What is happening to me..

[needadviceplz]

Exactly 8 weeks ago, I had sex with a femal pro.  I was intoxicated and am pretty sure that I used protection.  Regardless two days later I started to feel a burning sensation in my lower abdomen and in my penis and testicles.  I also got flu like symptoms including diahrea and just felt weak.  I did not have a fever though.  The next day I went to the STD clinic and was tested for Clam,Gon,Herpes,Syphilis. I was also examined and doc said everything looked normal.  Tests came back neg.  

A week later my urethral symptoms did not go away so I went back to the clinic and was retested and examined again. Everything came back negative.  The abdominal,urethral, and testicle pain continued however the flu-like symptoms went away.  

A week later I could not take it anymore so I went to my private doctor, who ran the Clam/Gon test again and put me on doxy for 10 days.  I took the meds like clockwork and still did not get better.  

After finishing the doxy, I went back to the doc, and was retested and examined for the same thing again, (Negative) and he put me on Cipro for 7 days.  I just finished the medication and am still not feeling completely better.  

My symptoms have improved, the buring sensation's intensity has improved slightly.  It usually goes in cycles of a day where it is more intense and then a day where it subsides (not completely).  I have some irritation on my urethral opening, no blisters or swelling just redness. I also have lower abdominal pain almost constantly as well.  Its below my belly button and is more of a burning than say a stabbing pain.  Testicle pain is still there, ebbs and flows in intensity like the urethral burning.  

I dont know whats wrong.  My life is a mess.  I have been this way for exactly 8 weeks now and am at the end of my rope.  I was tested for herpes 3 days after potential exposure and know that is too early for accurate results.  I am going to get tested later this week.  Do you think the symptoms of herpetic urethritis would last 8 weeks?  Does this sound like that to you?  Its really the only thing i can think it is because I have been tested and filled up with antibiotics for the past 8 weeks and nothing has helped.  My doctor seems to be blowing me off like nothing is wrong with me.  I am a rational, educated man and dont belive this is all in my head.  Please tell me what you think doc.  I am experiencing obvious anxiety about the situation, but 8 weeks of it?  Plz help..

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I can't say for sure what is wrong, especially when a couple of healthcare providers have already been directly involved in someone's care and are in a much better position than an online doc.  I can speculate about anxiety magnifying normal body sensations, which probably is the best bet.

The symptoms do not suggest herpes, which sould not cause persistently uncomfortable urination for several weeks; if herpes were the cause, symptoms would probably last a few days, go away, then recur.  Anyway, herpes without external lesions is rare.  But you could have a blood test for HSV (see other threads about the right and wrong kind of HSV blood tests).  Conceivably trichomonas, which is common in women but no reliable test exists for men.  Perhaps your provider(s) might want to prescribe a course of metronidazole (Flagyl).

But I don't expect either herpes or trich will pan out.  Most important, you can be confident you don't have anything that will ever cause a serious health problem either for you or for your sexual partner(s).

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[littlegirlscared]

Can you please take the time to explain why you think that 1 month is reliable for a hiv test when most but not all other sites says different. Please dont take this as I am saying you dont know what you are talking about. Its just important to me to know the percertage rate of this being accurate.

Thanks so much. Please resond!! I will not post another comment.


Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This has been addressed on the fioum many times.  Search the threads and archives for "Time to positive HIV test" and "HIV diagnosis"; the answers are there.  Or feel free to post a new thread to see it again.

HHH, MD

[needadviceplz]

Thanks for the quick response Doc.  

I go to a MAJOR medical facility.  For some  reason my doc has ruled out Trich, saying that it would have been detected by microscope and it is too rare for a man to experience symptoms. I tried to get him to prescribe me Flagyl anyway, and he said no.  He is sending me to a urologist soon I suppose.  Is he right with this?  I have thought about Trich the whole time as a possible cause for my symptoms.  

Thx again.  I hope you realize what great work you guys are doing for people there.

[needadviceplz]

One last thing, I dont know if this makes a difference, but I have not burning while I urinate at all. Just a burning sensation in my testicles, penis, abdomen that tends to increase and decrease every day or two. It is always there though.


Thx.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That clarification of your symptoms makes STD even less likely, in my view.

Microscopic exam for the organism and/or for white blood cells in the urine (or a urethral swab) will miss most cases of trich in men; even culture, the best available test in clinical settings, probably misses at least 30-40% of cases.  Special, noncommercial tests available in reference and research labs, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, will pick up most (all?) cases.  You could pass this information on to your doc.  That said, I really do not think trichomonas explains your symptoms and am not convinced it is worth the special effort and expense to arrange for such testing or a trial of metronidazole therapy.  But this is in the realm of clinical judgment, not science.

Urology referral is a near-universal fallback in cases like yours.  In my experience, urologists usually do not come up with any better answers.  To be honest, I would sooner consider a visit to a mental health professional - not implying acknowledgement that the problem is primarily psychological in origin, but for a professional opinion about that possibility.

As I said, I can't give specific medical advice.  But knowing (with virtually 100% certainty) that nothing is going on that is a significant health threat, the best approach might be to do nothing and just see what happens over several months.  The symptoms likely will just fade away.

HHH, MD

[Imdumb]

Are you married or in a comitted relationship?  If so, read through the forum and archives.  It is FILLED with guys who have stepped out in a relationship (usually wit a pro), seeminging out of character behavior for them and then FREAK out about STD's when the realize what they have done.  In every case, there are vague and not very speciifc symptoms that aren't specfic enough for he dr. to say what it might be.  (no discharge, not sores or blisters, no pain when peeing). Also, nearly 100% of the time the exposures are extremely low to zero risk.  Usually consists of oral sex either protected and not protected and almost always protected vaginal.  On top of that, most of these guys have had negative tests for anyting they could have caught evn in light of the very low risks, but they still choose to worry about infecting their partner and potentially ending a marriage or important relationship.  

If this fits you, you should seriously stop with STD testing and treatment and figure out how to deal with the stress, guilt and anxiety.  

[needadviceplz]

you dont sound dumb to me..

Thx for the advice.  I am trying to move on and hearing from the doc here, and you input are helping. I am going to get tested for herpes one last time just to be sure. Hopefully I can move on cause I am dying to get away from this situation.

[Bobo_]

Hey needadvize :)
Your situation is the same I have had simular pain for past  
4 months all my results are neg but pain is there around left side of the penis , testis and groin area .
I have been to many doctors in the mater of fact I went to uro today and you are right they tell you nothing is wrong with you and good bye......
but there is something that you could possible have done to yourself which my doctor strongly belives with me
which is that i tore a muscle on left side. He gave me new meds
DICLOFENAC POT 50MG my doc claims Because of torn muscle there is swelling in that area to tell you the truth I have hard time beliving him but the meds I am on first day today are possibly helping my discomfort ...
I honestly think in both of our case is regrat , guilt and tons of anxioty. be strong and keep me informed of your progress and what you find out from other doctors
good luck