[Question #9135] Follow up

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35 months ago
Hello Drs sorry to bother you one more time, but I forgot to ask what you thought about the chance of syphilis here, I had a test at 5 weeks negative, didn’t see any chancre on my penis and I have been looking since the exposer, also no rash to speak of, but I do have a sore pallet on the roof of my mouth, have a metallic like taste and also both armpits are sore, I can’t feel any swollen lymph nodes but they are sore off and on? Any chance this is syphilis, I wore a condom and she seemed like she took safety to heart ,made me wear a condom for oral wouldn’t let me finger her or use my saliva  forlube? 
I have tested negative for hiv at 35 and 85 days so I think I am clear for that as you said in your last post.
Just trying to get your thoughts on my symptoms, all these started around 3 months after exposer and I still have them now a month and a half later.
Maybe Anxiety?
Thanks 

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
35 months ago
Welcome back to the forum, but I'm sorry you found it necessary. You got me this time, but I reviewed your recent discussion with Dr. Hook. I agree with all he advised.

Your risk for syphilis was as low as it was for HIV, i.e. near zero. Most syphilis in the US currently is in men having sex with men, and the chance your female partner has it is very low. And you used a condom, which is highly effective in prevention. Absence of a chancre at the obviously exposed site (your penis, above the condom) is additional reassurance. Finally, the symptoms you describe don't even hint at syphilis. But since you're concerned, it would make sense to have a syphilis blood test. At this point, i.e. over 3 months after exposure, a negative result will be conclusive. (Your symptoms also don't suggest HIV, and you've already had conclusive tests for that, so nothing more to say about it. HIV testing overrules any and all symptoms, no matter what they are.) And yes, these symptoms sound entirely consistent with anxiety magnifying trivial symptoms or even normal body sensations that you otherwise would not find concerning and might not even notice. Finally, when someone suggests his or her own symptoms have a psychological origin, usually s/he is right!

So all is well. If you'd like additional reassurance, have a syphilis blood test. You can count on a negative result.

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

HHH, MD
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35 months ago
Thank you for your reply, I don’t think I will get tested again and value your opinion, just have to get my mind to believe it!!
Thank you again for what both of you are doing!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
35 months ago
You're welcome. Thanks for the thanks.---
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35 months ago
Well since it is not closed yet, I have one last question, if you guys where me would you get tested again for anything or just forget about on move on? And trust the results!!
The mind is a funny thing 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
35 months ago
Get tested. Not because you are at risk or that I believe there is any chance you will have a positive result; I do not. But you felt the need to ask, which implies that in some recess of your mind you remain nervous about syphilis. Some people simply are more reassured by negative test results than by professional opinion, no matter how expert. (We don't take it personally!) It's up to you, but it seems likely a negative test result is the only thing that will allow you to stop worrying about it. Enough time has passed for conclusive results, so you can do it any time.

That concludes this thread. Best wishes and stay safe.
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