[Question #10283] Any STI clues?
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24 months ago
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Hello, about 13 weeks ago I had protected sex, unprotected oral, and kissing with another male (I was top, did not give oral). 2-3 days later I presented with terrible flu like symptoms including worst headache, body aches, bad joint pain, extreme fatigue, heavy head feeling, and stiff neck. This lasted 2-3 weeks. I saw GP who said viral/run down and wasn't prescribed anything. I had no discharge or burning with urination. Flu like symptoms better after 3 weeks. Achey joints continued + fatigue. Was urine tested for STI, all negative, HIV rapid negative on 4 tests leading to 6 weeks after exposure. Was stressed it was HIV, high anxiety during this time. 6 weeks after encounter, noticed a painful bump/red mark (possibly 2). I tried to pop thinking ingrown/pimple and not sure if i sped up the healing time. Didn't think anything of it until 5 days after it appeared and showed it to a derm at 5 days online and he said it didnt look herpetic. Gave me fucidin and it went away after 2 days. No scabbing etc. 6 weeks HIV + Syphillis negative. From here on joint pain + fatigue continued + constant burning in my thighs, felt like they were on fire and had tingling feeling in my back. Hurt to wear pants/boxers from the burning on thighs. Saw GP, did a physical test and it hurt on the inside of thighs to touch but not outside. Was told it was anxiety, given lyrica but didn't help. For a while the burning thighs was the primary symptom.
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24 months ago
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Since encounter, negative HSV IGG at 7/10/12 weeks. 3 urine tests all negative for STI, 2 urethra swabs negative during times of burning sensation at tip of penis. KUB ultrasound clear, testicle ultrasound clear. The burning in the thighs subsided and then turned into itchyness for a week. Then additional issues started. Dysuria, burning at tip of penis after urination, frequent need to pee, trouble emptying. Then about 4 weeks ago i had a feeling of numbness in my face on both sides but felt more on left. Most felt from under eye to jaw bone. Felt discomfort in the ear and some chest pain as well. Numbness lasted for 3/4 days. Continued and chronic symptoms from this point are joint pain in hands and feet that comes and goes, lower back and upper back pain, had a second bout of dysuria symptoms, more facial numbness that comes and goes, burning at tip of penis and anus that comes and goes. About 10 days ago i had a very sore neck that i thought was a pinch and it hurt to turn to the right. My neck became more sore last Friday and i was very tired Thurs/Fri. Last few days have had bad hand and joint pain, headache, very sore lower/upper back, pain on side of torso, chest. I have been on doxy for 5 weeks 100mgx2. My GP has been away and i will see him on the 14th finally. All other visits were at a walk-in clinic. So far have been told prostatis for the urethra + anus issues. But the joint pain, overall body acheyness has affected quality of life. Was told anxiety which i accepted, but still thought i had HSV. Convinced myself i dont have HSV bc of negative tests + no lesions but researched more and though maybe meningitis or syphilis? Any help is appreciated.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions although I'm afraid I will not be much help. The sexual encounter you describe was very, very low risk and the tests that you describe have effectively ruled out the infections you were tested for- that includes at least testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and herpes. Your systemic viral illness could have been caused by any number o the large number of comment, community acquired viral infections that persons get from time to time. Your description of symptoms really do not suggest any specific STI syndrome. I will comment that persons can get quite sick from prostatitis and pain occurring at the tip of the penis is sometimes a sign of prostate infection.
Were you tested for hepatitis as part of the testing you've had?
I am glad to hear that you'll be seeing your regular doctor on Monday. My advice would have been to see your regular doctor who can do a thorough examination, order tests for other, non-STI-related problems and who can follow you up. While walk in clinics are helpful for many problems, when things get complex seeing a regular doctor who can do follow-up and has a network of specialists is the way to go.
I see no indication however that this is an STI and see no need for further STI testing. EWH
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24 months ago
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Hi Dr. Hook. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I am trying to put my mind at rest for at least STI being the cause it’s just so hard because the inflection point was 3 days after this encounter. I don’t have male partners and this was one time occurrence. I was tested for hep b, and my 6 week test included syphilis too. I did a urine test on Tuesday specifically for prostatitis and I haven’t received results. I am certain it’s not gonorrhoea or chlamdyia, or HIV as I have so many urine tests and I trust the HIV tests but just the tole whatever it is that has taken on my nervous system is what is hard to reckon with and why I lend to herpes or syphilis. Specifically the facial numbness I feel and those almost 4 weeks of straight burning in my thighs. 1. Does my initial symptoms sound like HSV meningitis? The headache I would say was debilitating but I didn’t have fever (checked every day) or sensitivity to light. I read this can occur without lesions. 2. For the first month after symptoms I had a really white tongue that I couldn’t get to calm down. Eventually it did. I also at one point had small red dots on both forearms. They looked like tiny pimples but no puss. Does that sound like anything? 3. I had another syphilis and hiv blood test today to round out 3 months. Would the doxy I have been on affect the syphilis test? If it’s prostatitis I’m at a loss bc my quality of life is very low right now and I’ve been on doxy for 5 weeks.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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I think you did something out of character for you and now are feeling a bit paranoid. You have not had lesions or anything to suggest these infections. Further, desite what you might see on the internet, your symptoms are really not suggestive of these diseases, and specifically herpes, in any way. Herpes typically affects nerves in one region of the body- to have herpes symptoms in two or more widely separated areas is simply unheard of. Nor do HSV symptoms last 4 weeks.
1. No they do not. People with HSV meningitis typically have meningitis symptoms during an active, obvious outbreak.
2. No. It sounds like you were looking all too hard and noticed changes that were probably normal.
3, Ten or more days of doxycycline would have completely cured syphilis and eliminated any symptoms if this were syphilis.
PLEASE stay off the internet. EWH
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