Worried getting odd pimples, please advise

[abbr]

Background
For the last 2 months I have been experiencing severe stress and anxiety due to personal events.  One of them thinking that I caught an STD from having protected sex with a sex worker.  There was hand to genital contact also.

I performed all STD tests including herpes (both types), HIV and they all came back negative.  This experience however, put me into a total mental and physical breakdown. I had severe acid reflux and odd like hypoglycemic symptoms that my primary doctor could not figure out.

He ran all blood test including glucose test.  Everything returned normal except for a 24 urine test (5HIAA). The test came back first at 6.4 mlg and repeated two weeks later at 9.9  

My doctor then got me worried and wants me to see a specialist.  One thing that he did not take into fact is that I had a daily diet of 3 to 5 bananas for the last 3 weeks (including nuts) which can (according to my endocrinologist) raise serotonin levels.  So I'm re-doing the test again this week.

Current situation

Of course at this point I'm super stressed and anxious, I have started taking Xanax on certain days.  I also have tingling burning sensation on my feet and hands frequently.

Also I have noticed slight redness around my neck and a bit in the middle of my chest/throat area.
Starting last week I noticed pimples that appeared in odd areas, mainly on the upper chest area, some around my neck, lower, chest, tummy and a few on my thighs, one on my left forearm.  They have no puss or lesions.  They usually appear and go away within a day or two and leave a slight dark scar.

At this point I'm pretty scared because 1) redoing the 5HIAA test
2) slight redness around neck 3) pimples that appears out of nowhere

I'm not sure what to make of theses pimples, my doctor said not to worry about them but I know that I have never had these types of pimples before.

Please take a look at the pictures
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9109/leftshoulderzx8.jpg
http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/7417/upperchestan4.jpg

I don't know what is causing the appearance of these pimples, could it be an STD?  Or a disease?

Your help is greatly appreciated

R.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

They could be pimples.  They also might be molluscum contagiosum, which are a kind of wart that is sometimes spread sexually.  Even if that's what they are, the blood test results have nothing to do with them (I frankly don;t know what they have to do with.)  Have a dermatologist take a look.

More important, your anxiety, as you realize, is out of proportion and out of control.  You surely don't sound as though you have any serious STD contracted from the sexual encounter you describe.  Please get whatever opinions you need to lay this matter to rest, and then avoid such sexual contacts in the future, for both your physical and mental health.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[vernielou12]

I think you should take a breather,dude. Those pimples or whatever are frankly probably nothing to be concerned about! Acne can appear at ANY age on any part of the body! They do not look like an STD.
Besides,you said you were STRESSED,that in itself will give you pimples.
I think taking xanax for you is probably a good idea.You are worrying too much.
I used to be just like you too.Think about why it is worrying you so much...if you do have an STD,which all the tests say you dont,then what's the big deal anyways? Alot of people get them and it is very common and most are treatable.Unless you are being completely reckless and messing with everyone in sight,you are fine.
Here are some things to help you.
1) Get off the computer.Trying to diagnose yourself can just give you more anxiety.
2)Do something fun/relaxing like read a book or play a video game to take your mind off your troubles
3)get outside and get some fresh air
4)Laugh~enjoy someone's company,a girlfriend,friend,sibling,pet
Life is too short to do this to yourself.I know,I used to do it too.It will be ok =)

[abbr]

Thank you for the great support.  Actually I'm not worrying about having an STD.

It's just the fact that my primary doctor want's me to repeat the 5Hiaa test which is a test that look for a tumor.  Which in any case is extremely very very rare.

But due to the fact that my last results on that test were above the normal range, he is sending me to a oncologist (yaks!).

However, my endocrinologist said that I needed to redo the test because of my daily diet of bananas and nuts which can give false positive results and himself strongly believe I have nothign to worry about.

I know I don't have such disease but there are symptoms that make me worried such as the appearance of pimples on my body/ slight redness around my neck, burning and tingling on my feet and hands.

I think I am a hyperchondriac and I am over exerting myself. Sadly there have been recent past events that has put me in this mental state.  Such as lost of a family member and at the same time finding out my gf of 4 years cheated on me.

I just wanted the dermatologist to take a look at the pictures and give me an idea of what could be causing these pimples to appear suddenly.

Again thank you all.


PS after I'm done redoing the test and everything will be fine I promise I won't be the worry wart I am.