA PCR test will provide positive results within three to four weeks (sometimes sooner). As long as the recommended amount of time has elapsed before taking the test (people taking the test for personal diagnosis should ask their testing clinic if they are unsure), the test will be able to give a very accurate result. False positive results are more common than false negatives due to the PCR test's sensitivity, so all positive results must be double checked using a standard antibody test."
http://www.avert.org/hivtesting.htm#q7a
Is important to remark that PCR tests may give FALSE positive results.
Good luck with either test you choose to take.
PCR tests are not approved diagnostic tests.
PCR RNA test is an approved supplemental test used in conjunction with an antibody test.
PCR DNA tests are approved to be used for monitoring people that are HIV positive to follow progression of the virus and to monitor how HAART medications are working.
According to aidsmeds the "GenProbe's Aptima HIV-1 RNA Qualitative Assay" it's approved for diagnosis.
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/HIVtests_4716.shtml
If benzdude72 is too anxious, a good result with this test may help him to ease their anxiety. Otherwise, an antibody test at 6 weeks and 3 months would be the way to go.
Aptima HIV-1 RNA does not have an FDA approval as a stand alone test. And is not approved to give a conclusive negative result earlier than three months.
FIRST of all------
"and possibly my child thier lives. "
HOw is God's name would you have "endangered" your child at all? You cannot transmit HIV casually, through hugging, kissing, etc, or from environmental surfaces. Children from people with HIV never ever have a risk of becoming POS simply by living with them!
Secondly...thrush IS most definitely very common after antibiotics. Antibiotics are to blame for many thrush infections. Especially more potent atb's (which Zithromax is compared to the first line atbs). By NOOOO means is thrush RARE! Your doctor either misspoke, or you misunderstood.
Listen to teak about testing...he will not steer you wrong. The other tests you are considering have a significant rate of false +'s. Think how you would feel going through that....for nothing? A standard antibody test is optimal. 3 months will give you your conclusive result.
If you haven't already----get tested for other std's as well. Other stds are MUCH much easier to get...and are a much greater risk for you. Of course...no sex with your wife until you get your results!!!!!
I am not an expert at all-- but I would highly recommend going to an Infectious Disease/HIV specialist, than relying on online advise. There is so much information (and unfortunately, misinformation) on the internet regarding HIV Testing-- that you need to have a doctor evaluate your exposure, symptoms and then suggest a series of tests for you to be reasonably sure about your status.
Based on your comments above, it looks like 3 months wait will give you a conclusive result for sure, but may also a heart attack and high blood pressure etc before that!
Please don't forget to post your results--
Best wishes and good luck!
And Btw-- you also have another data point to prove your early but-not-so-accurate results. Get your wife tested as well.
If your results match on a PCR and 30 day DUO antibody test-- good chances are they are accurate.
Again, I am not arguing against the conclusiveness of the 3 month test-- but I think 3 months is too long to sit and wait and start treatment if needed. I am sure your results will be negative...but then why this anxiety for nothing?
I had an exposure almost 3 weeks ago. Finding mouth ulcers, fatigue, cold, soar throat. My doctor said most of these symptoms are anxiety related....and odds are in m favor. So don't pay attention to symptoms, like Nurse girl said....and see a doctor ASAP.
I would MUCH rather suggest someone endure the anxiety and wait to test than chance the anxiety of possibly getting a faslse positive!
Let's talk about the chances of false +ves then. Based on what I have read (mainly online- I know not the most credible resource) the accuracy of results are mainly based on the quality of the labs. And that the probability of getting a false +ve in a PCR test is 1 out of 100, and in a 28 day DUO is 1 out 4000. Plus all the false positives are verified with a confirmatory test.
Now let's be realistic-- what are the odds of someone getting a false +ve in a PCR post 10-14 days (which looks for HIV virus DNA/RNA) and then a DUO (that looks for antibodies)? (.01)(0.00025) = 0.0000025. Let's increase that probability by 10 times, to give a margin of error. This makes it 0.000025 or 99.9975% chance of accurate results. With his wife showing same results, the chances of a false +ve would be, in theory, half, so 0.0000125
In no way this is 100%-- and I do understand that statistics don't apply on individuals-- but based on these numbers, and the fact that Benzdude72 had a fairly low exposure-- I think they can accept a negative on 2 tests as reasonably conclusive.... and move on.
What do you think?
Benzdude72,
I unfortuantly am in almost the same predicatment as yourself minus the child. My Fiance has been experiecing ars symtpoms that I had a few weeks ago.
I told her about part of the indescretion (told her it was 1 min of oral, it was really 10 mins vaginal, told her I was testing for stds but didnt tell her about all my symptoms). Good news is I have 5 week and 6 week negative antibody test under my belt. The bad news is my lymph nodes in neck and arm pits have been swollen bad for 5 days now (7.5 weeks past exposure) and my fiance is still feeling ill 2 weeks now. I have an 8 week antibody scheduled this week(praying to god for a miracle). Here is my advice. Here in New york there is free testing by state and city for stds (anonymous or confidential). Im sure PA probably has those also. I went to my regular doc three times and free clinic once. I think free clinic guys see and know a lot more than average doctor because they see it more. I wish I would have went there first. Look into one of those in your area, or make the trip out to NY, they can do 30 min rapid finger ***** test and probably pooled RNA test. Here is the link, they even have Saturday hours (Ihttp://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/std/std2.shtml) .Im really convinced I have HIV and gave it to my fiance ,so I know exactly how you feel. I can barely make it through the day. I see your symtpoms started the first week after the encounter? Im not an expert but i believe with hiv you are syptomless the first 2-3 weeks if infected and then they bascially hit you all at onece. I felt fine for two weeks than on day 17 day after encounter got weird rash on gentials 24 days after felt like i got hit by a train (lasted about 10 days). I keep telling myself its in my head but fiance's health issues keep reaffirming my fears. I will add your family and you to my prayers. Im praying like 15 times a day now. Im kind of relieved Im not the only one with this type of situation. Keep me informed and ill do the same. Should have my 8 week results by thurs/ Friday and will let you know. God willing this will just have been a slap on the wrist and wake up call and not the end of my fiance and my lives. In the mean time try not to surf the net to much, it will make your mental situation much worse , trust me on this.
Guys, you are making me nervous here. I am waiting on my 14 days PCR result, due in 2 days. And was thinking I would move on if it turns out negative, God willing!
But looks like there could be more to come. I agree with Micky12 that reading online about HIV is not very healthy. I have been doing that constantly for 2 weeks now. Had to take days off from work as they wanted me to go to Moscow again, where my "exposure" happened (I am never going there again, unless the terrorists hijack the plane and insist on going there- even then I might resist!)
Starting day 14, I developed soar throat (first time in years), mouth ulcers, swollen neck lymph nodes, all in 2-3 days. I sleep 10-12 hrs a day and wake up tired.
But I have found numerous people showing exactly ARS symptoms, who test negative eventually. So this is kind of relieving that test results over weigh symptoms. Checkout this case here:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/427421
Probably very similar to ours....
I am getting married in less than 4 weeks-- so can't really wait for conclusive tests, I will do every possible test..do my due diligence and leave the rest up to God and my fate. My fiance hasn't showed any symptoms yet...but its been only 17 days today.
Please post your test results-- this will help me assess my status too. I will do the same for mine. Good luck!
You have no education in HIV and or testing and have no business advising anyone about testing.
benzdude you get you're results yet?
My 4 week rapid result was negative. I field a report this morning on the incident in the lab in December.
...and the reason I fear for my child is that she managed to cut my inner nostril with a fingernail and then her hand went to her mouth instantly. This was before I had a clue I might be infected.
All I can do now is wait for my testing via my job and hope 3 months passes quickly.
Benzdude72,
You said your doc gave you antibiotic, but did he actually test for other STDs? You need to wait about 6 weeks for a reliable syhpillis test.
Hi there,
My situation is VERY different from yours, but it is the uncertainty of not knowing which allows me to empathize with you (and others in similar situations). My husband had an HIV/SyphiIis test recently and we just got the results back today, thank the Lord above (and I am not even religious, but think I will become more, no joke here...) both the HIV and syphilis came back negative. I am relieved for him 100% and am 50% relieved for myself. We have been together for 2.5 years (married for 2), and have been 100% monogomous during our marriage. I did have some indiscretions during the beginning of our relationship when we were just "dating" and I did have unprotected sex with a few men, including my now hisband. During this time, I caught a treatable STD, got tested for everything except HIV (probably out of fear that I thought I had it and didn't want to know, like many people)...anyhow, thankfully and somehow, no clue did not transmit the std to my husband and we were stupidly sexuallly active having unprotected sex during this time that I had the exposed std!
I am now in a position where of course we are 100% monogamous, he is negative and I am assuming/hoping/praying that I am as well- this is why I said I am 50% relieved for myself. My husband and I have sex QUITE often and regularly, always unprotected might I add. I know I should just go out and get a test, and I will, I will...
I only say all this in your strand of comments to let you know there are people out there who know how hard and stressful this time can be, the waiting and not knowing and thinking you may have "destroyed" someone else's life or maybe will not be able to have children one day....
I will be saying a prayer for you tonight while I say my own prayers! And as I said I am not a religious person but have just recently started to pray every evening as it does help with the guilt and stress.
People are here to listen and help benzdude72. Please if anyone has any words of wisdom or advice for me I graciously await....
Wishing you ALL the best in health,
Kylie