[Question #12991] I had moved on, sorry for being back

3 months ago

Hi Doctor,

I had moved on after Dr. HHH, assurance that i was hiv free. But i reas something and webt down a rabit hole. Plus have 1 new development.

1. I tested on Hiv duo 4th gen hiv1/2 on 45th day after my last exposure and thought i am clear after negative results.

But then i read about hiv 2 and got super scared about delayed detection and not covered by the duo test. I have stopped functioning.

2. I tested for heb B and hep c ( just because it was a part or package) on 51st day and it came negative.

3. I was about to resume my normal sex life with my partner and this knowledge shattered me.

I am really really sorry for being back despite being warned.

3 months ago

I have no one except my therapist to talk to and doctors at the lab. I extremely rely on this forum.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

Welcome back, but it should not have been necessary. My closing advice in your other thread was "If there is anything you don't understand, please do not start a new question. There is nothing you will think of that has any possibility of changing our evaluation and advice. You can carry on your life as normal, including unprotected sex with a regular partner."

Your "rabbit hole" comment is correct: you don't help yourself by continuing to search the web on these issues. As for most anxious persons you are selectively looking for and finding information that increases rather than reducing your fears and anxieties. If you're going to continue doing it, at least stick with professionally organized or monitored sites and disregard those run by and for people with or concerned about HIV (like Reddit for example), where anybody can write anything they want and most of the more frightening information is simply false, whether through lack of knowledge or intentional misinformation.

1. Your negative test results are reliable for HIV2. Anyway HIV2 is nearly absent in the US and most cases are in the regular partners of people who were infected in Africa.

2. Of course your hep B and C results were negative. They had to be;d you should not have been tested for them.

3. You're "shattered" by misinformation and obscured thinking. Please resume your normal sexual relationship and practices.

HHH, MD

---
---

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

And you were not at risk for HIV in the first place. Did you not read my replies in your previous thread? Not understand them? Or just not believe them?---

3 months ago

Thank you doctor HHH.

I did read your previous responses and also did understand them and believe them. ( but mind creates doubts and i had to come back).

I tested for hep b because you said i am not infected hep b and my tests were 95 percent ( i wanted to be more sure, ocd :)

My biggest fear is to not infect my partner and that is causing this need to cover all bases.

I would like to add one more point: my exposures were in thailand and not Usa. And i am from India.

Doctors in india already advice as a thumb rule to test at 90 days which is excruciating. And when i read hiv2 i thought, this might be the reason.

Doctor just for my assurance: i should stop testing , right?

Have a good day and i hope i will recover. My therapy sessions are not helping much.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

"My biggest fear is to not infect my partner and that is causing this need to cover all bases." Of course we understand that nearly universal concern on the forum. It doesn't change the facts and science about the risks.

That the events were in Thailand or your national origin make no difference in my judgment or replies.

That some (not all) doctors in your country have conservative advice does not alter the science or our advice.

"i should stop testing , right? Correct.

Maybe you need a different therapist. In any case, this forum is not a substitute for mental health attention if your concerns continue. We cannot keep repeating the same advice -- and repeated information never helps compulsive (OCD, your self statement) fears. Please do not return with any further questions about these issues. Thank you and best wishes.

---