[Question #1179] More questions about persistent urethritis

96 months ago

Q for Dr Hansfield.

Follow up to Q 1156.

Please - No disrespect to the advice from Dr Hook, but I would also like a diff viewpoint and perhaps some additional assurances..

The most frustrating thing I experience is being told that I am too anxious and paranoid. I would LOVE to stop worrying about this and have peace of mind, but:

a) brief sharp, sting on meatus

b) A quick electric shock travelling up my urethra making me stop in my tracks.

c) Not being able to walk around without covering my meatus with plastic to prevent friction

d) Some (now daily) clear discharge .

are not things I can just manifest subconsciously. I have never had any issues like this before.

Symptoms line up 100% with encounter.

Issues have recurred when I have put concerns behind me and moved on.

I am not sure why bacterial infections are the only things discussed here.. (and I accept this is not what I have)

Herpetic urethritis for e.g. was something i had to research and test for myself, as Dr told me there was no such thing.

I don't think it is HPV as no warts (had penile scope too), and rest are asymptomatic. Even if I had 16 or 18, it shouldn't cause this so early, and testing for HPV could open up a whole can of worms, best to avoid, right?

Adenovirus?

Cytomegalovirus?

If an initial infection can cause subsequent predispositions to inflammation or nerve irritation, I can accept this, however, given what I've described and am still experiencing, I don't see how I can tell someone I'm sexually healthy without feeling guilty that I'm lying..

Edward W. Hook M.D.

96 months ago

I'm sorry to see that you've returned to her site. Dr. Handsfield and I discussed your post and he has asked me to respond, in part to help you understand that he agrees with my assessment and advice. Please understand but Dr. Handsfield and I have worked together for more than 35 years and, despite differences in our verbal styles, uniformly, 100%, have agreed with each other and our clinical assessments and advice to patients. Your displeasure with my assessment of your situation does not change our record of agreement. There are no recognized STI's which account for the symptoms that you have experienced. This includes herpes (herpetic urethritis does not occur without lesions), HPV (which does not cause pain), or adenovirus urethritis (which typically is accompanied by other symptoms and resolves spontaneously over the passage of a few days).

Isolated mental sensitivity is not a symptom of STI.

No STIs are recognized to cause penile "lightening pains".

A small amount of urethral discharge is normal, can be noticed if persons carefully examine themselves, and can be exacerbated with repeated self examinination.

Finally, as I have said before, we are confident that you can inform current partners that there is no current evidence that you have an STI. I am sorry you feel you have not benefited from our assessment and advice. Typically, symptoms such as your improve over time, a process that we would not expect to improve with further testing or therapy.

I wish you the best. EWH

---

96 months ago

Hi Dr Hook,

Thank you for your patience and discussing this amongst yourselves and the extra reassurance given that I am at no risk to others.. I accept this.

I hope I didn't offend you in any way with this follow up. It has been a really frustrating and traumatic month of searching for answers and ultimately coming to terms with this undiagnosable/untreatable issue (even if it is not an STI).

I won't hold you to this, but when you say these things typically resolve in time, are we talking 6 months+? A year?

Thanks again

Edward W. Hook M.D.

96 months ago

Typically these things do resolve over a period of weeks to months. As you might expect, they resolve more slowly when persons are more focused on the presence or absence of symptoms and resolve more quickly when the person is focused on other things. I hope that my reassurance will allow you to shift your focus to other priorities. Take care. EWH
---

96 months ago

Your reassurances have definitely helped, and I do feel it is time to just deal with 'it is what it is' and move on..

Thanks again!

All the best.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

96 months ago

I hope I was helpful. EWH---