Chlamydia bleeding

[jeweledbottle]

I'm a 48 year old, healthy, sexually active, peri-menopausal woman. Two months ago, I noticed a change in my vaginal 'climate'.  My vagina seemed sticky and slightly odoriferous. I am very aware of my normal moisture, tone, etc., so I immediately went to a doctor.  The physician's assistant took smears and diagnosed me with BV, a common malady for peri-menopausal women. My symptoms disappeared in two days, but of course, I took my entire prescription.  A little over a week later, I had an incredibly long menstrual cycle...six days when I normally flow for one or two, (I know, lucky me!), with cramping, (I never cramp) but soon afterwards, my vaginal climate was off again. Just a stickiness and a little odor, no discoloration. So, back to the doctor...this time, the actual doctor himself assured me that I needed to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as herpes, and a host of other nasty std's!  They took cultures, smears and urine and sent them out. But to be safe, he had his nurse give me an injection of 500mg  Rocephin (four times the recommended dosage!) and a prescription for 20 100mg Doxycycline capsules. They then called to tell me that they had contaminated my labs, and because I'm on medication, I cannot be retested at this time, so I will never know what I actually had/have!  (I'll also never be able to go back there cuz I said some pretty ugly things to them then!) This is killing me, because not only do I have to wait for at least another week to be retested, but I don't know what to tell my sexual partners (yes, multiple, I insist on condoms, but I did slip up the once)...it could just be a mis-diagnosis (there was none really done) of a uterine infection!  But, I have now, four days after the injection, started to have a pink to red discharge, very similar to my menstrual cycle-is this normal, or should I be concerned that I may have a uterine infection? Will the Doxycyline and Rocephin be of any assistance in any other std or problem I'm having with my female parts?  Help!

[auntiejessi]

Wow - been through all the joys of womanhood, huh?

At this point, you might just call your partners, and let them know what happened, that you don't truly know if you had anything, but it was suggested you might, and you just wanted to let them know so they can test.  If your partners come back negative, you can rest assured that it isn't gonorrhea or chlamydia.

This all may be related to perimenopause and abnormal cycles, and you might need some testing done in that area, if you haven't had any yet.

Since you can't go back to your regular doc - which I have to say I love the reason why, but I'm sure its not helping you much right now - you should find another doc, and go from there.

Good luck, and I wish I had better answers for you.

AJ

[jeweledbottle]

Thanks so much for the response...and of course I will inform my partners! Unlikely that they'll believe me...even I have to admit that it doesn't sound feasible!  I mean, really...the same place making such gross errors twice...sounds incredible to me!  Sadly, I fear that I will have lost any integrity that I may have had due to one foolish act.  Seems that even old dogs need to learn new tricks!  I'm still concerned that this bleeding occurred in conjunction with taking a prescription meant to cure me of Chlamydia...when none was present prior.

[jeweledbottle]

One of my male friends was at his urologist last week and had a complete workup, including std testing and came back negative on all counts, his gf has also has encounters with the only other male I have had unprotected sex with and she is negative as well.  What's the deal?

[auntiejessi]

Hmm sounds like your symptoms aren't likely to be chlamydia then, and you need to look at something else for the symptoms.  

Its too bad your doc bungled it all so badly.  At least you'd be able to rule some things out.

AJ

[jeweledbottle]

so, let me see now...if the two other people that I know to have had sexual contact with me as well as the suspected offender aren't infected, my boyfriend isn't infected, (he'll be getting tested tomorrow) then in all likelihood, I can't be either, correct?  my real question then, would be what the heck is wrong with me, did the Flagyl, then the megadose of Rocephin, and now the doxycycline...help or cause harm?  should I continue with the doxycycline despite being fairly certain that I am not infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea...because I cannot even be properly tested for anything while on a tetracycline...argh...I guess I'm just wondering if taking these meds is bad for me...beyond being incredibly annoying...

[auntiejessi]

Well, you could stop the doxy.  I can't say medically if that's a good decision, but I would probably stop it if it were me.

This really could all be due to perimenopause.  When your estrogen levels get low, the vaginal walls get thin, and can cause bleeding.  It could also be the bv.

I'm sorry you are going through all this, and I think a lot of it could have been avoided if your doc's office didn't bungle it so badly.

AJ

[jeweledbottle]

I'm near certain that I have a uterine infection, none of this discharge is remotely normal, nor do I think it's purely menopausal.  My thinking is that I have had BV for a long time, it went undiagnosed, then migrated. The dose of flagyl cleared it up for a week or so, only to have it be reintroduced once my PID started fighting back. Now, I have to either continue the Doxycycline, (which, in conjunction with another antibiotic, can be prescribed for PID) or stop and take my chances that a proper diagnosis be made.  I have introduced enough drugs into my body that I should be free of any of this!  I mean, gee, I was treated for gonorrhea and now know I didn't have it!  I think I'll finish the doxy, just in case, so that I can say that I have followed even wrong instructions!  (Doctors seem to like that) Meanwhile, I am bleeding, mildly cramping, have a subnormal temp, smell kinda yucky, and my man has stopped speaking to me.  Well, at least I know for sure that I'm cured of him!  I'll keep you posted on my adventure with my female reproductive system, thank you so much for your kindness and support!

[auntiejessi]

Since you have PID symptoms, you should continue the meds.  There are some different thoughts on BV causing PID, but I am a firm believer in it, having had PID myself years ago, and the only bacteria they found was bv.

I hope you feel better.

AJ

[jeweledbottle]

Well, folks, medicine may be a science, but it's sure not an exact science!  I found a women's health care practice and saw a doctor this morning.  Is it just me, or does health care suck here?!  Had a pelvic exam, and, despite this doctor's assurances that after all of the medication I had been erroneously prescribed, there is no way that I could have PID, Gonorrhea, or Chlamydia, he had tests for those run yet again!  I have one tiny fibroid, no soreness, no tenderness...can't tell if my vaginal tone is different than normal, because I haven't stopped bleeding for 12 days now.  So, the next step is a very expensive ultrasound...to determine if my uterine lining is thinner, indicating menopause, or thicker, indicating cancer.  I found it odd that if he suspects menopause, he took no blood work to determine my hormone levels, so my guess is that he suspects cancer.  Well, let me just say this, people...after all that I have been through with lab work, poking, prodding, veiled insults and judgments about my sexuality...doctors are not even freaking close to God, so, PLEASE QUESTION AUTHORITY!!!!  Take nothing for granted, and always get a second, third, or twenty-eighth opinion!!!  Anyway, I hope you can learn from my mistakes, thank you again for your support, peace.

[auntiejessi]

Yeah docs very rarely do hormone testing and diagnose menopause by symptoms, which sucks.  

If this is all out of pocket for you (you mentioned the expense), you should inquire about assistance programs with your local health dept.

Good luck!!

AJ