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hiv negative at 6 weeks with symptoms
Hi everyone and doctors,
I have read and reread a lot of the Q&As, threads and blogs on this site with regards to hiv and I wanted to take the time to ask my own specific question to my own specific situation as I am extremely anxious, scared and seem 55% sure that I have hiv.
In advance of this question, I'd like to say thank you for providing a virtual space for those that are worried about medical issues and the resources (i.e., doctors) to provide their advice & opinions.
So, back in mid-late April, I had an hetrosexual encounter with a white, 50 year old women of unknown status (I'm 28 year old male btw) in the UK. We had brief unprotected sex which lasted less than a minute as I thought it was unwise and she masturbated and performed oral sex on me to 'finish me off'. After ejaculation, I noticed a slight abrasion (friction) mark on my penis shaft (though no blood and it seemed to be nothing more than a little raised blood cells), however, I can't remember correctly if that abrasion occurred durng our brief intercourse or the oral sex/hand job.
Fast forward 3 weeks later and I start to lose my appetite (though I thought it was because of my laziness). Night sweats did occur during the evening once or twice though I thought it was due to the thickness of my duvet and the oncoming of summer. Fast forward a further 1-2 weeks and I notice that I had what appeared to resemble ringworm (I've had it before as a teenager) on my rib cage, neck/collar, thighs, pelvis, forearm, armpits, and legs. I went to the gp that prescribed hydrocortisone cream which I've been applying once a day for 2-3 weeks and though it is slightly fading they haven't really disappeared. Additionally, I have been having mild light-headedness a couple of times combined with headache type pain behind my ears (close to the lower neck) & groin, muscle & joint aches/pains, an instatiable dry mouth for a week, as well as small under-the-skin blotchy rashes on my fingers and parts of my palms that won't go away and small dark lesions on the lip and tongue (that come and go quite quickly). Admittedly, I haven't been eating well at all due to anxiety and/or loss of appetite for several weeks in which I have lost around 3-4kg in about 6 weeks.
Because of this exposure and my online diagnosis (and anxiety), I correlated this to hiv.
So, at the 6-7 week point I decided to do an ag/ab test in the UK with a company called sh24 (which seem to provide a 4th(5th?) duo test home testing kit (which looks for hiv 1&2)). The results came back negative for hiv, chlymidia, gonnerahea and syphilis. I'd like to add that I will repeat a test at the 12 week mark to conclude. At the 9th week atm and I'm so scared it's unbelievable. Never again.
Fyi, I've had no real noticeable fever, soar throat or flu yet.
Now that I've said my situation, it's best to ask my questions, if I may.
1) Do you think this test rules out hiv as the problem?
2) Is the duo test good at spotting hiv at the 6-7 week point? The Dr assured me it was 98% accurate at that time.
3) Would the lack of eating suppress my immune system so as not to be able to detect the antibodies? Are they even detectable at this point?
4) Would you consider my situation high risk?
5) Does a 'fungal' infection occur that early in hiv? And, would it last this long (6-7weeks)?
6) I know it could still be syphilis, but at least that's treatable!
I've recently started smoking cigarettes because of the stress and anxiety (10/day!) for about 3 weeks now. I feel like I'm wasting away, mentally and physically and I'm almost at breaking point, if I get a positive result at the 3 month mark, I'll be completely devastated and broken. I've never prayed so much nor hoped so much to have syphilis!!
Thank you in advance, any support, advice, etc. is welcome and appreciated.
Best,
I have read and reread a lot of the Q&As, threads and blogs on this site with regards to hiv and I wanted to take the time to ask my own specific question to my own specific situation as I am extremely anxious, scared and seem 55% sure that I have hiv.
In advance of this question, I'd like to say thank you for providing a virtual space for those that are worried about medical issues and the resources (i.e., doctors) to provide their advice & opinions.
So, back in mid-late April, I had an hetrosexual encounter with a white, 50 year old women of unknown status (I'm 28 year old male btw) in the UK. We had brief unprotected sex which lasted less than a minute as I thought it was unwise and she masturbated and performed oral sex on me to 'finish me off'. After ejaculation, I noticed a slight abrasion (friction) mark on my penis shaft (though no blood and it seemed to be nothing more than a little raised blood cells), however, I can't remember correctly if that abrasion occurred durng our brief intercourse or the oral sex/hand job.
Fast forward 3 weeks later and I start to lose my appetite (though I thought it was because of my laziness). Night sweats did occur during the evening once or twice though I thought it was due to the thickness of my duvet and the oncoming of summer. Fast forward a further 1-2 weeks and I notice that I had what appeared to resemble ringworm (I've had it before as a teenager) on my rib cage, neck/collar, thighs, pelvis, forearm, armpits, and legs. I went to the gp that prescribed hydrocortisone cream which I've been applying once a day for 2-3 weeks and though it is slightly fading they haven't really disappeared. Additionally, I have been having mild light-headedness a couple of times combined with headache type pain behind my ears (close to the lower neck) & groin, muscle & joint aches/pains, an instatiable dry mouth for a week, as well as small under-the-skin blotchy rashes on my fingers and parts of my palms that won't go away and small dark lesions on the lip and tongue (that come and go quite quickly). Admittedly, I haven't been eating well at all due to anxiety and/or loss of appetite for several weeks in which I have lost around 3-4kg in about 6 weeks.
Because of this exposure and my online diagnosis (and anxiety), I correlated this to hiv.
So, at the 6-7 week point I decided to do an ag/ab test in the UK with a company called sh24 (which seem to provide a 4th(5th?) duo test home testing kit (which looks for hiv 1&2)). The results came back negative for hiv, chlymidia, gonnerahea and syphilis. I'd like to add that I will repeat a test at the 12 week mark to conclude. At the 9th week atm and I'm so scared it's unbelievable. Never again.
Fyi, I've had no real noticeable fever, soar throat or flu yet.
Now that I've said my situation, it's best to ask my questions, if I may.
1) Do you think this test rules out hiv as the problem?
2) Is the duo test good at spotting hiv at the 6-7 week point? The Dr assured me it was 98% accurate at that time.
3) Would the lack of eating suppress my immune system so as not to be able to detect the antibodies? Are they even detectable at this point?
4) Would you consider my situation high risk?
5) Does a 'fungal' infection occur that early in hiv? And, would it last this long (6-7weeks)?
6) I know it could still be syphilis, but at least that's treatable!
I've recently started smoking cigarettes because of the stress and anxiety (10/day!) for about 3 weeks now. I feel like I'm wasting away, mentally and physically and I'm almost at breaking point, if I get a positive result at the 3 month mark, I'll be completely devastated and broken. I've never prayed so much nor hoped so much to have syphilis!!
Thank you in advance, any support, advice, etc. is welcome and appreciated.
Best,
We hope that you are able to speak to your doctor about anxiety and at that time can speak to them about the rest of your symptoms. You have tested conclusively negative. Your concerns are not HIV related.
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Definitely work on your anxiety and ocd. The 55% sure you have HIV is a bit melodramatic if I'm being honest. It is very apparent from the way you write that you suffer anxiety disorder.
All of the information about symptoms is not necessary as HIV is never diagnosed by symptoms. Testing is the only way HIV is diagnosed. You've tested negative.
HIV is hard to acquire. Much more difficult than people seem to think. An unprotected vaginal sex exposure is a risk but low when it is one time like you describe. Less than 2 percent. Your symptoms are those that are very common.
You do not need to test again if you had a duo test from day 28 or beyond and it was negative. And you will be a much more peaceful and happier person if you receive some help for the anxiety. Hope you do that.
All of the information about symptoms is not necessary as HIV is never diagnosed by symptoms. Testing is the only way HIV is diagnosed. You've tested negative.
HIV is hard to acquire. Much more difficult than people seem to think. An unprotected vaginal sex exposure is a risk but low when it is one time like you describe. Less than 2 percent. Your symptoms are those that are very common.
You do not need to test again if you had a duo test from day 28 or beyond and it was negative. And you will be a much more peaceful and happier person if you receive some help for the anxiety. Hope you do that.
10 Comments
Thank you taking the time to answer and for you response. I appreciate your advice and am trying to get mental health help, which is a bit of a drawn out process, but I'm gradually getting there. Many thanks & kind regards.
If I may, would this be considered a duo test by your standards (located in the hiv section of the organisations FAQ)? https://sh24.org.uk/faqs
"at the 6-7 week point I decided to do an ag/ab test" Duo means 2 and what you did tested 2 so it was a duo. Testing is complete.
Maybe you can find a book about dealing with anxiety while you wait for the mental health help.
The positive is that your issue is straightforward (just need to adopt a science based view and accept that the scientists who developed the test say you are safe) , so with the right change in attitude it is possible that you can cure yourself immediately - although each person is different and some people just can`t stop worrying over nothing and suffer forever.
Maybe you can find a book about dealing with anxiety while you wait for the mental health help.
The positive is that your issue is straightforward (just need to adopt a science based view and accept that the scientists who developed the test say you are safe) , so with the right change in attitude it is possible that you can cure yourself immediately - although each person is different and some people just can`t stop worrying over nothing and suffer forever.
Yes, that is a duo test. I hope you are able to conquer your anxiety. You don't have HIV.
Thank you both for your responses, much appreciated. I've noticed that I've got quite a folliculitis spots on my shoulder blades and rib cage, would you consider this to be further reason to test at the 12-week mark?? Also, would a duo test be conclusive at the 12 week mark?
I hope you are able to conquer your anxiety. You don't have HIV.
Maybe you can find a book about dealing with anxiety while you wait for the mental health help.
Maybe you can find a book about dealing with anxiety while you wait for the mental health help.
I appreciate your prompt response, but do you think my 6/7 week duo test was really definitive? Everywhere I read, 3 months/12 weeks is conclusive... It just seems that the symptoms all stack up to me having hiv... I'm so scared, man - I'm going crazy researching about it, hours a day...
Your idea makes no sense. You got a sore throat because someone coughed on you. Same with the other "ARS" or e;se see a doc to find if they even exist or are just your imagination.
This is an hiv forum, not a place for symptom analysis of people who don't have hiv. Diagnosis is a doc's job - not your job without any medical training and just jumping to wrong conclusions - which is why you are just wasting your time coming up with theories about a disease you don't have.
This is an hiv forum, not a place for symptom analysis of people who don't have hiv. Diagnosis is a doc's job - not your job without any medical training and just jumping to wrong conclusions - which is why you are just wasting your time coming up with theories about a disease you don't have.
First step to peace is to admit that you have no medical training, unscientific ideas and therefore have zero chance of diagnosing. Then quit googling for death cold turkey and stop examining your body cold turkey.
Then forget that you had a sexual encounter, because it is a non-event.
Then forget that you had a sexual encounter, because it is a non-event.
I just can't get past it. I'm so scared. I keep getting different skin issues. I picked a spot on ny face and it swelled up and is infected, hiv+ are more prone to skin issues and it seems that I am + because of all the skin conditions I've had. I can barely eat, I've lost another 1-2 kg over the past week or so... Rashy & blotchy palms and soles of the feet. Why did i have to get this... I need these 2 weeks to come and go so I can at least get treatment... Why me?! It was just the one time for like a 1-2 minutes... how could I be so stupid!!
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