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Question

I am worried about starting HIV treatment

Question:

Hi there

I am a bit worried. I have been suffering from diarrhoea, mouth ulcers and night sweats for about 2 weeks now. This was following unprotected sex about 3 weeks previously. I went to the sexual health clinic and have had an HIV test. The nurse at the clinic says she thinks I am going through seroconversion. She said that if the result is negative, I still have to go back at 3 months.

I can’t believe this is all happening so quickly. I am also worried that, if I do turn out to be HIV positive, that I will have to go onto medication right away because of the seroconversion symptoms. My understanding is that the seroconversion symptoms die down after a while once your body has contained the HIV and that the symptoms are not necessarily indicative of having to start treatment.

Can you tell me a bit more about it?

Help!

Thanks

Answer

Thank you for your question.

I am sorry to hear you are going through such a distressing time. Seroconversion symptoms are not a sign of starting treatment. If the test results are negative, then you won’t need to think about HIV treatment. But if your test results are positive and you do need to start treatment, you should still be able to live a productive and full live. Many people living with HIV around the world are already doing that.

What is important at this time, is to find out what the test results say and then decide what to do. One day at a time.

Good luck.

2 comments

  1. Charlotte Walker

    You cannot get HIV the way you described. Your tests were all negative. You do not have HIV. Your symptoms are not caused by HIV and you should speak to your doctor so that he/she can investigate further what is causing them.

  2. JASON

    Please help me
    I was involved with a lady on the 26th of OCt 2010. My body starting feeling strange 2 weeks later. I did use protection and only lasted 15min. Oral was done without protection. I went for an HIV test on the 22nd Nov 2010 – negative. I have to now wait 3 months to go back and check. I got a infection on my left tonsil on Friday the 26th Nov, it was really sore but now its ok. My nose is a bit blocked and I am coughing a bit with flu- like symptoms. I did go to the doctor and prescribed some antibitoics, but it really really made me more depressed and anxious when I was on the medication. I even read up on it and it was some of the side effects. I’m now getting like white blotches on my palms that come and go from time to time.
    1) am I at high risk of HIV?
    2) am I just getting paranoid about my palms?

    Please Please help anyone, I’m really scared to death and frustrated …..
    Jason