Aa
thrush
My story is perplexing and has been unsettling at times. Currently, I am 28 years old and also happen to be a medical student in the U.S. I was never promiscuous but had a lapse in judgment 7 years ago..... Yes 7 years ago is correct. I slept with a female during undergrad and had unprotected oral and vaginal intercourse. 2 weeks later I had severe pain after ejaculation and on the 3rd week I was severely sick for a few weeks and a sore throat lasting a few months.
I asked the girl to be tested but she was afraid and said she was fine. Granted this left "what ifs in my mind". It also lead me down the same rabbit hole many of you are currently going through. By this I'm referring to having a plethora of HIV tests. To name a few of the ~40 I have taken over 7 years:
RNA Viral Load quantitation ~10 weeks past the exposure . = undetectable
DNA PCR Proviral ~ 1 year, 3, years, and 5 years past = not detected
2 different RNA PCR Qualitative (FDA approved) = not detected.
To many Oraquick Advance Rapid oral swabs to keep track of = all Negative
Several ELISA, ICMA, and EIAs typically through lab corp.
Then a few months ago I had a Negative P24 rapid antigen test at a local hospital. = negative
Have I been thinking about this non-stop? Nope, Ive actually had several amazing years after this which is how I was able to get things back on track and come to medical school. However; symptoms (which everyone will say means nothing) have lead me back to this. I was actually forgetting all about this in terms of thinking there was a possibility of having this condition, Until a few months ago when I had 2 wisdom teeth extracted.
A few weeks after this I started to get severe burning in my mouth, a metallic taste, and dry mouth. I would almost describe it as a "Menthol" like sensation. I looked in the mirror and on the lateral aspect of my tongue there was a localized white patch. My university health clinic prescribed me Nystatin swish and swallow which relieved the pain after several days on it and the lesion went away. However, it will go away and then reappear after a few days. I can always tell when its about to come because burning nearly always precedes it.
I have an appointment with an ENT tomorrow morning, and an infectious disease specialist on Tuesday. Im trying to convince myself that this is because of the 4 day course of Penicillin VK I was on 500mg, 4 times a day .... this is actually when this started. Im hoping it was the cause and not just a coincidence that I happened to be taking them.
I took another rapid HIV test yesterday and it was still negative thankfully.
Also, I tell myself this as FINALLY after 7 years, I wrote the girl this happened with and needless to say she was not happy with me but finally said she was tested for HIV when she had her 2 children.
I would literally have to be the most unlucky person if this was to turn up after all these years. One thing that is perplexing to me is why it keep coming back after 2 courses of Nystatin.
I asked the girl to be tested but she was afraid and said she was fine. Granted this left "what ifs in my mind". It also lead me down the same rabbit hole many of you are currently going through. By this I'm referring to having a plethora of HIV tests. To name a few of the ~40 I have taken over 7 years:
RNA Viral Load quantitation ~10 weeks past the exposure . = undetectable
DNA PCR Proviral ~ 1 year, 3, years, and 5 years past = not detected
2 different RNA PCR Qualitative (FDA approved) = not detected.
To many Oraquick Advance Rapid oral swabs to keep track of = all Negative
Several ELISA, ICMA, and EIAs typically through lab corp.
Then a few months ago I had a Negative P24 rapid antigen test at a local hospital. = negative
Have I been thinking about this non-stop? Nope, Ive actually had several amazing years after this which is how I was able to get things back on track and come to medical school. However; symptoms (which everyone will say means nothing) have lead me back to this. I was actually forgetting all about this in terms of thinking there was a possibility of having this condition, Until a few months ago when I had 2 wisdom teeth extracted.
A few weeks after this I started to get severe burning in my mouth, a metallic taste, and dry mouth. I would almost describe it as a "Menthol" like sensation. I looked in the mirror and on the lateral aspect of my tongue there was a localized white patch. My university health clinic prescribed me Nystatin swish and swallow which relieved the pain after several days on it and the lesion went away. However, it will go away and then reappear after a few days. I can always tell when its about to come because burning nearly always precedes it.
I have an appointment with an ENT tomorrow morning, and an infectious disease specialist on Tuesday. Im trying to convince myself that this is because of the 4 day course of Penicillin VK I was on 500mg, 4 times a day .... this is actually when this started. Im hoping it was the cause and not just a coincidence that I happened to be taking them.
I took another rapid HIV test yesterday and it was still negative thankfully.
Also, I tell myself this as FINALLY after 7 years, I wrote the girl this happened with and needless to say she was not happy with me but finally said she was tested for HIV when she had her 2 children.
I would literally have to be the most unlucky person if this was to turn up after all these years. One thing that is perplexing to me is why it keep coming back after 2 courses of Nystatin.
Best Answer
Hi,
Thank you for your response. I will admit over the years this did cause anxiety and resulted in seeing a counselor the last several years. After 7 years the girl finally told me she tested during her pregnancies.
I actually do take a probiotic but will also look into keifer.
Thank you for responding.
Thank you for your response. I will admit over the years this did cause anxiety and resulted in seeing a counselor the last several years. After 7 years the girl finally told me she tested during her pregnancies.
I actually do take a probiotic but will also look into keifer.
Thank you for responding.
You almost seem like you have PTSD! You had a bad experience and wham, when something happened stress came back.
When I go to the dentist, they have me take antibiotics because of a heart mumer. But he always tells me to take probiotics for a few weeks after to avoid the over growth of the bad bacteria.
If the the "thrush" doesn't go away, pick up a bottle or try to drink keifer for a few weeks.
Be well
When I go to the dentist, they have me take antibiotics because of a heart mumer. But he always tells me to take probiotics for a few weeks after to avoid the over growth of the bad bacteria.
If the the "thrush" doesn't go away, pick up a bottle or try to drink keifer for a few weeks.
Be well
We don't look at pictures. I agree with what Howard has written.
Internal review is standard.
Internal review is standard.
Thank you vance for your help. What are your thoughts about my situation. Did you see the pictures I posted?
Internal review? that doesn't sound good.
Thank you for your time
Internal review? that doesn't sound good.
Thank you for your time
Dr's forum is closed for interanl review. I am here to help people by answering questions.
Hi Howard,
Thank you for your response. I certainly admit from all the medical literature Ive read this would be a medically anomaly if something were to ever show up. I actually thought it was because of the 4 day course of Penicillin VK as its a broad spectrum antibiotic, however, I had a dentist tell me that this seems to be a short course to have caused this.
Additionally, Literature supports that Nystatin should be effective in eliminating Candidas without recurrence. Being this is now the third relapse in this bothers me.
Thank you for your response. I certainly admit from all the medical literature Ive read this would be a medically anomaly if something were to ever show up. I actually thought it was because of the 4 day course of Penicillin VK as its a broad spectrum antibiotic, however, I had a dentist tell me that this seems to be a short course to have caused this.
Additionally, Literature supports that Nystatin should be effective in eliminating Candidas without recurrence. Being this is now the third relapse in this bothers me.
Hi Vance,
I guess I was just coming here to tell my story and connect. I also uploaded pictures if you care to take a look. Additionally, do you know why the Doctors forum does not work?
Why are you on the Forum ? Are you also just connecting etc?
Best.
I guess I was just coming here to tell my story and connect. I also uploaded pictures if you care to take a look. Additionally, do you know why the Doctors forum does not work?
Why are you on the Forum ? Are you also just connecting etc?
Best.
This is a nonprofessional community forum; you won't get advice here from a medical expert. I'll just give you the standard responses from all of us who volunteer here. You clearly do not have HIV. All experts agree that lab testing for HIV always overrules symptoms. When the expert HIV prevention forum was active, the docs there often said that oral thrush in not rare in people with normal immune systems, and by itself doesn't mean HIV.
Seeing ENT and ID specialists makes sense to figure out the problem. But I'm sure it won't turn out you have HIV. Good luck with it.
Seeing ENT and ID specialists makes sense to figure out the problem. But I'm sure it won't turn out you have HIV. Good luck with it.
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You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
I do not see a need to be pursuing any kind of medical specialist at this point, besides your family doctor or dentist, to address the thrush if it persists.
You do not have HIV. It seems like 7 years and over 40 tests later, it may be time to think about some therapy to move past this worry. It's simply not normal to be worried about something for so long, especially in the face of scientific proof to the contrary.