[Question #1730] Follow Up Question: Anxiety and Testing Conclusiveness

95 months ago

Hello Drs,

I have a follow up question regarding [Question #1711] Anxiety and Testing Conclusiveness - 4th Gen Duo Tests with some information that I wanted to go over.

My previous question was regarding testing results conclusiveness of the follow tests regarding my brief hetero exposure.

I have had the following types of HIV tests done (all Non-Reactive):

1. Labcorp BioRad Gen 4 antigen/antibody w/Reflex - Non Reactive - 66 days

2. Quest Diagnostics Abbott Architect Gen 4 antigen/antibody w/Reflex - Non Reactive - 68 days

3. Quest Diagnostics Abbott Architect Gen 4 antigen/antibody w/Reflex - Non Reactive - 84 days

4. Oraquick Advance Duo - Non Reactive - 89 days

5. Oraquick Advance Duo - Non Reactive - 92 days

6. Oraquick Advance Duo - Non Reactive -92 days

I wanted to just add that I did have a fungal/yeast infection in which I was prescrived only nystatin at first and cleared that cleared up and within a few days it came back again and that required a 150mg diflucan tablet and some Nystatin with triamcinolone cream that was prescribed and it is now gone after approx 20 days. I am uncircumcised.

Is this completely unrelated? (I read that sometimes this could be a sign/symptom of hiv?)

Is that any cause to worry?

Would this affect the tests that I had done previously? Should I retest regarding this?

Thanks for your input

I have not had nor will I have any further exposures than the one I have described in the previous posting.

In the meantime I have sought the help of professional counseling to help me move on from this.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

I'm sorry to see you back so soon after the reassuring replies you had from Dr. Hook in your other recent thread. Most of these new questions were already answered there, or the answers are obvious from those replies.

The HIV blood tests are among the most accurate diagnostic tests ever developed, for any medical condition. The results overrule all other factors: no matter how high the risk at the time of exposure, and no matter what symptoms someone has, the test results tell the truth. In other words, your negative tests prove that your fungal/yeast infection has nothing to do with HIV. And anyway, the vast majority of such problems occur in people without HIV or any other immune deficiency.

I'm glad to hear you are moving forward with professional counseling. In the meantime, mellow out; re-read Dr. Hook's replies, concentrating carefully on every word; believe it; and suck it up and move on with your life.

HHH, MD

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95 months ago

Thank you and Dr. Hook for the reassuring replies.

So to sum up: Based on my brief exposure, and the fact that current 4^th generation HIV tests are among the most reliable tests in all of medicine, I should rest easy and be assured that from my 3 blood tests at 10 weeks and 12 weeks plus the 3 oraquick test at 89/90 and 92 days, that clearly without a doubt they prove that I was not infected with HIV (most importantly) regardless of the exposure or symptoms and I do not require further testing beyond what I have done (other than for psychological assurance) regarding HIV relating to this single exposure?

I have taken my anxiety level for this to an all-time high and now I am in fight or flight mode where my body is starting to react and itch/tingle, dry mouth, muscle aches, etc. I apologize for the recurring posts over the past few days. This has been an extremely stressful and a huge learning experience for me. I will have no other choice than to move on from this experience and take it as a lesson learned and a pass.

What prompted the questions and my other post was that my GP stated to me that I should not worry and it was likely I am not infected and to be certain we could test again at 6 months if need be, hence my frustration. I hope you do understand now.

I again appreciate all of the replies from yourself and Dr. Hook.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

I have to suspect your GP was just being supportive, and felt you might be more reassured by having one more blood test than you have been by expert opinion. If so, feel free to do it. But truly there is no chance you have HIV: your opening sentence above is exactly right. You have been seriously overtested already, and in view of those results plus the reasoned, science based analysis and reassurance you have had -- several times, both on this forum and your own doctor(s) -- having "all time high" anxiety about this business is unwarranted and frankly irrational. If it continues, professional counseling should be your next step. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.

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95 months ago

Thank you for the response and for this invaluable forum.

For the last and final time, please just give me the complete reassurance and confirmation about my negative hiv test results and hiv test conclusivity so that I can finally move on with my life from this.

Thank you.

95 months ago

All I would like to put this to rest is the same advice/words you would give a patient of yours with my concerns and questions.

Thank you again.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

I don't believe for a minute that simply seeing a statement again will give you any more confidence, at least not for more than a day or two. This is an emotional/personality issue for you, and facts alone rarely help such problems. Your irrational fears of HIV likely are going to continue until and unless you seek professional counseling. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.

But here it is: Your multiple negative tests prove you do not have HIV. No more testing is needed. Re-read the various previous statements from me and Dr. Hook for details of our reasoning.

Please note that the forum does not permit repeated anxiety driven questions by the same users. This will have to be your last one; future new questions on this topic will be deleted without reply and without refund of your posting fee. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is designed to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers; because experience shows that continued answers tends to simply prolong such anxieties, when the real answer normally should be professional counseling; and because such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. I trust you will understand.

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