UPDATE
Thanks to all the bros who have passed encouraging information and thoughts. Regardless of how accurate people are, it doesn't matter. The fact that you guys are writing and trying to calm me down helps a lot. I know the literature can be pretty conflicting at times so I've decided to just go through the testing and listen to my doctor. I figure doctor's direct advice will always make me feel more confident than anything I read on the internet. That's just me.
So last night, like the previous two nights, I went stalker and went to Wanchai to hunt down the girl I banged. I struck out on Sunday and Monday but I finally found her yesterday at Neptune 2. I spoke to her and told her I was concerned because we went bareback and asked if she would get tested with me. She resisted because she said she had gotten tested before and she was clean and there was nothing to worry about. I asked her some follow up questions about where she got tested and such and her responses were good so I believed her. Specifically, I asked her where she was tested and she told me the address of the place, and I knew there was a clinic there. I also asked how she was tested and it lined up with standard std testing procedures.
She didnt' want to go, and I of course was not going to be satisfied by taking her word, regardless of how believable. So, I did what many people do in business when they face a problem, and I threw money at it. I negotiated for her to come testing with me today for $2000hkd and she accepted. We agreed to meet at 10am in Mongkok.
So 10am rolls around today and I'm sitting in Mongkok MTR and can't find her. She texts me and says she's still getting ready. I've been in thousands of situations where I've had to wait for women, but waiting for someone to come with you to take an HIV test is FUCKING TORTURE. You're thinking "what if she doesn't show up? is she scared? does she have something to hide? FUCK!" Anyways, she finally showed up at 10:25am and we headed off to the clinic in Central that I went to yesterday.
I got the name wrong before. It is called NeoHealth, and it is in the Li Dong building on Li Yuen Street East, close to exit C of the Central MTR station. 21st floor.
The technician from yesterday recognized me and gave me a brief smile as I walked in as he completely knew what the hell was going on. He's a cool guy.
I decided to have her take the rapid HIV test. I had considered having her take the Watson's home test but I'm being super cautious here and didn't want her to screw up the test. Again, this is like 99% about my anxiety management. I didn't want to leave the whole situation thinking the test might have been done wrong. Also, the cost difference is negligible. The Watson's home test is $200hkd. Getting the rapid test at the center was $350hkd. An extra $150hkd for the peace of mind of knowing that the test was done correctly is not even a question. That's why I went back to the clinic. Also, I guess I could have had her take the HIV PCR RNA test but then we would have had to come back in two days for the result and getting her to come back may have been cost prohibitive as well as a pain in the ass, so I just went with the rapid test.
She took the test and after 20 minutes of ball-shriveling waiting, she got a negative result.
The technician called me in as obviously he knew I was the reason she was here and allowed me to ask questions. I'm relaying what he said for people's benefit. Again, I am not giving any advice. I am merely repeating what was told directly to me. Take it for what you will.
The technician told me that the rapid HIV test indicates that she did not have an infection as of three months ago. He said that there is a possibility that she could have contracted it within the last three months. However, he said it was highly unlikely given the prevalence of HIV in Hong Kong of heterosexual and bisexual males, and how hard it is to transmit. I told him thanks and that I would see him tomorrow for my own results. When I get my results tomorrow, I will ask his advice on what follow up he recommends for me. Will have to take it with a grain of salt, given that they make money off me every time they test me. That may sound bad, but I know of doctors who intentionally overtest to make money so it's not like that never happens. Obviously, it's not widespread but it happens.
Hunter - If you have any specific questions about the HIV PCR RNA test you want me to ask, let me know and I'll ask for you. Or you can ask next time you go.
After the test, I spoke to the girl and asked her point blank if she had any unprotected sex within the last three months and she said no, only me. I was looking straight at her and it did not appear she was lying but who knows.
I am obviously not out of the woods until I get my own results tomorrow but this was pretty good. My current anxiety level is down from a 9 to like a 4. It's a 4 because I've never gotten tested before and who knows what's gonna happen tomorrow when i get my own results. Still, so long as it isn't HIV, then I'm not too concerned because I can just be treated and move on with life. HIV is the one that's truly life-wrecking, and I'm looking ok at this point (knock on wood).
My total cost expenditure so far has been roughly $5000hkd. It's starting to rack up but totally worth it for me given my anxiety. If it happened again, I would honestly without hesitation pay another $5000hkd to avoid weeks of anxiety. However, if you are looking for a cost effective way to get the same results, probably not the best idea to do what I'm doing here. I'm totally disregarding costs. I didn't even compare prices at clinics. I just asked what their turnaround times were.
My next steps are to see my primary doc this afternoon and talk to him about the situation, and then get my results tomorrow. Will report back tomorrow afternoon.
Again, thanks again for all the helpful posts. | |
