[Question #2692] No diagnose

95 months ago

I am lost. First unprotected sex with HIV poz in Sep1 2016, Fever and sore throat after 3 weeks, then in Feb10 diagnosed with gasteritis, elevated liver enzymes, HIV 4th generation and hepa&b&c - mono-ebv-std negative, developed lymph one lymph node next month in neck, then two more appeared in same side, lymph node kept appearing, lost 15 kg im so thin now, now have 7 painless lymph nodes checked in ultrasound in both armpits and neck, i never had lymph nodes before, and I also have chronic dihareha, I did 4th generation 6 times in 3-9 months, need help

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I cannot help very much. Although some of your symptoms are consistent with HIV or EBV/mononucleosis, the tests for both infections are highly accurate. For HIV, the antigen-antibody (4th generation) tests are among the most accurate tests ever developed for any medical conditions and are conclusive any time 6 weeks or more after the last possible exposure. Therefore, the test results override any and all symptoms, exposure history, etc. In other words, your multiple negative HIV testx prove without doubt that you do not have HIV and that something else is the cause of your symptoms. EBV/mono is also very unlikely, and these symptoms do not suggest viral hepatitis.

So the good news is that none of these infections explain your symptoms. They also are not typical for any other STD. On this forum, we do not speculate about problems other than STDs and HIV, so that's all I can say. I encourage you to continue working with your doctor(s) about other causes of your symptoms. If you have not seen an infectious diseases specialist, that might be something to consider.

I hope this information is a little bit helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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95 months ago

Im really afraid as im only in high school, any way is hiv lymph nodes painless? Cause mine started as one then spread, also can I forget about hiv completely? I tested for all Viruses all is negative, so can it be that Im having late seroconversion? Because latley im having a rash on both leg its flat and under skin with itch, the doctor thought its aczema but I dont think it is because its not getting better with creams

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

HIV lymph nodes are always painless. But so are most causes of enlarged nodes. And HIV nodes don't start in a single area than spread. With the modern HIV tests, there is no such thing as "late seroconversion".

Trust me on this: there is absolutely no reason for you to be worried about HIV, EBV, hepatitis, or any other STDs. The test results overrule all symptoms. And from this additional information, I'm pretty sure you nothing else serious either. This isn't going to turn out to be cancer or some sort of incurable infection. Keep working with your doctor if your symptoms continue or you remain concerned. Please ask your doctor frankly whether s/he feels some (most? all?) your symptoms and fears are psychological in origin. That doesn't mean I believe they are all in your head: I do not. But you obviously are in an emotional state over this, and all possibilities need to be investigated.

I repeat that, as best I can tell from this distance, it is very unlikely you have anything serious.

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95 months ago

Im actually cryisng right now, you are a role model sir, both my parents are doctors and I would really like to be one if this goes will and im not infected,So now its 12 month mark, I did a 4th generation tests and the results will be in 3 days, if it was negative can I stop worrying? Because I have high lymphocytes for 6 monthes but the weird thing is that absolute lymphocyte is normal 2.6 but the percentage is high 60% it wont go down, different thing is that in monocyte the percent is normal but the number is low 0.8 / any way when the doctor felt them he said that they are small but every time he feel he feel new ones but he is not worried, Symptoms im havjng right now.. Lymph nodes,Chronic watery diarrhea,mild ithcy rash, extreme fatigue, confirmed thrush/ can I stop testing? Im not even focusing on my studies, because the infected girl blamed me for giving her hiv but she was the first one I had sex with

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

Until now, I didn't think to question or challenge whether your partner a year ago really has HIV. Is that a confirmed diagnosis, or is she just afraid she has it? Are you sure she is being truthful? If you are in the US, and she was diagnosed with HIV, it would have been reported to the local or state health department probably would have contacted you about it. So if there has been no contact to you or your doctor from the health department, that would suggest either that she doesn't actually have HIV. This is something for you to discuss with your doctor.

But I stress again that the HIV tests are among the most reliable diagnostic tests ever developed, for any medical condition. To be even more certain, you could ask your doctor to do a DNA or RNA test for HIV in your blood, if not done already. In addition, if you have not been seeing an infectious diseases specialist, that might be a good idea. Discuss it with your doctor an your parents.

Normally threads are closed after two follow-up comments and replies, i.e. 3 replies total. We're there now. However, I'll leave this open for another round if you'd like to provide what proof you have that your partner has HIV and/or the results if you have been seeing an ID specialist.

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95 months ago

Doctor Im not from the us, so nothing has been reported, yest the girl said I infected her but she had many guys dating her even older than her, its the first time I ever had sex, Im only 17 and I had sex with her when I was 16, additionally you didnt answer my question.. Does HIV cause High lymphocytes % but normal absolute? And low monocytes? Im lost as in my country I live in a small town, if I need to get tested I get absent from school and take a taxi to a private laboratory far away that sends my blood to the UK. And If I took a pcr test can I rule out hiv infection? Because I cant keep testing all my life right? The longest window period is 6 months

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

95 months ago

Thanks for clarifying your situation. I understand it well, having had personal experience caring for HIV/STI patients in Zimbabwe.

Having high lymphocyte percentage but normal absolute normals is entirely normal. (The absolute count is important, not the percentage.) In HIV, monocyte levels usually are high, not low. However, I strongly urge you to IGNORE ALL TEST RESULTS EXCEPT THE HIV TESTS. Those results PROVE you do not have HIV. Having a PCR test is not necessary. I suggested it only for possible additional reassurance. You can rely 100% on the negative HIV tests you have had so far. And by the way, the window period is NOT 6 months. The longest window period for all tests in use worldwide is 3 months, and for most tests (including the antigen-antibody or "4th generation" blood tests) the window is 6 weeks. All tests you had beyond those times are 100% reliable.

If the infected young woman has HIV, she definitely caught it from one of her other partners, not you. The large majority of women infected before age 20 have caught it from an older male partner. This is true even in the most HIV-epidemic countries, such as in sub-Saharan Africa or south Asia.

Depending on where you are, other things such as parasitic infections (e.g. malaria, intestinal parasites) also are likely explanations of symptoms and lab results like yours. Whatever is going on, IT IS NOT HIV!!

As noted above, we're now beyond the normal length of discussions on this forum, and so that concludes this thread. Do your best to stop worrying about HIV (and stop testing for it). Continue to work with your doctors about other explanations for your symptoms etc.

Best wishes and stay safe.

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