clarification

[posbot]

Question for Dr. Jose and Dr. Cummins. I contracted chlamydia after a one time exposure. A week after exposure I had a sore throat that lasted for weeks.  At 3 weeks post exposure I began to have muscle pain, joint pain, dry cough, and pain that I believe is in my lymph nodes. I say that is what I believe because I'm not a doctor. The pain started in the groin, then the gut, then became wide spread within a day. Strangely enough I never recorded a fever or had rash. But I know everyone is different.  I wanted anonymous testing for my own reasons so I went to the local health department where they only offer rapid test. I use unigold and oraquick advanced blood test at 6 10 12 and 15 weeks. All negative.  The pains and aches are still present.  Everyone has told me the test are conclusive but I think they believe its just anxiety. Are those test really conclusive or are the rapid test really not that sensitive. So much conflicting info.  If this really is infection it feels like its kicking my *** already to be honest.  If you need any other info to assess the the risk, please ask. Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the forum.  You have posted on the wrong site.  I will be answering your question. If you wish to have the question also answered on the International STD Forum you will have to re-post.  I'll comment first on the accuracy of your tests and then on your continuing symptoms.

Tests for HIV are among the best and most carefully studied of all tests in Medicine.  Both the Unigold and Oraquick tests have been widely studied and evaluated by governmental regulatory agencies in the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as by the U.S. CDC and the World Health Organization.  Despite the misinformation that is all too common on the internet, studies clearly show that these tests perform in a manner equivalent to lab based tests which take longer to become available.   Further, there is general agreement that results at 12 weeks and beyond are definitive and most experts (including us) actually believe that results at any time beyond 8 weeks are definitive.  You have now been tested multiple times using two different tests- believe your results.  You did not get HIV from the exposures of concern.

So, now what about your symptoms?  As you point out, you are not precisely sure where your discomforts are (are they lymph nodes or something else?) and, in addition, the sorts of symptoms you report (muscle pain, cough, discomfort) are non-specific and can be caused by a long, long list on both infectious and non-infectious problems.  I suspect the relationship of your symptoms to the sexual exposure of concern is coincidence and not otherwise related.  If you would not worry about these symptoms if you had not had an exposure where you caught chlamydia, I would suggest not worrying further.  On the other hand, if your symptoms are getting worse or are interfering with your day-to-day activities, then my advice would be to seek the opinion of a trained internal medicine physician.

I hope these comments are helpful. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

the aching and stinging you mention does not have to be an infection of any sort.  There are many other non- nfectious causes of these sorts of symptoms.  In fact, there are so many that without a complete evaluation by a doctor who can examine you, is is not possible to even guess what might be causing your symptoms.  We can be comfortable however that they are not due to HIV or other STD.  EWH

[posbot]

Thank you Dr. Hook. To say the truth if I hadn't believed the symptoms were related, I probably would have been to a specialist already. I know I am a grown man and it is my own responsibilty to take care of my health. I have just been worried for my children if something happens to me. One more thing. The aching and stinging I speak about, is it indicative of infection?