Worried sick

[nervous1123]

Hi Doctor - I hope you are well
Over the past number of years I have had a few encounters with gay males even though I have a girlfriend. These encounters have always been oral sex both giving and receiving. After my most recent episode I got a scare as I had some white sores in my tongue. I attended a private appointment with a leading GUM specialist in the UK 2 days after the incident (my most recent incident before this was about 7 months beforehand). AT my appointment he examined my mouth and said it was not an STD - fine. He then took urine samples from me and what i'm assuming was a swab from my penis. He also did instant blood tests to check for my exposure to syphillis or hiv from previous encounters which were negative. After these he treated me with 2 injections one in the hip and one in the arm and gave be 4 tablets to take there and then.

I got the urine results back this morning and they were negative, and that he said that he had given me treatment just to be cautious and that I now couldnt have chlaymedia or ghonnorea. He also arranged a follow up appointment in a months time to check for HIV as he said I was at a very low risk of contracting it after my most recent episode but it was too early to tell.

I thought all was well but I went to the bathroom after reciving his call and after I urinated I noticed a bit of clearish discharge, I may have had this before but just didn't notice. I hadnt been eating or sleeping for almost a week and I have had some weird sensations in my genital area and frequent urination which still persists. Now I don't know what to think.

So,

1) Should the medication have been effective?
2) Could I have been carrying both ghonnorea or chlaymedia before this incident and the test was negative incorrectly (even though my previous episode had been about 7 months ago)
3) Whats my best course of action now?

I am driving myself crazy, please help!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This is a standard recommendation. your risk for infection however is very, very low and from a practical perspective, there is not reason for you to worry.

This completes this thread.  EWH

[nervous1123]

One very last question, the doctor has said i'm in the all clear from everything except HIV which he said was very low risk from oral but would still recommend a test in about a month. Is this normal? I performed and received oral both ways and there was no ejaculation, this is still keeping me awake at night.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care. EWH

[nervous1123]

Thank you Doctor, very much appreciated!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

1) Should the medication have been effective?

If there was an STI, which there was not, the treatment would have been effective.

2) Could I have been carrying both ghonnorea or chlaymedia before this incident and the test was negative incorrectly (even though my previous episode had been about 7 months ago)

No.


3) Whats my best course of action now?

Relax and move forward.  

the material under your foreskin was not a sign of STI.  I agree witht he GUM specialist, you are worrying more than you need to.  EWH

[nervous1123]

Sorry I meant to also say could the white hard stuff which washes away be ghonnorea or chlaymedia, it was like a collection of white piece all gathered together.

I apologise for the persistence.

[nervous1123]

Many thanks for the prompt response. The dicharge did come after a bowel movement. I also noticed when I peeled back my foreskin quite a lot of hard white stuff which smelled a bit cheesy, I only saw this today and havent shown it to the professor.  Could please also answer my questions above which were:

1) Should the medication have been effective?
2) Could I have been carrying both ghonnorea or chlaymedia before this incident and the test was negative incorrectly (even though my previous episode had been about 7 months ago)
3) Whats my best course of action now?

I think the professor I saw thinks I'm being overly paranoid but I've so much to lose.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help.  It sounds as though you were quite thoroughly evaluated by the GUM specialist that you saw.  Further, while there was no evidence of infection, either at the time of the evaluation or on your laboratory tests, you received therapy which was likely to be highly effective had you been infected.  I would not be worried about an STI at this time and can provide alternate explanations for some of your symptoms.  

Most men have a certain amount of normal urethral secretions which are present- these tend to vary in amount and are most commonly noted wither in the morning, soon after awakening or following straining to have a bowel movement (the process of having a bowel movement can express the secretions and make them more apparent).  As for your urinary frequency- this is not a sign of STI but can be a manifestation of several other processes including prostate infections or even simply can result from the process of becoming more vigilant about the possibility of a urinary abnormality.  

My advice is to believe the results of your evaluation by a trained professional and to no worry further about STI.  I hope that my comments will help you to do this.  EWH