Catching Hell!

Here is my story. 22 yr old male. On October 3rd, 2008 I had a sexual encounter with another male (I am also male) that I did not know very well. I had protected anal receptive and unprotected oral sex. I asked him his status and he told me he tested negative two months prior. The sex lasted about 20 minutes as I was uncomfortable and I can remember checking two or three times to make sure he still had the condom on. Soon we parted ways and two days later I had a bowel movement. What I saw (sorry I know its gross) in the toilet bowl scared me. There was a large amount of white smelly mucus mixed in with my stool. In the back of my mind I was thinking it was semen, but upon closer inspection it looked and smelled like mucus that sometimes comes out after I have an enema. (I had an enema the night of the sexual encounter). I went on about my week with no problems until about a week after (October 10th) when I had very painful diarrhea. My anus/rectum seemed to be inflamed and HURT. After bowel movements I was still in pain back there for two days. Finally the pain ceased. I was too embarrassed or scared to goto the ER. A day or so later my bowel movements were not only painful when passing but now had a dark red/mucus coated to them and a foul smell. I became very constipated and had to really do some pushing to have a bowel movement. I thought I must have caught Gonorrhea or Chalmydia from him rimming me and so I took a 5 day Z-pack of antibiotics. I stopped the antibiotics because they were causing me to have extreme diarrhea and hives after day 4. Benadryl cured that. Around this time I got a really bad sinus cold and was very fatigued and constipated. I was in bed for about a week and finally felt a bit better. My bowel movements continued to have this coated/foul smell. At three weeks and two days I had an anonymous HIV test (oral swab) and I got the results a few days later (Negative). Around this time I noticed along with the constipation my stomach was throbbing and my lower abdomen had a feeling of pressure that wouldn't go away. A couple of days later this dull numbness and pressure made its way down to my right testicle. By this time I was completely freaked and went to the ER. They ran blood tests, urine test, CT scan of my abdomen, and an ultrasound of my testicles. They tested my urine for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Negative). They wouldn't give me an HIV test because I was being sent home. I was sent home with Vicodin for pain and told to make an appointment with my physician. The ER doctor asked me if it was possible I had an STD and I told him yes. He assured me I was tested for everything "major" that could kill me and my bloodwork was "super. I went home with major diarrhea for three days (due to the dye that was given to me for the CT scan according the the ER doctor) and began searching on the Internet and this really got me depressed. The numbness/pressure in my lower abdomen along with the throbbing ceased, but my testicles continued to be dull and had pressure. The diarrhea ceased after 3 days like the Dr. said it would. This dull pain in my testicles would discontinue when I would lay down, but anytime I stood for a bit or sat for a while it would persist. During this time I began to notice my throat felt strange. My esophagus and soft palate began to feel weird and I could feel small bumps. I can't explain it. Upon inspection with a flashlight in the mirror I noticed my uvula had a red spot on it and my circumvallate papillae were swollen and my tongue was tender (this is all in the back of my throat). My throat felt tight like someone was choking me. I freaked out again and went to the ER. They ran my blood and did a throat culture for mono along with an X-ray of my throat. It came back negative and I was again sent home with anxiety medicine. The told me I was having a panic attack. The swelling in my throat made me feel horrible and I was sent home from work because I was feeling so bad. I decided to goto a Medical Express center down the street from my job. There I saw a Doctor who informed me that I had a sinus infection. I asked him if he was sure because of the bumps in my throat. He said he was and informed me I had swollen lymph nodes under my chin. He sent me on my way with 10 days of 1500mg per day Amoxycillin and diagnosed me with Acute Sinusitis. By this time I was convinced I have HIV. So at week 5 post-exposure I went and had another HIV test (oral swab). A week later I got my results (Negative). Two days later my appointment with my PCP came around. I told her my entire story and she looked into my throat and said I definitely had something going on. I told her I was having continuous mucus in my stool with a foul odor, swelling in throat (but no sore throat), bumps on my tongue, and a frequent urge to urinate but feeling as if I still had to go. She ordered a bunch of tests including an hiv test, stool test, and urine test. I found out that day that I didn't have a bladder infection, but I would have to wait two weeks for my results. I have about a week and a half before I get results from these tests and I am full of anxiety. I can't stay off the Internet diagnosing myself. My glands in my throat are still swollen but not tender. Even after the 10 day course of antibiotics. I noticed yesterday I have what looks to be an open sore on the side of my tongue and the texture of the soft tissue in my mouth has changed (it feels rough). My testicles still have a dull pain and when I lay down to sleep now I get pain in my groin that is so bad I can't sleep without pain medication. The lymph nodes there don't feel swollen. I woke up this morning with smelly diarrhea. I ONLY use an enema before anal sex to (keep things clean). I don't have sex often the last time was four months prior to this encounter. That was the last enema I had up until now. The anal sex was "protected" in the sense that he was wearing a condom, but since I wasn't I can't say if it slipped off or what. My urine test in the hospital tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea which came back negative. Also the CT Scan and Ultrasound ruled out hernia. I always hear the hiv (ars) symptoms almost always involve fever and I haven't had one or chill or a major headache. I am waiting on the results of my blood test to determine hiv, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis. The stress that comes along with this uncertainty can drive one insane! Keep in mind I am now two days shy of 7 weeks "post-exposure". I am aware a 5 week hiv test is hopeful, yet far from conclusive. This is why I'm so scared and shook. My nerves are shot because all of these Doctors pretty much make it seem as if these symptoms are all in my head. I was a very health person before this. I had a conclusive negative hiv test before this drama so I'm sure I was hiv negative before this happened. PLEASE help me. Is this HIV or possibly HERPES, SYPHILLIS (syphilis), STAPH?

[LIZZIE LOU]

a post that long is extremely difficult to follow...especially when symptoms are never used to diagnose hiv, in that the symptoms of ARS are also symptoms of numerous other things.  the only thing we need to know is IF you had unprotected anal sex.  if it was protected...then you were never at risk of contracting hiv...period.

[nursegirl6572]

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well....but the good news is...you weren't at risk for HIV...you know your encounter was condom protected.  With all of the anxiety you have...you are now starting to doubt that, despite you even saying that you checked several times during the intercourse to make sure the condom was still on.  So, we know that you are ok there.  That also eliminates most other STD's as well.

My personal opinion is that perhaps the  intercourse itself caused some trauma in your anus...especially b/c you report that you experienced pain.  It doesn't take a severe injury to cause you symptoms.  

Additionally, there are a lot of reasons a person can have mucous-like stools, and foul smelling stools.  One likely scenario is a garden-type variety virus that you may have JUST been getting, and the timing threw you into a frenzy, understandably.

You are doing the right thing by continuing to seek medical care for your symptoms.  My advice to you is...give it a bit of time.  Eat a bland diet for a week or more and see if your bowel movements normalize.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids....the more, the better.  NO enemas.  If your symptoms persist, ask your PCP for a referral to a gastroenterologist, you made need a scope to rule out an injury, or diverticulitis, IBS, Chron's.....etc etc.  There are a multitude of GI disorders that cause these types of symptoms.  Almost every one, btw, is exacerbated by stress....so try to stay within the realm of reality and not allow your anxiety to make you worse.

Your test results would  be VERY resassuring if you had had a risk, which you didn't.  Hang in there....try to keep your anxiety in check, and keep following up with your doctor.  You were not at risk from what you describe, and I commend you for insisting upon safe sex.

Take Care.

[scaredandshook]

First... thank you so much for your replies. It really means a lot to have your input.

I still feel AT RISK because of the unprotected oral. Because the texture of the soft tissue in my mouth has changed. There has been swelling, blood blisters, swollen circumvallate papillae for over a month, and now I am getting sores on my tongue. I know that stress can induce a lot of this yet my body just doesn't feel quite right. I used a flashlight to look down my throat and these bumps/ulcers are all the way down my throat. The good news is I don't have a sore throat or problem swallowing so this completely puzzles me. I was on antibiotics and took nystastin but I discontinued that after a couple days because it caused diarrhea. This situation is ruining my family relationships also. I am snapping at people for no reason and just unpleasant to be around.

[LIZZIE LOU]

YOU are going on your fear...WE are stating facts.

nothing you did put you at risk for hiv.

[scaredandshook]

"nothing you did put you at risk for hiv."

I do not understand how you can say that. I had anal sex with another guy whose status I did not know. Sure a condom was used but I can't say for sure if it slipped or broke (I was NOT the one wearing it).  My tongue looks like something out of The X Files with bumps and open sores yet everyone seems to think my risk is all in my head.

[LIZZIE LOU]

"The sex lasted about 20 minutes as I was uncomfortable and I can remember checking two or three times to make sure he still had the condom on."

YOUR WORDS...NOT MINE!