[Question #9205] Sore throat and extreme weakness 2 days after potential expsr.- Any worry?
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35 months ago
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Hello, I haven't been on this forum in a while. This time I come with a valid inquiry.
I had sex with a girl thursday night 9/8/22 . After a while there was a mishap, and the condom rolled off. So, we had sex for probably 10-15 mins unprotected until we noticed. She gave me unprotected oral in the morning, I did NOT give her oral sex or anything. Just PIV on my end. Although, at one point she put her own vaginal fluid in her mouth and I kissed her.
Here are my symptoms: Bad sore throat that started saturday night 9/10/22(so literally 48hrs after) and extreme fatigue and weakness thru my muscles, muscle spasms and nerve sensations in arms and legs , sweating hot and cold and getting chills. These were my symptoms the first two days, but then it felt like I had more energy and like my sore throat was starting to go down.
Yesterday, 4th day, my throat was a little better and my lymph nodes in my neck on both sides are a bit sore and achey to the touch.But I worry slightly because today my sore throat is even worse, feels like the first day I had it almost. I also have the same lack of energy, muscle weakness, and cold sensitivity. I can't help but be a little anxious if something got into my throat, like if I caught something when she kissed me with fluid in her mouth like I mentioned.
However, nothing going on in the genital area besides cpps, which I suffer from due to anxiety last year, so I get some spasms along my scrotum and penis sometimes but they quickly vanish.
So overall it's contained to my upper respiratory area, but I am overall very weak today. So, should I worry? I know flu season is almost here, and it may be that, and I'm negative for COVID-19. Any input is appreciated, I have slight paranoia regarding Mycoplasma Gen./hominis, but especially the Ureaplasma species parvum and urealyticum as I’ve read they can cause sore throat. Any input is appreciated, thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
35 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum. Congratulations on having been away for 16 months and, hopefully, made progress in controlling your STI related anxiety. I’ll be glad to comment on your recent symptoms. I am confident that the sore throat, muscle aches, and other symptoms you experienced are unrelated to the encounter you described. They happen to soon. For bacteria or viruses to cause symptoms they need to have time to divide And for the body to begin to fight the infection. This virtually never occurs within two days of an exposure and most typically occurs at a time after four or more days. Thus, you could be entirely comfortable that the symptoms you describe are not related to an STI acquired through the exposure you described. On the other hand, common Microbes causing pharyngitis including strep and any number of non-STI viruses can certainly cause symptoms within a day or two of exposure. It is possible that you acquired a viral or streptococcal sore throat from the exposure you described but there is realistically no way that your symptoms are due to STI’s.
Your concerns about mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, or Ureaplasma species causing symptoms such as this or misplaced. I would not be concerned about them in the least.
I hope this perspective is helpful. I understand that you may choose to test for typical STI’s at some point in the not too distant future. That’s fine however, I can assure you that the symptoms you are describing at this time are in no way related to an STI acquired through the encounter you describe. EWH
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35 months ago
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Thank you Dr. I've come a long way from my STI-related anxiety, though some of it slightly persists, case in point being my concern about an STI being transferred thru the fluid incident i mentioned. If my current symptoms don't indicate an STI, that's all that matters right now. My plan is to monitor symptoms, test in the not so distant future, and update the thread for posterity- it may help others, there's a LOT of anxiety on this forum and I try not to contribute at this point. I couldn't help but be freaked out since my symptoms appeared exactly two days after, and I've heard of people becoming symptomatic with STIs like chlamydia or gonno next day or 2 days after. I've been taking Advil for pain, I know there's not much I can do besides test in the future and hope for the best. Thank you!!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
35 months ago
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Thanks for your thanks. Your plan is a good one. As I said in my original reply, STI symptoms virtually never occur within two days of an exposure. EWH---
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35 months ago
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Hi Dr, unfortunately I'm using this reply to ask a follow up question (I hope this counts as the first, and not the second, as I would like to update the thread in the future). I still can't help but be slightly worried. As of this time it's almost been 2 weeks since I did get sick, and while I do feel a bit better, I'm not completely there. I went to the hospital the night I asked this question, and was tested for flu and strep which all came back negative (strep A and B). I was never tested for mono or ebv or anything, but upon examination the doctor told me there was some "white stuff" in the back of my throat. I was prescribed amoxicillin which I am almost done with. That has helped with a stye that appeared on my eye but my general sickness is not completely over. As of this point I had a few decent days the past few, but today I have some weird pains and weakness in my hands/fingers and feet, though it doesn't feel like my joints are swelling or in pain, they are a little stiff. I can't help but think this is reactive arthritis, or something like that. My throat felt scratchy for a few hours earlier but is mostly fine at this time. Now if anything it's a slight general weakness and some weak feelings in my feet and fingers. When I look in my throat, there is a slight white patch around my right tonsil and what looks like a patch around the ride side of the area of the mouth where the teeth are adjacent. Like I've said I try not to give into the anxiety of the forum (I don't think I have HIV, or syphillis, personally) however I know oral STDs are a possibility, and I've read that gono's incubation period is only one day. I also again keep seeing stories of people with ureaplasma or mgen in their throat with stories similar to mine, and I'm stressed thinking I'll need my throat swabbed when my own Dr says swabbing for stds in the throat is so rare she doesn't do it.
If anything, just looking for some reassurance as I'm almost mostly better, it's just been taking a while and I know I can't test for a while since I'm on abx right now. The only symptoms that remain are throat feeling slightly sensitive and maybe scratchy at points in my day (mostly today), weakness in my feet and hands, and one swollen lymph node near the right-bottom side of my neck. It isn't huge, it's slightly painful and is mobile. The lymph nodes in my neck near the jawline are back to normal at this point. So would an STD behave like this? I honestly still have health anxiety and can't help but wonder if this is something terrible and if I'll be dealing with it for a long time, as it seems like it is getting better on a linear track, but I still am getting a little smacked by it as if it's fluctuating, so it has me worried. I'm also worried that when I test for STDs later, it won't be accurate since I've had throat symptoms and I don't have genital symptoms. My Dr said if we test for gonorrhea, it would have to be thru urine and it "wouldn't matter" since after some time, it would be entirely in my system and thus throat test isn't necessary (I hope this is true). Anyway, I couldn't help but worry today as my throat symptoms fluctuated a bit and I'm just not at full strength. I also feel some fluctuations of stinging or just sensation around my throat and ears too every now and then.
Unfortunately I'm worrying, but I've decided to change my lifestyle to not include casual sex after this incident. Would love to hear any further thoughts, thank you.
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35 months ago
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I also forgot to mention I had diarrhea yesterday for a lot of the day- I thought it may be due to the abx, but I read this could be part of reactive arthritis. I was having a lot of gut trouble yesterday, and today a little bit as well in the morning though my stool was much more solid today. I do have anxiety which means my GI tract is very sensitive right now so that could be a hand, but I'm able to drink coffee and eat spicy food with no issue. I will also say I have no UG issue besides the occasional tingle or spasm. I know stress could play a part in things, but it all feels very uncertain.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
35 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum all the way sorry you felt the need. Much of what you stated above is repetitive other than describing the evolution of your symptoms as well as your recent diarrhea. It is difficult to tell from your statement whether the misinformation about ureaplasma and mycoplasma you are stating reflects your previous Internet searches or you are continuing to do so. Please stay off the Internet as it will almost certainly mislead you.
Evolution of symptoms you describe is completely consistent with a plain-old, every day, non-STI upper respiratory tract infection.
The healthcare provider you spoke with was misinformed. A oropharyngeal STI would not show up in a urine test.
No change in my recommendations or suggestions. Stress and anxiety could certainly be contributing to your experience. . I hope that you will be able to move forward with your STI related anxiety. EWH
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34 months ago
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So I know this last post will close the thread. I'll give an update: I got tested in the city on Oct 5th for everything I could- oral gonorrhea and chlamydia, mgen, ureaplasma, syph, hiv and I think that's it. All negative, I'm not really surprised.
As of this point it's been 6 weeks since I got sick and my symptoms have wildly fluctuated in general. My throat is no longer sore, but it is still a bit sensitive. The right side of my face feels slightly off, and the inside of my mouth along where my throat is is still a little sore and rubbery feeling. It's feeling more normal at this point but still feels off. My feelings of throat/mouth sensitivity will fluctuate throughout the day and fluctuate in general every few days. I had a good week last week where I had a stuffy nose for a few days (and I thought, great- this fits the 'viral illness' profile) until my throat sensitivity came back and has lingered here for a while. I will also say my tongue hurt a bit for a few days 2 weeks ago but hasn't really returned, with no real physical indicator (I'd like to think that if this were a bacterial infection in my mouth, I'd have more of the physical indicators like swollen uvula, gray tongue, etc which I don't). One of my lymph nodes in my neck on the right side is still a little swollen, but not painful. I've had some stiff joints too the past couple days which seems rare since that was only occurring in my first week of being sick really. I've also had some blisters in my mouth that have appeared in various places and then healed quickly. I also have hsv1 and so I've felt sores appear in my mouth more often since being sick. I also have had no cough and thus it made me think it was bacterial, along with swallowing feeling a little difficult on the right side of my throat.
So, I really am doing my best to leave behind any anxiety about this. I don't believe I actually have an STD in my mouth, the only thing I am hung up on is the whole ureaplasma thing. Unfortunately I've done a lot of reading on the subreddit for it and am having trouble convincing myself it isn't the cause of my issue when it seems so implicated in the stories. I'd be very curious Dr what you would think of all this (https://old.reddit.com/r/ureaplasma). On one hand it seems like this is really an issue for people, but on the other hand I think a lot of these people are suffering from anxiety and taking scam ultra-bacterial tests that only make them more anxious about commensal material in their ug tracts (i suffered from this a bit last year when i was convinced e. fae was causing my symptoms- it was not).
Honestly, I do have health anxiety still. I've taken steps not to include casual sex into my life because it just makes me worry about all this. The doc I saw in the city told me ureaplasma is not a concern since it is part of the normal genital flora, but these stories on reddit make me think otherwise. That being said I feel like I'd probably have more indicators of it even if it were an issue with me. The doc I saw examined me and said he isn't concerned, and that is why I went to the city- to see a doc who had seen many patients.
I have just been very worried and stressed as I usually get better from viral illness within 10 days, but it's been 6 weeks and I still am dealing with it a bit, still fatigued and bothered by the way my mouth feels. I've heard there's a viral illness going around recently (at least in NY here) that behaves this way, that it really fluctuates around and creates fatigue and whatnot. I'd also like to think that if I did catch this illness, and I did somehow have UP in my mouth, that it would make me feel worse. Anyway, the timing of things with me getting sick and the longevity has just had me very worried, I haven't really done much exercising or anything due to feeling fatigue and thus have had a hard time focusing on things important in my life. I've been hung up on the UP thing since I can't test for it orally- tests don't exist. I'd like to think that if a commensal bacteria were causing problems, then it'd be a much bigger issue for the human race- humans love to have sex, especially oral, so wouldn't this be a much more widespread issue (thousands/millions of men give oral to women, then have a mysterious sore throat) ? At least that's my own idea, not sure if that holds water.
Also, if this girl I saw did have UP, and it were to cause symptoms, then when she gave me oral in the morning it probably would have gotten onto my genitals (as the fluid was in her mouth when we had sex the previous night) and thus I'd have genital symptoms/tested positive, but neither are true. This is just myself trying to be logical about the way transmission works, but I don't know if I'm right. I'm just worried and hoping this goes away at some point. I'm really rambling and probably getting repetitive.
Thanks for all the help of the forum, I hope to never return. I've come a long way from my HIV/sti anxiety in general, just this ureaplasma thing has gotten me hung up as it seems like it's causing problems for other people but the professional consensus is that it doesn't, so I haven't been sure what to believe. What I'm trying to believe, though, is that I don't fit the profile- I fit the viral illness profile. It's just lasted much longer than usual, but maybe having COVID in July has me a little messed up. Thanks for everything, any reassurance really helps.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
34 months ago
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Thanks for your follow-up. I agree with the doctor you spoke with- ureaplasma is not a concern. For more than 50 years, scientists have carefully sought evidence that ureaplasma is truly an STI rather than normal genital flora which may be shared between sexually active persons. Despite all that effort, there is still no convincing evidence that ureaplasma is an STI.
OTOH, reddit is NOT a reliable source of health information. it is not reviewed and not edited. Given your tendencies towards anxiety, my advice would be sto stay off of reddit.
This completes this thread. EWH
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