HIV window quuestion

[Coldcut]

Hi to all expert bros here...

I will be going down for an AFA HIV test tomorrow but there is one question which I need advice from you. This is the way it goes...

I had patronised HCs over the past 3 years (from 2002 to present day) about 5 times in all. In fact all of these encounters involved sexual intercourse and of course protected with CD. Throughout all these 3 years, I have never taken any HIV tests which is beginning to worry me now...I know my guilt has started to play tricks on me and I should not fear to take the test cos it's my own responsibility for these choices I had made. Through these 3 years, I did not experience any symptoms (severe long diarrheoa, swollen lymphnodes etc...), but it's better to be safe than sorry. About a month ago, I had another protected session with a FL. And just 2 days ago, I had casual sex (also protected) with a female friend who claimed to be clean. My question is this...

1)Should I wait for 3 months to go foor the test after the last exposure(with my female friend)? or...

2)Should I go for the test tomorrow? The reason is because I want to be sure about my status for the past "paid" sexual sessions over the 3 years...and then go for another one 3 months later?

If I choose Option 2), will the result be more more accurate as I will be going for the test twice?

Please advise. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[sammyboyfor]

You don't need to go for a test at all. Your risk is as good as zero. You are at greater risk of being run over by a bus tomorrow.

Please advise. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[dt3305]

Protectd sex puts you at almost zero risk, that is if the condom did not break...but to ease your mind, go for test at the 1 month mark(from date of last exposure) and conclusive one at the 3rd month...

For me , while waiting for the 1 month mark, kept checking my temperature almost everyday...make sure no high fever(>37.8 for thermoscan)....and also check for signs of other STDs on my genital area...

Never felt the need for these extra measures to check in the past but guess nowaday with all this internet information about STD signs and symptoms and risk, getting a bit wary and worried...the worst is waiting for the test result...in 20 minutes of waiting for result, your life could turn upside down...

[Big Sexy]

my advice is... if you really want to go for the test... it should be at least a month from the time which u last had any sexual contact. in other words... u should wait for another month.. i know how u are feeling now...but it somehow defeat the purpose if u go 2 days after your last sexual contact even though your friend claim she is clean...

also no symptoms, doesnt mean no HIV.......but sam is right...your risk is consider low. :)



Please advise. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[Coldcut]

Hi Boss & bros!

Thank you so much for your advice and feedback... I think I will still go for the test... just want to feel convinced and safe. I guess the doubt has to be removed no matter what... probably I will go tomorrow, 3 months later and 6 months for the final conclusion...

Lastly Bro Big Sexy, within the 6 months window period, what are the dos and don'ts? no sex and not even safe sex during this period?

Thanks and regards! Appreciate your help...

[daneman]

Hi Bro,

As bros and boss mentioned earlier, the risks from your previous exposures are minimal to say the least. But if you see the need for a test to allay your fears, my suggestion is to wait at least a month after your last sexual exposure (the one with your friend), not that i feel that there was a risk, but rather to allay your fears. I mean if you take the test tomorrow, will you take the result as definative or will you doubt it? If you doubt it, and the what if questions start to bug you, will it be better to take the test later...saving money and the what if questions. In my opinion, taking a test after 3 months should be considered definative. Usually people take a 6 month test if they have unprotected sex with a confirmed HIV+ person, or have severely immucompromised systems before the exposure. MOH and authorities of many other countries consider a 3 month test definative, based on the modern testing equipment that we have now.

[Big Sexy]

this is a very simple,direct...yet difficult to answer question..it is the "mental thing"......let's see...

Do
1. READ, KNOW and UNDERSTAND HIV and other STD
2. Live life as per normal.

Dont
1. refrain from cheonging... it wouldnt be too difficult for you.. as you have said you only cheong about 5 times in 3 years...if really cannot tahan have to cheong then make sure u are capped.. even better if u can stick to one sex partner( not FL or WL) who u think is clean ( e.g wife/GF).

but please dont ask me how to live life normal if u have to refrain from sex... me myself cannot live without it... that is the difficult part) :D




Lastly Bro Big Sexy, within the 6 months window period, what are the dos and don'ts? no sex and not even safe sex during this period?

[Coldcut]

Thanks to all bros for your valuable advice!

Bro Daneman, thanks! i know what you mean. i know if i go for the test today, the doubts will not be cleared for sure...but i just wanna make sure if i am clear for the past sexual encounters for now, like those which happened more than 3 months back...but i will still go for 2 more tests to confirm...3 months later and 6 months later...but still i appreciate your effort bro!

Bro Big Sexy, thanks too for the advice on dos and don'ts! will take note and try to live life as normal...

Thanks again bros!

[Eastpipper]

nice to know that you are still in SB.Good Luck!

Watch out for buses when crossing the road later today! :D

[Big Sexy]

who are you referring to... :rolleyes: anyway such remarks/jokes are sick... and should be kept to yourself...:mad:


Watch out for buses when crossing the road later today!

[seesee]

i have a relative quite close to me and tell my family member he got hiv and cd4 left about 103 when he is in changi chalet and after release a few day leter he went to TTS and the cd4 increase by 20 to 123. he say it is a good sign for recovering. despite he stil cheong geylang for chicken and the worst is he is jobless and family does not give him money but a nokia colour lcd with camera a premium range one to him go geylang one round the phone missing and claim a blue shirt taxi driver took the phone to off set the bill.

what are my singapore gov. doing by letting a hiv carrier walk in the street. and plus he could not accept the fact he got hiv.

and he mentally unsound

i am going to crazy as he is releasing from mental hospital soon.


i have a problem still can understand what is cd4???

[Eastpipper]

who are you referring to... anyway such remarks/jokes are sick... and should be kept to yourself...:mad:

me refering to boss quote mah,why so hot? :confused:

[HOWITZER 155MM]

Bro Coldcut,

U mentioned that u had protected sex. How about BJ, were it capped or not?

[nastromo]

i have a problem still can understand what is cd4???
CD4+ is a type of lymphocyte (white blood cell).They are an important part of the immune system. There are two main types of T-cells.
T-4 cells, also called CD4+, are "helper" cells. They lead the attack against infections.
T-8 cells, (CD8+), are "suppressor" cells that end the immune response. CD8+ cells can also be "killer" cells that kill cancer cells and cells infected with a virus.

The CD4 count tells u how strong your immune system is, how far HIV disease has advanced (the stage of the disease), and helps predict the risk of complications and debilitating infections.
CD4 count goes down as HIV disease progresses
Normal CD4 counts in adults range from 500 to 1,500 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.

[laijong]

how long can he stay on if his cd4 is 104 in changi chalet last month and he have a check on 16 august found out his cd4 increase to 124 by 20 more. so concurrent how long can he survive, is this what they say about full blown hiv. or hiv carrier only. he suffering from (preumiou) lung disease?

[seesee]

how long can he stay on if his cd4 is 103 in changi chalet last month and he have a check on 16 august found out his cd4 increase to 123 by 20 more. so concurrent how long can he survive, is this what they say about full blown hiv. or hiv carrier only. he suffering from (preumiou) lung disease?

[daneman]

how long can he stay on if his cd4 is 103 in changi chalet last month and he have a check on 16 august found out his cd4 increase to 123 by 20 more. so concurrent how long can he survive, is this what they say about full blown hiv. or hiv carrier only. he suffering from (preumiou) lung disease?

It is very hard to say how long he will survive. People have different definations about what is defined as full blown HIV or AIDs...some say if your CD4 is 200 or below, you have full blown aids, others say that when you have thrush and other opportunistic infections, you have full blown HIV. My advice to him / her is to carry on seeing the HIV specialist. Nowadays, with the medication on hand, though expensive can extend the life of a person. It can increase the CD4 count. Ask your relative not to lose hope.

[nastromo]

It is very hard to say how long he will survive. People have different definations about what is defined as full blown HIV or AIDs...some say if your CD4 is 200 or below, you have full blown aids, others say that when you have thrush and other opportunistic infections, you have full blown HIV. My advice to him / her is to carry on seeing the HIV specialist. Nowadays, with the medication on hand, though expensive can extend the life of a person. It can increase the CD4 count. Ask your relative not to lose hope.


When HIV infects humans, the cells it infects most often are CD4+ cells. The virus becomes part of the cells, and when they multiply to fight an infection, they also make more copies of HIV.

The CD4+ cell count is a key measure of the health of the immune system. The lower the count, the greater damage HIV has done. Anyone who has less than 200 CD4+ cells, or a CD4+ percentage less than 14%, is considered to have AIDS

CD4+ counts are used together with the viral load to estimate how long someone will stay healthy

WHEN TO START TREATMENT

* Patients with symptoms of HIV disease or with less than 200 T-cells should all be treated.
* Patients with no symptoms who have less than 350 T-cells OR viral load over 100,000 should be offered treatment. Consider the risk of disease progression and the patient's willingness to start therapy.
* Patients with no symptoms, more than 350 T-cells AND a viral load below 100,000 do not need to start treatment. They should get regular viral load and CD4 tests.(Every 3 to 6 months to monitor the strength of the immune system)

[AfA_hmor]

Dear Coldcut,

You can still come to do the test, just to put yourself mentally at ease. We have alot of people coming to do the test, just because they think they are at very high risk! However, upon sessions of assessment with them, these people are actually very sane and safe as they used condoms!

Typically, we at AfA test site will provide two options: 1) To go ahead with the test so that the individual will feel good and safe. 2) To refund them.

But you never know if someone is telling us the truth, so we usually go ahead and let them do the test unless it is very assuring that he/she is telling the truth.

AfA outreach

[AfA_hmor]

how long can he stay on if his cd4 is 103 in changi chalet last month and he have a check on 16 august found out his cd4 increase to 123 by 20 more. so concurrent how long can he survive, is this what they say about full blown hiv. or hiv carrier only. he suffering from (preumiou) lung disease?

Dear Seesee,

It depends on individual. Some survive well while some do not. How long can he survive will depend on his responses to the treatment. We know of people who can live on and on for many years even after they developed full-blown AIDS - almost dying from the ICU. They miraculously bounced back to life and their CD4 count is getting better on treatment!

AfA outreach