14 weeks after exposure still with HIV symptoms
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello
I had a one night stand in my hotel room with a CSW while in Africa for vacation. I was so drunk that when the condom failed I didn't notice it. Upon arriving back in Europe I started having all possible symptoms related to HIV
Headaches
Extreme dry skin
Muscle twitching
Muscle and joint paints
Stomach makes noise all the time
Lost 14kg
Bumps on back of the tongue.
Initially I did a Duo test after 2 weeks of exposure. It came out negative. I did a rapid antibody test at 87 days it came out negative. I went to my GP and did a CBC afterwards. Everything completely Ok. I'm still very sick with symptoms everyday such as fatigue, muscle twitching, headaches and the stomach cramps. I'm completely lost. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm tired of running from one doctor to another. Could I have gotten a rare Hiv subtype which the test can't detect? I just want a diagnosis and start treatment no matter the cause. I know I have f*cked up my life. I just feel as killing myself. Can anyone give me some advice?
0 likes, 12 replies
alanatcroydon rickyblake17536
Posted
rickyblake17536 alanatcroydon
Posted
Yes that has thought me a good lesson. I just pray it's something else.
martin57311 rickyblake17536
Posted
rickyblake17536 martin57311
Posted
martin57311 rickyblake17536
Posted
It's all I have to hold onto. I probably would not have been so worried but my CD4 ratio has gone from 1.4 to 0.74. apparently CMV infection can do this and have the same symptoms as primary HIV Infection. Have you had your CD4 CD8 ratio checked? Possibly like your self, as the exposure was in Africa I was worried about an atypical HIV strain not detected by tests. My exposure apparently wasn't even an exposure - I received unprotected oral sex. BTW this is not worth killing yourself over. I tried and failed royally messing my self up. Hang on in there. You will get over this. I did.
rickyblake17536 martin57311
Posted
Hi Martin. How are you doing? The s**t is real. I have tested now up to 17 weeks with a Duo. Results negative. Do you think this is a new virus in Africa? If so my days are counted. My health is declining although I'm not more anxious. I wish I never took that trip. This shouldn't be happening. I'm a living corpse.
martin57311 rickyblake17536
Posted
Hi Ricky. I'm not doing too bad. Symptoms at present are:
Tinnitus
lower left iliac fossa burning. This I have found out is brought on by eating bread.
burning at top of spine - I had this four weeks post exposure
Fungal infection on chest
Most other symptoms have subside, if it wasn't for my inverted CD4/CD8 ratio I would let it go
However that and the fact my girlfriend is tired all the time and also has fungal infections I can't let it go. Also I am in contact with the prostitute that infected me and she just complained of a 3 day headache. BTW she tested negative 6 weeks after my exposure with her. Is it a new HIV variant ? - I don't know but I'm not ruling it out. Did you test for CMV? Would be good to do sooner rather than latter to see if it is a recent or established infection. igg or img. You won't get to know this valuable information if you leave testing too late. The test is £69 on line.
rickyblake17536 martin57311
Posted
Ohh thats Good news that you are feeling fine. Did you get any treatment for the cmv? If so what antiviral? I'll go get tested for that Monday. Just that I read cmv is asymptomatic for healthy individuals. It becomes only symptomatic with HIV. Or am I wrong?
martin57311 rickyblake17536
Posted
I had no treatment Whatever this is I am sure my girlfriend has it too. She caught it a year after me, from me and her symptoms match chronologically. She now has a chronic stiff/sore neck just as I had when I was 2 years in as she is now. When do you get your CMV results?
Guest rickyblake17536
Posted
From all I have read the HIV testing is pretty accurate. Many doctors consider the test (gen iv) to be conclusive at 90 days.
Speaking from someone in your situation before, a lot of your symptom sound like anxiety symptoms. My advice would be to re-test from blood drawn from a vein and do the antibody / antigen test. Trust the results and perhaps it puts you at ease. There are other panel tests you can take as well.
Also hang in there man. You will likely be okay (based on stats) and suicide is not an answer... what if you are actually healthy? Perhaps talk to you doctor about a counselor as well. They help...
CMV is very common as about 50% of adults have it by 40. Most of the time symptoms are not noticible.
I would test for HIV 1 and 2, Hep, Herpes 2, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis as a start.
Guest rickyblake17536
Posted
joe97594 rickyblake17536
Posted
hi ricky
im haviing same problems ,tested negative at 4 months , what is your status now? have you figured out the reason behind all yr symptom? have you been feeling any better? thank you