Flu like symptoms after a sexual encounter

[K2SOO]

I recently had a first sexual encounter with a new partner. We both said we were STD free so we met up. We kissed and I asked her to give me oral with a condom on. (To be safe).
Two days later I had a fever, sore throat, chills, green nose mucus, cough and sneezing. I am paranoid I might have caught herpes because of the flu like symptoms and the time frame. I still feel sick but no more fever. I couldn't read anything about green boogers and herpes. Could they be connected or a complete different thing?

I asked my partner  we should get tested before we have another encounter and she agreed to it but I don't think she suspects that I think she might have herpes.

[auntiejessi]

When we talk about flu like symptoms with herpes, we mean aches, fatigue, maybe a low fever, headache. We do not mean cold symptoms like congestion.

Green colored anything coming from your nose sounds like a sinus infection or something similar. You couldn't find anything about that related to herpes because it's not related to herpes.

You have a LOT of anxiety about STIs every time you have sex. Maybe casual sex isn't for you. That's okay. Also, are you seeing test results? That would help a lot of this.

Are you in counseling? You should be if you aren't, and talked to your doctor about your anxiety.

[K2SOO]

Hello, auntiejessi. Thanks for always replying to my posts.

You are right. I do have a lot of anxiety about stds. It seems i always show similar symptoms of an std after having sex. I dont know if its just coincidence or symptoms of anxiety. I haven't seen her last test results but she told me she could call her doctor so they can mail her the results of the last test she took a month ago or so. She also said she's going to retest again this Monday. I'm also going to get tested when I'm not sick.

I guess I'm scared about stds because even tests aren't accurate and some take a long time before they could be picked up on a test.

I am not in counseling but I do have anxiety in general so I think it's a good idea that I talk to a doctor about it.

[auntiejessi]

Feb 10 - you didn't have symptoms. Your partner did, but that could have been anything. Also, that was the night after a one night stand.

Jan 2023 - protected vaginal with someone you didn't know - 11 weeks later, you noticed small, flesh colored growths on your penis. You had 1 small growth on your shaft for 8 months, suspected HPV.

Jan 2023 - Hep C testing after protected sex (not a risk) - abdominal pains - neg tests

I don't know if that was casual sex.

Maybe stop having casual sex. If you have a regular partner, maybe stop going outside the relationship. Your anxiety can't handle it. No judgement, just that it's not good for your mental health.

Did you ever get the bumps diagnosed?

It doesn't matter how unreliable tests are - and most are very accurate. None of them cause green boogers.

[K2SOO]

I went to the dermatologist and they visually inspected the bump and couldn't come to a conclusion. I haven't payed too much attention to it since but I do believe it got smaller.

My partner is going to get tested this Monday for herpes. Although her previous exposure with someone else was around 7-9 weeks ago. So I don't know how accurate her test could be.

My lips have been itching and feeling odd but I don't know if it's cause of anxiety.

[auntiejessi]

Tingling lips is anxiety, maybe an allergy. If it's not constant and it has lasted longer than a day or two, it has nothing to do with herpes.

If you've had the bump since Jan 2023, and it's not gone, it's not an STI. I don't know what it is, but no STI symptoms would last this long.

There is absolutely nothing here to indicate that you got herpes.

You need to stop having casual sex, and do counseling.

[K2SOO]

It is constant itching and a warm tingling feeling. Well the itching lasted for about a week or two and now I have a warm tingling feeling around my lips. I feel it on and off throughout the day. I think today might be my 2nd or 3rd day feeling the warm tingling.

[GuitarRox]

So, hopefully you are reading what is being said to you. Quote "it has lasted longer than a day or two, it has nothing to do with herpes. " You sound very anxious. and on and off is not constant for the sensation near your lips. I would guess that anxiety is playing a significant role in this situation.

[K2SOO]

It's just that since that encounter. I experienced a lot of similar symptoms. Fever, Chills, diarreah, body aches, lip itchiness and tingling. I also read that some people have uncommon symptoms too and it started making me more paranoid. I keep on monitoring my genitals and lips. Like I just noticed I have new little white spots or bumps on my lower lip and it made me more anxious because I don't know if it's a Fordyce spot or something else. The usual Fordyce spots I have blend in but these are white.

I try to relax and change my thoughts but then I notice something new and I get back to being anxious about it. I don't know if I'll be able to relax until I can get tested and have a conclusive test result.

This is making me really paranoid and anxious. I cant control it. Sorry.

[GuitarRox]

Every time you ask, research or go through a loop of solving this, it makes the anxiety stick. You suffer an anxiety disorder and yes, there are ways to help it. THIS is not one of them. We are, in fact, making it worse if we keep answering you. YOU make it worse by continuing to ask. Sit with the uncomfortable fear knowing you already were answered. Exposure to your uncomfortable feelings with doing NOTHING about it is how you move on. This is what you need to do. You were fully answered already. Stop asking. Stop researching. Create a new pattern. And if you can't, go see a psychiatrist and psychologist. Medication helps as does therapy such as exposure response therapy. good luck