Mystery infection is unbearable

[DiDiva]

Hi everyone.  I REALLY need your help. Posted on herpes, will post here, dermatology and anywhere else that may lead to some clues, cause this is a real mystery! Long story short - slept with a guy unprotected (both thought we were clean from previous testing) and gave him oral, 1-2 weeks after this I came out with horrible vaginal infection.  Swelling, burning, discharge, severe itch, lesions on vagina, urethra and internal vaginal swelling/heaviness, pelvic pain, red spots/blisters on bum and inner thigh, hot sunburn like rash on buttocks and thighs, raw throat, blistered lips, fever, hot face, chills.  Was very very ill initially for two weeks but now it all comes and goes - don't have all symptoms all the time. Been tested for all stds including gon, clamydia, trich, hiv and herpes (swab, rapid 2 test and igg) - all negative.  Any ideas if there are any other stds that aren't routinely tested that this could be.  Or any other infection?  What about ebv gentially?  I NEED some ideas.  Doc doesn't know.  Will be a long time before seeing gyn so need to try and figure out what direction to go in.  Treated for yeast, bv and more antibiotics and antivirals just in case it worked - but still in lots of discomfort and PAIN.  ANY ideas will be great, thank you.  Need to sort it and get on with life again. BIG question is - any other infection other than herpes, hiv and hpv that is not curable - some relief in knowing that if I don't have these then at least whatever this is can be cured - once I find out what it is. Thank you so much.

[DiDiva]

Hey, wondering if you could help me with two more questions if you don't mind.  

I have read quite a bit about lichen on here and other sites but can't find clarity on the following. Can lichen cause red raw, itchy (bit of burning) areas on the oral lips and red raw throat as well as pain and swelling inside the vagina?  

And I have seen photos that show a white lacy appearance, but is this ON the surface or UNDER the surface of the mouth.  Since this encounter along with the other symptoms, I started getting a hard ridge-like growth under the inside of my top lip on the left side.  The area around it seems swollen like there is just extra skin in the area.  This hard line under the surface has now spread the whole length of the left side of my inner upper lip and feels like a worm.  Also got a few hard bumps under my tongue but have been told by dentist at a routine check that it was probably just normal variations or polyps, but wondering if this is a sign of the 'mystery infection' or lichen.  Still find it hard to believe lichen just happened to start exactly 2 weeks after this encounter and have such horrible symptoms, but need to rule it in or out. Will hopefully get a biopsy but in the meantime I am looking for info to be prepared for docs visit in a few weeks. Many thanks.

[DiDiva]

Oh my goodness.  THANK YOU.  I have been trying to find this information out for months and months!  I have asked doctors as well as looking online and nobody could tell me anything.  THANK YOU.  I really really appreciate your help.  Now, I actually have something to look at other than herpes, to see what fits my symptoms of internal pain and swelling, hot sunburn rash with sharp tingling on buttocks and thighs, red itchy bumps on buttocks and thighs and long lesions on vagina with discharge (as well as raw peeling skin on lips).  Even if it is to rule them out if nothing else.  Again many thanks.  You don't know how much you have helped me right now. Take care.  I'll post back on here with a final outcome if you're interested to see if i ever get a diagnosis?  Been told by doc if all tests come back negative then to take antivirals for a while to see if it helps as not everyone tests positive on blood tests, so it may end up with that.  Time will tell.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The viral STD’s are herpes, HPV, vytomegalovirus, molluscum contagiosum, Human herpes virus type 8, herpes A,B and C, HIV/AIDS and human T cell leukemia.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[DiDiva]

Thank you.  That does help. A lot.  Are there names for the other viral stds?  I am struggling to find any info.  I read somewhere that cdc states around 50 stds but I can't find a complete list anywhere.

Am I right then in thinking that viral infections other than herpes or warts, are not 'permanent' and will run their course and eventually go away and no longer contagious, or are there other life long viral stds (other than HIV).  It's been 6 months, so I reckon my body should have cleared a virus by now if it isn't herpes?  Or am I wrong in thinking that?

Thank you for your help with this.   You have been truly remarkable.  I appreciate your help so much.  I'm just desperate to solve this and get my life back on track.  Thanks again.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
By sexual intercourse of any kind, vaginal, oral or anal; bacterial, viral and fungal infections can spread. It is very common for STD’s caused by viral infections to transmit during intercourse or close physical contact. Some STD’s like herpes and genital warts may persist for long as the virus remains dormant in the nerves and may resurface later on or get transmitted by close physical contact.

Regarding the symptom of viral genital infections, its symptoms may involve redness, swelling, lumps, blisters, or ulceration of the vulva or anus sores.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[DiDiva]

Thank you SO much for this.  You have really helped by actually suggesting other stds, rather than just saying I must be imagining it all.  It has been 6 months and am defnitely not making these symptoms up.  I do wonder however, that if a bacterial infection can cause symptoms that come and go, or is that just the behaviour of a viral infection?  On that note, can you help clarify for me if you can get viral infections of the vagina and mouth from sex (unprotected vaginal and oral) as I have been told yes and no by different docs.  (and obviously that fit my symptoms described in first post, especially internal swelling pain and cuts on vagina and raw sore patches on lips)  If so, how to viral infections of the genital present and I am assuming they can't be cured, so just stay forever and get passed on to other partners?  There certainly seems to be a lot more to sexual health than just the common stds.....wish I had have known that!  Thanks again, you've been very helpful.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Yes chancroid and LGV can be cured. Chancroid is a bacterial infection and Azithromycin or a single IM dose of Ceftriaxone or oral Erythromycin are sufficient.

Treatment of LGV includes antibiotics and may involve drainage of the buboes or abscesses by needle aspiration or incision. I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[DiDiva]

Thank you very much.  I will mention this to my gyn in next appointment.  Can chancroid and lymphogranuloma be cured?  I understand HIV can't - which I am petrified about.  Not sure what the sypmtoms of HIV are and to be honest I'm too scared to research it.  Just praying the two blood tests I've had so far (few weeks and 2-3 months) are accurate negatives.

Been told by gyn it's possible I got bv from sexual encounter which quickly turned into PID which triggered lichen. But not sure any of this would cause a red patchy rash lasting a day!  Seems a lot of coincidences, but it's all I got at the minute as all common stds keep coming back negative and can't get herpes swabs done although IGG was negative.  Thanks again for taking time out to help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Apart from these STD’s you need to get chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum ruled out. The confirmation of the diagnosis can be done by physical examination and by taking smears from the lesions. Also HIV need to be ruled out again. Confirmation is only done by specific tests for HIV like western blot,PCR and ELISA. These tests may show accuracy after 6 weeks to 6 months as HIV antibodies take time to develop in the body.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. Treatment can be started only when the diagnosis is confirmed. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.