Firstly I would like to thank you for this online service you provide, it appears that it is extremely valuable to countless people! Thanks!
Anyway, I have spent many days trawlling the internet for information on HIV and it appears to me that you are the leading authority in the UK in this regard...
I recently slept with a call girl, we had protected intercourse without breakage (I think, but there did seem to be excess liquid in the end of the condom at the time which I cant fully explain and has been worrying me!!) with me 'finishing' on her cheast but in the following weeks I developed a pain in one of my testicles. At the time in my disgust with myself in what I had done I went home afterwards and had one of the most thorough showers I have ever had. I fear that I may have been a bit over exuberant in my clean because I think I managed to get water/ shower gel into my urethra which resulted in quite a sharp pain at the time.
The pain didn't go away so I went to see my Dr who carried out all STD tests which came back negative so he suspected Epididymitis and put me on a course of Ciprofloxacin, the symptoms however didn't improve. He then put me on a course of Trimethoprim but again no joy.
I explained to him that I read on Wikipedia that Epididymitis is prevalent in suffers of HIV, he told me that there was no link but he was happy to carry out a test for me.
The HIV test was carried out at 6/7 weeks ( or exactly 47 days) post encounter and also came back negative. I have obviously read a lot on the internet about the reliability of these tests and the more I read only serves to muddy the water for me even more.
My Dr is a private pricatice and it appears that he sent the tests to a company called 'The Doctors Laboratory' based on Whitfield Street. I presume you know of them, they may infact be a competitor of yours. Anyway when the results came back my doctor said that they are 100% reliable 'a couple of weeks post encounter' which is obviosly a bit vague. I have contacted them directly and they have informed me that I had an HIV 1/2 Ad & p24 antigen (plus hepatitis B profile).
In the mean time the Dr has said he is thinking of reffering me to a specialist in the new year but in the interim the worry of what might be wrong with me is quite debilitating.
I should also like to point out that since the encounter/ shower incident I have to take extra care when washing in the shower because I have had about 3/4 incidents where getting water in my urethra has caused significant pain and discomfort.
I have the following questions if I may:
1: In the regard of the HIV testing is the combined HIV 1/2 Ad & p24 antigen a 'conclusive' test or just a very reliable test at 47 days? Is there any point in me going to get a second test done at the generally recommended 3 months?
2. I notice that you generally refer to results at about 6 weeks as being 99.89% correct. Does this mean that 1 in every 1000 can be a false negative or a false positive or either. If this is indeed the case then forgive me for saying but to my mind this seems actually quite a high margin for error?
3: Is the fact that my urethra now hyper sensitive to water/shower gel a symptom of Epididymitis? And is Epididymitis attributable to HIV in any way as it claims on Wikipedia?
4: Is it possible that I might have another problem that my Dr might have overlooked? The pain seems to be just in one testicle and to the side but once every few days I appear to get ghost pains in the other testicle or in my abdomen but this will always only last a few seconds before vanishing.
5. Just out of interest what is the validity period for the HIV 1/2 Ad & p24 antigen test. That is to say would it pick up anything that may have happened say 5+ years ago or is there an alternative test for that?
I understand that a few of these questions might be answerd by my Dr but I find it hard to discuss this face to face with him especially as he sees other members of my family. It just makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.
I would like to thank you in advance for any thoughts!!
An HIV DUO test at 47 days is a conclusive test according to the UK's Health Protection Agency (shortly to be abolished apparently by the Conservative Coalition to save money).
We use TDL as our lab and they are reliable, honest, helpful and adhere to the highest standards.
You asked the following:-
Quote:
1: In the regard of the HIV testing is the combined HIV 1/2 Ad & p24 antigen a 'conclusive' test or just a very reliable test at 47 days? Is there any point in me going to get a second test done at the generally recommended 3 months?
As above, the HPA say that at 28 days the test is conclusive - should there be any concern the HPA recommend a further test at 1 to 2 weeks after the test at 28 days - you had yours at over 6 weeks - you are HIV negative.
2. I notice that you generally refer to results at about 6 weeks as being 99.89% correct.No I don't. I refer to results at FOUR (4) weeks as being 99.89% accurate using a DUO test Does this mean that 1 in every 1000 can be a false negative or a false positive or either. If this is indeed the case then forgive me for saying but to my mind this seems actually quite a high margin for error?Well, you're incorrect in your original statement regarding timings but you need actually to remember that everything is best in context - you used a condom which remained intact despite your worries; your test was negative at 47 days - you are HIV negative.
3: Is the fact that my urethra now hyper sensitive to water/shower gel a symptom of Epididymitis?epididymitis is inflammation due to some cause of the the epididymis - the tubes surrounding the testis - NOT the urethra And is Epididymitis attributable to HIV in any way as it claims on Wikipedia?I see very many cases of epididymitis and they are 99.89% not related to HIV
4: Is it possible that I might have another problem yesthat my Dr might have overlooked? The pain seems to be just in one testicle and to the side but once every few days I appear to get ghost pains in the other testicle or in my abdomen but this will always only last a few seconds before vanishing.
5. Just out of interest what is the validity period for the HIV 1/2 Ad & p24 antigen test. That is to say would it pick up anything that may have happened say 5+ years agoyes or is there an alternative test for that?no
I understand that a few of these questions might be answerd by my Dr but I find it hard to discuss this face to face with him especially as he sees other members of my family. It just makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.
My take on this is that you were 1) not exposed to HIV 2) had a negative test at a very good interval indicates that you are HIV negative 3) you may have a different condition but I don't know the answer to that as I have not examined/tested you 4) you've tied at leats one of your doctors hands behind his back because you've withheld information from him so you are being more than slightly unfair to him.
Your comments are reassuring however I have some further questions and in addition there have been some developments...
Believe it or not the day after I made my post I started to develop a rash. It began as a reddish rash in colour (slightly raised) occurring on the back of both hands and on my lower legs. Yesterday I noticed some purple (flat) dots on my lower abdomen, upper thigh, groin and a faint occurrence on my penis too. It appears to be without pattern and it is mildly itchy.
This rash has conicided with a rapid diminishment of my testicular pain.
I am now over 4 months post possible exposure (Sept 4th), is it at all possible that this is the late onset of hiv related symptoms? I understand that it isn't unknown for people to have delayed symptoms as late as 6 months post exposure?
This may seem odd but it feels to me that my body may have been fighting some form of infection within my genitals and it has now 'broken free' into my body resulting in this rash. Is it at all possible that the HIV virus can be incubated in the genitals for a period of time (resulting in my 47 day negative duo test) and then break out at a later date? I know this sounds odd but it is genuinely how my body feels to be behaving!!!
Out of interest could you explain (in your experience) what an HIV rash generally looks like. I have tried to find an explanation on your forum but as yet no managed to find one.
Your comments are reassuring however I have some further questions and in addition there have been some developments...
Believe it or not the day after I made my post I started to develop a rash. It began as a reddish rash in colour (slightly raised) occurring on the back of both hands and on my lower legs. Yesterday I noticed some purple (flat) dots on my lower abdomen, upper thigh, groin and a faint occurrence on my penis too. It appears to be without pattern and it is mildly itchy.
This rash has conicided with a rapid diminishment of my testicular pain.
I am now over 4 months post possible exposure (Sept 4th), is it at all possible that this is the late onset of hiv related symptoms? I understand that it isn't unknown for people to have delayed symptoms as late as 6 months post exposure?No - you do not have late onset of hiv related symptoms - you have a rash, plain and simple. A rash may, just may, be associated with HIV infection but only if you've had an exposure. You didn't have an exposure - you have guilt and regret. You used a condom - condoms protect effectively against HIV but not against guilt and anxiety relating to it. There are case reports in the literature of people taking a long time to seroconvert. However, these reports are old and relate to old, poorly performing tests. The HIV 200 Diagnostic Survey published by the association of american public health laboratories makes the very good point that "since the development of the first HIV testing algorith, HIV testing technology has changed significantly with the introduction of new immunoassays, point of care rapid tests and molecular detection techniques. It goes on to say updating the HIV testing guidelines is a priority for the APHL and the CDC.
That remains the case - whilst the CDC etc are updating their statements then there will continue to be confusing information. The UK's Health Protection Agency though is content with its algorithm - an HIV DUO test at 28 days and if needed a further test at 1 to 2 weeks later.
This may seem odd but it feels to me that my body may have been fighting some form of infection within my genitals and it has now 'broken free' into my body resulting in this rash. Is it at all possible that the HIV virus can be incubated in the genitals for a period of time (resulting in my 47 day negative duo test) noand then break out at a later date? I know this sounds odd but it is genuinely how my body feels to be behaving!!!
Out of interest could you explain (in your experience) what an HIV rash generally looks like. I have tried to find an explanation on your forum but as yet no managed to find one.you don't have one - there are some excellent texts available - and you can buy them on Amazon if you are really interested - HIV Dermatology is the search term.
Once again many thanks for all your help!
Hopefully you'll be able to put this to rest now. Stop worrying about rahses - or if you are really concerned go and see you doctor and show him/her the rash. One thing I'm really confident of is that you do not have HIV or an HIV rahs.
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