Hello, I had sex with a condom on October 18.

The condom was intact but I don't know if it was latex.

4.5 days later, on October 23, I had diarrhea and it continued very severely for 3 days, then loose stools, sometimes watery, still continuing

When the diarrhea did not go away for 1 month, I went to a gastroenterologist, he said I had IBS due to stress and prescribed rifaximin containing colidur 200 mg antimicrobial antibiotic.

I used 1200 mg 3*2 per day for 21 days but it did not improve.

Other symptoms: Occasional burning in my knees, I have a cough for 1.5 months, swollen lymph nodes under the chin for 1 month, sometimes dizziness, redness in the throat and pimple-like blisters..

Tests: 19-59 3rd generation negative, 62nd day combo test single result negative..

My questions:

1. Does rifaximin affect the test because I used it in high doses?

2. I have a negative test on day 62, the symptoms continue, am I at risk? 3. Does the antimicrobial antibiotic (rifaximin) destroy the p24 antigen? If my body has not produced antibodies and the drug has destroyed the p24 antigen, could the test be negative even though I am positive?

dear doctor

my relationship was with a sex worker.

in the country i am in, sex workers get tested every 2.5 months, the state does this.

but when i went to see my partner, he was coughing a lot.

when i asked him when he got tested, he didn't answer.

probably positive and i had sex with him during the window period.

after my exposure, i had pains just below my left ribcage that lasted for about 20 days, it could be pancreas.

and while i was using rifaximin antibiotics, malabsorption started and it's still going on for about 1.5 months..

there are food particles and unabsorbed food in my stool..

i also have a sore throat and it's been aching for 1.5 months, my neck is very sensitive and burning.

also, i have aphtha in my mouth, this is the first time it's happened.

my weakness continues, i lost about 5 kg..

i had a loss of appetite for a while.and my legs are very weak, i also had oral candidiasis, my tongue was very white but it's decreased now, it's still on the back of my tongue.

my questions:

1-does ARS start after 4.5 days and does it last that long? It's been about 80 days..

2-If the woman is in the window period, is the possibility of infection higher since her viral load will be high?

3-Will the antibiotic I use kill the p24 antigen?

4-I called the hospital lab where I had the combo test and they told me that they only tested the p24 antigen and the IgG antibody.

I had read that the antibody surrounding the p24 antigen is the IgM antibody.

If this antibody has destroyed the p24 antigen and the IgG antibody has not yet formed, could the combo test be negative even though I was positive?

The expsoure you describe in your first set of questions was low risk- it is unlikely that your partner has untreated HIV, condoms work and the risk fo any single exposure is only a small fraction of 1%.  Further, the gastrointestinal complaints you describe are not suggestive of HIV.  In response to these questions:

1. Does rifaximin affect the test because I used it in high doses?

No, no medications other than those designed to treat HIV interfere with the test.  Believe your results.

2. I have a negative test on day 62, the symptoms continue, am I at risk?

Your negative test PROVES that your symptoms are not due to HIV.  Persons with symptoms due to HIV always have positive tests.  

 3. Does the antimicrobial antibiotic (rifaximin) destroy the p24 antigen? If my body has not produced antibodies and the drug has destroyed the p24 antigen, could the test be negative even though I am positive?

No

In response to your 2nd set of questions- let me 1rst say that cough is NOT a sign of HIV.  As for your questions:

1-does ARS start after 4.5 days and does it last that long? It's been about 80 days..

No, the symptoms of the ARS typically begin 7-10 days after and exposure.  4.5 days is too soon.  And the ARS typically lasts 7-10 days, it would not last 89 days

2-If the woman is in the window period, is the possibility of infection higher since her viral load will be high?

It is possible but infection is still unlikely.  You have proven you do not have HIV.

3-Will the antibiotic I use kill the p24 antigen?

Repetitive- the answer will not change- NO!!

4-I called the hospital lab where I had the combo test and they told me that they only tested the p24 antigen and the IgG antibody.

I had read that the antibody surrounding the p24 antigen is the IgM antibody.

If this antibody has destroyed the p24 antigen and the IgG antibody has not yet formed, could the combo test be negative even though I was positive?

What you read is incorrect.  Antibody does NOT destroy the p24 antigen.  Believe your tests.

I see no reason for you to be worried about HIV at this time.  I recommend that you look for another cause of your symptoms.  EWH

dear doctor, i have many symptoms that i can't list..

night sweats, dizziness, and i get full very quickly, i have no appetite.

my diarrhea continues..

i had a colonoscopy and endoscopy yesterday.

infectious colitis was detected in the intestines, i.e. there is an infection.

gastritis was detected in the stomach..

the doctor asked me if i had a relationship.

he said you caught an infection somewhere and asked for an elisa test, i gave blood, since it was the weekend, the result will be on monday..

1-does such infections in the intestines and stomach change your evaluations because my stomach and intestinal discomfort started after contact.

2-i said my antibody test was negative on days 19-59 and my combo test was negative on day 62, is there a possibility that these results will change?

3-will the combo test return after day 62?

4-does the infection in my intestines and stomach affect the test results?

5-does hiv cause early intestinal, stomach and throat infections?

6-My new test result will be available on Monday. Is there a possibility that the result may change?

Sorry doctor, I felt the need to add.

My doctor also asked me if I ate raw meat or undercooked meat..

Dear doctor, I'm very scared, is the 62-day combo test 100% or are there exceptions?

2.  No

3.  Your recent test will also be negative for HIV

4.  No

5.  No

6.  No

I continue to urge you to be confident that you do not have HIV.  you have one follow up remaining.  EWH

Thank you very much doctor..

I had told you that I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy last Friday for my intestinal and stomach problems that started 4.5 days after intercourse and are still ongoing. The colonoscopy revealed infectious colitis in my intestines, and the endoscopy revealed gastritis in my stomach, and a biopsy was taken.

I have an infection in my throat.

And my doctor asked me for an HIV test.

The result came out today. The 3rd generation test does not show a value, it just says negative..

And the date of blood collection is 10.01.2025, exactly 84 days (12 weeks) after intercourse.

My questions:

1-Sir, there is an infection from the throat to the rectum, this worries me a lot, the reason for this is that none of these problems existed before intercourse, I still have a fear of HIV. I received a negative result from the antibody test in the 12th week, can I end this now, am I 100% negative?

2-Can CMV cause such an infection?

But on the 62nd day I had a combo test and a cmv test done, IGG was positive and IGM was negative..

3-Can another STI cause these symptoms?

I had many STI tests done on the 62nd day, is the window period enough for other STIs?

4-Sir, is it normal for my gastroenterologist to ask for an HIV test after what he saw during the colonoscopy, even though I didn't tell him anything about my relationship?

Because he only asked for an anti-HIV test.

5-Do you think I need an RNA test?

1.  Repetitive.  You do not have HIV.  Believe you test results.

2.  Yes but your test results make it unlikely that your problem is due to HIV.

3.  Unlikely

4.  Yes it is normal

5.  No

6.  Most unlikely

7.  No

8.  No.  It takes many years for HIV  to affect the immune system.

You need to put aside your fears of HIV as well as any concern that the symptoms you were experiencing are related to an STI infection acquired through the encounter you describe. Continuing to focus on this will only get in the way of finding out what is really happening.

This concludes this thread, which will be closed now. There should be no need to return with further questions. EWH.