My physical symptoms are caused by stress and anxiety?

[Regrets2010]

A month and a half ago I cheated on my girlfriend.  I had unprotected intercourse and did not know the other woman very well.  A day after I cheated, I developed flu like symptoms that lasted less than 24 hours.  I also developed the sudden urge to urinate with a slight pain in my penis and testicles.  Concerned I rushed to an emergency room.  They ran some blood and urine tests.  All came back negative.  The attending doctor said I was suffering from stress.

I never told my girlfriend that I cheated.  The first time my girlfriend and I had sex after my one night stand, I developed pain in my lower back. I also experienced, for the first time in my life, a strange sick feeling that came over my body.  

It felt like I was in a fog.  I was coherent but it was a very weird feeling.  All I wanted to do was lay down and escape the situation.  I wanted to be left alone. Throughout the next few weeks I experienced this strange sick feeling several times.  It usually occurred during meals where I lost complete appetite and all I wanted to do was to be left alone.  

Also, during this time, I had aches throughout my body as well as muscle spasms that lasted only a few seconds.  I would feel a warm radiating sensation in areas affected by pain too.  All the while I was crying at the thought of losing my family, my girlfriend, and the fear I may one day die from AIDS.  The thought of suicide crossed my mind many times.

Being certain that I had contracted HIV, I constantly searched online for hours the symptoms of HIV.  My life was crumbling and my work was suffering.

During the next 45 days I had four HIV, including an advanced HIV-1 DNA RT-PCR with HIV antibodies test, and three standard STD tests.  All tests have been negative. On paper I'm clean.

Why do I feel the way I do?  Why do I get a “sick” feeling? Why do I have warm sensations that travel around in my body?  I feel as if I did indeed contract a disease. How can I get my life back to normal?

[hppytrails]

My grandmother had a saying, "confession is good for the soul". How true it is. If you're having this kind of anxiety to the point of physical illness, I would suggest you bare your soul to your girlfriend and beg her forgiveness. Secrets are rarely kept for long, and if she finds out on her own, she will be more hurt and angry that you kept it from her.  I think that will relieve your fear and guilt better than a pill.
                              

[Regrets2010]

I visited a doctor who prescribed me a low dosage (5mg) anxiety pill. I started taking it the other evening twice a day.

However, I continue to have a warm radiating flush sensation in my scrotum/genital area. I've been tested several times for STDs and have had all negative results.

As crazy as this may sound, I've actually started to ice my scrotum for a minute or two. It seems to help as the area will become very cold for several minutes, but the warm sensation remains internally, but not to the touch.

Is this possible? Is this warm flush sensation all in my head?

I want to get past all of this and this strange warm feeling is driving me crazy.

Any recommendations or assistance is most appreciated.  Thank you.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Yes, you can take the vitamin supplementation if it helps with your symptoms. The temporary loss of motivation for exercise and other things is part of the stress you are under. The earlier you start forcing yourself to resume your activities the better. I can not provide you with a ready answer here for why you feel fragile emotionally, but you can get your answers during the therapy.

Best Regards

[Regrets2010]

Many thanks for your response doctor.  I have a few more questions if I may at the end.  

I have had a total of three STD tests and four HIV tests.  Three STD tests tested for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis. Two of the tests were performed 3 days after my sexual encounter. Also included in one of the early tests was a test for Hepatitis B and C as well as Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2.  The third of the STD tests was performed twenty-eight days after my encounter. All three STD tests were NEGATIVE.

As mentioned, I had four HIV tests.  Two tests were performed three days after encounter.  I had a rapid HIV test performed twenty-eight days after encounter. Thirty-two days later after encounter I had an HIV-1 DNA RT-PCR with HIV antibodies test (I read that this test is the most accurate early HIV test to determine infection).  All four HIV tests were NEGATIVE.

My chiropractor has told me that I sprained my lower back.  Researching online for warm radiating sensations in the body, I found that my condition may be related to my lower back pain.  But I am not 100% sure.

While doing research online on warm radiating sensations in the body, I read that many people recommended taking vitamin from the B vitamin family.  

Before my issues started, I used to exercise on a daily basis and would take various vitamins, including vitamin B.  However, after my physical issues started, I stopped exercising and taking vitamins.  I had no desire nor the motivation to do anything.  My appetite disappeared and all I wanted to do was sleep.

After reading your response, I will visit my psychologist this week and will see a psychiatrist in a few weeks (could not get an earlier appointment with any doctor).  
I want to get to the root of my mental issues.  Regarding my physical issues, I will visit my general doctor next week.  Why do I have a warm sensation in my body?  Why am I so fragile emotionally?

In the meantime, do you have any recommendations?  Should I take certain vitamins? Should I resume my exercise regiment?

Doctor, please help me.  Your guidance and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Your symptoms can be part of the anxiety associated with your situation. You should rule out any physical causes for your symptoms, including urinary tract infections. For more information you may post your query in the STD - International Forum here.

The answer to your last question lies in your ability to identify your emotional disturbances and feelings. As I mentioned earlier, all the symptoms you have mentioned here are known to appear in anxiety. But anxiety is still a manifestation of something deep seated. I suggest you consider psychotherapy to explore the deep seated beliefs attached to this event in your life. It's one of the ways you can steer your life back on track. A short course of anti-anxiety medication might help, too.

Best Regards