[Mite]

good morning all, soo my new neurologist decided to redo alll my blood work (alllot of vials) and also asked me if i have ever been tested for HIV. I said no i havent been tested for HIV and hes like well might aswell do it. (2 weeks ago)

I went ahead and got tested.... now I cant sleep at night, im so worried and scared and its driving me INSANE.

I have no reason to worry really i know who my past partners were however, I have been reading online that theres a huuuge amount of people that think the tests are a fraud. that drove me nuts, the fact that people are told they are HIV+ but really they arent.

soooomebody calm me down lol. has anyone had this test?

regards,

Mite

[Sheltiemom18]

Hi, Mite -

First of all, please don't panic. I'm 74 years old, and this past January when the symptoms started and as part of much bloodwork, the HIV test was included. The ordering neuros are on the staff of The Cleveland Clinic. That test was done because it's one thing that can cause neuropathy. Also had a spinal tap among other tests. All were negative, except for the skin biopsy that showed the small fiber neuropathy.

Sheltiemom

[Marlene]

John was tested also but for different reasons. We were opposed but the doc slipped the test in with a bunch of others. I guess we needed to say NO very loudly because our discussion with him didn't translate well. I too was concerned about false positives for good reasons. I told this guy that with all John's been through, HIV would have killed him by now so there was really no good reason to pursue it. He was convinced that it played a role. I'm glad he was wrong on this and on the many other things that he was convinced were a problem. BTW....we dropped him like a hot potato. He was bad for our health and wellbeing.

I understand your anxiety around this issue. But just take it a step at a time and try not to worry about the "what if's"

Marlene

[echoes long ago]

i was tested for HIV as well as a host of other diseases,cancers and autoimmune conditions. i think its part of a pretty basic blood work up for those with PN. i wouldnt worry about it.

[cyclelops]

I have been tested for that on several ocassions including after needle stick injuries.....relax. It is very likely you will be negative, unless you are at risk, and if you should be positive, treatment nowadays is very effective.