Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

undiagnosed ID? need help

Hello, thanks for looking at my question. To start I am a 29 year old male who used to be in great shape and active with no complaints. Over the past 2 years my health has declined and I cannot find an answer after lots of doctor visits and tests.

I started out with viral type symptoms roughly 2 years ago after a one night stand with a female after unprotected sex exactly one month after the encounter. had bumpy rashes on the forearms and no appetite, with fatigue.

months after the initial symptoms i developed a chest cold with a bad productive cough. I was given antibiotics, to which the dr stated it was bronchitis. no relief what so ever.

6 months from that point the cough was still around which became more of shortness of breath at times, and some days i produce alot of phlegm others not any, but the shortness of breath is still there. I also started noticing skin lesions on my forearms that took months to heal. with recurring mouth ulcers.

I then went and had multiple blood tests. CBC all normal, hiv tests negative, chest x ray normal, allergy test ok, echo cardio gram of the heart, asthma test normal, breathing test normal.

To this point almost 2 years with these symptoms and im getting very frustrated and desperate as I am trying to get back into shape and any sort of intense workout leaves me very short of breath and constantly hacking up mucus. some days it feels like when I take a breath it just wont stick.

My dr says the lesions look like folliculitis, but not sure. Also sometimes it feels like every little nick or cut takes longer to heal or scars.

Any guidance and help would be very much appreciated. I am desperate at this point as I have spent way to much money than i can afford from bouncing around from doctor to doctor.
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
hey mkh9, just an update, I went to see a allergist, and he was saying it could possibly be asthma too, so he prescribed an inhaler. I used the inhaler over the weekend and noticed no change in my cough or shortness of breath, I did notice it made my lungs feel cool though.

I was reading around some other peoples questions, and came across someone saying they had low cd4 even though their hiv was negative. is this something I should maybe get tested for? Would my cbc be normal with low cd4?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Even though the CD4 marker can be seen in diseases or conditions other than HIV, you would usually see this on a CBC and/ or other blood chemistries such as a blood sugar.  This is because it is an immune marker and also shows up low or high when you have other problems like diabetes, or had an organ transplant, or autoimmune-disease and other things. So, whether you have asthma due to allergy or low immunity I"m not sure it would show up in your CD4 or not if your CBC was normal. I think you would see it if it was related to allergy because your eosinophils go up. Also in autoimmune-diseases a lot of times you can see things in the CBC as well but all of them. Would it help you diagnose your problem, probably not because it is not specific. It may take a little time for the inhaler to work. If it doesn't  it could still be related to allergy or something like that. I think if it doesn't work and you use it for a few weeks straight, I would go back to that same doctor since he seems to be knowledgeable. Also, ask him about possible lung fungus. Only if it doesn't work.
mkh9
Avatar universal
she was living in south america for several months, traveled all over to many different countries. not sure if maybe she picked up something  down there, maybe something she got a vaccine for and I didnt have?

my doctor pretty much told me when i asked him to see infectious disease doctor, because he said my cbc didnt show any sign of infection...
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Since your CBC is normal it isn't bacteria probably. I can't of any thing that would cause a productive cough that comes specifically from S. America. Usually, most things are dry cough. The shortness of breath and productive cough sound like asthma and possibly you could have gotten a fungus like Aspergillus. But I would find if you have asthma. Maybe you should see a different doctor to get a second opinion. Usually, if it is bad you would see the Aspergillus fungus the Xray. So you may not have that. Sometimes Asthma is caused by allergies to something. So you may have come in contact with something that you weren't allergic to before or weren't around before. It is a thought.
mkh9
Avatar universal
MKH9, I had a dozen hiv tests ranging from 4 weeks post exposure to 2 years. I also even had a viral load test just to be on the safe side.

I checked for most all std's also, besides hep, because I dont think those symptoms relate.

The cough does not have any color, it is mainly clear, or white. sometimes like little bits of white stuff. no blood in it ever. I also did get a negative TB test result.

I did have multiple chest x rays, with doctors saying they see nothing unusual. Im not sure if I should go and spend the money getting a ct scan of my chest.

I think I ruled all the main stds out. I was wondering if you ever heard of anything thats not common in north america, but south america? Because the girl that I had slept with traveled south america and central for six months prior, possible something she picked up down there?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Okay, that is good. Did you go to South America or did she come here? What country?
I was thinking of a lung fungus or maybe parasite. Usually, most things you would see on the Xray or have other symptoms. Some fungi can get in the lungs but you usually have a dry cough. You would usually see them on an Xray as well. Mycoplasma and Chlampydia pnemoniae takes months to get over but not years. it is usually a dry cough too. I assume they have done regular  cultures on the sputum? Also, Aspergillus sp. can reside in the lung for years. Usually, it happens more often when your immune system is low or if you have asthma. It can make you have a productive sputum. I  would think they would see that on an Xray too. But you never know. I also suggest seeing an infectious disease doctor. But these are some thoughts I have.
mkh9
Avatar universal
Hello,

Your symptoms seem to very similar to mine. I also had the same mechanism of exposure, and have had all the same tests done as you with nothing coming back positive. Have you seen a pulmonologist for your cough or shortness of breath? I am coming up on 2 years from my exposure as well. I get frequent itching in the butt / groin area, and I have problems with testosterone now. Which is extremely frusterating. Like you I was in exceptional shape before the incident, now I am still in pretty good shape but want desperately to get back to that level I once had. Nothing seems to heal on me either, I got a cut on my foot a month ago and it is still there.

The only steps that I have yet to take are seeing an infectious disease doctor. If you are unable to get someone to work with you, then my only real advice which has helped me is to alter your diet drastically. I cut out sugar, dairy, most carbs and others and i've been able to lessen my symptoms to be tolerable. Message me if you need to talk. Hoping to get a diagnosis soon.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dr says it appears to be folictulitis, but is not sure. They are raised and look like bites, but they take forever to heal. But the cough is my main concern because it affects my quality of life.

Didn't know if you have heard of something like this before after having sexual exposure?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
What HIV test did you have and how long after the exposure? What other STD's did you check for? Did you test for Syphilis? Just asking to rule/out things. As for the cough does the phlegm have any color (Green or yellow or blood in it)? Any fever now? No I haven't really specifically heard of transmission of something like this via sexual exposure. It doesn't point to anything STD related except the rash. But the rash usually if it was untreated Syphilis would on the hands and feet not arms. One think you can get is TB from anyone with close contact. That is something to think about. you could get tested for that. Have you had the BCG vaccine for TB? The quatiferon gold test is a good test to check for TB. Do you have fatigue, night sweats, or fever and rusty colored sputum (not always), those are the symptoms and the cough. You haven't had a chest Xray yet? It may be a good idea as well.
You could have folliculitis. Put a triple antibiotic ointment on it for about a week and see if it starts to go away. I have had this combined with irritation and had to use a topical steroid (prescription strength topical like Triamcinolone).
mkh9
1415174 tn?1453243103
COMMUNITY LEADER
What do the arm lesions look like? Do they have rough texture, are they raised, irregular edge or what color etc? Other than maybe your immunity being low or an autoimmune disease. I don't know what is going on either. Have you tried putting topical antibiotic on the lesions?
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Infectious Diseases Community

Top Infectious Diseases Answerers
1415174 tn?1453243103
CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Can HIV be transmitted through this sexual activity? Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia answers this commonly-asked question.
A breakthrough study discovers how to reduce risk of HIV transmission by 95 percent.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
Before your drop a dime at the pharmacy, find out if these popular cold and flu home remedies are a wonder or a waste
Fend off colds and the flu with these disease-fighting foods