HIV testing question

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Hi All,

I am not a nurse but I hope that I can get an answer to my question here. I went in to have a IUD implanted in Feb 24th and had a full STD/HIV panel done. I go in for my follow up appointment to check the IUD placement tomorrow. I went to a PT appointment about a week later for a back injury and decided since I was there to stop by my GYN office to see if I could get my test results back. My doctor wasn't in and the nurses in the clinic said that they couldn't check for me and that only the doctor could give me my results, but when the nurses(about four of them) asked if I had been scheduled for a follow up appointment and I said it was still a week or so away, they were sympathetic about my worry. But when the nurses asked when the test had been done and found out it had been more than a week they told me "Don't worry, you're fine" "If there had been something wrong the doctor would have called you RIGHT AWAY" "Don't worry, you would have gotten a phone call from the doctor IMMEDIATELY if there was something wrong, you're safe." They were all reassuring, and made me feel fine. Especially after week 2 went by and no scary phone call. But now of course, I am freaking out, what if the dr just got the result and forgot to call? What if they are waiting until I come back to tell me? As far as I know(and based upon my Drs attitude about it) I'm not "high risk" meaning not a sex worker, not and IV drug user, not sleeping with anyone that is and not having sex with MSM.

But still. I am so freaking scared. I don't know if it matters but my Drs office is at SFGH, and they are pioneers in HIV research, testing, etc..so I would think that they would be super on top of contacting someone to let them know status and need to come in to be informed.

Should I just relax and trust the multiple nurses that told me not to worry, that would know what the protocal(sp?) is for contacting someone after a HIV test? Or do I still need to worry. I know, I know, the internet is not a crystal ball...but this has got to be the scariest 24 hour stretch in my life.

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Specializes in NICU.

You do not need to be a 'sex worker' or IV drug user to contract HIV...all it takes it unprotected sex ONE time with ONE person to be at risk. Having said that, you are probably fine.

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Specializes in Hospice.

You can't get hiv results except in person, you would have been called by the health dept by now because it would have been reported to them and they would be concerned about spreading it to others. so i think you should take a deep breath and try not to worry.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Trauma, Transplant.

I don't know about California law, but in quite a few states everyone who gets tested is required to go back into the doctor's office to be told of the test results face-to-face.

I DO know that doctors in California are required to disclose all positive HIV tests to local health department for surveillance. It's also important to get additional testing done after a positive test to confirm the results, so it would make sense that they'd contact you if you tested positive.

If you're that worried and need confirmation, just be proactive and contact your doctor's office yourself and tell them you want your test results. If you have to go in and look your doc in the eye to get, then go in and find out.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I'm sorry about your situation. Please contact your primary health provider about this.

We cannot give medical advice here.

Closing this but wishing you the best.

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