Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 654: On Window Period and HIV Symptoms

Hi pozzie, nice blog. Inspirational. I think I'm infected, do I have to wait for the "window period" to be over before I take a HIV test at RITM Malate?

Last Saturday, I just got flu like symptoms, muscle aches, chest pains, joint pains, rashes near forearms, and then since Saturday and upto now I still have blotch sa singit, "sinat" , swollen lymph nodes neck and groin, small "singaw" yesterday on the tongue but it dissapeared this morning, small rashes on the face and small reddish rashes on the chest and I don't feel normal since saturday. I got unprotected sex last September 8 from a
friend and another protected sex to a hooker. I plan to get tested this saturday at RITM malate, but then again the question is do I have to wait for the "Window period" to be over before I get tested or should I not? because I think the test done on RITM is different than the others

Mike

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi Mike.

Thank your email. Thanks for the kind words about the blog.

I want to address your concerns in the order that you wrote them.

1. Consult with an infectious disease doctor fast to identify the real cause of your symptoms. Please note that HIV treatment is differet from treatment of other infections, so why wait for the HIV test to get treatment for your current problems.

2. It is true that it is more accurate to take the HIV test post window period. However, I always recommend to take the HIV test the soonest possible to, one, clear previous exposures and second, to relax with the HIV test. Although you are still in the window period, almost a month post exposure, you can still take the test. There are some instances that a positive result comes out even during the early weeks post exposure and this depends on the ability of one's body to produce HIv antibodies fast.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy