too many symptoms, suicidal

[criscblue]

hello doc, ive had strange things going on with me following a recent exposure. i always read about people with slim to no chances of infection through their risk and symptoms doest sound classic but i feel this excerpt is. my exposure 6/27, the following day i had a discharge. i went to the local clinic where i was tested for gonerreah,syphllis,clamydia (chlamydia), all came back negative, but treated with doxicycline. six days later the i noticed the discharge again. i told the obgyn that my discharge was in the morning, and very subtle during the day so i may have not had enough of a culture, i dont know. i went to my docs office and was treated for trich., no test, they wont run them unless u beg them. took that seven days still had a discharge, the nurse said it could be bacterial vaginosis, and prescribed ampicillin. this is day 24 past exposure, the day i took that, which may indicate nothing in regards to the medication, i noticed 2 brown spots on my chest. im a black man, so i doubt the ars rash will appear red on me. i have curly hair on my chest and had a slight irritation last time i shaved, anyway after i say the couple spots i shaved and saw about 12 to 15 more, transparent, slightly irritated, and maybe 2 spots developed bumps on them, they were flat, nonraised. and now at day 56, the brown marks are still present but light. i was so depressed the first two weeks of all this i lost 5 pounds, but in two weeks, i gained it back. after taking the amp. i still had a discharge and was treated again with doxicycline for 14 days. the discharge is gone now, its been 4 days, but ive just about given up and expect it to come back. i have red tonsils, but my throat hasnt hurt. nurse says pharyngitis, can it be that without soreness? the ampicillin was also for the throat by the way. ive been on antibiotics now for 40+ days but 2 weeks past exposer, i developed a coating on my tongue, not the creamy easily wiped off type, but could be cause of stress antibiotics, but thats me giving myself benefit of the doubt. i have a swollen lymphnode under my chin, and on the left side of my neck, the nurse said, and my left is is slightly red, but no pain. i havent had muscle acts, weakness, joint pains, sore throat, or anything. i had slight dirreah but can be cause of meds, i dont know. ive noticed very small spots on the inside of my cheek twice that goes away in a day or so twice. and i had a very small red spot that showed on my lip but went away, never grew to what i thought would be an apthous ulcer. i tested negative at 24 days home access, and at 28 days orasure from the local aids network place. i recently took another test today 8/23. with all these symptoms, i know uve been through it before, but what are my chances of the 28 day test being non accurate. and what causes the small spots from time to time, ive been under so much stress. is it possible for the ars rash to still be present 1 month later? thank you for your response.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You undoubtedly know that an online doc can't make a specific diagnosis even in simple, straightforward cases; and I certainly won't try when someone has as complex a medical history of yours, and when you have seen several healthcare providers.  Your initial symptoms suggested NGU (whether due to chlamydia or something else) or gonorrhea, but even if those were missed by the tests you had, they would have been cured by the treatments you received.  Your doctor is right about testing men for trichomonas; reliable tests just don't exist.  CDC recommends that men with persistent or recurrent NGU have treatment for trichomonas (usually with metronidazole/Flagyl or tinidazole/Tindamax), so this might be worth a try if not yet done.

I can say nothing about your nongenital symptoms such as skin lesions, tongue coating, diarrhea, etc, but I doubt you have HIV.  If you have reviewed other threads on this forum, you know that HIV testing (including Orasure) is highly reliable at 28 days, although not perfect; repeat testing 6 weeks to 3 months might be a good idea to ease your mind.  Follow up with your health care provider(s).

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[criscblue]

thanks doc for the reply. no sooner than i finished typing that, my discharge is back again! i dont believe this. and i forgot to mention i feel wetness from behind at times, and have looks like flakes around my anus. could all this be an overgrowth of yeast due to stress and antibiotics, im not homosexual, so where does the rear end stuff come from. im really going crazy cause my doctors office personell doesnt know what to tell me except keep trying antibiotics, which from what ive read can be dangerous if take for nothing...

[criscblue]

and i forgot to mention i was on 7 days metrodonazole.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I really can't add anything more, except to suggest that if you aren't confident your doctor isn't on top of things, you should seek a second opinion or perhaps referral to one or more specialists (e.g., dermatology for the skin and anal symptoms, urology for the penile discharge, etc).

HHH, MD