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Avatar universal

Scared to death...whether the symptom could be possibly right?

hi, I'm a 23 year old perfectly healthy guy from UK. I was a virgin till last month just to stay for a good girl but last month I hooked up with a girl I met in Mexico, who is now my gf. I want to be honest to explain clearly because Im scared to death now. I had my first intercourse without a condom as I was really excited that moment, just didnt have a condom and just because my gf said It feels excellent and different without a condom. Later for a few weeks I slept with her many times, sometimes without condom and sometimes with because I never thought about this scary thing, all I thought is that she is a good girl and I love her. My gf is 21 years old and she was not a virgin. She had 2 bf's earlier I believe and she had her first relationship for 3 years and second for 9 months. And since a year she was single. Now later I returned to UK and after 4 weeks exactly I had a severe throat for 2 days. I took 2 antibiotic tablets and I was all fine and this is my 6th week. Since I was young I used to have swollen throats problems with citric juices or drinking regularly cold water and this time with citric juices I had the same problem. And part from sore throat I noticed nothing. Now I don't know what I was all normal, all of a sudden I read a blog post about relationships, from where I landed to know about HIV and now to whether Im +ve or -ve. I dont know what to do. Im scared to death. I cant discuss this with anybody neither I can sleep silently. I dont know what to do coz I dont know if my gf is +ve or not. All I know is that she is not promiscous and a very nice girl . Now that I read this scary blog, it made me think that, what if her ex-bfs where affected and she doesnt know about it????
Please tell me if that 2 days sore throat could be possible because I never noticed any other symptom ? Or Im just stupid. Im scared to death. Please reply somebody as soon as possible.
22 Responses
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186166 tn?1385259382
you have already been told that a test at 8 weeks is unlikely to change.  there is no way we can put a number on that.
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Avatar universal
I'm waiting for 3 more weeks for a conclusive 3 months result from last exposure. But I'm still very worried and scared even after the 8th week -ve result. What are the chances of an 8th week -ve result turning into +ve at 12 weeks?

Waiting for any replies.
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Avatar universal
Now that I'm done with the 8 weeks -ve test. It should be reassuring as you said me earlier, isn't it?

Waiting for your reply.
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Avatar universal
Hi..I went for another test and got the result as -ve. So now considering from last exposure, it is around 8 weeks. So I can relax now? However I will be going for a 3 months conclusive test.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
"and as lizzie says.. it wont change at 12 weeks"

That is not what lizzie said....."is not going to change", and "is unlikely to change" are two different things.  Please quit giving out false info on this forum.  You are NOT educated enough (really, not educated at ALL) to be giving anxious people advice.

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Avatar universal
Thank you. Then I will try to get another test at some other centre in another city this week itself, as that would be around 8 weeks.
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186166 tn?1385259382
your test was 3 weeks post your last exposure..."useless"

a test 6-8 weeks will give you a good indication and is unlikely to change.
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Avatar universal
Yea, I will going for a 3 months conclusive test but what I wanted to know is...can I consider the earlier test from initial exposures for some peace of mind, so that I can relax at the moment, as I still have one more month to go from last exposure.
Helpful - 0
186166 tn?1385259382
test 3 months from your LAST unprotected intercourse for a conclusive result.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi..I went for the test on March 31st...with a complete STD panel...and all came -ve but I was called on friday saying that my Chlamydia came +ve and I didn't understand. They gave me a dose for that and said after this dose I don't even need a retest for anything including Chlamydia. Anyways I found on the forums and other sites, saying that Chlamydia is very common. But the health advisor said, that my 3 months test is still necessary for a conclusive -ve for HIV.

But I asked her if I can go for 1 more test now and she said 'No', only after 3 months that she will let me take that. All she said is this result says to be optimistic and she can't say anything unless after 3 months.

But now that everything is fine, and my first result for HIV came -ve. But I didn't count the days properly. My first unprotected intercourse was on valentines day (14th Feb) and later I had several times throughout Feb and the last I had unprotected intercourse was again on 9th March. Now considering all these, and that I didn't have just 1 contact starting from mid Feb. So which date can be considered roughly for 6 weeks? I took tests on 31st March and it came as -ve. From Feb 14th it comes 6+ weeks and from March 9th it comes as 3+ weeks.

Please give me suggestions on this, I'm really worried and don't know what to do. What could be my chances now from that test and the dates? Can't even that long though. I just want to make sure that I'm safe. :-(
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
It would depend what tests were included with her urine test.  Some STD's require a blood test.  She could easily request the results from the clinic she had the tests done.

An STD panel would just be a series of tests, testing for all of the common STD's.  

Your blood work last year would only rule out an HIV infection IF you specifically asked for an HIV test...or if the doctor ordering the test told you he was going to order it for you.  Most places require a written consent to test for HIV and involves counselling.  You would know if you were tested for HIV.  Standard blood work (complete blood count, metabolic panel, etc) will NOT test for HIV or give any indication of a person's HIV status.

IF your test last year was for HIV, that covers your baseline status.  Since the unprotected sex occured after that, then, yes, you would need to re-test to cover those potential "exposures".  An HIV test to rule out infection from a specific exposure should be done at 3 months post the incident for a conclusive result.  

Keep in mind that the docs in the expert forum (and myself, professionally) have never seen a negative HIV test become POS after 6 weeks.  That is pretty reassuring in my opinion.  That doesn't mean that the 3 month test isn't necessary, it just means you can start to relax a bit after a 6 week neg result.

I'm sure you will be just fine...just in the future, even if you have "feelings" for your partner...insist on condom use EVERY time unless you and your partner have tested TOGETHER and you are SURE of the results.  Go today and have a test done...that will help to ease your mind quite a bit.  In the off chance that you DID become infected...it would be VERY likely that your test would show it by now.
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Avatar universal
thanks for the reply, and about the urine test she had was about STI infections. She had these tests recently it seems. So are STI tests still not enough that she doesn't have any infections?  About my earlier status I had donated blood last year in October and also had a preliminary tests before that and later I also had a complete blood picture taken. So I knew my status last year but now do I need to go for some other tests also?

And about the STD panel you said, can you please explain a bit more about it?
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
HIV tests have to be specifically requested, they are not included in a labwork panel that would be part of a wellness checkup.

A test at this point (6+ weeks post the last incident of unprotected sex) will be very reassuring.  Follow that up with a test at 3 months post exposure for a conclusive result.

After you receive your conclusive results.....I think it would be a great idea for the two of you to be tested TOGETHER if you are going to continue in a monogamous relationship.  You could even go together at your 3 month test, to test together.  Your GF, even though her risk factors are small, should be tested anyway...anyone who is sexually active should be.  Both of your tests should include an STD panel.  You would both actually be at much higher risk for other STD's compared to HIV.

Try to remain calm....it sounds like your overall risk is pretty small...but testing is still necessary...as you DID have unprotected sex with someone whose status you aren't 100% sure about.
Helpful - 0
366749 tn?1544695265
COMMUNITY LEADER
No, until threre is a very specific reason, HIV tests are not ordered. In many states of USA, HIV test is however part of the package of tests done during pregnancy.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So when general blood tests are done, diagnostic centers don't include antibody test along with other normal tests?  To know if there is something wrong..somewhere, general health revisions should mean the check of everything, isn't it?
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366749 tn?1544695265
COMMUNITY LEADER
No, only the specific antibody test, done after 3 months of the last risky exposure can tell the HIV status accurately. If such test was included in her general health revision, and she was not involved in any other unprotected activity during the last three months, counted backward from the date of the test, yes, then you can believe her and feel yourself safe.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just had a long talk with my girlfriend about all this issue..I explained her calmly so she doesn't get angry or upset and she told me that she is sure of having no infections what so ever. She said that a few months backs she had undergone different blood tests for screening, urine test and similar things as for a general health revision. And she said me not to worry about anything.
So through different blood tests or urine tests is it possible to know about HIV and other infections in a general health revision?
Helpful - 0
366749 tn?1544695265
COMMUNITY LEADER
It is not conclusive, yet highly reassuring, you can go for it. It will certainly ease your mounting anxiety and tension
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply. I think that it true that I cannot rely on just a symptom. Could be co-incidental. About the test I can't be so patient. I think, right now I'm facing mental anxiety problem whether or not. So is it possible for me to get tested right now ? Isn't 6 weeks enough for the first test ? I can later go again after 3 months for the 2nd, also ?
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366749 tn?1544695265
COMMUNITY LEADER
Symptoms are not a valid indication of HIV infection, because those could be due to any other illness andsecond, quite a few actually infected people remain totally asymptomatic.

You had several unprotected episodes of unprotected sex with a girl whose true status is not known to you yet.

In such situation, what I can say is, wait and get yourself tested after 3 months of last exposure and leave your worries behind. Nothing is more reliable than your own test report
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply. So do you think now after 6 weeks. I can go for the test?
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755829 tn?1246919225
Well you shouldn't really look at symptoms to ID HIV, however the initial infection is longer than 2 days more like 2 weeks, unprotected sex is however a risk of HIV, the only way to 100% sure is to test
Helpful - 0
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