[Question #7963] 10-Panel STI Testing and Advice

50 months ago

Hello doctors,After many hours of obsessive researching and pouring through Q and As here, I feel it’s time to ask my questions. Before I ask, some background. All my life I’ve struggled with anxiety, along with some health issues like hypothyroidism and pretty constant digestive issues. I have a tendency to OCD on certain situations, and this has become one of those moments. In March of 2020, I met a girl who I had multiple unprotected sexual encounters, and we stopped seeing each other in may of that year. From may to September I had 3 more partners, all females and only the one in September was protected, the two others were not (some friends in my group of friends) my issues began after a sexual encounter in The middle of June. Within a couple days I had what I felt was some kind of UTI, and it lasted quite a while. I say my GP and they treated me for Gono. And chlamydia. It didn’t help. My testing for it proved I didn’t have it anyways. A month later they gave me a week of antibiotics because I was still complaining of it. Exactly 45 days after the June encounter, I took an oral fluid HIV test- negative. Then in August I had a 9-panel test done at my GP, all came back negative but HSV-1. By December 14th I had taken my 5th oraquick test and all have been negative. Finally February 2nd this year I went and had another 10-panel test done, all negative again except for HSV-1. My obsession has come because throughout all this, I’ve been experiencing tender nodes in neck, jaw and groin, as well as occasional night sweats and have had loose stools for almost a month now. I’ve been extremely strung out, as I’ve been with my partner for almost 20 years, and we had somewhat of a falling out at the beginning of all this in February 2020. We ended up having a child in January of this year, so things have just been extremely rocky, and I put my nerves at wits end. So I’m not sure if these symptoms are anxiety-based, maybe have something to do with possible celiac disease. I guess my ultimate questions are, can I be 100% without a doubt sure my testing is conclusive? Also, what kind of specialist do you recommend I see based on symptoms?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

50 months ago

Welcome to our forum and thanks for your confidence in our service. I’ll be glad to provide some information on STIs and testing which I hope you will find helpful however in my experience, getting accurate information is only a part of the solution to the difficulties you were having. Working through your anxiety and fears related to having had multiple partners and varying relationships are best addressed with professional counseling.

As a starting point, please remember that despite the unprotected nature of several of the encounters you described, your risk for STI’s is quite low. Most people don’t have STI’s. While you don’t mention your age, my sense is that you are probably over 30 and perhaps you were partners are as well. This is a relevant variable as rates of STI’s decline precipitously in person over the age of 30. Further, not only do most people not have STI’s but most single exposures do not result in transmission when partners are infected. Of course none of that proves that you did not have an STI as the result of one or more of these encounters,. However your testing does. Modern testing for STI’s including HIV is some of the most accurate and dependable testing available and all of medicine. In your case having tested twice validates that you do not have an STI. Additional testing for any STI is a waste of time and money.

Finally, a comment on the signs and symptoms that you report. Your loose stools and your night sweats could well be due to your gastrointestinal problems. As it turns out, reflux is a relatively common cause of occasional night sweats. As for the swollen lymph nodes that you can feel, this is entirely normal. If a person pokes and prods enough they can typically find lymph nodes in various parts of their body. This is normal. Detection of abnormal lymph notes is best left to a physician who can assess the size, quality, and distribution of swollen lymph nodes. Even if you do have abnormal nodes, these are non-specific findings which can result from a long, long list of non-STI problems and in no way suggest an STI.

My advice is to believe the testing that you have had. Further I would urge you to stay off the Internet searching for causes of swollen lymph nodes or symptoms associated with STI’s. While the Internet is a great source of communication, it is also an all too common source of misinformation as a result of statements which are made there which are out of date, taken out of context, or betray misunderstanding on the person who is posting them. Please do not search the Internet related to these problems.

I hope these comments and perspectives are helpful to you. EWH

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50 months ago

Thank you Dr, you guessed right. I am 35 years old, and my partners were all in their 30s except for one who is 28. That’s probably a moot fact. I certainly wasn’t hoping to get any kind of psychological help, that would be best left for someone with a lot of time and my credit card on file LOL. I appreciate your response, although I don’t know why I thought you addressing my questions would be any different than the hundreds I’ve already read that pretty much answer my questions. I guess as long as I can 100% rely on the testing I’ve had so far, I can at least put that to bed. If anyone is reading this, think before you act. Even if you never get an STI from mistakes, the psychological turmoil will take an affect in a lot of ways. Thanks again for answering my questions.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

50 months ago

Thanks for your thanks. My sense is that your insight into your concerns is a great starting point to move forward from. Take care. Stay safe. EWH---

49 months ago

Hello Dr, I wanted to just do one last follow up with you. I had a request to have one more 10 panel STD test done yesterday. All are back negative again except for HSV-1. This will be my 3rd 10-panel test since my last protected encounter (9.5 months) and 1 year since my last unprotected encounter (all PIV)

Can I say, with 100% conclusiveness, regardless of ANY symptoms, that I am free of HIV specifically, based on my last negative 4th gen result?

Thanks!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

49 months ago

Yes. EWH ---

49 months ago

Thanks doc. Please close the thread.

Sincerely,

Just another person with health anxiety