[Question #11201] chlamydia gonorrhea and any other bacteria

16 months ago

I'm sorry for coming again(last time). I was so obsessed with HIV that I forgot to tell you about my concerns about chlamydia and gonorrhea!

I have said before that I am bisexual and have had unprotected sex with both men and women. As MSM, I was also a recipient. My last relationship was 1 year ago and I had numerous tests for HIV, HEPATITIS etc. within 9 months, all negative. But later I realized that the symptoms I was experiencing (similar to chlamydia or gonorrhea)

My chronic symptoms:

conjunctivitis, white tongue, neck, nape and groin lymph node, rectal itching, rectal pain, very intense itching on the scalp and skin rash)

note: my groin lymph node swelled 1 month ago and was extremely painful

A full urine analysis was performed, everything came out clean, but a rectal swab was never taken because I did not tell the doctor about my receptive rectal intercourse and I do not want to. So I'm worried about this.

I finished 1 box of Augmentin last month. My symptoms did not go away. I started Augmentin again today. Does this completely clear up chlamydia or gonorrhea etc.?

Do you think this chlamydia or gonorrhea could have spread to my body? Are the symptoms similar?

16 months ago

I had to bring this up to you. I'm going to see an infection specialist next week for my symptoms, I wanted to get your opinion.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

16 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm sorry you felt the need again. This will have to be your last question about these topics: repeated anxiety driven questions are not permitted and this is your third.

Yes, amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) in the amount you took would have cured either gonorrhea or chlamydia if you had them. Your symptoms did not improve because they were not caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia, and probably were not the result of any other bacterial infection. And you are wrong to believe that your symptoms were "similar to chlamydia or gonorrhea": they were not. No STI causes the combination of symptoms you describe. There is no point in testing now for chlamydia or gonorrhea: probably you did not have either one, but if you did, they are now gone.

HHH, MD

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16 months ago

Thanks for your valuable answer.

a few questions with your permission:

1.for gonorrhea and chlamydia Is amoxicillin really effective? I know that doxycycline is usually given

2. I have had a painful hot lymph node in my right groin area for about 4 weeks and There is also sometimes increasing itching in the anus. If this is not from chlamydia or gonorrhea, do you think HPV can do this? I also have hemorrhoids maybe this is what's causing it?

3. My lymph nodes in my neck and occipital area change their size during the day, get smaller, but then grow again. and my scalp is extremely itchy. Generally, when my head itches, my lymph nodes enlarge. Does this resemble an STD?

16 months ago

In fact, on my previous visit, the infectious disease specialist said that my lymph nodes were not caused by infection. I'm sorry, but these symptoms that I have been experiencing for 10 months, especially the head itching and lymph nodes, have worn me out. I'm thinking of changing my decision and going to hematology. I hope these aren't actually an STD infection.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

16 months ago

1. You asked about augmentin (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid). It is true that this is not the drug of choice, but taken over several days, probably would cure both gonorrhea and chlamydia. (Amoxicillin alone may or may not cure gonorhrea, but is commonly recommended as a secondary drug for chlamydia in pregnant women, who cannot take doxycycline.)

2. HPV is not a possible cause of such symptoms. Having seen an infectious diseases specialist in person, you must not rely on this or any other distant online resource. The ID specialist is much more able to accurately judge the cause and treatment of these symptoms. However, I suggest you ask her (or him) about lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a severe form of chlamydia and a possibility for an inflamed inguinial (groin) lymph node.

3. There is no possibility that any lymph node can fluctuate in size over the course of a day. If you remain convinced about this, get in touch again with the ID specialist.

Taking all your symptoms together, there is no realistic chance that any STD is responsible. Here too the ID specialist is your best source for helpful information -- not this or any other online forum.

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16 months ago

Thanks for your quick answer.

Sir, I'm starting to suspect LGV. It says that in the 2nd stage, the inguinal lymph node is enlarged. Same thing happens to me too. And maybe that's the reason for the lymph node in my neck.

I have a few more questions:

1. I took Augmentin long after sexual intercourse. Would this work if LGV had developed?

2. I found 1 unopened box of Monodox 100 mg antibiotics at home. There are 14 pills inside. Do you think if I finish this as 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening, if I have LGV, I will be cured or might 1 box not be enough? If this is more than enough, I don't want to go to the doctor and bring this up.

3. I haven't used augmentin regularly and if it didn't work, could it cause chlamydia to become resistant and cause 1 box of Monodox not to be enough?

4. If I develop LGV will this affect my 11 hiv combo 1 RNA hiv test I had over the course of 9 months? Do I need to repeat?

Which one makes more sense, sir? Should I use monodox or should I go to the doctor first and explain the situation?

16 months ago

Last question: Since LGV is caused by the progression of Chlamydia, would 1 box of monodox still be enough?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

16 months ago

There is no such thing as "stage" in LGV. You cannot assume you have that based only on your symptoms. Probably you do not have it -- in part because although augmentin (or amoxicillin) is not recommended as the usual treatment, usually it would result in cure or at least substantial improvement in symptoms.

1. Yes.

2. Do not take doxycycline (Monodox®) or any more antibiotics of any kind until and unless prescribed by your doctor(s). At this point the main effect of such treatment is likely to be merely to further delay a final diagnosis. Discuss this with your ID doctor.

3. No. Unlike most bacteria, chlamydia never develops new antibiotic resistance.

4. LGV can be complex to diagnose. Having taken augmentin, even if it didn't cure you, it almost certainly would have turned a local (rectal or urethral) test negative. If your doctor DOES think LGV is possible, at this point the way to diagnose it would be to use a needle and syringe to attempt to draw pus from the node and test that fluid.

GO BACK TO YOUR DOCTOR! You might even consider printing out this thread as a framework for discussion.

Please note that repeated questions on the same topic or are discouraged and eventually prohibited. This being your third on your sexual exposures, symptoms, etc, it will have to be your last one; future questions on these topics may receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding.

I do hope the discussions have been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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