After a stupide episode with a sex-worker about 7 mounths ago I'm pretty sure (and very afraid) that I've got HIV. I've got ALL the symptoms in the book. Both the ARS-symptoms and other symptoms that isn't supposed to show up for many years.
At 4, 11 and 18 weeks I've tested "sligth positiv" on Elisa (all 3 times), and negative on Western Blot (all 3 times). Also I have a negative PCR-DNA at 6 months. Now I'm waiting for 6 months Elisa/WB result.
How conclusive do you think this results are? Shouldn't at least the neg PCR-DNA at 6 months be conclusive?

male_51

Well, there are a couple of questions it would help to have the answers to before I ventured into this nebulous territory: if the sexual activity was male to female oral or vaginal sex then the risk is pretty low. Virtually "no" if you were the receptive person during oral sex. Vaginal sex is also a relatively low risk when you (the male) are participating with a female. It is somewhat difficult to transmit the disease female to male. As for anal, I just don't know the stats (even though I hate stats), but suggest that if you (the male) inserted into the female, you probably run a low risk for HIV but a higher risk for other gastroenterological infections. ALso, if you were a receptive oral with male there is still "no risk". However, if you were receptive anal with a male without a condom in which the male ejaculated inside you, then (of course, only if your partner was HIV+) you may a higher risk. THis was an unprotected encounter, right?

Now, regarding the tests: I am dumbfounded by the concept of "slight positive". I have never, ever heard of one being slightly positive. HOwever, given that all of your tests were negative I would think that you are, in fact, negative for HIV. But, please, find out what the heck is "slightly positive". Is that like being "sort of pregnant"? chris

Hello cflas, and thank you for your replay.

It was oral both ways (unprotected), and vaginal intercourse (I think this was protected, but I was very drunk). (Very stupid of me, I know). It was with a female. I don't know her HIV status. It was a one time meeting. In fact the first and only time I've ever been with a sex-worker.
I'm thinking that may be it's HIV-2 or HIV-1 type O or N. She said she was from Spain (but I'm not sure). I don't know if HIV-1 type O and N, or HIV-2 is present in Spain, but it I think it is in Portugal (and that is the neighbour-country).
I'm thinking that may be Elisa is picking up type O/N or HIV-2 slightly, and Western Blot is not.
I also have the neg DNA-PCR at 6 months, but I think that is not picking up O/N or HIV-2 either?

As for the screening tests:
In my country they use "slight" reactive in Elisa screening.
I read: Values S/CO <0,7 is Neg. 0,7-1,3 is "marginal value". 1,3-2,5 is "slight reactive" and >2,5 is reactive.
My Elisa test came out x3 with "slight reactive" and the WB was negative x3 .

male_51

Hello.

I got my 6 months result today.
Elisa: "slight reactive".
Western Blot: Negative.
DNA-PCR: Negative.

My symptom is going on just as strong.
I'm still worried about the "slight reactive" Elisa and HIV1 - O/N or HIV type 2.

male_51

Vaginal sex is also a relatively low risk when you (the male) are participating with a female. It is somewhat difficult to transmit the disease female to male.


Forgive me for my ignorance but I always thought that taking HIV is a given once you make a sexual encounter with an HIV+ person, i.e. you will get HIV 100% if you make sex to an infected person.

Are you saying that it may happen that you do not get infected even after making sex with a HIV person

I talked directly to the professor that is responsible for the testing in the lab which analysed my test. (it's a lab at a big hospital). She sayd that the test they use is for both HIV-1 and 2, and for subtype O. So she was convinced that I don't have HIV. :)
Thank you all for your encouraging words!

male_51

DEar Landi: Yup. It is possible especially in a male to female vaginal intercourse situation for a HIV not to be transmitted. OF course, the frequency with which you have sexual intercourse with that person may increase your chances but, still, it is not necessarily a "given". For example, my wife and I were married for 7 yrs before I learned my HIV+ status. For the past 13 yrs, she has always tested negative. Chris

Dear Chris

Thank you for the info. I have always thought that it is enough to have sex even for once, in fact even if ju just insert only once let's say, to get HIV if one of the partners is infected.
I feel like an ignorant now.
Landi

Hi Male 51, I was just curious about the symptoms you had, you say you had all the ARS symptoms, can you please tell me which ones you had and in which time frame you got them, because Im going outta my head here, Ive got so many symptoms and am so scared ive got HIV, many thanks. My risk was pretty low, recieving oral from a sex worker unprotected and also deep kissing.

Hello AAA12345.
It startet about 1 week after the incident. I got lots of red spots on my tongue, and it felt just like I had burned my tongue on some hot soup. That lasted for months. Night sweat (come and goes). Diarrhoea for 6 weeks. Sore throat, "metalic taste" in my mouth. Muscle pains, "tingeling" in my leggs. Rash on my breast and neck. White fur on my tongue, some "wounds" on the side of my tongue. Some "pain" in my teeth. Swollen lymph-nodes for 5 months now. And for the last month I got pain in my throat when swollowing.
I've booked a appointment to se a infection-spesialist, but couln't get it until 8.nov.

male_51

Hey thanks for the information Male 51, Ive been going out of my head for the past 6 weeks now, mines started 3 weeks after the encounter it started with enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, they have now been like that for 4 weeks, ive been having night sweats now for almost 2 weeks now, ive been in this dream like state (ie my mind feels weird and everything feels like im in some sort of dream) for about 3 weeks which I think is due to anxiety. Ive been seeing a Pchychiatrist for a few weeks, and she says most of my symptoms (dream like state, night sweats, numbness) are caused by anxiety, the only thing that worries me so much are the lymph nodes, again thanks for the information, it just gives me some sort of hope to hear that you have had all these symptoms and are still negative, well done mate.

Okay folks, I am going to quote my doctor...because you have symptoms DOES not mean you have whatever in particular. Please take my advice I emlpore you to do so. Your symptoms could mean three million other things. Your Lymph Nodes are little Thank God for em infection fighters. They are gonna swell and be painful when you have a infection present in your body. So, I know you guys and gals have punched in thirty different scenarios to comeup with Swollen Lymph Nodes. Am I right???? I would bet a wooden nickel on that one:) They all said HIV or AIDS, but if you read the other fine print there are numerous other things that can cause them to swell. And look at the friend in question, had a test, Lymph Node issues for 5 Months and Voila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Negative!!! Hope I woke you up and got you off the symptoms...If I didn't well...I'll try again...:blob_fire

I had a potentially very risky encounter in February and had major swelling in the groin, underarms and neck starting some time after that that persists somewhat even now in September. I have had more HIV tests than you can imagine out to 6+ months and they have all been negative. I've had DNA PCRs, Oraquicks, Elisas and a Western Blot... lol ....I think (hope) that I just caught some other obscure virus that my body is taking a long time to clear. I have felt better the last month or so though. Best of luck to you!

Look buddy, i've had symptoms too, fatigue, fever on & off, upper respiratory infection that comes & goes, body aches, no swollen lymph nodes yet or body rashes......anyways it's just all a waste to time trouble for the mind...the only way to find out a negative status is to get tested.....at 13 weeks & if u really wanna be sure i mean put ur mind at rest at 6 months...although in majority of the cases what i've read about the 13 weeks test is conclusive.......

I don't know what the test are your speaking of? I do know I would only be tested by A Doctors office, A Quilified Lab, Health Department. Its verry private. Then you know the truth.

Hey Chadster and everyne else thanks for the advice, Chadster you say nodes swell up and hurt when you have an infection, but my nodes have just enlarged and are painless, you think thats normal? They are the size of a bean, all my other symptoms such as night and day sweats, numbness, feeling like im in a dream, I can put a name to them which is anxiety, but these painless nodes are just slowly slowly killing me. Anymore advice anyone please.

Hello everybody. I've been away from this board for a time. I really don't know how I am doing. I tried to don't think at HIV at all. I still got som strange symptoms, like enlarge lymph nodes, rash on my neck and breast, muscle ache in my leggs and white fur on mu tounge. It's been over 1 year now, and I'm thinking I may se my doc again to take a new test. What else can it be?

have you seen an ID spec.? i also have all the symptoms, even ones that don't show up early, supposedly, but neg. antibody tests. my gen. prac. referred me to ID, because she doesn't know what to do. i even have oral lesions and ulcers going on 8 months. glands were awfully swollen and painful. i don't know what to think

I am in, I also have many symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, white furry tongue, heat sensation/hot flash, throat/mouth problems(lump sensation and small bumps at the back of my throat), tinkling hands, sometimes body/lymph node pain etc for months already, after a low risk encounter. I hope it is also some other virus which causes all these trouble.

what do the bumps look like? i have been going through this and am curious to know what the dr. told you. have you been tested?

I am in, I also have many symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, white furry tongue, heat sensation/hot flash, throat/mouth problems(lump sensation and small bumps at the back of my throat), tinkling hands, sometimes body/lymph node pain etc for months already, after a low risk encounter. I hope it is also some other virus which causes all these trouble.

just curious-since we seem to be in the same boat-did you go for further testing?

just curious-since we seem to be in the same boat-did you go for further testing?

Not yet too scare for any test yet since I am studying in a foreign country so I am afraid a positive test will result on my visa being cancelled. Besides i was told my risk was too low for a test. But with all these lingering symptoms I don't know whats the difference between low risk or high risk anymore, so I'll probably get a test done as soon as my current visa expired.