HIV Anxiety; tested at 4.5 and 6.5 weeks negative but having symptoms
Posted , 5 users are following.
So I had an encounter 7 weeks ago that has ruined my life with anxiety the last couple of weeks, got with a TS unprotected oral both ways and i was the insertive top. A couple days went by and I finally realised what the risk of HIV was, so about 52 hours after exposure I managed to get on Truvada for the next 28 days without missing any doses. About 2 weeks into it I started developing a cough which was the only symptom for the next 2 weeks, then lymph nodes started swelling in my neck and arm pits, little rash on my chest, night sweats, brain fog and memory lapses, changes to nails, skin is dry, vision blurry, white tounge dry mouth. When the lymph nodes started swelling is when the panic started setting in, and ive fallen into the Google worm hole and I feel like ive destroyed my life. I tested 4th gen combo at 4.5 weeks and 6.5 weeks, both negative when I was certain I had it my doctor thinks I need to see a psychologist and its just a virus. What are the chances it is another virus thats causing this and what are the chances of two 4th gen false negatives? I went and saw an infectious diseases specialist the other day and she also works at a pathology lab and said those tests are highly sensitive to the point they get a lot of false positives and false negatives are rare. If my body hasnt developed antibodies yet surely the p24 antigen would be detectable by now? Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated. I also have ulcerative colitis and have been on imuran for 5 years, for the last week I have stopped taking it as if it is HIV, I feel taking an immunosuppressant will kill me. So in other words I feel like ive inadvertently made myself a dead man walking as I don't know ill live with two chronic illnesses 😦 since I have been taking Imuran and if theoretically its stopped my immune system producing antibodies then the p24 antigen should be detectable wouldn't it? Ive called a few HIV hotlines and they think it doesnt sound right and that HIV definitely isnt my problem its something else, but im so convinced I have it I cant even focus on work or put my mind on anything else, if anyone has any advice please help!! Im way beyond anxious i am experiencing full blown terror, to the point where I was hospitalised on Saturday due to a panic attack.
0 likes, 8 replies
Guest John37769
Edited
if you want a 100% get a WESTERN BLOT at 3 months 99% _
accurte you sound like a hypochondriac if you overthink things you can start having some symptoms your brain is very strong you’ll think you will have every symptom or you will look at things more closely than they actually were when it’s normal overthink things
John37769 Guest
Posted
I know what you're saying Sarah but im definitely not imagining these symptoms, I wish I was. I made a huge mistake and now im paying for it. Im holding to that little bit of hope thats it's EBV or something like that but I highly doubt its anything other than HIV
Guest John37769
Posted
get a western blot dont go to google and you should have goten a early dection hiv test
luis59210 John37769
Posted
dont worry. its not always what we think. there are no certain symptoms to confirm. people without symptoms have it and with symptoms dont have it. if test results are there just go with them. you are fine.
John37769 luis59210
Posted
Thanks Luis, that makes me feel heaps better. Heres praying I get one more chance
ajith75476 John37769
Edited
were you having unprotected vaginal or anal sex? only then the risk is real .. the good news is you tested negative for hiv at 6 weeks and only very rare outliers test positive by 3 months. if you did not have the above exposures, you alrrady tested conclusively negative for hiv.. that said there are other nasty bugs out there and you should get tested for like syphilis, ebv/ mono , or herpes ..
oral sex has zero transmission rate when you receive and negligible transmission rate when you give it to a penis..
stop worrying about hiv.. symptoms have nothing to do with hiv.. if there are symptoms, you would have been tested positive already.. if symptoms are appearimg, your body has already strted fighting and that means antibodies must have been detected.. so your doctors assessment is right . you need to consult a psychologist if you only had oral exposure ..
else( unprotected anal or vafinal) test at 3 months to get conclusively negative result just for confirmation .. even cdc says 45 days with 4th gen test is conclusive.. and cdc does not ever want to be wrong ( given how conservative they are)..
ajith75476
Posted
the id doctor is right . hiv tests are the most accurate tests on this planet
John37769
Posted
Update: After the most nerve wracking weekend of my life I called the GP and asked for my results and after 10 weeks of exposure and 40 days post PEP my 4th gen lab test blood drawn from vein is NEGATIVE!! Never been so happy in my whole life, it is definitely something else but I am confident now that it isnt HIV and my 3 negative tests wont change to positive now!! However something DID come back abnormal so hopefully its bacterial and can get on some antibiotics and im finally out of this hell!!! Ive made an appointment for tomorrow and taken the day off work but Im finally gonna accept that HIV is not my problem now. Theres no way after 6 weeks of symptoms that ive tested falsely negative 3 times over that period of time with 4th gen lab tests with blood drawn from my vein!!! If this really is true I categorically have learnt my lesson and I will never engage in unprotected sex with a stranger again in my life!!! This whole ordeal has been torture and i will never put myself through it again, what a miserable time.