Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Looking for answers, completely stumped

Hello everyone. in July 2014, I had a protected anal sexual encounter with a woman. The condom did not break / fall off, etc. after the encounter I developed a huge range of symptoms which to a degree all continue today, 1 year later.

Weeks 1-3: immediately after
anal and itching under scrotum
Persistent low grade fever
Night sweats
Fatigue
Weakness especially in arms
Extreme anxiety (panic attacks)

Weeks 5-12:
Imbalance / dizziness (bumping into walls)
Tremor in hands
Chest pain under sternum (alleviated by exercise)
Sensitivity to sounds

Weeks 12 and on:
Low testosterone

The most prominent things today are low testosterone, dizziness, chest pain.

Here are the things I've done so far.

Negative for all STDs at 5 month mark (gon,
Syphilis, clym, hep, a, b,c, hsv 2)
Negative for HIV at 5,10 weeks (4th generation test) 12 weeks, 6 months (rapid fingerstick)
PCP ran urine culture, cbc (normal)
Chest x-Ray (normal)
Neurologist referral: tested for vitamin deficiency thyroid, and heavy metals (normal)
Internal medicine doctor: 2nd CBC, testosterone serum, thyroid (normal except for testosterone which came back at 435)
Urologist referral for low testosterone, tested again. Came back at 470 and 190.
Was put on a very small dose of clomid, testosterone increased to 1305.

What else can I do to get an answer? I am worried because this has gone on so long. I am able to live my day to day life, but I'm so distracted by my body that it is difficult to enjoy almost anything. Advice is appreciated. Thank you.


35 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Coccidiodes is an exception to a fungal infection that is systemic but isn't that serious but causes dry cough, night sweats and fatigue. But you don't live in an area where it is. It is usually in dry valley areas like Arizona and Southern California valleys. In 2001 in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado 8 people got valley fever. But it is unusual. If you did have it it will pass. They generally don't treat you for it.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is there any type of parasite that would cause something to this degree? My skin hurts above my penis, like in the pubic region, there are small little red dots there. Hsv-2 was negative however...

I'm hoping that this will pass, but starting to lose that optimism since this has been going on a year. But not ready to accept that there is no remedy.

Any reason to believe it could b bacterial? I find it hard to believe that it is a virus that no one can identify
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Could you have been exposed to anything at work?
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, do you have the anal itching mostly at night? If so

Symptoms of pinworm infection may include:

    Itching of the anal or vaginal area
    Insomnia, irritability and restlessness
    Intermittent abdominal pain and nausea

Pinworms often cause no symptoms.

You haven't traveled outside the country right? Or have your travelled to the southern U.S.? If you go barefoot in the dirt or sand there you can get some parasites. Do you have any animals?

You don't have diarrhea so that rules out a lot of parasites. But the anal itching could be pin worm you may have acquired from this person. Usually, you have it all the time but it does have cycles of where the pinworm produces more eggs etc. about once a week. So this may increase the worm burden. But usually you would be very itchy I think all the time. But you never know.

I'm trying to think of your symptoms and what would fit into your cyclic type of pattern. Night sweats can be caused by hormonal in balance as well so that is why it is hard to pin point. the arm weak ness is unusual.
That sounds more neurological. I am wondering if there is more than one thing going on. That the anal itching can be a dermatophyte such as jock itch that can get into that area or yeast. And that the other symptoms are not related. It may not be related to the exposure even though it came on at that time. I see this happen a lot on here.  
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
One of the things that causes weakness in the arms is an injury to the arms. Could it be from soccer? You could have gotten a nerve compressed or also. Did you get any injuries that you remember?
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's possible that I was exposed to something at work. I work in the operating room. I have been tested through work for hepatitis C, TB, HIV etc.

I travelled to Jamaica last November and went to Belize 2 weeks ago. All the symptoms preceded those trips though.

Pinworms is a possibility I suppose. Would that cause the other symptoms? (Dizziness, chest pain) the anal itching would be constant for the most part. But it would certainly emerge at night at first.

No injuries to the arms that I remember, certainly no nerve damage or anything like that. My arms just feel weak and trembling. I can still lift similar weight than 1 year ago.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Infectious Diseases Community

Top Infectious Diseases Answerers
Avatar universal
CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Can HIV be transmitted through this sexual activity? Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia answers this commonly-asked question.
A breakthrough study discovers how to reduce risk of HIV transmission by 95 percent.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
Before your drop a dime at the pharmacy, find out if these popular cold and flu home remedies are a wonder or a waste
Fend off colds and the flu with these disease-fighting foods