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Chlamydia - Sore Throat and Penis 3 Weeks After Azithromycin
First of all, thank you. You do not know how much your website means. God Bless!
After being with my girlfriend for awhile I got tested on 3/5/14. In the past I got tested every year but only blood tests thinking I was being tested for everything. On 3/14/14 I found out I had Chlamydia with no signs/symptoms. I had Equivocal 0.99 for IGG but never had symptoms. I, all at once, took 4 out of 4 pills of Azithromycin 250mg tablets on 3/14 for the Chlamydia treatment and had diarrhea for a week. A week after (3/21) I got a little sick (light headed for 3 days) and my urethra was sensitive but I thought these were side effects. Now it is 4/7, my urethra is still a little sensitive (including just below the opening), warm, and my throat is now slightly sore and dry. I have no other symptoms and no discharge (but I am not circumcised so it is hard to tell). I am getting retested on 4/8. I am not confident in the doctor that is treating me. What do you think is going on with me and what should my doctor be doing?
After being with my girlfriend for awhile I got tested on 3/5/14. In the past I got tested every year but only blood tests thinking I was being tested for everything. On 3/14/14 I found out I had Chlamydia with no signs/symptoms. I had Equivocal 0.99 for IGG but never had symptoms. I, all at once, took 4 out of 4 pills of Azithromycin 250mg tablets on 3/14 for the Chlamydia treatment and had diarrhea for a week. A week after (3/21) I got a little sick (light headed for 3 days) and my urethra was sensitive but I thought these were side effects. Now it is 4/7, my urethra is still a little sensitive (including just below the opening), warm, and my throat is now slightly sore and dry. I have no other symptoms and no discharge (but I am not circumcised so it is hard to tell). I am getting retested on 4/8. I am not confident in the doctor that is treating me. What do you think is going on with me and what should my doctor be doing?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to know it has all worked out well. I'm glad to have helped.
Thanks for the offer of a donation. I always recommend the American Sexual Health Association, the nation's premier nonprofit sexual health and STD prevention agency (www.ashasexualhealth.org). (Full disclosure -- Dr. Hook and I both are former members of ASHA's board of directors.)
Thanks for the offer of a donation. I always recommend the American Sexual Health Association, the nation's premier nonprofit sexual health and STD prevention agency (www.ashasexualhealth.org). (Full disclosure -- Dr. Hook and I both are former members of ASHA's board of directors.)
I got the results back from the urine and blood tests. No Herpes and no Chlamydia. The doctor followed up with one more urine test to check for infections and it was negative. The particles in the urine were explained as due to fasting. All pain went away. I am assuming the sensitivity was due to to the side effects of the medication or something viral I caught.
I really appreciate your words of wisdom and this site is worth more than admission. Is there anyway I can make a contribution to show my appreciation?
James
I really appreciate your words of wisdom and this site is worth more than admission. Is there anyway I can make a contribution to show my appreciation?
James
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It may be your doctor is not especially familiar with STDs in general or NGU in particular. Most docs in the US aren't trained about the possible significance of urine "threads" for example. That said, I'm glad he directly examined your penis -- it's reassuring he saw nothing abnormal.
At this point, I would suggest you pay close attention to possible discharge fro your penis, especially in the morning. If in the next 2-3 days you don't see any mucus or white material in the opening first thing in the morning (after not urinating overnight), and if there is no "crusting" around the opneing (from discharge that dried overnight), you can move on without further concern. If either of these signs appears, however, you should either arrange to see your doctor again, or find an STD expert, e.g. your local public health clinic.
In the meantime, don't worry. Nonchlamydial NGU is mostly harmless to both affected men and their sex partners and usually clears up on its own. And all things considered, I doubt you have it anyway.
At this point, I would suggest you pay close attention to possible discharge fro your penis, especially in the morning. If in the next 2-3 days you don't see any mucus or white material in the opening first thing in the morning (after not urinating overnight), and if there is no "crusting" around the opneing (from discharge that dried overnight), you can move on without further concern. If either of these signs appears, however, you should either arrange to see your doctor again, or find an STD expert, e.g. your local public health clinic.
In the meantime, don't worry. Nonchlamydial NGU is mostly harmless to both affected men and their sex partners and usually clears up on its own. And all things considered, I doubt you have it anyway.
I asked the doctor today about NGU, urethritis, and he said I did not have it. He looked at my penis for Herpes, any outbreaks, and said I am clean.
I asked if they can test for it in the urine sample that I was going to take. He told me we test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and something else not mentioning urethritis. Should the urine test I just did pick it up urethritis or NGU? These threads are very noticeable and I called the doctors office telling them there were threads in my urine sample I just took and that could mean something. She said ok I will tell the doctor. Never heard back.
I am concerned with the level of care and lack of communication there.
I asked if they can test for it in the urine sample that I was going to take. He told me we test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and something else not mentioning urethritis. Should the urine test I just did pick it up urethritis or NGU? These threads are very noticeable and I called the doctors office telling them there were threads in my urine sample I just took and that could mean something. She said ok I will tell the doctor. Never heard back.
I am concerned with the level of care and lack of communication there.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad no thrush, but of course not surprised.
However, the "strings" in your urine change my thoughts about NGU. (You used a good term: STD experts call them "threads", i.e. same sort of description." This can be a sign of urethritis. You should see an STD expert and the exam should include careful inspection of the penis when you haven't urinated for several hours -- ideally first thing in the morning, before urinating the first time. Some urologists are excellent STD experts, but many (most?) are not. Your local public health STD clinic or a Planned Parenthood clinic would be good choices. There's no special hurry -- best to wait until today's chlamydia test result is available. Don't take any other antibiotics in the meantime.
In the meantime, don't panic. Nonchlamydial NGU is usually a minor problem with little or no long term health impact and little if any danger to infected men's sex partners. I'll be interested to hear the outcome after you've been reevaluated, whether by a urologist or elsewhere.
However, the "strings" in your urine change my thoughts about NGU. (You used a good term: STD experts call them "threads", i.e. same sort of description." This can be a sign of urethritis. You should see an STD expert and the exam should include careful inspection of the penis when you haven't urinated for several hours -- ideally first thing in the morning, before urinating the first time. Some urologists are excellent STD experts, but many (most?) are not. Your local public health STD clinic or a Planned Parenthood clinic would be good choices. There's no special hurry -- best to wait until today's chlamydia test result is available. Don't take any other antibiotics in the meantime.
In the meantime, don't panic. Nonchlamydial NGU is usually a minor problem with little or no long term health impact and little if any danger to infected men's sex partners. I'll be interested to hear the outcome after you've been reevaluated, whether by a urologist or elsewhere.
I just took the tests and I get the results back Friday. You are right no oral thrust it could be just a viral infection. I took the urine test and noticed white particles. I informed the office well small white tissue/strings in my urine. Should I go to the urologist just to be on the safe side?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I doubt you have oral candidiasis. Thrush can indeed occur as a result of antibiotic therapy, but usually only with more intensive and prolonged treatment than yours. Azithromycin rarely does it at any dose or duration. And thrush usually causes soreness in the mouth, not throat.
And a sense of "warm" urine is not a symptom of NGU. More likely it is related to urine concentration, which in turn varies with diet and fluid intake (concentrated versus dilute urine). Without visible discharge or evidence of it (e.g. staining of underwear), I see no need to be evaluated for NGU. But discuss these things with your doctor if the symptoms persist.
And a sense of "warm" urine is not a symptom of NGU. More likely it is related to urine concentration, which in turn varies with diet and fluid intake (concentrated versus dilute urine). Without visible discharge or evidence of it (e.g. staining of underwear), I see no need to be evaluated for NGU. But discuss these things with your doctor if the symptoms persist.
Should I get checked for check NSU/NGU if urine feels warm?
I bet I have oral candidiasis (a.k.a. oral thrust) after doing some research. My tongue is a little yellow and the back of my throat is a little white. Since Azithromycin kills bacteria (good and bad) yeast grows out of control. This is causing my sore throat and is a side affect of the medication. My doctor should have told me the side affects and what to expect.
Positive Urine test was done on 3/5. Blood Test was done 3/5 for the other STDs like HIV. Tested for all STDs (both blood and urine) and testosterone level. I was feeling lethargic and my girlfriend wants a child. I was getting a checkup and wanted to make sure I was healthy and clean for unprotected sex with her (FYI: she has been tested clean).
Medication (Azithromycin) was taken in one dose on 3/14. I get urine tested again tomorrow.
Medication (Azithromycin) was taken in one dose on 3/14. I get urine tested again tomorrow.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
When was the positive urine test? Was a blood test also done? Why?
Give your symptoms, I agree with your doctor that a repeat urine test makes sense. However, it should not be done until at least three weeks after treatment. I am confident it will be negative; chlamydia doesn't cause the penile symptoms you describe, and has never been known to cause sore throat. Do not have a blood test, which indeed is likely to remain positive for life if you really had chlamydia.
Give your symptoms, I agree with your doctor that a repeat urine test makes sense. However, it should not be done until at least three weeks after treatment. I am confident it will be negative; chlamydia doesn't cause the penile symptoms you describe, and has never been known to cause sore throat. Do not have a blood test, which indeed is likely to remain positive for life if you really had chlamydia.
I had a urine test and it was positive. As far as the pain, when I urinate it feels warm and sometime, not all the time, maybe a slight pinch. It is more sensitive than before. May have a high tolerance for pain so I have a hard time determining what is considered painful urination.
My doctor wants to test me again for Chlamydia tomorrow. Regardless of the test results, this will remain positive now if I had it?
My doctor wants to test me again for Chlamydia tomorrow. Regardless of the test results, this will remain positive now if I had it?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
And I recommend you have no further tests for chlamydia.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question and your kind comments.
Your questions suggest both you and your doctor or clinic have some important misunderstandings about chlamydia and its diagnosis. Your lack of confidence in your doctor might be well founded!
The chlamydia blood tests are useless. Once positive, they stay that way for life (so a positive result doesn't indicate a current infection); and the test can be positive due to past infections with chlamydia-like bacteria that cause colds and bronchitis. For these reasons, STD experts in the US and most industrialized countries never use these tests.
Weakly positive results like yours are especially meaningless. I doubt you were infected with chlamydia at all. Do you know why you had a blood test and not a test of your urine or a urethral swab? I will also point out that chlamydia is really, really rare in people more than 30 years old. In my clinic, if you had no symptoms (discharge from your penis, for example) and were not the partner of someone with known infection, we would have not tested you -- no matter how hard you argued about it.
Urethral "sensitivity" -- without discharge or painful urination is not usually a chlamydia symptom. Finally, in the slight chance you beat all the odds -- you had chlamydia despite your age, and if the test was accurate -- azithrmycin treatment is highly reliable. It is not likely to have failed to clear the infection.
So I'm confident you didn't have chlamydia to begin with and certainly don't have it now. You and your doctor will have to look elsewhere for the cause of your symptoms. Based on your description, I'm inclined to belive nothing is wrong at all -- i.e. an emotional or psychological origin.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Your questions suggest both you and your doctor or clinic have some important misunderstandings about chlamydia and its diagnosis. Your lack of confidence in your doctor might be well founded!
The chlamydia blood tests are useless. Once positive, they stay that way for life (so a positive result doesn't indicate a current infection); and the test can be positive due to past infections with chlamydia-like bacteria that cause colds and bronchitis. For these reasons, STD experts in the US and most industrialized countries never use these tests.
Weakly positive results like yours are especially meaningless. I doubt you were infected with chlamydia at all. Do you know why you had a blood test and not a test of your urine or a urethral swab? I will also point out that chlamydia is really, really rare in people more than 30 years old. In my clinic, if you had no symptoms (discharge from your penis, for example) and were not the partner of someone with known infection, we would have not tested you -- no matter how hard you argued about it.
Urethral "sensitivity" -- without discharge or painful urination is not usually a chlamydia symptom. Finally, in the slight chance you beat all the odds -- you had chlamydia despite your age, and if the test was accurate -- azithrmycin treatment is highly reliable. It is not likely to have failed to clear the infection.
So I'm confident you didn't have chlamydia to begin with and certainly don't have it now. You and your doctor will have to look elsewhere for the cause of your symptoms. Based on your description, I'm inclined to belive nothing is wrong at all -- i.e. an emotional or psychological origin.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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