Risk Factor

[tv1234]

Looking for some thoughts.  39 yr old male.  8 days ago had unprotected oral with a female CSW.  This encounter lasted a maximum of 15-20 seconds before I put a stop to it.  There was no other physical contact.  I will caveat this by saying that I am married.  I have really experienced no symptoms outside of non stop worry that I contacted something, specifically NGU.  I had sex with my wife 24 hours after exposure, but nothing since.  2 days ago went to see a doctor who told me I was overreacting.  Of course, he's prpobably right.  He did a cursory urinary analysis and said my wbc's were normal.  Prescribed me 2 grams of zithromax, which I took (I got what I deserved with the day long nausea and diarrhea).  For the past few days I have been feeling a slight burn over the head of my penis.  No discharge and no burning during urination, although the frequency has gone up.  A doctor friend of mine says if is all anxiety and to let it go.  Would love your thoughts.  I appreciate it.    

[tv1234]

I went to my regular PCP today.  The poor guy.  My penis has still felt raw, sticky, shiny, etc.  Of course, when I drop my drawers the thing looks perfect.  Absolutely no shine, stickiness, purple hue, etc.  I was going to have him swab it but he just looked at me like I was nuts.  He told me that I don't have herpes, I have no symptoms of herpes, i.e. fever, joint pain, nausea, lesions, blisters, etc.  He advised that it has been 5 weeks and if I had something an initial outbreak would have shown up between 2 days and 3 weeks, but more often than not within one week.  He said anxiety and guilt, particularly genital focused anxiety, can cause normal everyday feelings to manifest into completely imagined pain that ultimately feels very real (sounds like the advice given on this board).  He also really put things into perspective.  He said if I was single I would not have thought twice about this encounter and would have moved forward without a care in the world.  That is what guilt can do.  In my case I did not go into this situation looking or expecting to be unfaithful to my wife.  Unfortunately I didn't stop it right away when it did happen and that 15 seconds has engrossed my life for the past 5 weeks.  I know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people on this site dealing with almost the same thing I have been.  I am no doctor, but my guess is that if 5-6 weeks have gone by with no obvious or visible sores, lesions, or any other symptom of herpes, you probably don't have it, especially if it came from a low risk exposure.  Be confident in your doctor's prognosis and try to move on.  This site is awesome and the people taking the time to dispense guidance, opinion, and advice are wonderful.  However, as my doctor said, the more posts you read trying to self diagnose, the more anxiety driven you become.  My non professional advice: if you have gone several weeks with no real obvious symptoms, then take a break from the board and focus on trying to deal with the anxiety thru therapy, and know that you do not have anything.  I know that is easier said than done as even as I write this I still feel a slit burn on my penis head, but I will trust my doctor and move forward.  Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.  I appreciate everyone's help here.    

[tv1234]

Thanks for your response.  I am anxious to see the dermatologist.  I have no real redness, and the area is mostly around the ridge and right under it unless I get an erection.  Even then it is more purple.  The area on the right side of the head, when erect, almost looks like I have put a small piece of saran wrap.  That is what it looks like when I say it looks shiny.  Also feels very smooth as well.  I am still hopeful that Grace, jessyjames, or Vance can chime in with their thoughts.  Thanks.

[hidingscared]

Hi Tv,

read my posts please. I am a few weeks ahead of you. I know your anxiety trust me.

With the lamisil, be sure to use it only twice a day. I started twice a day and had good results so I thought I could get twice the results at 4 x per day WRONG. It made things worse. My pcp backed me off that and gave me a combo antifungal steroid, for one week 2 x per day (followed by me perfectly) Things improved greatly, but not totally. After one week my pcp said to stop and see what happens. Within 2 days it was red and sore again. Grace told me to try a powder antifungal, I am using Tenactin powder. It is working. I told my pcp I was using the powder and he agrees. he wants to see me next week.

Today is day 5 of the powder and this afternoon is the first time in a long time the redness is almost gone and so is the irriation. I think I am turning a corner.

I have to admit I am still haunted by herpes. My Pcp, and urologist both say I don't have it, but my hauntings continue.. Good luck I hope you are fine. ..

[tv1234]

I appreciate all of the insight I have received here.  Hoping for a bit more.  I have a dermatologist appointment set up for next week.  My penis continues to be scaly, shiny, sticky, etc.  It also still feels tender/raw.  I am now 5 weeks post this brief exposure.  I do believe it is probably a fungal infection, although 10 days of Lamosil has done nothing to help.  I still feel like my penis is inflamed and definitely feels a bit raw to the touch.  I have no bumps, scars, or lesions but I still have this horrible fear that this is genital herpes.  I have read on this site that yeast infections and herpes can be similar.  I know Grace had advised me that it takes a lot more than a 15 second oral exposure to get genital herpes, but the fact that this has not improved in the past 3 weeks has me very concerned.  I guess my ultimate questions are these: is a shiny, scaly, sticky, red penis head a symptom of herpes?  Also, if it has been 5 weeks since the exposure with no bumps, lesions, etc, can I assume that this is not herpes as nothing has manifested between 2-20 days?  Obviously I am full of anxiety so your opinions are greatly appreciated.  

[tv1234]

Thank you so much.  I am very happy to have stumbled on to this forum.  It is great to be able to get logical and candid opinion but also empathetic feedback.  I was also concerned with NGU.  The funny thing was that had I been positive for that, my doctor told me he would have found it much more realistic that I got it innocently from my wife rather than from a low risk 15 second exposure.  For the sake of time in my original post I had called her a CSW.  The reality was that this incident happened at a high end spa in NYC.  To say it caught me way off guard would be the understatement of the year.  In retrospect I obviously wish I had stopped her immediately, but I think it took me about 10 seconds to get over the initial shock that she decided to take a trip down south.  Leave it to my doctor to put it in perspective.  He asked me to write the name of the spa down before I left.  I laughed but I'm not sure he was joking....:)

[JessyJames2010]

Hi

Wow, You sound like me a couple years ago.    I want to put my two cents in here for you so you know that you really have nothing to worry about.  You are going to be alright.   You exposure was low risk.  Forget about herpes from it, and forget about STDs, as you were given 2 grams (that's alot) for a preventative treatment.  

The shiny scaly head is totally unrelated to your exposure (yeah maybe the antibiotics, but this is unlikely).   Anxiety/guilt can manifest into symptoms such as weak urine output.   But not really inflammation, this is probably coincidental.

Again, anything you notice about you now, is totally unrelated to your oral sex exposure.


  

[tv1234]

Grace, I really appreciate all of your guidance and thoughts.  I did go to my pcp on Monday.  He did another urinary analysis and everything came back normal.  Also did a prostate exam, ouch, due to my weak urine flow, frequent urination, etc.  Again, everything normal.  He ultimately felt that the inflammation I felt near my urethra and under head of penis, as well as any urine issues, were all due to anxiety and guilt.  He recommended a therapist which I look forward to taking him up on.  At the end of the day though, something just doesn't feel right.  I asked you about genital herpes a couple of threads back and, thankfully, you dismissed that.  I am now 20 days post this brief oral exposure with no lesions, bumps, or scars, yet that constant feeling of inflammation remains and my penis head basically feels raw.  Reassurance one more time would be appreciated.  I also masturbated a short time ago to ensure there would be no pain when I ejaculated.  There was not but I did notice that when erect, the ridge of my penis head, particularly on the right side, got shiny, scaly, and turned a dark red.  It isn't painful but I had never seen anything like that.  You had also mentioned the possibility of a fungal infection from the zithromax a couple threads earlier.  Could that be consistent with a shiny, scaly head?  Ultimately, could anxiety/guilt really manifest all of these symptoms such as weak urine, inflammation?  Thanks so much.    

[gracefromHHP]

intestinal gas and a weakened urine stream are not signs of a std dear.

[tv1234]

Grace, an update.  Saw my pcp who laughed me off when I told him of my fears.  Did full testing anyway and it all came back negative.  In the past weak I have noticed my urine stream is very weak.  As a matter of fact, I can sleep for 8 hours, wake up, and not even feel like I have to urinate.  Slight lower back pain and barely noticeable discomfort in my right testicle.  To recap,  6 days after my 15 second exposure I was prescribed 2g of zithromax.  I did have intercourse 24 hours post exposure with my wife and again 60 hours post taking the zithromax.  I have not had discharge nor have I had discomfort when urinating.  My questions:

1) in the absence of discharge, discomfort, etc, does weak urine flow and increased frequency resemble any STD symptoms?  I ask that as I don't believe he checked NGU.

2) What has me more concerned is for the past 3-4 days my wife has been complaining of being very gassy.  Again, any exposure she would have had was 24 hours after my incident.  Is that a symptom of an STD?

I ask this because I took the zithromax without actual testing and fear I have exposed her.  Again, my pcp told me not to even worry, but with my current urine issues coupled with her gastric issues, I am extremely anxious.  I do have a follow up with my pcp tomorrow morning.  I appreciate your thoughts.    

[gracefromHHP]

if you have new symptoms, be seen for a proper exam.  odds are this is a fungal infection from the antibiotics you took.

[tv1234]

Grace, following up from a couple days ago.  Having some discomfort but not sure if anxiety or not.  I have no discharge or burning during urination, however I feel like the underhead if my penis, below the meatus feels inflamed.  In addition I have a heavy feeling in my testicles.  That said, I have also had a pit in my stomach the past 10 days.  A couple questions I am hoping you can give me guidance on:

First, I had sex with my wife 24 hours post exposure (again, the unprotected oral only lasted between 15-20 seconds).  If I was to have contracted gonorrhea or NGU, what are the chances I would pass that on?

Second, I took 2 grams of zithromax on day 6 post exposure.  Should that kill gonorrhea and/or NGU?  I am less concerned about gonorrhea as I had no symptoms by day 6, but my fear I could have gotten it is very real for me.  

Honestly, I don't know if my symptoms, i.e. burning on underhead of penis or heavy feeling in testicles, are real or simply anxiety causing imaginative manifestations.  Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.  

[tv1234]

Haha.  Well, I thank you very much for your assistance.  Definitely makes me feel better.  There is no doubt that this transgression has encapsulated my thoughts.  Hopefully I can relax. a bit.  

[gracefromHHP]

it takes a lot more than that to contract genital herpes.

[tv1234]

Thank you.  I will ask one final question and I appreciate your guidance.  As I indicated, the oral was a max of 20 seconds.  Anyway, I m acutely aware of every tingle, burn, and itch on my penis.  The head, in particular, feels like it has a constant burn.  Again, I am hyper aware and my worry is engrossing my day.  I will take your advice and try to think of other things.  That said, with such a brief exposure is there concern with regard to herpes?  I noticed that early symptoms are tingling, burning, etc, so that hasn't helped my anxiety.  As a point of reference, the CSW had no noticable sores or lesions on and around her mouth.  Thank you for your input.  

[gracefromHHP]

it can be a sign of an infection but many times it's anxiety in many of our posters.  try to keep yourself busy so you aren't thinking about your nether regions and see if it  gets better. if not, follow up with your provider monday. meanwhile drink plenty of water too and avoid caffeine.

[tv1234]

Thank you Grace.  One final question: my urge to urinate has intensified to seemingly every 20-30 minutes.  My guess is that it is anxiety driven.  I thought I read earlier where one of the doctors stipulated that frequent urination is not a typical cause of an STD.  Is that accurate?

[gracefromHHP]

the risk of a std from oral sex overall is very low. the odds that you contracted something from less than a minute of oral is incredibly low.

I totally agree with your doctor .

grace