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Questions about STDs, symptoms, testing
I recently (December 6th) had unprotected vaginal sex with a female sex worker (NE USA). There was ample skin-to-skin contact. Also, after the fact the person's genital secretions ended up getting into my mouth and eye (I ate some stuff without washing hands, and rubbed eyes).
I am testing for everything, but have some questions (I referenced getting two STD tests at 72 hours, but I am going to repeat those).
(1) I heard that some STD tests require fasting 12 hours in advance. If so, which ones are these, and is the 12-hour fast completely necessary?
Starting 8 days after exposure, and continuing to today (13 days post), I have had shortness of breath somewhat and have developed a pretty bad cough. Also, there is some rhinorrhea , post-nasal drip, and congestion. I have pretty severe fatigue (kind of like a deep-body fatigue... not necessarily "I want to go to sleep." Those symptoms are the most profound and concerning. Less noticeable, but still present starting at day 8, has been a pink-to-red rash on different places on my chest/stomach region that have small red dots spaced apart. It seems to spread and react to touch somewhat, but some clumps of these red spots are always there. Also, neck has been tender.
(2) Anyway, does that all sound like any STD? If so, which one(s)?
(3) The most immediately-concerning to me is the cough/dyspnea and rather pronounced fatigue/malaise. could this be a bacterial chest infection from one of the bacterial STDs? I'm pretty sure I'm going to the urgent care when I get a chance in the next few days... would you just report this as symptoms, or would you go into other detail? (I'm concerned as either one would get antibiotics but apparently different doses that might not solve both issues).
(4) I had a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy years ago... would those prevent me from getting a sore throat from viral and/or bacterial pharyngitis?
(5) Can I wait till six weeks to test for all STDs (including HIV)?
I am testing for everything, but have some questions (I referenced getting two STD tests at 72 hours, but I am going to repeat those).
(1) I heard that some STD tests require fasting 12 hours in advance. If so, which ones are these, and is the 12-hour fast completely necessary?
Starting 8 days after exposure, and continuing to today (13 days post), I have had shortness of breath somewhat and have developed a pretty bad cough. Also, there is some rhinorrhea , post-nasal drip, and congestion. I have pretty severe fatigue (kind of like a deep-body fatigue... not necessarily "I want to go to sleep." Those symptoms are the most profound and concerning. Less noticeable, but still present starting at day 8, has been a pink-to-red rash on different places on my chest/stomach region that have small red dots spaced apart. It seems to spread and react to touch somewhat, but some clumps of these red spots are always there. Also, neck has been tender.
(2) Anyway, does that all sound like any STD? If so, which one(s)?
(3) The most immediately-concerning to me is the cough/dyspnea and rather pronounced fatigue/malaise. could this be a bacterial chest infection from one of the bacterial STDs? I'm pretty sure I'm going to the urgent care when I get a chance in the next few days... would you just report this as symptoms, or would you go into other detail? (I'm concerned as either one would get antibiotics but apparently different doses that might not solve both issues).
(4) I had a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy years ago... would those prevent me from getting a sore throat from viral and/or bacterial pharyngitis?
(5) Can I wait till six weeks to test for all STDs (including HIV)?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the Forum. I'll add my comments to those that Dr. Handsfield has already provided. Having read your earlier description of events, your risk for STD was not particularly high. Most CSWs do not have STDs (including HIV) and most exposures do not lead to infection. With regard to your specific questions:
1. There are no STDs that require 12 hour fasts for accuracy. Further, at 72 hours your tests for the most common STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia will provide accurate (and I'll wager negative) results.
2. Your symptoms are not suggestive of any STD. They are however suggestive of the sorts of (non-STD) viral infections that so many people get from time to time, perhaps intensified by a hefty dose of anxiety.
3. See above. I suspect if you go to an urgent care center they will give you antibiotics, mostly that is what such places tend to do, whether they are needed or not. I doubt that you need them and, as I said, your symptoms do not suggest STDs.
4. Tonsillectomies reduce the risk for recurrent symptomatic sore throats but do not eliminate them.
5. You do not need further testing for most STDs. At 6 weeks you can test for syphilis and at 8 weeks for HIV. Both infections are quite rare and as I said your risk is low. I am confident they will be negative.
Hope this helps. EWH
1. There are no STDs that require 12 hour fasts for accuracy. Further, at 72 hours your tests for the most common STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia will provide accurate (and I'll wager negative) results.
2. Your symptoms are not suggestive of any STD. They are however suggestive of the sorts of (non-STD) viral infections that so many people get from time to time, perhaps intensified by a hefty dose of anxiety.
3. See above. I suspect if you go to an urgent care center they will give you antibiotics, mostly that is what such places tend to do, whether they are needed or not. I doubt that you need them and, as I said, your symptoms do not suggest STDs.
4. Tonsillectomies reduce the risk for recurrent symptomatic sore throats but do not eliminate them.
5. You do not need further testing for most STDs. At 6 weeks you can test for syphilis and at 8 weeks for HIV. Both infections are quite rare and as I said your risk is low. I am confident they will be negative.
Hope this helps. EWH
Dr. Hook,
First, thanks for the response. After reflection I suppose I feel somewhat better about my overall risk of the bad STDs.
Anyway, I did indeed just reperform the Chlamydia and Gonnorhea urine test... I used one of those online STD services where you just pay a fee then show up to the clinic, and your results are given to you faster (3 days). I partly did this because since last test (which I'm assuming was negative as I wasn't contacted, but who knows) I have had some urethral discomfort, mild incontinence, and discolored (bright yellow) urine.
I just got back from urgent care and got a Z-pack for "mild bronchitis." I reported all my symptoms... doc suggested the shortness of breath could be due to asthma (as I've been diagnosed with allergic asthma but never use inhaler). He examined my throat, listened to lungs, and didn't really even sound concerned I had anything, but said to be safe I should use a Z-pack.
In any case, this is my question: all things considered, should I just go ahead and take my Z-pack right now? If I did have either bacterial STD, would using a 5-day Z-pack risk not treating it and then getting rebound resistant infection?
First, thanks for the response. After reflection I suppose I feel somewhat better about my overall risk of the bad STDs.
Anyway, I did indeed just reperform the Chlamydia and Gonnorhea urine test... I used one of those online STD services where you just pay a fee then show up to the clinic, and your results are given to you faster (3 days). I partly did this because since last test (which I'm assuming was negative as I wasn't contacted, but who knows) I have had some urethral discomfort, mild incontinence, and discolored (bright yellow) urine.
I just got back from urgent care and got a Z-pack for "mild bronchitis." I reported all my symptoms... doc suggested the shortness of breath could be due to asthma (as I've been diagnosed with allergic asthma but never use inhaler). He examined my throat, listened to lungs, and didn't really even sound concerned I had anything, but said to be safe I should use a Z-pack.
In any case, this is my question: all things considered, should I just go ahead and take my Z-pack right now? If I did have either bacterial STD, would using a 5-day Z-pack risk not treating it and then getting rebound resistant infection?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
