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Very stressed please help
I am 29y.o from Orlando, FL. my main concern is HIV. The history of my exposure is that from november 2013 till march 2014 i have been with 5 different women. Our physical contact has been limited to very Deep french kissing, me fingering them(i have eczema i had cuts), and also they performed unprotected oral sex on me with completion in their mouth. At no time was my penis inside their vagina or anal area. They are not prostitutes, but orlando has such a high HIV rate. My last exposure with any of them was on March 20th.
My Symptoms: about a month ago on May 16th, i started experiencing frequent urination to the point where i would go to the bathroom 8-9 times a day. My doctor prescribed me ciproflaxcin 500mg/10 days/twice a day on May 20th. The symptoms didn't really go away. They would get better one day and then return. While i was taking ciproflaxcin i noticed that i had anal itching after bowel movements. At this point due to my own fears i decided to take a Oraquick at home HIV test on May 24th, which was Negative. I returned to the doctor who did a dipstick test which was clean and said that it may be prostatitis since i had dribbling after urinating. At this point on June 6th, he prescribed me Doxycycline hyclate 100mg/10days/twice a day. My urination symptoms have decreased not gone fully but much better, but currently I noticed about 4 days ago that I have light thrush on the back of my tongue. Also my throat feels like something is stuck in it almost like phlegm or when you feel like a cold is about to come that has been happening for 10 days. Went to the doctor again yesterday was prescribed Nystatin he said it was due to multiple antibiotics.
My worry is that these symptoms of uti/prostatitis, anal itching after bowel movement, this stuck/cold feeling in my throat and now this thrush are signs of my immune system being compromised, and i am so stressed it may be HIV. I am in a monogamous relationship now and worried i may pass something.
My Symptoms: about a month ago on May 16th, i started experiencing frequent urination to the point where i would go to the bathroom 8-9 times a day. My doctor prescribed me ciproflaxcin 500mg/10 days/twice a day on May 20th. The symptoms didn't really go away. They would get better one day and then return. While i was taking ciproflaxcin i noticed that i had anal itching after bowel movements. At this point due to my own fears i decided to take a Oraquick at home HIV test on May 24th, which was Negative. I returned to the doctor who did a dipstick test which was clean and said that it may be prostatitis since i had dribbling after urinating. At this point on June 6th, he prescribed me Doxycycline hyclate 100mg/10days/twice a day. My urination symptoms have decreased not gone fully but much better, but currently I noticed about 4 days ago that I have light thrush on the back of my tongue. Also my throat feels like something is stuck in it almost like phlegm or when you feel like a cold is about to come that has been happening for 10 days. Went to the doctor again yesterday was prescribed Nystatin he said it was due to multiple antibiotics.
My worry is that these symptoms of uti/prostatitis, anal itching after bowel movement, this stuck/cold feeling in my throat and now this thrush are signs of my immune system being compromised, and i am so stressed it may be HIV. I am in a monogamous relationship now and worried i may pass something.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your question.
I see three different issues here. First, were you at risk for HIV and could your symptoms have anything to do with HIV? Clearly the answer is no. Your negative Oraquick test, although not quite 100% reliable until 3 months after the last exposure, nevertheless is strong evidence you didn't catch HIV. Neither your urinary nor mouth and throat symptoms are suggestive of ARS or other manifestations of HIV. Even if you have oral thrush (which you may not -- white coated tongue isn't the same thing), most likely it is the result of broad spectrum antibiotic treatment. For additional reassurance, I recommend another HIV test -- preferably a blood test, either rapid or lab based. The negative result will be conclusive.
Second, could your urinary symptoms be due to an STD from the events described? Here too, the answer is almost certainly no. As for HIV, the sexual exposures described are unlikely to cause any STDs that affect the penis or urinary tract; and as you suggest yourself, the symptoms have been more suggestive of prostatitis, UTI, or something like that. These are not STDs, are not caught by sexual contact of any kind, and the symptoms are different than those of STDs. You don't describe typical STD symptoms. (I suspect many of your symptoms might be just the physical manifestations of genitally focused anxiety, which explains many cases of urinary urgency, testicular and lower abdominal pain, etc.)
The third issue is the apparently low quality of medical care you have been getting. From your description, it seems various doctors or clinics are winging it with various antibiotics, without adequate examination and testing to figure out what has been going on.
So here is my advice: 1) Do not take any more antibiotics; stop the doxycycline now if you still are taking it. 2) Seek out a doctor who understands STDs and HIV. Your local health department STD clinic, or a Planned Parenthood clinic would be a good choice; or an infectious diseases specialist. Then follow that person's advice about further tests, treatment, etc. 3) Have an HIV test for reassurance. You can definitely expect a negative result.
In the meantime, none of your symptoms sounds serious and I am very confident you don't have HIV or any STD.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I see three different issues here. First, were you at risk for HIV and could your symptoms have anything to do with HIV? Clearly the answer is no. Your negative Oraquick test, although not quite 100% reliable until 3 months after the last exposure, nevertheless is strong evidence you didn't catch HIV. Neither your urinary nor mouth and throat symptoms are suggestive of ARS or other manifestations of HIV. Even if you have oral thrush (which you may not -- white coated tongue isn't the same thing), most likely it is the result of broad spectrum antibiotic treatment. For additional reassurance, I recommend another HIV test -- preferably a blood test, either rapid or lab based. The negative result will be conclusive.
Second, could your urinary symptoms be due to an STD from the events described? Here too, the answer is almost certainly no. As for HIV, the sexual exposures described are unlikely to cause any STDs that affect the penis or urinary tract; and as you suggest yourself, the symptoms have been more suggestive of prostatitis, UTI, or something like that. These are not STDs, are not caught by sexual contact of any kind, and the symptoms are different than those of STDs. You don't describe typical STD symptoms. (I suspect many of your symptoms might be just the physical manifestations of genitally focused anxiety, which explains many cases of urinary urgency, testicular and lower abdominal pain, etc.)
The third issue is the apparently low quality of medical care you have been getting. From your description, it seems various doctors or clinics are winging it with various antibiotics, without adequate examination and testing to figure out what has been going on.
So here is my advice: 1) Do not take any more antibiotics; stop the doxycycline now if you still are taking it. 2) Seek out a doctor who understands STDs and HIV. Your local health department STD clinic, or a Planned Parenthood clinic would be a good choice; or an infectious diseases specialist. Then follow that person's advice about further tests, treatment, etc. 3) Have an HIV test for reassurance. You can definitely expect a negative result.
In the meantime, none of your symptoms sounds serious and I am very confident you don't have HIV or any STD.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Thank you for your expert opinion Dr. Handsfield. I am not taking doxycycline anymore it ended a week ago, the general practitioner did prescribe Nystatin oral suppression yesterday for the light thrush, should I take that? I don't have health insurance that is why tests weren't done. The only thing i would like to ask is, since you don't think it is HIV or STD related. Are you referring that I go to an infection disease specialist or STD clinic for my piece of mind or is there another reason? I ask because i can't afford it right now. Also is it ok to have sex with my partner?
ok thank you Dr. Handsfield. good day.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, but we don't examine clinical photos on this forum. An online forum is not a place for definitive diagnosis, and in our view this comes too close to practicing medicine from afar.
Thank you Dr. Handsfield for your time and the work that you do.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I would never advise anyone to not take a medication prescribed by his or her physician. While I'm not convinced you have oral thrush (i.e. a yeast infection), it certainly is possible given the antbiotics you received. In any case, nystatin will do no harm even if you only have a coated tongue without yeast.
My advice to see a specialst is primarily for reassurance, not because I believe you have any STD or HIV. I do not. And for that reason, I see no reason for you to not continue (or resume) sex with your regular partner.
My advice to see a specialst is primarily for reassurance, not because I believe you have any STD or HIV. I do not. And for that reason, I see no reason for you to not continue (or resume) sex with your regular partner.
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