Talking about home testing for HIV

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Faith

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4

Needle-stick injury and HIV Testing

I really need your HELP!

I have put myself in the situation and I don’t know exactly what to do. Since I was a little girl, I have always had a major fear of getting some type of disease.

Here is my story/situation
October 16, 2017, I was in the hospital visiting my grandmother when a man walked passed me while I was standing at a vending machine and a very sharp pain went through my back. This was the type of pain that I have never felt before in my life. Upon looking at the location, I realized how red it was and I didn’t know if the man had stuck me with something or not. This created a great fear in me. Because, I’m not sexually active at all and I don’t use any type of drugs, I didn’t know exactly what to do. So, I took it upon myself to start testing. I tested wherever I could with my doctor, different clinics, and different health departments. I tested for a total of 8 months. All my results have came out negative.

However, at my 8th month test, I was stuck by a dirty needle that was placed down in the testing chair in the health department (crazy, right?).

I confronted the staff about the needle-stick but was sent away with the statement that it was superficial and wouldn’t cause me any issues (even though it was clearly something BLACK coming out of my finger) about two weeks later, I developed all sorts of symptoms which included, swollen glands (even in my chest/wrist), severe headaches, joint pain, dry mouth, coated tongue, night sweats, stomach pain, and rash.

Since the last exposure which occurred on July 23rd 2018, I have tested a total of 15 times ( various tests) for a total of six and a half months. I don’t want to count my 8th month test because I don’t believe the test was done properly (he dropped the test and used a lot of testing solution and enough time was not taken to wait for the results (I don’t believe we waited a total of 20 mins. The control line did come up bright and clear-4th generation test.

New Testing History
2wks – 4th generation lab test
1month – Hospital (1day) lab test
62days – 4th generation lab test
91days – 4th generation rapid test
4months – 2 home tests/ hospital (1day) lab test
5 months- home test / hospital (1day) lab test / 4th generation rapid
6months – 3rd generation insti rapid
6.5 months – 4th generation rapid
8months- 4th generation (I am not sure if the test produced a true negative result because the testing person seem to be having some difficulty. The control line did develop.

My question is: Should I keep testing due to all the symptoms?

I really need your help with this matter because it has truly destroyed my life. Thank you so much for your help and time!

4 Responses

Brigette @BioSure
 Used on 02nd April 2019

Hi Faith, I really want to jump in at this point. Since starting BioSure I have worked with people all over the world - from people that buy our tests through to anthropologists and have seen such a wide range of emotions and feelings. Fear and anxiety are incredibly powerful and can really distort your thoughts. You have taken very responsible choices in taking control of knowing your HIV status, you should feel proud and confident of that. You are in charge of this. I think it would really helpful for you to speak with a counsellor as there is probably something completely different underlying your feelings and similar to testing, you can take charge of understanding that. Be kind to yourself, consider learning something like breathing techniques or CBT and know that you are in charge of you, you just have to think yourself into that space. There is a very real saying 'what you think, you become,' it is a marvellous mantra to follow. Please take care and I hope you feel better soon. My very best, Brigette

Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd
 Work on 01st April 2019

Hi Faith. The chances of one of these tests showing a false negative is extremely low, the chances of all 10 are virtually impossible. There are really only two things that can affect the result of a BioSure HIV self test. The first being on anti-retroviral treatment for HIV and the other would be if you have been vaccinated against HIV. I think you should visit your GP regarding the symptoms you have described as they could be a cause of many things however they are not a cause of HIV. I hope this has helped put your mind at rest. Kindest regards Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd

Faith
 Thinking on 30th March 2019

Hello, there! I want to let it go, I just don't know how to. I am so lost. It feels like life is over. Because I was able to clearly see something in my finger, I know that something made it onto my bloodstream. My glands started swelling all at once and it was so many and the severe headache and rashes were something different. My glands even started to swollen in my breast and cause great pain and numbness down the head and arm. I am very that it can be cancer. I can get over the possibility of hiv and cancer. Can the possible breast cancer be the reason why the hiv virus has not been picked up on my rapid tests. I don't want to die but this is all my fault.

Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd
 Work on 29th March 2019

Hi Faith, I would like to start by putting your mind at rest and say that you do not have HIV from the incidents stated. The symptoms you have described could be a cause of many things and are most likely due to stress and overthinking. Google is a fantastic tool until it comes down to searching symptoms and self diagnosis. HIV cannot survive outside the body for very long, meaning that your possible exposures are relatively low risk. You have done the right thing by getting tested however you now need to accept the negative test results and carry on with your life. We all have many stresses in our lives however HIV is not on of yours. I would recommend against testing again as this is only going to prolong the acceptance of your negative results. I hope this has helped however please don't hesitate to contact me further. Kindest regards Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd

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