[Question #8784] Male, 35, Nurse. My life has changed. Im so worried

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40 months ago
My unprotected 3 min Vaginal encounter was oct 21st 2021. I also received oral unprotected multiple times from her. Day 5 I felt pins and needles sensation on my scrotum and anal area. I also feel like I woke up sweating 2 nights in a row. I had major anxiety.

Oct 25th 2021 my Dr. tested me for std's (chlamyd, gon, trich, hiv) all negative. Visually the Dr. saw nothing on my genitals. urinalysis was clean. 
november 11, Dr. said I have hemorrhoids that he saw and palpated. 
Nov. 14th-  Alere determine hiv 1/2 ab/ag p24 4th gen test. NEGATIVE. 

November 21st My hepatitis panel- NEGATIVE
December - Alere test with std panel- NEGATIVE 
January I saw a 0.7 skin tag in groin, it was snipped. Pathology said "suggestive of condyloma". Derm told me I have nothing, had a dermatopathologist and looked and confirmed skin tag. Amended report. Stated I was clean. 
Jan 11th- I did a IGG for HSV1/2, I was positive for hsv 1 (i had cold sores many times before) and negative for hsv 2. 
Jan 31st, Cystoscopy- NEGATIVE
Feb 27th, Alere- NEGATIVE.  

Is the Alere tests accurate? for hiv 2 as well? 
Should I be worry free about HPV even though its amended?
Any chance I could have hsv 2? IGG was on 2 months and 21 days. 

I sometimes get pain at the base of my penis and feel pressure in the anal region. When I finish peeing, I feel like I can push more out and I do. The very mild pain feeling is there for a day, then gone for weeks. Its random here and there. Urologist in jan said i'm fine.

Do I have something? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
40 months ago
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

No STI is a likely cause of any of the symptoms you describe. In addition, you likely were at low risk for any STI:   even if your partner was infected, a single episode of vaginal sex usually doesn't transmit most STIs, and oral sex is even lower risk, even with several exposures. In addition, all the tests you describe are highly reliable:  you can be confident you have none of the infections for which you have been tested. Finally, examination and the professional advice of physicians who understand STIs, including most dermatologists and urologists, is also strong evidence that nothing is wrong.

The only slight concern might have been the initial pathology report on the skin tag, "possible condyloma" (i.e. wart). However, a dermatopathologist's diagnosis after evaluating the biopsy confirms for sure it wasn't due to HPV.

All your symptoms are most consistent with psychological origins -- anxiety, stress, etc -- perhaps related to a sexual decision you regret. (If you have frankly described these symptoms to one or more of your doctors, I would think they have also mentioned this possibility, right?) Do your best to go forward with confidence you do not have HIV, HSV2, or any other STI from the exposures you have described. If your fears continue despite this reasoned, science based advice -- and perhaps similar opinions from your doctor(s) -- professional counseling might be the next step.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear. Best wishes.

HHH, MD
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40 months ago
I remember this girl telling me things about herself like she used to work as a prostitute for the city of detroit, and that she had a procedure done to fix her throat because it kept closing on her. I keep thinking IFFF I had HPV, it would be because of her. I never performed oral sex on her, I only received. We have kissed with tongue and everything before, spit etc. I never had any warts except for the small tiny skin tag in the groin. 
Can my doctor mistaken warts for hemorrhoids? 
Is the IGG test conclusive, or is there a possibility I could have hsv-2? 
Yesterday I got this pimple on my neck, by my hair follicle in the back, It stings here and there but even things like that have me nervous. It's hard for me to accept that the pathology report was incorrect the first time because that was a pathologist. Sure he put "suggestive of condyloma", by why would they? Do you think the dermatopathologist who put "likely to be skin tag" would just put that? he reviewed the slide with 2 other dermatopathologists. 
I will also slightly mention, I have noticed that if pressure is applied to the anal region, I can feel the achy feeling in the base of my penis inside. That can't be sti related right? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
40 months ago
Thanks fore the additional information. However, you are grasping at straws:  it's as if you're trying to prove to me (and to yourself) that you have an STD, instead of accepting the reasoned, science based evidence that you do not.

None of this changes my opinions or advice. Once again you describe a low risk exposure, regardless of your partner's past sexual history. Genital warts generally don't occur in the groin and rarely are transmitted by oral sex; this information supports skin tag, not wart. As for the path reports, you've had one initial opinion by the least experienced pathologist, followed by contrary opinions from three others with more advanced training and expertise. This obviously is an irrational reaction.

You have no symptoms that suggest herpes, which does not cause the sorts of genital feelings you describe, and yhe HSV2 blood test result is conclusive. People get pimples all the time -- it's never a sign of HIV or any STD. And you cannot go through life assuming that every itch, tingle or twinge (in the genital area or anywhere else) is an STI or some other infection from the low risk sexual event you have described. 

Please do your best to accept the truth that you have no STD from the events all those months ago. If you cannot, all I can do is repeat my advice about professional counseling. Good luck.
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40 months ago
Last follow up question. So in June 2021 was my first exposure of unprotected sex with this girl that lasted like 3 minutes where she sexually assaulted me in the car. I told her to get off of me and she wouldn't until I had to shake her. Then october was when I was on top for literally 3 minutes again and stopped out of guilt. Yes you are right, I cannot be thinking like this and think everything is an STD. I truly know that i've gone way over the top here. My last question is regarding HIV. I did the Alere determine last on feb 27th which was 117 days post exposure. Lately i've felt a pin like sensation in my foot multiple times, I have also felt that in some (not all) fingers. And some tightness in the same left thumb that intermittently burns. Tightness is only present when I move my thumbs around. I'm sure its nothing, but can you shed some light on this? 
I really would like to get back to being myself and working out and living my life. I have not touched my wife since october because of this. I have a daughter and keep thinking i'll give her something if I touch her. I find myself washing my hands after every half hour or so hoping not to infect anyone. In the shower i'll wash my groin and then wash my hands and then wash my face after. I stopped masturbating because of this. I feel dirty. This girl truly gave me PTSD because she came back trying to get money ($500) from me claiming she was pregnant with twins after 4 weeks. She threatened me for months that she would tell my wife. My life was has been insane since last october. Thankfully she has disppeared now. I'm a clinical manager, RN for a medical group. I wanted to be a physician, but all this makes me feel like my life is over and I can't move forward in my life. What advice could you give someone like me?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
40 months ago
I'm really sorry to hear the information about sexual assault, PTSD, and your partner's financial and personal threats. These factors make your fears, and your symptoms, that much more understandable. But they do not change my opinions and advice, except to increase my suspicion that your symptoms have a psychological origin and make me even more confident that 1) you have no STI and 2) you need professional counseling to get beyond these issues (which answers your closing question "What advice could you give...?"). Please do it; there's no way you're going to resolve such issues by yourself.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful, and especially that you'll follow through with professional counseling. You also might discuss the situation with your wife:  although the initial discussion of course would be stressful, if your relationship is basically strong and loving, you might find her to be your strongest support. (Or meet with a counselor first -- with this aspect being part of you early discussions.)

Best wishes and good luck.
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