Aa
infection, vericocele, or just stress
Recently I've become very concerned that I might have some kind of infection related issue. About a month ago I was in Amsterdam and had two separate sexual encounters while I was there. Protection was used for both instances as well as lubricant and oral and vaginal sex was all that was done. When we were finished (I did not actually finish either time) the condom was removed using a paper towel. The first time the condom was removed by the female, the second time I believe I removed the condom but I don't remember now.
When I came home that weekend I became a little nervous that I may have caught something and also I felt a bit ashamed about what I had done because that's not really the type of person I am. Anyway I called the clinic to make an appointment to get tested and they asked if I was showing any symptoms. I said no and they told me they had to have someone call and ask me a few questions before they could make the appointment. When I got the call I was asked why I wanted to be tested. I said I had sex with someone that I would consider a high risk partner. I said I had used protection and I was not showing any symptoms but wanted to get tested anyway just to be sure. I was told that an std test would just be a waste of time for both myself and the clinic if I had used protection and I had no symptoms. That was the end of that so I just continued to watch for symptoms.
About a week and a half ago I began to feel some discomfort inside the head of my penis (the urethra) as well as some lower abdominal discomfort. Also I was having some lower back pain but that is fairly normal for me (I should probably see a chiropractor about it). I had one instance where it hurt while I was urinating so I called up, said I had symptoms and made an appointment. I went in and told the doctor I had protected sex however I was feeling some pain and was wondering what it might be. He looked me over, said he didn't see any lesions or anything but it looked like there was a bit of discharge (very small amount) so he performed the swab test (OUCH!) and said the results would be back in a few days. In the mean time since it looks and sounds like I had something he was going to start treating me now. Since I'm allergic to penicillin he couldn't treat me with a shot. He prescribed one packet of azithromycin and 20 pills of ciprofloxacin to be once every 12 hours. Both of these are antibiotics to stop the growth of bacteria so I assumed he believed I had Chlamydia. I asked why he thought I had something even though I had worn protection, his response was "well, things leak sometimes."
A few days later at my girlfriend's house (who I already told everything and we are currently not having sex due to my current fear of passing whatever I may have to her) I could tell I discharged something when my penis was erect (most likely not ejaculate) and also I had what felt like "blue balls" after we had kissed and I performed sexual acts on her. We both made sure nothing was done that could have put her at risk for getting anything from me. This was when the weird symptoms started.
I had been taking Cipro for about 4 days by this point and although I hadn't had any pain in my penis, I noticed a bit of pain in my testicles every so often. Sometimes the right, usually the left. Along with the testicular pain came the occasional abdominal pain that felt like it may have been from my lymph nodes. The testicle pain was the most annoying, the left side was rather extreme sometimes. I have experienced this before because I have a vericocele in my left testicle but over the past week it seems like the spermatic chord has gotten much longer and a bit swollen and tender. Those were last weeks symptoms.
Now this week things just got worse. Over the weekend my legs (mostly the back of my thighs) had gotten very sore. I helped a friend put new rear rotors on his car which is not a very physical activity however later on that day I began to feel stiff. I thought I had felt a little sore that morning when I woke up but it just got worse as the day went on. So now I was having testicular discomfort and I was feeling stiff and worn out. Oh, I have forgotten to mention until now that I also shave but if I don't shave every day (which I haven't had time to over the past few weeks) I get bumps from ingrown hair. Every time I've noticed a red bump I check it and each one has had an ingrown hair in it. I then get the hair to surface and the small bumps heal right up. Also when I don't shave the ingrown hair sometimes causes an itchy feeling but that is not out of the ordinary either. This has been going on as long as I have been shaving so it is nothing out of the ordinary and I have just written it off. Still I've started to worry I might have gotten herpes or HIV (the only infections that carry the symptoms of swelling and fatigue even though I haven't had a break out of sores) but I had read on here that it was highly to completely unlikely.
Today I went to the clinic again and told them everything that I was feeling. The doctor asked me which problem I would like him to look at. I felt like all the problems might be somewhat connected but I hadn't had any abdominal pain lately so I just said I'd like him to focus on the pain in my left testicle. He said it's more than likely from the vericocele and I will have to see a urologist about it. I had been doing so once every year since I discovered it so I was okay with this. He also prescribed Motrin for the pain however I don't really intend on taking any because the pain isn't that bad. So that is the end of my novel.
With all of this being said (that is if you're still reading) what does it look like the problem is? I am very far from a medical expert (engineering and autos are my strong point, I'm terrible when it comes to anatomy). Currently I'm thinking one of three theories: Some kind of infection, possibly sexual, that is causing these symptoms because my body is fighting it. My vericocele is acting up in some way which is causing the testicular pain, I'm fatigued from the antibiotics (one of the known side-effects) and that is why my body is feeling so weak. Or finally I've been stressing myself out this entire time to the point where my body isn't resting well and is causing all of these symptoms because of what I'm putting it through.
Thank you for your time, if this doesn't come up with anything I'll just direct the question to the doctors and see what they come up with. I'll also update the post after I visit the urologist.
When I came home that weekend I became a little nervous that I may have caught something and also I felt a bit ashamed about what I had done because that's not really the type of person I am. Anyway I called the clinic to make an appointment to get tested and they asked if I was showing any symptoms. I said no and they told me they had to have someone call and ask me a few questions before they could make the appointment. When I got the call I was asked why I wanted to be tested. I said I had sex with someone that I would consider a high risk partner. I said I had used protection and I was not showing any symptoms but wanted to get tested anyway just to be sure. I was told that an std test would just be a waste of time for both myself and the clinic if I had used protection and I had no symptoms. That was the end of that so I just continued to watch for symptoms.
About a week and a half ago I began to feel some discomfort inside the head of my penis (the urethra) as well as some lower abdominal discomfort. Also I was having some lower back pain but that is fairly normal for me (I should probably see a chiropractor about it). I had one instance where it hurt while I was urinating so I called up, said I had symptoms and made an appointment. I went in and told the doctor I had protected sex however I was feeling some pain and was wondering what it might be. He looked me over, said he didn't see any lesions or anything but it looked like there was a bit of discharge (very small amount) so he performed the swab test (OUCH!) and said the results would be back in a few days. In the mean time since it looks and sounds like I had something he was going to start treating me now. Since I'm allergic to penicillin he couldn't treat me with a shot. He prescribed one packet of azithromycin and 20 pills of ciprofloxacin to be once every 12 hours. Both of these are antibiotics to stop the growth of bacteria so I assumed he believed I had Chlamydia. I asked why he thought I had something even though I had worn protection, his response was "well, things leak sometimes."
A few days later at my girlfriend's house (who I already told everything and we are currently not having sex due to my current fear of passing whatever I may have to her) I could tell I discharged something when my penis was erect (most likely not ejaculate) and also I had what felt like "blue balls" after we had kissed and I performed sexual acts on her. We both made sure nothing was done that could have put her at risk for getting anything from me. This was when the weird symptoms started.
I had been taking Cipro for about 4 days by this point and although I hadn't had any pain in my penis, I noticed a bit of pain in my testicles every so often. Sometimes the right, usually the left. Along with the testicular pain came the occasional abdominal pain that felt like it may have been from my lymph nodes. The testicle pain was the most annoying, the left side was rather extreme sometimes. I have experienced this before because I have a vericocele in my left testicle but over the past week it seems like the spermatic chord has gotten much longer and a bit swollen and tender. Those were last weeks symptoms.
Now this week things just got worse. Over the weekend my legs (mostly the back of my thighs) had gotten very sore. I helped a friend put new rear rotors on his car which is not a very physical activity however later on that day I began to feel stiff. I thought I had felt a little sore that morning when I woke up but it just got worse as the day went on. So now I was having testicular discomfort and I was feeling stiff and worn out. Oh, I have forgotten to mention until now that I also shave but if I don't shave every day (which I haven't had time to over the past few weeks) I get bumps from ingrown hair. Every time I've noticed a red bump I check it and each one has had an ingrown hair in it. I then get the hair to surface and the small bumps heal right up. Also when I don't shave the ingrown hair sometimes causes an itchy feeling but that is not out of the ordinary either. This has been going on as long as I have been shaving so it is nothing out of the ordinary and I have just written it off. Still I've started to worry I might have gotten herpes or HIV (the only infections that carry the symptoms of swelling and fatigue even though I haven't had a break out of sores) but I had read on here that it was highly to completely unlikely.
Today I went to the clinic again and told them everything that I was feeling. The doctor asked me which problem I would like him to look at. I felt like all the problems might be somewhat connected but I hadn't had any abdominal pain lately so I just said I'd like him to focus on the pain in my left testicle. He said it's more than likely from the vericocele and I will have to see a urologist about it. I had been doing so once every year since I discovered it so I was okay with this. He also prescribed Motrin for the pain however I don't really intend on taking any because the pain isn't that bad. So that is the end of my novel.
With all of this being said (that is if you're still reading) what does it look like the problem is? I am very far from a medical expert (engineering and autos are my strong point, I'm terrible when it comes to anatomy). Currently I'm thinking one of three theories: Some kind of infection, possibly sexual, that is causing these symptoms because my body is fighting it. My vericocele is acting up in some way which is causing the testicular pain, I'm fatigued from the antibiotics (one of the known side-effects) and that is why my body is feeling so weak. Or finally I've been stressing myself out this entire time to the point where my body isn't resting well and is causing all of these symptoms because of what I'm putting it through.
Thank you for your time, if this doesn't come up with anything I'll just direct the question to the doctors and see what they come up with. I'll also update the post after I visit the urologist.
the urologist didn't do a prostate exam or anything because I was sent to him about the vericocele. I had only been off the antibiotics for a day when I went to the clinic. I'm assuming that I never had anything in the first place because I was tested 2 weeks after and the swab test came back negative. The discharge was only a droplet or two and it was just that one time so I'm assuming it was from a dream or something. I think I was just getting overly concerned about it because I would assume if I actually found discharge it would be blatantly obvious. Sorry to bother you with all the questions, thanks for all your help.
COMMUNITY LEADER
How long had you been off the antibiotics when you went to the clinic?
And I haven't any idea why they are having you do a clean catch, mid-stream urine, because that has a chance of giving you a false negative. Of course, if you haven't been off the antibiotics for a couple of weeks yet, then it might be a false negative anyway.
However, I doubt you'd have anything bacterial left anyway after taking the antibiotics, and I'd doubt you got anything in the first place having used a condom.
Did your urologist do a prostate exam?
If you have discharge, it would probably be in one spot. Dry skin could be anywhere in your underwear.
Aj
And I haven't any idea why they are having you do a clean catch, mid-stream urine, because that has a chance of giving you a false negative. Of course, if you haven't been off the antibiotics for a couple of weeks yet, then it might be a false negative anyway.
However, I doubt you'd have anything bacterial left anyway after taking the antibiotics, and I'd doubt you got anything in the first place having used a condom.
Did your urologist do a prostate exam?
If you have discharge, it would probably be in one spot. Dry skin could be anywhere in your underwear.
Aj
sorry to keep adding to this but I thought I should add that I had an orgasm 3 times yesterday and I assume that would have contributed to the whole discharge situation. As far as I know if you orgasm a lot your body lets out pre-*** more often so that's why I'm assuming that's what that is from. I'm really starting to think I'm just freaking myself out into thinking something is wrong when I'm really okay. I'm just really bad with the whole medical thing because I know nothing about it. Should I just let it go and see if something else develops from it?
also I'm noticing what looks like traces of discharge in my underwear but I can't tell if it's discharge or just dry skin or something. would it be really easy to tell it was discharge if I saw it?
ok, so I went to the clinic and I've been told everything is good however I'm confused about something. The doctor had me give a urine sample to test for what I was assuming to be any std's that might have been remaining after the antibiotic treatment. The lab had me wipe around my penis and then catch urine in the cup midstream. I was told to wipe around the head to catch any bacteria that might be there. The afterthought I was having was that to test for chlamydia the lab would probably need an uncleaned sample right away. The lab said everything looked perfectly fine and I had nothing to worry about.
I'm still having an uncomfortable feeling in my urethra and the tip of my penis just below the opening is pink and appears to be a bit swollen. I'm starting to think all of this is in my head but at the same time I want to make sure I don't end up infertile or pass something on to someone else. I'm just tired of going to the clinic because I've been there 4 times already for different reasons. Would an still be around after all the antibiotics I took?
I'm still having an uncomfortable feeling in my urethra and the tip of my penis just below the opening is pink and appears to be a bit swollen. I'm starting to think all of this is in my head but at the same time I want to make sure I don't end up infertile or pass something on to someone else. I'm just tired of going to the clinic because I've been there 4 times already for different reasons. Would an still be around after all the antibiotics I took?
So I just found out something today. I had read the side effects when I first got the Cipro and I assumed that what I was feeling was just a result of it. When I went to the clinic the other day I told the doctor I was experiencing some pain on my inner thigh. When he checked it out he said it was pain in my tendon and that it's really no big deal so I shouldn't worry about it. Just rest and it'll be fine. Now today I was starting to feel some pain again but in the other thigh while I was at work. A quick internet search led me to see that Cipro was actually added to the "black box" list of medicines.
Basically what I've learned is that Cipro can cause tendons to rupture and can also lead to cases of tendinitis. Signs of this are swelling and pain in (surprise surprise) tendons. So tomorrow I'm going to make another appointment to go talk to a doctor about the symptoms I had been experiencing because all of them seem to be on the list of bad side effects yet when I told the last doctor, he didn't piece any of it together and say "hey, you should probably stop taking this."
Also I saw a Urologist today and for the first time in 4 years have found out what actually causes my Vericocele and why it really isn't much of an issue other than some slight discomfort sometimes. The strange discomfort that I was feeling in my Urethra seems to have subsided, I'm going to talk with the doctor at my appointment just in case. I'm thinking the feeling could be from what ever infection I might or might not have had (still don't know because I was never given test results) or it could just be irritation from all the extra attention I've been paying to myself lately. I'm only in pain when I pay attention to it and examine the hell out of it so I may even be causing it myself.
That seems to be the end of it so hopefully I'll see one more doctor, I won't have any tendon damage and all will be well. At least now I know the side effects of Cipro and will be well prepared if I am prescribed it again or I know someone that is prescribed it.
Thanks again for all the help
Basically what I've learned is that Cipro can cause tendons to rupture and can also lead to cases of tendinitis. Signs of this are swelling and pain in (surprise surprise) tendons. So tomorrow I'm going to make another appointment to go talk to a doctor about the symptoms I had been experiencing because all of them seem to be on the list of bad side effects yet when I told the last doctor, he didn't piece any of it together and say "hey, you should probably stop taking this."
Also I saw a Urologist today and for the first time in 4 years have found out what actually causes my Vericocele and why it really isn't much of an issue other than some slight discomfort sometimes. The strange discomfort that I was feeling in my Urethra seems to have subsided, I'm going to talk with the doctor at my appointment just in case. I'm thinking the feeling could be from what ever infection I might or might not have had (still don't know because I was never given test results) or it could just be irritation from all the extra attention I've been paying to myself lately. I'm only in pain when I pay attention to it and examine the hell out of it so I may even be causing it myself.
That seems to be the end of it so hopefully I'll see one more doctor, I won't have any tendon damage and all will be well. At least now I know the side effects of Cipro and will be well prepared if I am prescribed it again or I know someone that is prescribed it.
Thanks again for all the help
COMMUNITY LEADER
It can take about a week for the azithromycin to really work. If its been longer than that, follow up with your doctor.
It sounds as if what you see might be normal, though.
Aj
It sounds as if what you see might be normal, though.
Aj
I forgot to ask, how much azithromycin does it usually take to clear up an infection? I only ask because when I went in the doctor opened up the head of my penis and that's when he said he saw what looked like a little bit of discharge. When I do the same thing I see that the urethra is coated with some kind of clear liquid that almost looks like ejaculate. Is that a normal thing? I just thought it would be good to know for future reference.
That's great to hear. I really appreciate the advice, it definitely sets me at ease. Even though I've been trying to relax about all of this it still was really bothering me. I think after this, the few doctor visits and the lack of any response on the sti test I got I can finally just let it go. Sorry for the thread change. Thanks again.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there -
Lets keep everything to this thread, now, ok? Its much easier for me.
I would go with the varicocele and stress. You used a condom for everything, so there is very little risk of it being an std.
The azithromycin powder was for chlamydia, and I have no idea what the 10 days of cipro is for. If you are treating gonorrhea, its 500 mg of cipro once, and that's not a good medication to use anymore, as there is some resistance, but I am guessing he put you on that since you are allergic to penicillin. The other treatment is rocephin (ceftriaxone). I don't know if you are allergic to that or not.
However, I don't think you have an std. It would be next to zero odds that you do.
Aj
Lets keep everything to this thread, now, ok? Its much easier for me.
I would go with the varicocele and stress. You used a condom for everything, so there is very little risk of it being an std.
The azithromycin powder was for chlamydia, and I have no idea what the 10 days of cipro is for. If you are treating gonorrhea, its 500 mg of cipro once, and that's not a good medication to use anymore, as there is some resistance, but I am guessing he put you on that since you are allergic to penicillin. The other treatment is rocephin (ceftriaxone). I don't know if you are allergic to that or not.
However, I don't think you have an std. It would be next to zero odds that you do.
Aj
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