[Question #9269] Final question on hiv
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34 months ago
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Hello Doctor, i have submitted a question around the end of July about an exposure which you have told me is very low risk, but after 2 to 3 weeks of the exposure i have experienced symptoms such as low grade fever that was recurring, minor throat stinging when swallowing, generalized rash that was flat and reddish colored and itchy, muscle weakness and joint pain, stomach gurgling and pain in the morning followed by diarrhea, head tension and brief headache, white tongue that felt like burning sensation and metallic taste in mouth, and lastly fatigue, all of these symptoms have started on each on their own time, for example the rash was the initial symptoms followed by the fever, then diarrhea, then the throat and white tongue with the throat lasting only for a couple days and white tongue remaining until now, which I don’t know if it was caused by my heavy smoking or by something else which i fear.
I have done an antigen/antibody test (i dont know which generation) after maybe one month of the exposure and it came back negative
My question doctor is that if these symptoms are truly from an acute HIV infection, how long do the symptoms last? Because all of my symptoms have disappeared after two weeks except for rash and white tongue which i am still experiencing to this day (almost two months after initial symptoms) with the white tongue being without any burning sensation nor metallic taste, just the coating. I have read online that all the symptoms should disappear after two to three weeks and advance into the asymptomatic stage, yet i am still seeing bumps and pimple shaped rashes appearing all over my body, both itchy and non itchy. Also doctor i am planning on doing a 3rd generation combo test by the end of this month after my graduation, because i have been escaping it due to the fear of the disease even though i read that HIV is no longer a death sentence and just a chronic illness yet i still fear it.
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34 months ago
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My final question doctor is if i do have HIV, does me being a smoker will dangerously affect my life in the short term, are there people out there who are smokers and ex smokers living with HIV? I know that smoking will decrease my life expectancy with or without having HIV but I’m talking about the short term, I apologize doctor for asking these questions which might seem a bit odd its just that i am afraid, thank you for your help
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
34 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions although I'm surprised you continue to worry about the virtually no risk encounter you described from about two months ago. Dr. Handsfield and I share the Forum and on this occasion I happened to pick up your new question. In preparing to answer I reviewed your two earlier interactions with Dr. Handsfield and agree with all that he said, including that your tests proved that your symptoms were most certainly NOT due to HIV and that the exposure itself was very, very low risk for other STIs and virtually no risk for HIV.
The first part of your current question is largely repetitive and the answers will not change- the symptoms you describe are not worrisome for recently acquired HIV and the testing you performed, both previously and most recently all PROVE that your symptoms are not due to HIV.
Your recent HIV test was a 4th generation test. 4th generation tests for HIV test for both the HIV virus (the antigen) and the immune response to the virus, if present (the antibodies). These tests are 99% conclusive at 4 weeks after an exposure and completely conclusive at any time more than 6 weeks after an exposure. No matter when performed, if 4th generation tests are performed when symptoms are present, a negative test proves that the symptoms are not due to HIV.
As Dr. Handsfield told you previously, they symptoms of recently acquired HIV (severe sore throat, high fever, widespread muscle and joint aches, and, sometimes a rah or diarrhea, all tend to occur at the same time. Typically they occur between 1 and 4 weeks after an exposure and last about a week. They do NOT occur one after another and symptoms occurring more than a month after exposure are NOT due to HIV
You should look for other causes of your symptoms, including your white tongue which may be due to smoking.
Smoking is bad for you, whether or not you have HIV.
It is time for you to stop worrying about HIV and more forward without continuing concern. EWH
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34 months ago
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The test i have done was not 4th generation as i believe the 4th generation test is not available in country i was residing in at that time, but i will be doing a 3rd generation test after i graduate at the end of this month which will hopefully be conclusive after 3 month.
As for the smoking doctor, in a worst case scenario i test positive for the virus, does that mean its too late for me as a smoker? As in the damage done to my lungs will not be reversible? Or with treatment my immune system can function properly and will be able to rid of the toxins once i quit smoking? Im asking you doctor because i have not found any answers on the internet concerning this topic. I apologize for the odd and repetitive questions doctor all i wanted was reassurance, this will be my last question as i will be taking the test and knowing for sure.
Thank you for your time and help doctor!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
34 months ago
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You stated above “I have done an antigen/antibody test”. By definition, this is a 4th generation test.
Your paranoia is getting the best of you. I said “smoking is bad for you, whether or not you have HIV”. That does NOT mean that persons with HIV suffer more from smoking!. Stopping smoking will allow your lungs to heal from any damage that smoking is already done to them. EWH
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