i have had protected oral sex and protected vaginal intercourse 6 weeks back ..my vaginal intercourse lasted for few seconds only after oral sex .. I am not sure whether the condom is latex or non-latex .. i knew it is of durex but did not really check in detail .. (I came to know that durex has some non-latex brands too)..I am now concerned and doubtful of possible HIV infection because of some of the symptomes I have been experiencing since last 2 weeks .. I am having headache all over the head , pain in the neck, back pain , pain in some of the musles in the legs and discomfort in groin area(no fever, no rashes) .. though the headache and neck pain have been attributed to sinus infection that I have got,the back pain and pain in the groin area still make me nervous .. how to attribute the pain in the groin area to the swollen lymph nodes ?? I can not see any visible swelling in the groin area ... somebody please help me out !!!!! I am really getting scared

Doubtful Always,

If you used Durex condoms for vaginal sex, the chances of catching HIV are absolutely minimal.

As you say yourself, your headache and neck pain can easily be attributed to your sinus infection, and it is likely you had the back pain and groin pain before your worries started. It is simply you mind becoming more aware of the pain and therefore really feeling it.

It is not really advisable to even test after encounters such as your own. However, if you feel you can go through with a test, a strongly advise doing this at three months as a negative result (which it will be) will prove to yourself that you really are. It looks like you already have severe anxiety, and I strongly advise seeing a counsellor or therapist to help you through this time.

Good luck and best wishes,

Rachael

Originally posted by doubtful_always:
i have had protected oral sex and protected vaginal intercourse 6 weeks back ..my vaginal intercourse lasted for few seconds only after oral sex .. I am not sure whether the condom is latex or non-latex .. i knew it is of durex but did not really check in detail .. (I came to know that durex has some non-latex brands too)..I am now concerned and doubtful of possible HIV infection because of some of the symptomes I have been experiencing since last 2 weeks .. I am having headache all over the head , pain in the neck, back pain , pain in some of the musles in the legs and discomfort in groin area(no fever, no rashes) .. though the headache and neck pain have been attributed to sinus infection that I have got,the back pain and pain in the groin area still make me nervous .. how to attribute the pain in the groin area to the swollen lymph nodes ?? I can not see any visible swelling in the groin area ... somebody please help me out !!!!! I am really getting scared

Rachael,
thanx for your reply. It is almost 7 weeks since the encounter. I have given blood for ELISA test. Expecting the result tomorrow. But right now I am under medication for sinus infection. Does that effect the test result ? What should I do if the test turns out to be positive ?
Typically how long the symptomes of HIV infection last ?

thanx

Doubtful Always,

Your medication for your sinus infection will in no way at all affect the result of your ELISA test. However, a test at 7 weeks would not give a conclusive result and it would be advisable to have further tests at three and six months.

In the unlikely event of the test coming out positive, you will automatically be entitled to immediate counselling and will be referred to community services who are able to help you. You will be given the chance to start combination therapy which should commence within the month.

If you do have symptoms of HIV at seroconversion, the average time they last is 22 days. However, the time period may be longer or shorter and symptoms vary dramatically - they can result in hospitalisation or, at the other end of the scale, there will be no symptoms whatsoever. After these initial set of symptoms, most HIV sufferers experience no symptoms until HIV becomes symptomatic after an average of 8-10 years.

The very best of luck with your result tomorrow - please tell me how it turns out.

Best wishes,

Rachael

Rachael,
I have got my result and it is -ve.Thank god !!!
It is only 7 weeks since I had the exposure. But the testing service guy told me that it is more likely to remain same even after 3 months.He also told me that it proves whatever HIV related symptoms I am having can not be because of HIV infection.

With the -ve test result can it be concluded that the symptoms are not because of HIV infection ? Is there any other conclusive test to bypass the window period of 3/6 months ? I am willing spend money to get peace of mind

thanks and best regards
doubtful_always

Doubtful Always,

Firstly, congratulations! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I'm afraid there is no way to bypass the three and six months tests, even by paying. An ELISA test becomes positive when the body starts producing antibodies to HIV, and this can happen anytime up to six months after exposure (although nearly always within three months).

However, with your encounters, it is extremely unlikely you would have contracted HIV - most health professionals would not even advise testing after your encounters. From this, I can conclude that the symptoms you are experiencing are not HIV related.

Seeing as you ask, it is possible to get the "symptoms" for HIV and seroconvert afterwards, although I stress in your case your symptoms are not due to HIV.

Feel free to write back if you need more advice.

Good luck and best wishes,

Rachael


[This message has been edited by Rachael (edited 01-22-2001).]

Rachael,

thanx a lot for your reply.
I have been having symptoms since 3 weeks. Is it possible to have symptoms for 3 weeks and not have seroconversion ? Can HIV infection cause sinus ? I have read in a site that immuno deficiancy can cause sinus. Does HIV during its acute infection period can cause immune system to become weak or it is only upon later stages of infection ?

thanx
doubtful_always

It is possible, but unlikely, to have symptoms for 3 weeks and no seroconversion. A recent HIV infection does not cause a cold and does not weaken your immune system, but the stress can.

For your own peace of mind, stop looking for symptoms. You are at an extremly low risk of infection, and your next tests will be back negative like this one.

You should seek some counseling and stop trying to go through this alone.

Best wishes,
Francis.

Doubtful Always,

An HIV associated sinus infection would not appear until HIV becomes symptomatic, some 8-10 years after initial infection.

To comfort you, I am sitting here writing this with a sinus infection myself (probably why I can't sleep at 5am!), sore throat and low-grade fever (38.5 degrees). I know this is due simply to congestion.

Try to relax and, as Francis says, stop looking for symptoms. It is very easy to convince yourself you have HIV and much more difficult to convince yourself you haven't!

Good luck and best wishes,

Rachael

Hi,

I have got my test result today ( it is 5 days short of 3 months) and it is NEGATIVE !!! I hope this is conclusive enough considering my exposure .. last 3 months has been hell .. reading stuff on the web only to get more scared, nightmares, depression,....etc
Rachael and Francis: thanks a lot for your help and support. you are doing great job

Regards
doubtful_always

Great news! Thanks for writing back.

Consider your test result as conclusive: you did not have any risk anyway.

Have a happy long life,
F.

Francis, thanks for your reply.

Should I get tested again at 4 months. I have seen in many places that virtually everyone will seroconvert within 12 weeks.Can I take full comfort in my -ve result at 12 weeks or should I repeat it !!
Also , what are the chances of symptoms showing up after three months ?

Please advice !!!!

doubtful

If you feel you need another test for your peace of mind, then do it by all means. It's negative anyway.

If you are still afraid after, please consider seeing a mental health professional. Your fears will probably not go away by themselves.

You cannot get symptoms of the ARS after three months.

I am reading this post from several years back but i felt that it included some valuable info and so i am responding to it. I to get pretty frequent sinus infections which I of course originally attributed to having HIV, I however found out that this normally does not take place until the 8-10 year period after exposure to the virus when the immune system is weaker. These infections starting happening just 1 year after a possible miniscule exposure with someone who I had no idea of there HIV status. Another thing I found to be interesting about this post was the girl said that she had some pretty frequent nightmares as result of the anxiety. I to had nightmares, (nightmares about testing positive, nightmares about my dad coming to me and telling me all the symptoms he had before he died etc..) I know now after testing......NEGATIVE!!!!!! that these were all a result of my anxiety, well except the sinus infections, they were the result of continous exposure to my fiances mothers dog's who I was allergic to, and who brought my asthma out of dormancy (unfortunately) They made my sinus passageways quite clogged and then resulted in the repeated infections. My boss (my dads old doc and an excellent infectious disease doc) tested me and made sure my results were returned STAT! (as in 24 hr's) Of course I was negative. Infact he had received the results about two hours before giving them to me, I went to him and told him I was gonna go get us lunch and hes like wait sit I have somethin to tell ya. (my heart skipped a beat, and butterflys exploded in my stomach) then hes like um..... you are 100% HIV negative!) What a relief!, He hugged me and then took me to lunch. My b/f tested the following day and his results came back negitive as well. Wooo, thank goodness. My lymph node swelling, a result of my excellent immune system reacting to the frequent sinus infections, nothing more then that. My point is all might seem like it is pointing to infection but 99% of the time it is just fear that leads to these feelings. Good luck to all and I will continue to offer support to all those in need.

Wow... for a minute I thought that Rachael and Francis were still on the board.