[Question #836] Follow up to 788#

100 months ago

Hello. Sorry I am back. I'm concerned that I have given my life-long partner an infection since she has been extremely tired the last month. Do you recommend another 4th generation test at 6 months? What if the person did have HIV, would my test results still overrule my exposure. Also, should I be concerned about hep b? I was vaccinated as a child but have yet to be tested. Is this a life-long vaccine? Thanks!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

100 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. However, I think you are continuing to react with unnecessary anxiety about a low risk situation.

I reviewed your discussion with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said. Based on your test results, as well as the low risk nature of your exposure (indeed maybe no exposure at all), it is not possible you caught HIV, and thus impossible you infected your wife. Even if your partner at that time were known to have HIV, your test results prove you were not infected. Finally, being "extremely tired" is not, by itself, a symptom of HIV or any other STD.

The risks for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were just about as low as for HIV, and in any case your past immunization almost certainly is still 100% protective. And as for HIV, feeling tired is not a symptom that suggest hepaitis B.

You need to try to get beyond your exposure. Do not be tempted to attribute every little illness in you, your wife, or anyone else to that event. These things are entirely unrelated to one another.

Best regards-- HHH, MD

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100 months ago

Thanks for the response. I'm concerned because she was African American and if she was CSW, I don't remember giving her money because I was so drunk. 6 month testing a waste of time and money?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

100 months ago

You were tested and negative. Testing for HIV always overrules all other considerations, as long as enough time has passed for a reliable test result. It doesn't matter how high the risk might have been at the time, and it doesn't matter what symptoms you or your partner may have. Testing always is far more reliable than these in deciding whether or not someone has HIV. There are no exceptions.

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100 months ago

Well I should have just listen to you both. But I went for another test, where they did a full workup and of course everything was negative. Thanks the expert advice, when I was at a all time low. A lot of stuff on the internet makes you second guess things. Take care and thanks again.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

100 months ago

I'm glad to have helped and certainly hope that your current confidence that you don't have HIV continues. If it does not, professional counseling would be the next logical step.

Best wishes and stay safe.

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