[Question #7644] HIV

Avatar photo
54 months ago
Hello, 
I had a unprotected sexual encounter in Japan with a csw. After I got sick and my tongue had a sore and I had white tongue and like spots on my tongue. I had upper back pain for like 6 months and back of neck hurt. My neck also cracked a lot. I got a mri and they said everything was fine. I got tested for everything at 4, 8,12 weeks all the way up to a year and a half. All negative results except for hsv1. I had tested for oral Sti also and negative. I have had 2 negative hiv rna test. 1 at 5 months and another at a year. The test I used was the 4th generation test. My tonsils are still kinda swollen and I keep getting tonsil stones. I still have the tongue thing come and go which I was told was geographic tongue. I have had about 6 or seven test results for hiv all negative but these symptoms started after the encounter. Could it be I have a isolated strain and the test can’t detect it? Should I accept my test results or should I take another type of test? I have also did a cd4 cell test and first was 640 second was 750 which 6 months apart from each test. What should I do? 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
54 months ago

Welcome to our forum and thanks for your question.  Your situation is not an uncommon one.  We hear from numerous clients who find that, following a sexual encounter that they subsequently regret, they become aware of irregularities in the appearance of their tongue, joint or muscle discomfort or other symptoms which they wonder about in terms of risk for STIs including HIV.  From your post it is clear that you have been thoroughly tested.  The idea that there are strains of HIV which might not be detected with current technology is an example of the all too common incorrect statements that are regularly found on the internet.  I will point out that you have now been tested for HIV in three different ways (for RNA, for HIV antigen, and for HIV antibodies) and all tests are negative at times when their results are conclusive.  You can be entirely confident that you did not acquire HIV or other STI from the encounter you mention. My advice is that no further testing is needed and instead, consider the symptoms you are experiencing, how much they trouble you and if these concerns are still worrisome or troublesome to you once you accept that they are not HIV or STI-related, then work with your doctor to have them evaluated. 


I hope this perspective is helpful.  EWH

---
Avatar photo
54 months ago
Thank you. Even if I am having symptoms like white tongue and swollen tonsils and had the flu like symptoms after exposure. I just wanna be sure cause yes I have read online the rare cases of people having false negatives. 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
54 months ago
The symptoms of recently acquired HIV are caused by the high levels of virus in circulation.  As a result, tests are always positive in persons with symptoms.  Believe your test results.  Really! EWH ---