Aa
risky exposure, stupid mistake and anxiety
33 year old female, USA, married for 10 years. February 18th 2011 I regretfully cheated on my husband. Unprotected vaginal sex for maybe a minute, deep kissing for maybe a minute and he performed oral sex on me for a few seconds. At 10 weeks post exposure I was tested for multiple stds.
RESULTS:
HIV, non reactive (ELISA test through Labcorp)
RPR non reactive
Hep panel negative
HSV 1 positive (cold sores)
HSV 2 negative
chlamydia negative
ghonorreah negative
Pap smear was normal
Symptoms starting around 6-8 weeks post exposure including immense anxiety I have never had before in my life! I am a healthy person and have not been sick since October 2009.
SYMPTOMS:
I had a small flesh colored bump appear on my right buttock about 3 inches away from anus. My gynecologist said it was a whitehead but it's just now starting to disappear 3 months later. It would never pop. I had a cottage cheese type yeast infection (have suffered from yeast infections for almost 10 years post giving birth to my son but have never noticed the cottage cheese type.. my husband says he has noticed them a couple times in the past though). I also have a couple strange painless lesions which appeared on my inner thighs that resemble flat fluid filled blisters, almost flesh colored, circumference of a pea. My gynecologist lanced one of them and sent it to pathology and the result was benign. I got a cold sore on my bottom lip and for the first time in 15 years I developed one on my top lip also which was very strange. These are the worst cold sores I've ever had in the 15 years I've been getting them. When I would wake in the morning, the top cold sore must've broke open and I would have a thick line of dried blood on my cheek. I guess I must've hit it on my pillow when tossing and turning. It took 2 weeks to get rid of the sores and I used zovirax. They eventually left scars which have just now faded. I've never gotten scars from cold sores. I developed a mild, light scab like rash on the right side of my chest and right shoulder which eventually faded on it's own and it did not itch. I also had fluid in my ears (no ear infection), tiny bumps on the soft pallet in my mouth which are still there and it feels raw in that area. I had a thick white, sometimes yellow coating which covered the entire top of my tongue with small red patches in the center. It was difficult to brush off ; only some would come off. Nyastin mouthwash might have helped some but I still notice it there, just not as bad. My eyes began watering severely towards the end of February then in April turned into burning sensation with vision changes, sometimes seeing double vision and had a difficult time driving sometimes. Both my husband and I have been coughing much more than usual, starting as constant dry coughs and now coughing up phlem (we are both heavy smokers). I had atleast 3 drenching night sweats about 2 months ago (at the time of immense anxiety) but I haven't had anymore since I took the heavy comforter off our bed. Neither my husband or I have had high fevers.. possibly low grade a couple of times in early June; 99.8. My doctor diagnosed me with sinusitis in early May, telling me that my adnoids are swollen. As far as I know I've never suffered from allergies. I have taken a round of bactrim, z-pak, prednisone, nazonex, veramist, etc. I still have symptoms but not as much, especially since my anxiety has gotten better. I have a pea size, moveable lymph node on the left side of neck about 2 inches up from the collar bone which is not tender. I have a lymph node under my right jaw that is the size of an almond that is a tiny bit sore but tolerable. Twice lately I have woken up with my right jaw feeling sore and I could here waxy noise in my right ear when I moved my jaw around. My scalp is a bit itchy all over but not too bad. I noticed a few small strange flat pinkish red sores on the back of both of my arms a couple weeks ago which faded in about a week's time. They were a tiny bit itchy but I left them alone. I have confessed to my husband what I did and although he is having a hard time dealing with it, he is being forgiving. I do feel like a peice of S#@* and I have definitely learned my lesson. I was drunk and stupid, taking a ride home from a guy I barely even knew :( I had no plans on doing this and no feelings for the guy.. infact I hardly know him. He is a friend of a friend.
One thing important to know about the guy I made the huge mistake with is that I learned that back in January he caught chlamydia from a girl.. then in April he apparently transmitted syphillis and ghonorreah to a different girl. He is a white male, 26, married but seperated and I learned that he gave his wife chlamydia at one time and also gave yet another girl chlamydia. I don't know if this is all true, but what concerns me most is that he is promiscuous and apparently very high risk. He visits strip clubs on a regular basis also. I have never been promiscuous in my life and have never cheated on my dear husband. I am fearful my testing might have been done a tad early. I understand you cannot rely on symptoms for certain diseases. I have an appointment in August at the 6 month mark to be retested. I haven't been tested for mono or tuberculosis. I have an appointment to see an ENT this week also.
I guess my question is, does it sound like I contracted something from this guy based on my symptoms? Please suggest if I should be tested for something else that I haven't been tested for yet. I should also mention that my husband has lost around 30 lbs in the past few months (285 down to 255), unexplained. I am so worried for him. He has been coughing so much for over 2 months, even some in the middle of the night.. clear phlem. I can't tell if he has any rash because he already has the typical rashes from working in hot environments and he has acne on his back, waistline, some on the back of his thighs, etc. He recently had a blood count done before a surgery he had so I wonder if the blood count would have showed up any type of abnormalities in the lymph system/red or white blood cell abormality.. ?? that might be a strange question I guess. He is going to also be tested soon. I feel so sad that he has to endure this horrible mess due to my stupid, stupid mistake!
RESULTS:
HIV, non reactive (ELISA test through Labcorp)
RPR non reactive
Hep panel negative
HSV 1 positive (cold sores)
HSV 2 negative
chlamydia negative
ghonorreah negative
Pap smear was normal
Symptoms starting around 6-8 weeks post exposure including immense anxiety I have never had before in my life! I am a healthy person and have not been sick since October 2009.
SYMPTOMS:
I had a small flesh colored bump appear on my right buttock about 3 inches away from anus. My gynecologist said it was a whitehead but it's just now starting to disappear 3 months later. It would never pop. I had a cottage cheese type yeast infection (have suffered from yeast infections for almost 10 years post giving birth to my son but have never noticed the cottage cheese type.. my husband says he has noticed them a couple times in the past though). I also have a couple strange painless lesions which appeared on my inner thighs that resemble flat fluid filled blisters, almost flesh colored, circumference of a pea. My gynecologist lanced one of them and sent it to pathology and the result was benign. I got a cold sore on my bottom lip and for the first time in 15 years I developed one on my top lip also which was very strange. These are the worst cold sores I've ever had in the 15 years I've been getting them. When I would wake in the morning, the top cold sore must've broke open and I would have a thick line of dried blood on my cheek. I guess I must've hit it on my pillow when tossing and turning. It took 2 weeks to get rid of the sores and I used zovirax. They eventually left scars which have just now faded. I've never gotten scars from cold sores. I developed a mild, light scab like rash on the right side of my chest and right shoulder which eventually faded on it's own and it did not itch. I also had fluid in my ears (no ear infection), tiny bumps on the soft pallet in my mouth which are still there and it feels raw in that area. I had a thick white, sometimes yellow coating which covered the entire top of my tongue with small red patches in the center. It was difficult to brush off ; only some would come off. Nyastin mouthwash might have helped some but I still notice it there, just not as bad. My eyes began watering severely towards the end of February then in April turned into burning sensation with vision changes, sometimes seeing double vision and had a difficult time driving sometimes. Both my husband and I have been coughing much more than usual, starting as constant dry coughs and now coughing up phlem (we are both heavy smokers). I had atleast 3 drenching night sweats about 2 months ago (at the time of immense anxiety) but I haven't had anymore since I took the heavy comforter off our bed. Neither my husband or I have had high fevers.. possibly low grade a couple of times in early June; 99.8. My doctor diagnosed me with sinusitis in early May, telling me that my adnoids are swollen. As far as I know I've never suffered from allergies. I have taken a round of bactrim, z-pak, prednisone, nazonex, veramist, etc. I still have symptoms but not as much, especially since my anxiety has gotten better. I have a pea size, moveable lymph node on the left side of neck about 2 inches up from the collar bone which is not tender. I have a lymph node under my right jaw that is the size of an almond that is a tiny bit sore but tolerable. Twice lately I have woken up with my right jaw feeling sore and I could here waxy noise in my right ear when I moved my jaw around. My scalp is a bit itchy all over but not too bad. I noticed a few small strange flat pinkish red sores on the back of both of my arms a couple weeks ago which faded in about a week's time. They were a tiny bit itchy but I left them alone. I have confessed to my husband what I did and although he is having a hard time dealing with it, he is being forgiving. I do feel like a peice of S#@* and I have definitely learned my lesson. I was drunk and stupid, taking a ride home from a guy I barely even knew :( I had no plans on doing this and no feelings for the guy.. infact I hardly know him. He is a friend of a friend.
One thing important to know about the guy I made the huge mistake with is that I learned that back in January he caught chlamydia from a girl.. then in April he apparently transmitted syphillis and ghonorreah to a different girl. He is a white male, 26, married but seperated and I learned that he gave his wife chlamydia at one time and also gave yet another girl chlamydia. I don't know if this is all true, but what concerns me most is that he is promiscuous and apparently very high risk. He visits strip clubs on a regular basis also. I have never been promiscuous in my life and have never cheated on my dear husband. I am fearful my testing might have been done a tad early. I understand you cannot rely on symptoms for certain diseases. I have an appointment in August at the 6 month mark to be retested. I haven't been tested for mono or tuberculosis. I have an appointment to see an ENT this week also.
I guess my question is, does it sound like I contracted something from this guy based on my symptoms? Please suggest if I should be tested for something else that I haven't been tested for yet. I should also mention that my husband has lost around 30 lbs in the past few months (285 down to 255), unexplained. I am so worried for him. He has been coughing so much for over 2 months, even some in the middle of the night.. clear phlem. I can't tell if he has any rash because he already has the typical rashes from working in hot environments and he has acne on his back, waistline, some on the back of his thighs, etc. He recently had a blood count done before a surgery he had so I wonder if the blood count would have showed up any type of abnormalities in the lymph system/red or white blood cell abormality.. ?? that might be a strange question I guess. He is going to also be tested soon. I feel so sad that he has to endure this horrible mess due to my stupid, stupid mistake!
Thanks you all :) yes, I can now relax and my husband also seems more relaxed.. what a hell of a year for us both! People kept telling me everything was going to be okay but it was so hard to accept that and trust that.. this long horrible journey has now ended.. it's almost like a new life now.. as crazy as that is to say.
LOL JessyJames.. will do but I guarantee he won't touch an avacado with a 10 ft pole.. he's a meat and potato man ;)
Thanks again.. God bless!
LOL JessyJames.. will do but I guarantee he won't touch an avacado with a 10 ft pole.. he's a meat and potato man ;)
Thanks again.. God bless!
Congratulations! Time to celebrate. Take your husband out! ' make him an avocado sandwich. =)
Well, called for my results cuz they still haven't came in the mail.. everything is good!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
oh man, what a relief!! Thanks everyone for the support :)
oh man, what a relief!! Thanks everyone for the support :)
that's true Grace.. guess I've just turned into a worry wart this year.. plus I've had a couple friends tell me that I'm turning into a hypocondriac.. lol.. I tell ya, I have not been myself this entire year.. worst year ever!
Thank you JesseJames.. I wouldn't wish this crap on anyone!
I still have not received my results.. am getting impatient!!
Thank you JesseJames.. I wouldn't wish this crap on anyone!
I still have not received my results.. am getting impatient!!
well if your results were mailed and they do that when everything is normal - shouldn't be any reason to worry right?
Hello
Also just wanted to commend you 4 saying "just wanting to keep an update to all who read this for your own benefits.. maybe someone can learn from someone's bad habits and mistakes.. if you do, you're smarter than I am... "
This is one of reasons I decided to stay here and help.
The good thing is your going to be alright.
Also just wanted to commend you 4 saying "just wanting to keep an update to all who read this for your own benefits.. maybe someone can learn from someone's bad habits and mistakes.. if you do, you're smarter than I am... "
This is one of reasons I decided to stay here and help.
The good thing is your going to be alright.
well, I gave in a called a few minutes ago and the nurse on the phone told me my results have been mailed to me.. she said usually they do that when everything is normal.. I jumped in the golf cart and zoomed down the driveway to check the mail, lol but alas, the results are not there.. sigh..
I'm too nervous.. I'd prefer them to call me and was told by my doc that they would call my cell phone.. I've been packin it around with me everywhere.. uugh >:( If I don't hear anything by Friday I guess I'll call them..
I still haven't heard anything from my doc.. maybe that's a good sing.. if the results have came back already and there was something bad they'd contact me by now I'd think..
It is definitely a comfort to hear that.. thank you Grace for that message. No call today.. guess it might be Monday when I hear something..
Further update coming soon.. thank you Grace, you're a sweetie ~
Further update coming soon.. thank you Grace, you're a sweetie ~
don't expect any of this to be different from your original test results. 10 weeks was enough time for all the testing you had done originally. don't let the guilt of this over shadow the real risk from it.
grace
grace
Just an update.. I had my bloodwork done again 2 days ago for HIV, Hep panel, HSV 1 and 2, syphillis.. this is 6 months past my exposure now.. should know the results today or Monday.. a tad nervous but it is what it is.. I feel like everything is going to be okay. Will post results. Fingers crossed X.. wish me luck!!
Thanks for updating us. It's good thing for others who might be in the same situation. Most people just fade away and never follow up.
Stress combined with unhealthy lifestyle habits can wreak havoc on the body. Hopefully things will clear up for you.
Stress combined with unhealthy lifestyle habits can wreak havoc on the body. Hopefully things will clear up for you.
I also drink coffee about every morning.. looks like that hairy tongue junk can be caused by that too.. in addition to smoking and drinking alcohol.. I do all of that.. coffee in the morning.. drinking beer at "5 o'clock somewhere" lol.. and smoking like a freight train.. so looks like I need to atleast curb my habits.. just wanting to keep an update to all who read this for your own benefits.. maybe someone can learn from someone's bad habits and mistakes.. if you do, you're smarter than I am...
Today I went to see an ENT and she said I had a hairy tongue.. which it's nothing like you see online with the black crap.. uugh.. and then she says I have some kind of overgrowth at the base of my tongue... I can't see it or telll it's there.. she prescribed me heartburn medicine and wants to see me in 6 weeks. I don't think I have symptoms of heartburn.. somethin's goin on and I don't like it.. she just told me to stop drinkin and smokin... so. don't know..
Thank you for the message. I've been pretty shaken to the core myself.. looks like there's many people on these forums feeling the same way.
Well, I sure hope the doctors on these forums are right when they say it is very rare for a 10 week negative test to turn positive later. I know for a fact that stress has played a huge role in my symptoms. When I heard my test results over the phone, I immediately felt better.
Yes, the emotional stuff.. that's a toughy. My poor hubby :( I feel so horrible for him.. all I can do now is just be the best wife I can be and hope he will be able to recover. He has forgiven me and he loves me very much. I never thought I would do such a thing. I feel like a peice of S#$%!!
Well, I sure hope the doctors on these forums are right when they say it is very rare for a 10 week negative test to turn positive later. I know for a fact that stress has played a huge role in my symptoms. When I heard my test results over the phone, I immediately felt better.
Yes, the emotional stuff.. that's a toughy. My poor hubby :( I feel so horrible for him.. all I can do now is just be the best wife I can be and hope he will be able to recover. He has forgiven me and he loves me very much. I never thought I would do such a thing. I feel like a peice of S#$%!!
It may be a good idea for your hudband to also get screened. He might as well do a full screening and blood work since he's there, just to make sure he can rule everything out.
Also, your symptoms are strange, but I agree with Vance, it doesn't sound STD related. Since you are a heavy smoker and you are under a lot of stress and anxiety, perhaps this is a combination of all those things. Stress and anxiety does some very strange things to our minds and bodies. I'm not saying this is all in your head, but the stress and anxiety along with your heavy smoking and potentially other lifestyle habits may be cause you to have this reaction. You're doing the right thing by getting blood work and screening done. Maybe once you put this behind you and you are assured that you and your husbnad don't have STD's as a result of your encounter, you will begin to feel better physically. Then it's a matter of tackling the emotional stuff.
Also, your symptoms are strange, but I agree with Vance, it doesn't sound STD related. Since you are a heavy smoker and you are under a lot of stress and anxiety, perhaps this is a combination of all those things. Stress and anxiety does some very strange things to our minds and bodies. I'm not saying this is all in your head, but the stress and anxiety along with your heavy smoking and potentially other lifestyle habits may be cause you to have this reaction. You're doing the right thing by getting blood work and screening done. Maybe once you put this behind you and you are assured that you and your husbnad don't have STD's as a result of your encounter, you will begin to feel better physically. Then it's a matter of tackling the emotional stuff.
Thank you Vance for taking the time to read my lengthy message. I appreciate it. I hope with all I have that my tests are accurate.. I'm trying so hard to trust the results.
I told my husband he doesn't have to get tested if he doesn't want to endure the humiliation, since it's at our regular doctor and not a private clinic. It really is humiliating, but it is what it is.
I truely hope those are rumors but I have a gut feeling they're true, or atleast partially true since his wife left him due to his constant cheating on her. I could just bash my head in a wall for getting involved with a crowd like that! I'll be so happy and relieved if my husband comes out of this with a clean bill of health and then I can also get my old self back! My husband is my main concern and I have made him an appointment to get his regular blood work done. I plan on going with him to his doctor's visit if he will let me, to tell the doctor things he may forget to say or things he might be too hard headed or nervous to say. So, we'll see. Thank you again for your response. Have a nice day!!
I told my husband he doesn't have to get tested if he doesn't want to endure the humiliation, since it's at our regular doctor and not a private clinic. It really is humiliating, but it is what it is.
I truely hope those are rumors but I have a gut feeling they're true, or atleast partially true since his wife left him due to his constant cheating on her. I could just bash my head in a wall for getting involved with a crowd like that! I'll be so happy and relieved if my husband comes out of this with a clean bill of health and then I can also get my old self back! My husband is my main concern and I have made him an appointment to get his regular blood work done. I plan on going with him to his doctor's visit if he will let me, to tell the doctor things he may forget to say or things he might be too hard headed or nervous to say. So, we'll see. Thank you again for your response. Have a nice day!!
Your tests show you do not have a STD. Your symptoms have nothing to do with a STD. Your husband should see a Dr, not for testing but to find out about his cough and his 30lb weight loss if he has done nothing different.
Oh and don't listen to rumors. Could that guy have chlamydia...yeah. Could he have syphilis...yes but very very unlikely for him to have syphilis. Probably more of a rumor then anything else.
Oh and don't listen to rumors. Could that guy have chlamydia...yeah. Could he have syphilis...yes but very very unlikely for him to have syphilis. Probably more of a rumor then anything else.
I also have multiple, very tiny white painless bumps on the top of my tongue near the tip which will not go away along with a crack in the center of my tongue. My tongue feels like sandpaper when I rub it against my top lip. For the past 2 years I've been consuming ALOT of beer so I don't know if my tongue condition could just be related to binge drinking, heavy smoking and stress. I guess it could be but along with my other symptoms it just makes me curious. Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to read my looooong message and help me out with any advice.
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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.
