[Question #7842] Last question

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51 months ago
Dear Dr. Hansfield 

I am sorry to be back again, this is my last question.     
   First I want just to make an addition to my previous interaction with Dr. Hook regarding lymph nodes. At the beginning of November last year, I have noticed that end of my tongue is white and has several small bumps and on the inner side of my cheeks, there are sort of wider bump-like areas with increased height with a white center. And tongue itself has white hairs, especially on its center. Nothing was bothering me, though sometimes specific taste comes and goes. This all started after a week of me having excessive anxiety and depression and also I have smoked a cigar and drunk ice smoothie a few weeks before. I went to see a doctor, and she checked it and said might be due to fungi, and took a throat swab, where no culture was found. Now I am thinking before going to the doctor I have brushed my teeth and used mouthwash, this may have been a reason that no culture was found. Subsequently, the white part of a tongue and hairs go by themselves in January but came back again after one month.     
   So over the past several months, I have observed how diet and sleep affect the tongue, so I came up with a conclusion that after consumption of a certain type of food especially ones with a large amount of fat or sleep time affect the tongue color. Also Dr. I would note that I consume a lot of sugar, sweets, and chocolate, with multiple teeth having caries. 
    My questions are do you think from my description this is caused by fungi? Do you think there is a connection between fungi and lymph nodes swelling? 

I was not thinking about tongue at all but searching on the web about these scared me out and made me more anxious.

    Also want to tell you that you were absolutely right about blood on snow interaction, it was not actually blood, it is highly likely was an antifreeze liquid that leaked from a car, these are a lot on parking lots.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
51 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum although I'm saddened that you felt the need.  When we last interacted, I suggest that you return to the doctor who evaluated your lymph node swelling previously- did you do that? if not, you should.  In addition, I URGE you to stay off the internet in efforts to self-diagnose what is going on.  Much of what is there is misleading (out of date, taken out of context, or just plain wrong) and there is no way to discern what is accurate and what is not.  for an anxious person such as yourself, the internet will just heighten your anxieties.  

By "fungus", I suspect you mean candida, the fungus which causes thrush.  I cannot tell you whether or not the white areas you noted where thrush or not- your cultures were negative however and thrush typically involves the roof of the mouth and/or the back of the throat rather than the tongue or side of the cheek.  If this is thrush, it may wel be related to your high ingestion of sweets- this can be associated with thrush.  There are many causes of discoloration of the tongue.  To sort this out you should get a professional opinion- if your regular doctor is not sure, she should send you to a dermatologist.  

Finally, none of this is related to an STI which makes me wonder why you have returned with this question.  We've established in previous threads that you are not at risk for HIV.  Perhaps you can clarify.  EWH
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51 months ago
Dear Dr. Hook

Thanks a lot for your reply! 

No sir, I have not visit doctor yet, I have appointment after a 1.5 weeks. 

Now I have stopped searching interenet. But the thing which have scared me is that I was dating a girl 2.5 years back (France) and we had condom protected intercourse only two times, and I remember that before we date that summer she had been in university volunteering program in French speaking part of Africa and she is sexually very active, and she always had condoms. One time my penis head cavity have touched a fresh ovular blood on matress. I have read a lot of similar questions answered by you and Dr. H and this have repeatedly been stated that it has never happened. 

I know the ureaplasma is not STD and I read on other your replies that it is not transmitted through oral sex. But how possible is to have ureaplasma if that was only sexual connection I have ever had?

Regarding throat swab do you think these test is accurate even though I have used mouthwash before?

I have visited ear doctor in January and doctor has screened ears, nose and throat and everything was good. I reckon she would have noticed if there was a problem with tongue or throat.
 
Can I consider my negative STI panel and two negative HIV and Hep C tests as 100% correct? or do you think I need more test?

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
51 months ago
Straight to the identifiable questions:

1.  Ureaplasma are a normal part of the general microbiome.  The majority of people have Ureaplasma in their general tract.
2.  Yes, you should believe your throat swab test results.
3.  Yes, an ear nose and throat doctor would have certainly noted it if there was a problem with your tongue, mouth, or throat.  The fact that no problem was noticed or mentioned should reassure you.
4.  You should believe your test results. Currently available test for STI ‘s, HIV and hepatitis or amongst the most reliable test in all of medicine.  There is no need for further testing.

I hope this helps. EWH

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51 months ago
Thanks for your patience and I am sorry for wasting your time with non-STI questions and no risk events. 

Some additions to a previous questions:
1. Event from 2.5 years back - zero risk and has nothing to do with swallen lymphs?
2. All tests were done on December and January (first interaction with Dr. HHH) and this additional information does not change your opinion or advise?
3. I can be absolutely confident and start dating or marry a girl?

- Touching upacked thoothbrash with dirty hands, dropping on ground or placing on dirty surface even though there is a blood drop - zero risk?
- Taking bank card which is wet with Covid desinfectant and no visible blood on it on a palm whith small injury 1-2 h before event from a store cashier who have a bloody and entire finger without skin - zero risk?

Thanks a lot! I will stop worrying about all these no risk and outlandish things. Best!

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51 months ago
Just forgot to add the main point to thoothbrush question: 
- Using that thoothbrush for brushing theeth - zero risk
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
51 months ago
As you know, these will be my final responses to your questions. Following receipt of these questions, there should be no need for further questions on these topics and additional repetitive questions may be deleted without a response.

1,2, 3.  Your test results prove that you did not acquire an STI or HIV from the encounter of concern. You do not have HIV or an STI from this encounter. Your lymph node swelling is due to something other than an STI or HIV. There is no reason related to the encounter you have described or your fears of HIV or STI that you cannot start dating or get married.

There is no risk of acquiring HIV from touching a toothbrush with dirty hands, from dropping a toothbrush to the floor or from touching a bank card that someone who is HIV has touched.  There is no risk from using a toothbrush that has been dropped or handled with unclean hands.

It appears that you were worrying entirely too much about no risk events. I hope the answers I have provided will be helpful to you. It is time for you to stop worrying and move forward without concern. This completes this thread. EWH

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