STD?

[feelinganxiety]

Thank you in advance for your help.

I am a 27 year old, hetrosexual male.  Six weeks ago, I became involved with an ex-girlfriend.  We kissed and she gave me oral sex (unprotected).  After this incident, I developed what appeared to be a very small red bump just below the head of my penis.  I thought nothing of it.  Two weeks later, (Thursday) I became involved with her again, this time unprotected oral and vaginal sex.  By Sunday (3 days later), I started to show signs of some type of illness--I had a odd/sore feeling in the throat, and what felt like pressure in the abdomon.  By late monday, I had developed flu like symptoms including fever, muscle (leg) aches, hot/cold sweats, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes (neck, groin).  I also developed very sore gums and what appared to be a herpres sore (white, round, tingly) on the inside of my lip.  I also developed what appeared to be herpres on my penis.  Four-five small red bumps with small whitish/grey centers, one of which turned into more of a crater-type chancroid, grey/white in the middle, sore to touch.  I also developed a cough.  Within 2-3 days, the flu symptoms were gone, and within a week to two my mouth and penis had heeled.  The cough is still persisting 4 weeks later, but slowing disappearing.  

I have since talked with my ex-girlfriend and she tells me that immedately after we had sex (within hours), she developed what she called a flu.  Cold/hot sweats, fever, very-very sore neck lymph nodes, one vomiting episode.  Within 2-3 days she said it was gone.  She also told me that she had mouth sores before she was sick (inner lips, tounge).

I am feeling very scared about possible herpes, hiv, other stds.  Please advise as to my status Doctor.  I am very very anxious now and worry I am making myself sick by way of anxiety alone.

Thank you.

[feelinganxiety]

I just got the results of my HIV test and they were negetive.  The test was taken 3 1/2 weeks after the unprotected vaginal sex.  How confident can I be with these tests?  I am in Canada.

[FULL OF REGRETS]

I don't know anout any other STD's, but it's not HIV. Your 1st encounter with your girlfriend (oral) is almost no risk anyway.

As far as the 2nd encounter. ARS for HIV doesn't show up that quickly. Time frame generally 2-4 weeks after being infected (encounter) for ARS symptoms to appear; which also means is was too late for ARS symptoms to appear after 1st encounter.

Lastly, if she was an ex-girlfriend, she is probably safe anyway. Most people who would catch a disease are in a high risk grouping/category. I am sure you are fine......

[strangeworld]

Hey man,

Relax and don;t stress out. I am not a doctor but i am following this and other forums very closely and i have been repeatedly told that insertive oral sex unprotected (getting a BJ) is close to zero risk, in 20 years nobody could document a single case for insertive oral sex because salive does not transmit the virus, so if you all had contact with saliva then you don;t have to get worried.

Hope this helps until doctor responds to your question.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your genital symptoms sound like herpes is a good bet, and the flu-like symptoms could go along with that.  Or perhaps more than one problem, e.g. both herpes plus influenza or some other respiratory virus.  If it is herpes, it could be either HSV-1 (acquired from your partner's oral infection) or HSV-2 (genital).

There is no reason to be suspicious of HIV, unless your ex-GF is at high risk (e.g., injection drug user, sex with HIV-infected men) or known to be HIV infected herself.  Your symptoms do not suggest any other STD.

But all I can do is speculate. You need to see a health care provider for personal evaluation.  You should also tell your ex-GF of the herpes suspicion and suggest she be tested as well.  If not certain about your own provider's STD expertise, visit your local health department STD clinic for confidential, expert, low-cost care.

Good luck--  HHH, MD