39 WM. Single encounter with stranger (male). Unprotected rimming (he licked me) and unprotected oral both ways. Approximately March 15th. (I don't have actual confirmation that he had syphilis, but it's been years since my last strange encounter... never unprotected anal).
Never saw a chancre. Got a rash (torso only, no hands/feet), fatigue, fever, a painless sore deep in my mouth, and a bit of a swollen lymph node behind my left ear. So I had tests last week... HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HSV all negative. Both syphilis tests reactive, though (the one was at 1:32 titer).
So I went to the clinic on Friday. She gave me a shot of penicillin (2.4M units, if that sounds right). Says that because it's high, she wants 2 more treatments. So I'll end up getting 3 total treatments.
This weekend, the rash has really cleared up, and I feel reasonably better (after a rough first evening). The sore is still present in my mouth, but it seems to have changed, so I assume that it's clearing up, too. My urethra is a bit itchy, which is strange (again, chlamydia and gonorrhea tests came back negative).
Here are my problems: (1) I'm anxious that I'll never get rid of this stinking disease (or else have to spend 10 days in the hospital, stewing over my shame). (2) I have what I'll call a slight tinnitus (ringing in my left ear if it's quiet). That same ear has a bit of a full-ish feeling. I also have a bit of dizziness when walking. I think that the lump behind my ear (same ear) may be going down, but I cant be sure.
Questions:
1. Are my symptoms typical or common with penicillin treatment?
2. What's the risk that secondary syphilis 13 weeks ago could have turned into neurosyphilis?
3. Are you reasonably confident that this course of treatment will completely cure me of syphilis? Not asking for absolutes, of course, for obvious reasons... just your thoughts.
4. What should I look for? Is an LP urgent? When can I relax?
Thx.