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datguy
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3 weeks after possible exposure / HELP!
#251132 - 07/12/10 02:38 AM
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Need an expert opinion please!!! Having a tough, tough time and can't get straight answers.
Had protected vaginal sex with a female of unknown std status, but during sex the condom broke and there was 2-3 mins before I noticed and stopped.
3 weeks after the encounter, I came down with a horribly painful sore throat on one side!! It killed to swallow and my throat hurt to touch on the outside in some spots too.
I had a fever for a day or two and night sweats.....to break the fever. I had fatigue and muscle soreness for a while and also lost my appetite and had diarrhea.... When I got sick I was immediately afraid of HIV and became anxious and I think it caused some of the fatigue and loss of appetite.
I only noticed one lymph node swollen, and it got very big! It was under my jaw where my throat hurt. And my neck was stiff and sore on that side too.
It has only been 6 weeks since the encounter and I am terrified! I know I will not have a definitive test until 6 months. So I have to wait!
Does anyone think this sounds like Acute Syndrome HIV? My one lymph node is still swollen and my throat is still achy I need someone to HELP ME!
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Find a provider who will give you a sensitive or ultra sensitive PCR "RNA"test (Not a PCR DNA TEST ) it will detect levels to<48 or <10 copies . If it's negative you are conclusively negative .You're well into the dectectable period for it to be conclusive . One specialist gave me the RNA test , told me I'm conclusively negative,(I'd had a couple elisas and 1/2 dozen Instant tests all negative ) another specialist took a look at that docs test and nicely told me he's not wasting hospital resources, the previous docs tests (Who he knew and very much respected ) were the same he'd give ..."good bye "BTW , these were the "best' docs in BOSTON ,MA . People world over go to these docs for definitive treatment guidelines and both teach other docs .
Match it at the same time with a blood draw Elisa anti-body test .
While just the RNA will give you the assuredness you're seeking , (Don't even listen to nay sayers about false positives or indeterminite RNA tests , that's all things of the past )the Elisa is a back up .
YOU CANNOT HAVE UNDECTECTABLE LEVELS WITH TODAY'S RNA TEST AND HAVE HIV ---NO DETECT , NO HIV .
Also, forget about paranoid posters and not picking up certain strains or your body fighting the virus down to undectable on it's own , almost impossible and not applicable . BTW , the Elisa test is just to light all the candles on your "I don't have hiv cake "
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sounds more like mono check into EBV
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datguy
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Aren't Mono and ARS both generalized symptoms? They are both viruses that would affect both sides of the body, not just one. Why am I only have ONE swollen lymph node and sore throat on one side?
Is it possible that ARS would present like that? I cannot find any talk on that on the web. Thanks Mushroom!
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datguy
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That is sound advice! Thanks so much. I will look into it
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One specialist gave me the RNA test , told me I'm conclusively negative,(I'd had a couple elisas and 1/2 dozen Instant tests all negative ) another specialist took a look at that docs test and nicely told me he's not wasting hospital resources.
LOL. Of COURSE you were conclusively negative, you had all those negative test results. There was no reason to order a PCR for you in the first place, but he probably figured it was an easy enough way to get you to accept the fact you didn't have HIV.....considering.....your testing history and refusal to believe your results...in your very own words.
"So, fellow posters & experienced responders. Why is it that positive individuals and negative testers have such similar symptoms..?At approx. 6 MONTHS post possible exposure had Unigold instant blood :NEGATIVE , Elisa blood draw full panel STD's :NEGATIVE . 7 MONTHS post p-exposure RNA Viral load :NEGATIVE, CD4 counts,%,t-cell subsets :NORMAL. 8 MONTHS post p-exposure Ora Quick Advanced Blood: NEGATIVE . 8 1/2 MONTHS p-exposure Another Elisa :NEGATIVE , Cobas Taqman Hiv-1 Test (Viral load / Ultrasensitive) UNDETECTED. ALL FROM DIFFERENT LABS . All would seem well...? Why then does one have various like symptoms ? The burning body / hot sensations, one side foot/arm /hand tingling . How common is the uncommon, i.e. body's that initially fight the virus good enough to not produce antibodies (Read this as an answer in the archives), Elisa's not detecting a strain ? Bad PCR tests ? Psychosomatic fanatic ? Picking up symptoms after they're suggested ? Nodes, but then not , lip sore , then no more. Rash , gone in a dash. Continuing varied intensity overheating skin with no detectable temp. ever within . Are additional technical tests warranted ?bDNA, R.T. Enzyme, PERT, Plasma resistance...??? One would appreciate sharing from the caring , or even more reasonable?"
Sounds like the second doctor was sensible enough. Any doctor looking at your testing history should have refused needless testing. At least he keeps health cost containment in mind.
It's true a negative PCR is a very good indicator that a person doesn't have HIV, but false positives do occur and for someone already worried about HIV I can't see why they would want to risk the mental anguish of dealing with a false result.
And don't try to tell me they don't occur. Anyone with HIV taking medications and testing undetectable has had occurrences when a viral load registers. Since the test has become so sensitive it actually can cause more blips. I saw it less frequently when the test only could measure down to <500 then I do now that it can measure <50.
First thing that is done is to redo the PCR in a month or so at least for the HIV patient. Someone attemting to determine their status will have an order drawn up for the to have an ELISA. Until those seondd results come back the prudent thing is to continue as normal. Much easier for someone with HIV that is just seeing if the medications need changing then for a HIV negative person that is facing a life changing result.....
and how do they confirm if the PCR was real or false? An ELISA and if that ELISA is postive, then a Western Blot. Common sense would suggest that there is no reason to take a test that in order to be confirmed requires the regular diagnosic test.
And just as a bit of triva knowledge for all you HIV negative posters. In order to receive ADAP benefits, several states require a person must provide a postive Western Blot test result. NO OTHER TEST RESULT IS ACCEPTED.
I'm glad you finally believe your negative test results. It's a shame that you couldn't accept that very first result at 6 months. It was 3 months past the window and considered a CONCLUSIVE negative to all but you.
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The only time you need to be concerned about was after the condom broke. A couple minutes of unprotected sex, is not as big a risk as I'm sure you are feeling it is right now. The CDC places the risk of transmission from a woman to a man in a one time unprotected occurance with the woman being HIV postive at 5 in 10,000.
ARS symptoms are non-specific. Many of the same symptoms identified with ARS can also be seen in the flu (hence flu-like symptoms), other viral infections, Cancer, etc, etc, etc.
It's been 6 weeks. Trot yourself down to your local ASO or other organization that gives the oral swabs and get a quick 20 minute test done.
By 6 weeks all but a few people with HIV will test postive. Those not doing so tend to have other major health issues that complicate diagnosis.
I'm pretty sure you're going to find you test negative and it's not very likely that it will change by your 3 month FINAL test.
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When PCR RNA and DNA tests are given at major medical institutions (and when you have insurance to cover it ) they , (their or reliable labs,) double up on the tests just to help eliminate wrong results in that the test was done correctly not because of inherit flaws , I'm sure they CAN occur for positives getting updated virals , but they have HIV there's so many variables for blips in the RNA/DNA for them ...right ? , but almost never in detection seekers who are loking for neg vs. positive. It's the worry of false NEGATIVES which are virtually unheard of , that gives the RNA the gift of peace of mind for the future antibody test : I know nothing about variables for those infected and defer to your expertise there . The rare false positive can be quickly re-done and/or move onto other tests, plus as you know there are other blood markers for indentification , that give a full clinicial patient picture .
As to my personal posted histiory , it has no bearing on the RNA's test efficacy and the EXPERT docs opinion of same , it's a specious point many in our culture use "Well look at you, or YOU did this " even though the point in question is never made clearer or answered by deflection . In my field of law , a good amount of rich defendants get re-trials and other favorable motions regardless to the point of the matter , they're almost always just as guilty of the offense despite these minor nuisance victories . Actually it's not a totally un-apt comparison , the defendant with a good lawyer , can be like a patient with health insurance , they are able to access all opportuinties the system allows and therefore have a better chance , up to a POINT ! , because you either are or aren't positive , the disease will prevail in manifesting itself sooner or later regardless of any tests and their efficacy .
However, wouldn't you think that a test that can relieve one's anxiety until 13 weeks (antibody testing wait ) has a benefit ? I repeat the EXPERT :
YOU CANNOT HAVE UNDECTECTABLE LEVELS WITH TODAY'S RNA TEST AND HAVE HIV....NO DETECT, NO HIV . Now of course that's done correctly, taken during right time frame . I was just trying to relieve a W.W. with a valid course of action for that relief , my answer stands .
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“When PCR RNA and DNA tests are given at major medical institutions (and when you have insurance to cover it ) Needless testing isn’t a matter of being able to afford to do so. It’s a matter of it raising the cost of health care for everyone all because some people allow fear to run their lives even in the face of multiple test results. There is nothing worthy or honorable about wasting health care resources just because you can.
“I'm sure they CAN occur for positives getting updated virals , but they have HIV there's so many variables for blips in the RNA/DNA for them ...right ? , but almost never in detection seekers who are loking for neg vs. positive. It's the worry of false NEGATIVES which are virtually unheard of , that gives the RNA the gift of peace of mind for the future antibody test”
Positives ? What a lovely term. Why not use the proper one. PLWHAs. People living with HIV/AIDS. What you don’t seem to understand is that this test is used to measure viral load. That’s a quantity, not a yes/no. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you are more likely to receive a false viral load reading. The odds are higher for it happening only because of the number of PCR a patient receives in a year (around 4 at the least), not because of ‘variables’. Before we go any further let’s bring up one of this statement of your in terms of viral loads and HIV and then perhaps I can explain the flaw in your thinking.
“YOU CANNOT HAVE UNDECTECTABLE LEVELS WITH TODAY'S RNA TEST AND HAVE HIV....NO DETECT, NO HIV”
PCRs are not antibody tests. People have undetectable PCRs and have HIV all the time. That’s the goal and the very reason for the PCR test. It measures viral loads and not just HIV. These tests measure viral loads for influenza, hep C, Lyme Disease, etc. In the case of HIV, it’s to make sure the disease is not progressing.
However, when a viral load presents, the question is then; is it a blip or is it viral breakthrough. When a second viral load test is done in about a month the question gets answered. Either the viral load came back undetectable or there is still a viral load. It happens often enough that it isn’t a cause for great concern and thus the wait and see attitude toward these results. Typically these are low numbers.
The bottom line is that I do agree that the PCR will not give an undetectable reading when there is in fact a viral load present, BUT I personally don’t think that outweighs the mental anguish risk from the possibility of receiving a false reading and then having to wait for the additional testing under those circumstances.
You forget you had tested numerous times well after your window period, by antibody, all negative. Under your premises those multiple tests right there should have satisfied you need to “double up on the tests just to help eliminate wrong results in that the test was done correctly not because of inherit flaws” you never needed a PCR for any reason in the first place. You shouldn’t have had nearly the anxiety when you took the PCR as a person that has not already received multiple conclusive negative results.
You’re suggesting those in that vulnerable state of mind risk that false reading of a viral load.
The fact remains that PCRs will sometimes show a viral load (your false positive). When that happens it is standard to wait at least a couple of weeks and then test by antibody. The reason? Because a viral load may mean a person is in the middle of seroconverting, but won’t yet test positive by antibody.
Almost 100% of people will test positive by 6 weeks by antibody test, if they are indeed infected and in this day and age a negative at that point will still be a negative by the time the CDC’s catch everyone window period is up at 3 months.
I just don’t see the reason to risk using a test that isn’t even recommended for diagnostic purposes when in the end it still leads back to having to take an antibody test for a final, definitive answer.
I do thank you for reminding me why I should avoid this site ……… I will endeavor to break this addiction and seek a more sane source of entertainment.
Carry on.
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