Am I Contagious II

[ToastedOne]

I recently wrote you about my situation titled "Am I Contagious."  As I read back through, I need to clarify a point and get your opinion.  A brief summary:  unprotected sex in a pool (after a kids party where 20 kids swam and never left the pool)that lasted all of 15 minutes.  Developed symptoms but tested negative for Chlamdyia, Syhp, Gon, Both heps, both HSVs and HIV.  I did have normal, unprotected, sexual relations with my wife about two weeks after the encounter when I had no symptoms.  I was able to give her and I 1 gram of Zythromax and 1 gram of Suprax before I had the blood and urine tests which were neg.  She has never complained about any vaginal issues.  I had lingering problems and took Bactrim (10 days), Cipro (2 x day x 7 days, 7 days of Flucon, one big shot of Flagyl and 10 days of Erythromycin (4 x a day).  I am now on 30 days of Levaquin for mild acute prostatities (I am only 38).  Here are my specific questions:
1.  although I came back negative for the big STDs, I have sustained symptoms (no burning, no drip, no urination issues, just sensitivity in tip of the penis).  Could I have gotten a something from that petri dish I had sex in and not from the woman?
2.   my wife had the antibiotics but is going in for her annual pap smear in January and I am nervous.  She only had the two antibiotics while I had it all.  Could the Zythromax and Suprax she took not have been sufficient and left something behind that the pap smear is going to detect?
3.   I keep reading about the mycoplasma genitalium and ureaplasma and Trichmoniasis.  Is Zythromax and Suprax effective against these and if not, should I be worried about them?  
Thank for your time.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

1. I doubt your symptoms reflect any infection caught during the exposure you describe.  "Sensitivity at the tip of the penis", without the other symptoms you mention, simply isn't suggestive of any STD or other infection, and I would not expect the symptom to clear up on any of the antibiotics you received (or any other antibiotics).  I doubt an infection of any kind explained it.

2.  If your wife acquired an infection from you, which I strongly doubt, the Zithromax and Suprax would have eradicated it.

3. Trichomonas is not a likely explanation for your symptoms and in any case would have responded to metronidazole (Flagyl).  M. genitalium responds to zithromax.

HHH, MD

[gotherpeslifeisover]

Don't worry dude..it's all in your head. (I'm just telling you what everyone else is going to tell you when they read this)

[susannak]

Does anyone think that gotherpeslifeisover resembles a past poster called Mackie (wasn't that his name)?  He could absolutely never be reassured.  He went on and on that he "must" have HIV though he too was only going by symptoms.  Then, lo and behold--he posted that he DID have it.  

Gotherp--Anxiety magnifying body symptoms of common illnesses is very different than something being "all in your head".  If you don't understand that, then there IS absolutely nothing anyone will ever be able to do to reassure you.

Is it impossible that you have HIV? No.  Is it impossible that I'll win the lottery next week?  No.  But I don't think either thing will happen.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

Ok I want to apologize to everyone on this forum. I came in here last night drunk off 211's and said (typed) some things I shouldn't have. Right now I'm at a point in my life where I don't know where things are heading..and thats in regards to EVERYTHING, not just the risk that I may be infected with something. The pain of whatever it is is constant, and very debilitating. My neck and back start killing me after 3 or 4 minutes of minimal activity. I'm only 24 years old and don't feel that this should be happening to me. The thought of being like this forever scares the $h!t out of me. And to top it off I don't have any insurance so I don't know where to start. Needless to say, I'm frustrated, but that doesn't give me the right to take it out on you all.

[monkeyflower]

Since you don't have insurance, many therapists will work on a sliding scale. You also likely have a community services board in your area, where you can get low-cost or even free therapy. And I'd also suggest you consider attending AA meetings. I'm not saying you're an alcoholic, just that I think you'll likely find support and understanding there. There's help for you when you're ready. You just have to take the first step.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

lol Oh I'm an alcoholic alright..no doubt about that. But before I look into a therapist I would like to know why I'm in PAIN! I'm hurting like an 80 year old man and the $h!t aint fun. This aint anxiety here shawty..this is real.

[susannak]

If you drink a lot, one cause for your problems could be liver related.  You don't have to drink all that much to seriously impact your liver enzymes.

There are community health clinics for low income people.  Good luck.

[ryn21]

DID YOU GET TESTED, I CANT REMEMBER.  IF YOU DIDNT, ITS TIME YOU DO.  THERE ARE HIV TESTS THAT CAN DELIVER INSTANT RESULTS.  YOU REALLY NEED TO RELAX UNTIL YOU KNOW FOR SURE.  PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR SITUATION AGAIN.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

Yea I got tested a little over a week ago..but our health dept. is bass ackwards, as they discontinued use of the "rapid" tests..so I must wait 2 weeks (get results Friday).

I'll try to be brief but thorough in explaining the situation to you. About 4 or 5 months ago, had protectd sex with a "crack *****" (stupid I know)..few weeks later was sick as a dog..fever, chills, body aches (which still persist), stiff neck (still persists), and this crazy "paralysis" of the left side of my face which I later learned to be called "Bells Palsy." I also recall having the most SEVERE HEADACHE I have ever had in my life, and just a general "ill" feeling. Then to top it off my lymph nodes in my groin and armpits hurt like hell...not so much "swollen", but I get a throbbing/shooting pain running thru them. All this occured before I even began to entertain the fact that I may have caught HIV, so that's why I don't feel it's anxiety related.

That's a very brief synopsis of what happened. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[needitresolved]

In my view, your health problems are unrelated to your exposure. Look at it mathematically:

say there was a 1 in 100 chance that your "crack *****" was infected with HIV (that's being generous, the real odds are probably much lower).

Condom failure also say around 1 in 100.

Chance of contracting HIV from vaginal inertcourse in a single exposure: 1 in 1000

So... your odds work out to: 1 in 100 x 1 in 100 x 1 in 1000

= 1 in 10,000,000.

So based on that conservative estimate there is a ONE IN TEN MILLION chance that you have been infected with HIV as a result of that exposure.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

lol yea..your math may be right..and keyword is from "THAT EXPOSURE." I'm sure if I come back and report a + test result people will insist that I had it before, so in the event that that DOES happen, FYI my ex (whom I had a longstanding, unprotected sexual relationship with) is now pregnant and is negative..no other significant partners to mention. But I'm just giving you this info assuming it was needed, assuming I tested +. 1 in 10,000,000 huh? Is that really how "odds" work, where you multiply 1 number by the other? lol I've always hated math so maybe that is how it works. But at any rate, I appreciate you taking the time to break that down for me. I just hope you're right. Thanks, and I'll keep you posted.

[needitresolved]

yep. I'm no Stephen Hawking but that's how odds work.

For example: Say you were going to flip a coin two times. The chance of it being heads the first time is 1 in 2. The chance of it being heads the second time is, again, 1 in 2.

The odds of flipping two heads in a row is (1 in 2) x (1 in 2) which = 1 in 4  (1x1=1 and 2x2=4)


To put it another way: there are four possible outcomes for flipping a coin twice in a row:

1. head then head
2.tail then tail
3.tail then head
4.head then tail

So, if you're still with me here, a head then a head is one of four possible outcomes.

Kinda neat hey. Anyways thats my nerd quota filled for today. Glad its helped.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

I can dig it cat daddy! lol sorry..had a 70's flashback. I'm bringing back old slang for 2006

[gotherpeslifeisover]

I think where most people think in terms of "mathematics" and "likelihood" or lack thereof, I tend to think more in terms of God and fate. For instance, I believe that a man can wear 3 condoms and have sex with an HIV+ woman..while statistically people would say it's impossible for him to get AIDS, I believe that if it's his fate to get it he will. Perhaps this is mine..who knows. A "voice" told me loud and clear that night to NOT sleep with that girl, but I ignored it. From my experience, when you ignore that voice, you pay for it one way or another.

[needitresolved]

Funny you should say that actually. I was out at a club when the girl I ended up having my scare with started kissing me. She was smoking hot, but I had this voice in the back of my head saying "maybe you should just leave it for tonight." A bit later a friend I was gonna get a lift home with was leaving and I ummmed and awwwed about whether to stay with this chick or go for ages. It was strange cause normally I wouldn't havehad doubts. Anyways, alchohol and horniness got the better of me and, about 10 bourbons later, I ended up going back to her house and having unprotected sex.

Cut to 5 of the most anxiety ridden months of my life, and you can bet that next time I'm gonna listen to that little voice in the back of my head. BUT everything turned out ok for me, and I'm sure it'll be the same for you.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

Well it's nice to hear that those stories have happy endings sometimes. I will hope (pray) for a similar outcome. Some people may think we're crazy talking about "we hear voices" but that voice will never lead you wrong.

[ryn21]

You seriously have problems.  You wore a condom, (protected),  and you still continue to think because you got the flu or mono that you have HIV.  You are wasting your time.  If you come up positive, more than likely you were already infected of there was more to your story than you are telling us. (Im not doubting you, just making a point).  Are you going to worry like this after each sexual encounter you have?  Also, they tell you two weeks for results but often they come back earlier than that.  Give them a call, it wouldnt hurt.  Relax man.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

First off, condoms aren't 100% effective, 2nd off, you are not ME and therefore you don't know sh!t. I'm sick of people telling me I have a problem. You obviously have a similar one, otherwise you would have never found this site. And since when does the flu cause your lymph nodes to swell for 4 month straight? The only sensible thing you said in that post was that I should try to call and see if the results came back early, which I am about to do. Thank you dip$h!t, and have a wonderful day and a Merry Christmas.

[gotherpeslifeisover]

The only information that I may have omitted was the fact that she gave me face with the same condom on. Maybe she tore it I dont know but I didn't see any visible tears, but then again I didn't examine it very closely either. It wasn't the "tightest fit" in the world either, so that's something else to consider.

[Imdumb]

I have been thinking about you lately.  Did you get your results?

I know what you are going through - I have been there.  I'm sending all my best wishes your way today.

[FoolishBoy]

Ive seen gotherpeslifeisover (under a different name) post on another forum that his test came back negative on xmas eve.

Well done to him (although his story was low risk). Just goes to show how anxiety can play scary tricks on the mind. I hope im in the same boat as him as I feel so depressed :(

[Imdumb]

I'm glad to hear that.  He is a perfect example of how symptoms mean nothing.  He was 100% sure that he had it and wouldn't listen to anyone who said otherwise.  Even to the point of mocking those that said there is no way he could have it. He may very well have an illness, but it is not an STD or HIV related.  Sounds like cutting back on the alochol would be a good start for him.