1st off I would like to thank everyone for replying to my earlier posts. I took a home HIV test and I was positive. I've been having a fever for the past 4days. Loose stool since the 3rd day after the encounter with the girl. My father was killed by a drunk driver couple years ago I guess it's my time to go 2.

I do have one more question.

Should I start meds now?

Should I take tylenol for the fever and nausea?

The symptoms go away after 5weeks after exposure and no symptoms occur for a couple years?

If you have any other suggestions for me I would appreciate it Thank you ALL!

The first step would be to find a HIV/AIDS support group in your area (look into a phone directory or do a search with Google). Then, you should go here and meet others HIV+ people. Ask them about good HIV doctors in your area.

You should really find a doctor ASAP, instead of trying to self-medicate. It's unlikely that you will need meds now, but he may want to give you a short treatment to limit the viral replication at this stage. You also need some baselines tests (another serology to confirm your status, viral load, CD4, STDs tests). Based on that, your doctor will decide whether or not you need treatment.

Without meds, symptoms of AIDS appear after a few years (more like 5 to 10). With meds, you will probably never develop AIDS and live a full, normal life. But you need to take care of yourself and find a doctor right now.

You can also look for the Hopkins-Aids.edu website and read the experts Q&A. But at this point, you should try to find some support and meet people, not waste your time reading some web sites.

Hope this helps.
Best wishes.


[This message has been edited by Francis (edited 05-19-2003).]

I have followed your story for a while. I am sorry to hear your results. Did you use the Discreet test? If you did then it may not be right. Also, how long did you wait to test? This may give us some insight.

M1, which test did you use? I agree with the above poster if you tested with Discreet disregard it.

Please tell us how you tested and repeat what your exposure was, and we'll go from there.

M1 also I just read your original post. Do you know for sure this woman has HIV? Did she tell you this? Do you have any way of contacting her and having her get tested?

before you conclude you are positive for sure let me tell you a story about the discreet test.. A guy on this message board had taken the elisa test at 3 months and it was negative. he was still paranoid so he took 2 discreet home tests at 4 months and they were both positive. he went to get tested afterward to confirm it and guess what he was negative!!! THESE TESTS ARE NOT FDA APPROVED!!!! there is a chance you got a false positve. I know your risk in considerable but please have a little hope!

http://www.1-minute-aids-test.com/

that is the test I took.

I went on the CDC website. I got infected on 4/24/03
My symptoms are showing up just like mentioned on the site. Recently my fever and fatigue are getting worse plus the test is fda approved.

How do i know she has HIV?

I was on the phone with her talking about the incident and I told her to take the morning after pill but she said she was on the pill. She also said that she made a big A mistake in her life. hmmm i wonder what that could be?

I have her number I havn't told her about my symptoms I don't know how to talk 2 her about it,nor do I intend on mentioning anything to my family(I'm a 21yr old college student)

I've been having really bad night sweats also so I'm going to make an appointment with a doctor tomorrow does it matter which doctor I go or do all do tests?

I'm going to take some more tylenol as my fever is going back up again.

I thought you said she was hiv positve

m1, I'm really sorry to hear you are going through this. As everyone has different opinions on starting medication the best advice will come from a physician. You definitely need to let this girl know you may be + incase she doesn't know. As everyone else has said have another test. Well, your doctor will probably order that and a million other tests when you go. Don't think it will be your time to go. This doesn't have to be anything more then what it is...a virus. A virus cannot kill you unless you let it. Now it's time to start taking care of yourself in everyway possible. If you have insurance you can go to your regular physician and they will send you to an internal medicine doc. If you don't then either go through a support group for assistance or go to a clinic that does free tests and let them know your situation. They will help you. I don't know if I'm suppose to do so, but I will leave my e-mail incase you want to talk on a more personal basis. I have a + friend as well as have an intercourse with someone who is +, so I don't know what you are going through, but can help you get answer you need. Take care and keep us posted. t22699@yahoo.com

Huh...the test you are telling us about m1, is NOT FDA-appoved. The website says that it "exceeds" FDA recommendations, but that does not mean it is approved.

Also I see it is from a company in Monaco....tahts Europe. When you say you went on the CDC website, what does that mean? Because I can almost assure this test is NOT FDA approved and there is a big possibility your test is a false positive.

Why dont you just go to a doc and have your test done? maybe at ehivtest.com, if you want it anonymous...Please dont rely on this test, I'm telling you man...it is worth it, get a better result! Positive results must always have to be confirmed by a doctor's appointment with counseling and all, and that test you took does not provide that.

Listen to me man, just this once, what have you got to lose? nothing!, and a lot to win if you come back negative!

Sorry I forgot to add this...the test says "Approved for sale in the European Union", you know what that means??? Nothing! There is no certification by any health authority that one can refer to and call to verify the accuracy of the test. No phone numbers no nothing!...that means I can just take any materials I want make my own "HIV test", and have it approved for sale!! Come on man, either way, you have to keep your chin up, dont give up, I agree with the posters here...find out about HER, if she is positive, using a certified blood test at a doctors office. An ELISA test. Ok?

M1.....PLEASE retake with an FDA approved test!! Go to your DR please, or buy the FDA Approved Home Access.

This test does not appear to be FDA approved. All these tests can make up any bogus claim they want. They ALL claim to be 99% accurate.

Please visit your DR or a clinic that does conidential/anonymous testing and get retested with ELISA ASAp.

Good luck!

PLEASE re-take with an FDA approved test. Go to your DR, or go to a clinic that does STD testing. Get tested with an ELISA. I know nothing about this test and have never heard of it. All these tests claim 99% accuracy but it is simply not true. Thay is why they are not FDA approved.

Good luck M1 keep us posted.

I am very un convinced that you are positive. Please go and be tested by a trained medical person in an approved HIV facility. I have reason to believe that the test was wrong and I really think you should go and test again. These types of transmissions occur very rarely. Despite what ppl may have been telling you recently. Your a man correct and she was a woman right? I dont know even the infectious disease doc I work for seems to be having trouble accepting this possibility expecially since you noted this one expousure as being the only one. It is possible but very unlikely, please test again!

Hello everyone again
I went to ehivtest.com and located a facility and got my elisa test. Results will be in on mon, although I already know the results will be reactive.

I got a cold and have been caughing my lungs out the past couple days. I already signed up for medical so I can start my meds asap.

Has anyone heard of Fuzeon? Supposedly this drug is a fussion inhibitor whatever that is.

Hi M1
I have been following your conquest here, and frankly when you get your results Monday, I hope it is negative. After all you have been thru, everyone reading here, sure can see what they should and should not do in their lives. I am new to this thread, and I am amazed as to the stress that our young people have these days. It looks like to me, you can't let your guard down, even once, for then life will be simplier. Good luck to all of you.

------------------
JeanneMarie

M1, Why are you so negative about this. Get the results, and after that plan your things either you are positive or negative. for me after all I have read your exam will be NEGATIVE. Hope to hear on monday from you.

i am terribly sorry to hear that m, please don't get too depressed about it, i'm sure we are close to a cure. i have a cousin who has hiv, he has had it for 10 years now, and he's doing pretty well on meds, so i would go to your doc, get a real test from them, and if it still comes back positive i would go on meds the sooner you do, the better off you are. good luck my prayers are with you.

I finally got my results they were negative at 29days
but my symptoms are getting worse I have a on and off fever that is getting higher also I have been throwing up for the past 2days it could be stress i don't know.

I used the test on Ehivtest.com they said the test was 50-60% accurate at 29days.

Could I have contracted a different STD other than HIV

I am also having flu like symptoms

If I go to the doctor they do elisa testing also correct?

When I found out I was positive, my first instinct was to protect my privacy and not tell anyone for about a month, then i decided that in a few days im finally ready to contact my doctor to tell him people i might have infected's names so he can anonymously advise them to get tested...this was a learning experience, hope that u helps u, i still dont know if im gonna tell my gf but we'll see..

YEAHHH!! m1 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I'm happy for your negative result, even if it is at 29 days. It is kind of hard not to focus on symptoms, I suffered the same thing, for about 3 months. But...the one definite thing that tells you are or not infected is a test result. You got a negative so far, taht is hope, hope you did not have before after that non-FDA approved test.

Yes, if you go to a doctor, an ELISA will be the test. But...being this soon I dont know if the Dr. will want to do one (they did it to me, so I had to wait 3 months). Anyway, just like I said before, keep your chin up. I hope things get better for you in time.

penilepete- How long did it take for your symptoms to show up are they similar to mine? on and off fever sore throat, stomach pain, fatigue. I'm in the same situation about telling my gf and how she will react. I don't know how to tell my family either since I will be moving out soon.

Does anyone know a good HIV doctor in the metro Detroit Area?

Thank you

M1 please get an accurate ELISA test done at your DR or a clinic. Please stop wasting your time and money on all of these non FDA approved tests, they are obviously causing you alot of stress. You might not even have HIV so please do not asume you do until you are tested at 60 or 90 days.

Pete, I applaud you for your decision to tell your DR. You can even send the anomymous letter to these people too, advise them to get tested. You are doing the right thing. However do you think it's appropriate t otell these people, who you no longer even care about, and not tell your GF? I would be just devestated if my boyfriend told everyone else, but me.

Please sit her down and tell her that you have recently learned that you are HIV+ and you are conerned about keeping her healthy so safe sex mut be adhered too. I highly recommend some couples counselling to for mixed status couples, I bet that will help alot.

Good luck

Temp: M1 has already taken an ELISA test at 29 days, and it was negative. I believe he took the first step towards clearing this up and I'm glad for him. I'd suggest you read the posts thoroughly before making your post. For some people, statements like yours may sound confusing, for this instance...confusing m1 about the ehivtest.com test he got, which is indeed an FDA-approved ELISA. It maynot be conclusive, but again, it can still be considered as a baseline test.

Thanks, and best wishes to everybody.