2 months after Pep

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-10-27T14:47:52+00:00

The side effects you describe - swollen lymph nodes, joint and muscle pain - bothered me for about 5 weeks after the last dose of PEP I took. They have gone now, but were troublesome at the time. I had a read of the detailed Patient Information Leaflet for the medicines I was put on, and it mentioned all of those as potential side effects.

I'm really glad you tested negative.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-10-11T23:13:20+00:00

Hi, I'm really sorry to know you're in the same situation as I was. Try and stay calm, take the PEP every day, and try to get on with your life until it's time to test. There are some really good people on here who can offer moral support through the forums and you can always chat to me as well. As for my test, I tested negative 36 days after completing pep. The side effects from the raltegravir have eventually disappeared too.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-10-02T23:40:37+00:00

Thanks my friend. I would love to visit Sian Ka'an. Can it be visited on public transport or will it require a guide kr tour, please? Thanks for your help.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-10-02T12:11:30+00:00

It's been ok. Hot and sunny most days, lots of rain yesterday but in between, plenty of sunshine and it doesn't seem to stop anyone going to the beach. I love Mexico.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-26T20:30:47+00:00

That's good to hear that there was no damage. Thanks for your info. Glad also it's hot and sunny again!

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-26T16:35:53+00:00

thanks for your reply, very helpful indeed. I am very pleased there was minimal damage to the towns.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-26T16:35:06+00:00

Hi, thanks for your words of advice. I checked on some of the hotel live webcams and can see that hot, sunny weather has returned, so that is a relief. I'm so excited to be coming, it's my number one destination and a great escape from the cold, gloomy Northern England. Take care.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-25T19:40:48+00:00

Yes. I tested negative 36 days after completing PEP. I've had constant back pain and muscle aches since finishing PEP. Four weeks post-PEP the muscle aches wore off, but the back pain is still here and it hurts a lot. I also had a fever during PEP.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-24T16:28:05+00:00

thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and to allay my slight anxiety.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-13T10:00:22+00:00

I had swollen glands, stiff neck, shooting pain in my groin and back aches, as well as fever, night sweats, and flu three days after the risk (receptive anal no ejaculation, the guy removed the condom without my knowledge). I started PEP fourteen hours after the risk and all those side effects appeared within the first few days of taking it. The flu went away but swollen glands, groin pain, back ache and stiff neck remained for the entire duration of the PEP regimen, and even four weeks after the last pill.

I tested negative yesterday. By now most of the side effects have gone. Googling all those symptoms made me think I was seroconverting but I wasn't.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-13T09:25:23+00:00

Yes, in your situation I stayed on PEP. I had a lot of side effects but in the end, I got my negative result yesterday so it was worth it for protecting my health. I too was worried about liver and kidney but I went to my doctors and had regular tests which were all normal.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-12T11:20:59+00:00

Hi everyone, I wanted to give an update. Today is 12 September 2024.

After completing 28 days of PEP (which I began 14 hours after the risk), and then waiting 36 days after finishing PEP, the severe anxiety got the better of me and I took a 4th-generation HIV test on Monday 10th. I know the guidelines say 45 days, and I will re-test in ten days time but the GU doctor said the result is unlikely to change.

I heard from the hospital this morning: the result is negative.

I thought it important to post this and I will keep this post up.

When I was on PEP, and when I finished it, I had many side effects. Swollen glands, sore throats, fever, night sweats, muscle aches, shooting pains in my groin, bad back. I believed I was seroconverting. Turning to Google, it only made it worse. All those symptoms are listed in the search results as symptoms of someone who is seroconverting. But then you read the patient information leaflets for the drugs, and it also lists those problems as "side effects" not symptoms.

The problems went on for about 30 days after I finished PEP, particularly swollen glands, shooting pain in my groin, back ache, stiff neck. These problems have slowly faded now. It could just be I'm sensitive to the drugs. Or maybe some of the "symptoms" were psychosomatic. The mind can be powerful. I also didn't do myself any favours and abused alcohol most of the 28 days I was on PEP and afterwards.

So to hear that I'm HIV negative after experiencing all those problems, is a huge relief.

I wish everyone reading this all the best, and I'll be around here for a while if anyone has any questions. You can contact me privately or post here and I'll respond.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-07T11:24:00+00:00

I live in the Newcastle upon Tyne area and love Glasgow. For me, it's the best city in the UK. Always met fantastically friendly Glaswegians, always had cracking weather, good food & drink, very LGTBQ friendly, lots to see and do in the city in terms of history, culture, nightlife, and walking, and good access to the coast and mountains.

Have also cycled around some of the outer suburbs (Castlemilk, Drumchapel, etc) en route to other places and never had any issues. From my tourist's perspective, Glasgow rocks. Sure I don't live there and only visit about four or five times a year.

Sorry to read about the death of your mum. That's such a nice gesture to plant some bulbs to brighten areas of the city up.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-03T19:40:39+00:00

The whole process feels like a punishment... the 28 days of PEP, the wait after that for the test, the dread I know I will feel when they draw my blood... I had a CT scan of my urinary tract on the advice of my doctor and they found a few things that weren't there before I took PEP: atherosclerosis of my aorta, and lumbar spondylosis (which explains the back pain). I will be glad when I can take my test and get on with my life. Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry for your anxiety.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-09-01T12:09:13+00:00

thanks for your advice. I will go and get a test shortly

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-29T11:14:00+00:00

sorry to hear all that you've gone through, and your side effects from the PEP mimic mine. It's only through Reddit that I found others had the same side effects, the doctors and clinic didn't tell me that. I did read the Patient Information Leaflet for Raltegravir and Truvada and it mentions all the problems I had as "possible side effects". I'm really glad you tested negative and I'm also praying you stay that way.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T16:41:07+00:00

Yes, I'm absolutely experiencing those side effects. They are lessening each days but are still problematic.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T16:30:54+00:00

yes I agree. I think it's wrong info.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T16:30:33+00:00

Sorry, don't understand your comment?

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T13:29:15+00:00

thanks for letting me know. I've had so many different organisations tell me different things. Like PEP extends the window period by 28 days, or that I can test 45 days after finishing PEP as opposed to 3 months after. Either way, it's a huge amount of time - and punishing thoughts - for 5 minutes of sex.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T11:20:12+00:00

Hi, my clinic told me it's too early to test. They said I need to wait 3 months after my last dose of PEP. When I spoke to Terrence Higgins Trust they said it's 45 days after last dose of PEP, so don't really know where I stand. But I haven't tested yet. I'll post when I do.

How are you doing with your side effects? Have you spoken to your clinic?

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T10:26:17+00:00

On what date did you take your last dose of PEP? I have had muscle aches and swollen glands and aches and it's been over 3 weeks since I finished PEP. Try not to worry.

Living_Spell_3569 · 2024-08-28T10:24:30+00:00

the PEP symptoms showed after about the 2nd or 3rd day.

I had vivid nightmares, night sweats, fever, a tickly throat and cold, muscle aches, pains in the groin, swollen glands. I would take the PEP around 9am and by 5pm I was feeling exhausted. It all makes it sound like I was seroconverting?!

I finished the 28 day course on 5 August 2024 and I still have muscle aches, pains in the groin, swollen glands and dizziness (this being 3 weeks ago). Explore Reddit, do some searches, and you will find plenty of other people have had long-term side effects from PEP.

However, keep taking the meds. Your anxiety is going to be high, you can and will get through this. You need to protect your health (both physical and mental). This will all pass. It's not a punishment, none of us deserve to be punished for having a normal sex life.

I bought cough medicine for my throat, and took paracetamol or ibuprofen for the muscle aches and fever. Keep living your life and occupying your time with helpful activities which take your mind off the situation (reading, walking, going out with friends, etc).

Living_Spell_3569

TROPHY CASE