Pre-emptive strike against HIV? - HIV Prevention Message Board

mcmkck11 · 09-12-2007, 11:28 PM

I had unprotected sex on August 4th with a girl I was dating. The very next day I had severe itching and "textbook" herpes symptoms. These continued for 2 weeks and have for the most part completley healed as of today. Unfortanetly since then, I also experienced green bowel movements, abominal pain, belching problems, general itchyness and muscle aches and pains in hands and arms, pimple like rash on chest. I got tested a week after exposure and tested negative for all STDs, but i forgot it was way too soon to test for herpes and HIV.

Then on September 7th I went to see an infectious disease specialist. He examined me, listened to my symptoms and thought i might have hepititas B. We did a rapid 20 minute HIV test that came back negative. I think he was trying to lift my spirits by saying most people who are HIV + are dectable at about one month because everything I've read suggests that is false. I also think he doesn't think HIV is the cause because the exposure was with the same female I had been dating and I had unprotected sex with her in Feburary, and since I tested negative in August my "odds" are good. I hope i'm wrong but I dont agree because

The blood and urine tests from September 7th came back today and everything (once again) was negative, which makes me believe that its HIV. Because there was and is something definitely going on with my body. To make matters worse I developed a bruise discoloration on my arm today.

I know I can't be for sure till I test again in November but would it be any benfit to start taking HIV medicine now? Given my long list of symptoms and the fact nothing else showed up in the tests I just want to make sure I'm giving my body the best shot at fighting off the disease as long as I can. Any input would be appreciated. (sorry for spelling and grammar : )

mcmkck11 · 09-17-2007, 05:44 PM

I'm confused. The board makes a big hooplah about too many HIV symptoms posts and yet the only threads anyone responds to are just that.

I know probably there are no doctors on the board but for those more informed and that have the disease what was the consensus about when to start taking meds. I've read a lot of conflicting reports. Any info would be appreciated.

smiteler · 09-22-2007, 07:51 PM

don't worry about what meds you will need,
find out what your status is first
from what your results are so far is very good news!
an earlier test result is a very good indicator of what your test results will be in nov. you might be worring about taking meds for nothing!
you can't go by how you feel or what your symptoms are to being able to diagnose you being infected a test is the only way

and so you know you can have hiv and be off meds for along time and be ok.
it depends on the strain of hiv you have and how your body resists and reacts to it.
it you do have it now it won't make a bit of difference if you start meds in nov or now. so you really should worry what the test result should be and no more.
good luck

mcmkck11 · 09-23-2007, 01:31 AM

Thank you smelter for responding. Your information is GREATLY appreciated.

smiteler · 09-24-2007, 10:05 PM

your welcome.
just so you know, i have been off meds for close to 3 yrs now and i'm doing ok.
if you became very sick then i might be concerned about the meds,the thing is they would put you on other meds first anyway until you became better, then they would put you on the hiv meds so you wouldn't even get them at first anyway ,but for the symptoms you have i wouldn't worry at all about meds,i would be thinking about what the test results are first.
my thoughts are that
the risk you discribed sounds like it is low risk to me,your early test is neg so chances are you are negative for hiv and something else is wrong with you and causing these symptoms.
good luck