[Question #4921] MORE HIV WORRIES, TESTING, ETC. (FOLLOW UP TO #4864)
 |
79 months ago
|
Dear Doctors,
I am trying to put my worries behind me over a non-penetrative hot tub incident that occurred in July of last year, but am having difficulty. Again, with a female partner, there was lost of mutual masturbation, possibly with each others fluids on our hands, but nothing insertive (oral, vaginal or anal, maybe brief contact). Most all contact was in or just above water. I tested negative with the Alere Determine 1/2 Ag/AB test 10 weeks after the incident.
I called the clinic where I was tested and they said that while the results of the test are encouraging, they stopped short of saying they are conclusive due to the 3 month window period. I have also read on some other health organizations' websites (I know, the internet is not the place to go for this) that they will not consider rapid tests conclusive until 3 months.
Also, about a week ago, I had oral sex with my partner. At the time, I was not too worried about this after getting some reassuring responses here, but since then, my anxiety has increased again. I did not ejaculate in her mouth, but I am sure there was some pre-ejaculate fluid in her mouth. I did see in a recent question in the forum here that generally oral sex in either direction is safe and that a good amount of the HIV virus needs to get into mucous membrane deep within the body to cause infection. However, I have also been dealing with a cold/sinus thing for over two months, voice issues (nodule on cords), and diarrhea/loose stools (about 2 weeks). This really has me worried, like I am exhibiting symptoms .
So, I suppose my questions are
1) Did I put my partner at risk?
2) Since my rapid test was about 2 weeks short of 12 weeks, should I be retested?
3) Its the reliability of rapid tests at 10 weeks in question? (I may have even seen that come into question in this forum)
Thanks you again doctors..., I'm truly sorry for the anxiety. Just looking for more reassurance I guess.
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
79 months ago
|
This is your fifth question on the same exposure. The answers are the same in the previous four and so my comments now are very brief. First, you were not at risk for HIV. Second, your symptoms are meanginless: HIV doesn't cause cold/sinus symptoms, vocal cord nodules, or loose stools. So the answers are:
Really, mellow out. There is simply no chance you have HIV. If you continue to obsess and worry about it, I suggest professional counseling. It is not normal to remain so concerned after the repeated, reasoned, science-based reassurance you have had.
1) You don't have HIV and therefore could not put your partner at risk.
2,3) The same question twice, using different words. It is extremely rare, if ever, that a negative test at 10 weeks would be positive at 12 weeks. And since you weren't at risk, you didn't need testing anyway.
---Please note the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic. This will have to be your last one; future new questions about obviously low risk exposures may not be answered, in which case the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is designed to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than relieving them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thank you for your understanding.
Really, mellow out. There is simply no chance you have HIV. If you continue to obsess and worry about it, I suggest professional counseling. It is not normal to remain so concerned after the repeated, reasoned, science-based reassurance you have had.
HHH, MD---