[Question #2819] HIV ANXIETY
94 months ago
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doctors,
I am well aware that you told me your opinion wouldn't change regardless of circumstance. However, I do need to ask a few follow up questions in regards to my concern.
First, I have an appointment scheduled with mental health and my general practitioner later this week. With that being said, until then I'm sure I will continue to be a wreck and this seems to be my only sense of stability. I am trying to stay off google because that never ends well.
Second, I took an Alere Determine rapid at 41 days it was negative. With that statement I've been having headaches almost all day, sore throats that comes and goes but wakes me up every night from the pain. I also have had diarrhea three different times. These symptoms took place about five days prior to my last test. I expressed all these concerns in a prior thread. However, I tested negative for hsv1 and hsv2 after my encounter. Today I have what appears to be a cold sore on my lower lip. It is freaking me out. could that possibly be a symptom? I know you said most ars symptoms occur within two weeks. Is it even possible to start circumvention around five weeks? Also I did have intercourse with my wife after my thirty day negative test. If I was positive what are the odds she will be infected. Please answer my thread since I have no other places to turn until my doctor sees me later this week. Oh and I do have random nausea throughout this whole process. Can anxiety cause all this? Can it cause headaches, sore throat, and this thing on my lip? Everything seems so real so very very real.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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Your return to our site worries me. Let me recap for you - You have no reason to think that your sex partner had HIV and participated in exposure performing the lowest possible risk for infection in the unlikely circumstance that your partner actually did have HIV. Then, you went to go on to test on multiple occasions at times when your test results provided definitive evidence that your symptoms are not caused by HIV and subsequently at times when the test results were definitive. Despite this overwhelming evidence, you persist in worrying about HIV. This really is not logical.
Please remember that there are many possible causes of symptoms such as nausea, sore throat or lip sores. Anxiety could certainly cause your stomach to be upset and could amplify the severity of other non-specific symptoms.
Your concerns are misplaced. i hope my assurance that your symptom are not due to HIV or any other STI will help you. EWH
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94 months ago
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Dr hook,
I do understand that my repeated visiting to the forum is unhealthy and takes away from helping others. I have been prescribed an anxiety medication and have also talked in depth with my doctor about HIV. I do want to ask you a couple questions to see if you agree with him so I can move on with my life and leave this living hell.
1) he said licking a clitoris would never transmit hiv because it wouldn't have cervovaginal fluid on it. Do you agree?
2) he said since I was extremely paranoid about hiv he would order a viral load test. If it comes back negative that would 100 percent unequivocally rule out hiv. Do you agree?
3) I asked him if by some rare chance I acquired HIV from this, since I had unprotected sex with my wife after what would the chances be she's infected. He said it could be anywhere from 10-50 percent. This is the most important question to me. I'm extremely worried that I could have infected my wife. This is so difficult for me because every day I wake up with a new "symptom" now I have a sore throat, headache, weakness, nausea and it just brings the paranoia out. The anxiety is like a systemic infection. I promise you will not hear from me again unless my viral load test comes back negative. I keep telling myself I'm not going to be the first cullilingus hiv infection that tested negative with many many fourth generation tests including one at 6 1/2 weeks on top of not serocomventing within the normal time frame. Thank you for your time
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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straight to your questions:
1. cunnilingus- oral contact with a woman's genital tract (including clitoris) has never been documented to lead to HIV infection.
2. Yes. If you will believe the result, the statement is correct. From a scientific and medical perspective however, there is no need for you to be tested for HIV at all.
3. This is a paranoid, nonsensical question with no basis in reality. The average risk of transmission of HIV through a single episode of penile-vaginal sex is 1 infection per 2000 exposures.
I am confident your viral load will show that you do not have HIV. EWH
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94 months ago
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Wanted to start out by saying thank you. I also wanted to wait for my results of the viral load but that's forever away. Secondly, I wanted to give an update on my situation and see how I should deal with things. Day 48 prescribed aN anxiety medicine Buspar. Day 52 I developed a stiff neck and extreme nausea complimented by a headache and general leg weakness and brain fog. Day 53 symptoms still present and went to the doctors for a viral load test. While there I was given an Alere Determine rapid combo test and an Insti Hiv 1/2 test. Both negative. I will have to wait 7-9 days for my results from the viral load test.
I understand you do the best to answer questions without fueling anxiety but I need to know the truths
First, DR HHH said it was way too late for seroconversion. Is this true or is it possible to have conversion this late(even if it's rare)? I've read on poz and the body website that it is
If it is possible, would symptoms presenting themselves the prior day cause a positive result on an instant test the next day?
Is it possible for anxiety medicine to cause these symptoms? My doctor said it is possible but I just feel like it's too coincidental
What about my tests? DR. HHH said the Alere Determine is a great test after the recall. Do you agree? Would p24 still be present at this time if antibodies weren't.
I feel so sick and my anxiety is overwhelming. I'm just trying to figure this out. I've already decided in my head that this is a late sericonversion and I'm screwed. If oral sex is even a slight chance of transmission could you answer the questions accordingly
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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Statements like "I understand you do the best to answer questions without fueling anxiety but I need to know the truths" imply that we are not telling the truth. That is a bit offensive. If you choose not to believe our replies, that is up to you but to suggest that we do not tell the truth is simply not correct.
Estimates of when the ARS occurs vary from expert to expert. I agree with Dr. Handsfield, five weeks is too late for the ARS to occur.
If your symptoms were due to the ARS, your 4th generation test would be positive.
I am not an expert in these medicines but any new medication can cause side effects. It is conceivable that your symptoms were due to the medication.
If you were experiencing the ARS, either the p24 antigen, the antibody or both tests would be positive.
Alere is an approved, highly respected test.
There is no such thing as "late seroconversion". This is an internet-fueled myth.
This is my 3rd and therefore final reply to your questions. The thread will be closed later today and there will be no further replies. EWH
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