Has anyone heard of something like this?

[Laurenelainelea]

Hello! I am desperate for help. I am a female, 21 years old, and have recently experienced a life-altering complication. I'm not sure if this is related to my current situation, but in October I experienced flu-like symptoms for about two weeks. I had a fever, muscle spasms, and joint pain. Eventually I got over it, but occasionally I would come down with a cold that lasted a bit, as well as two instances of tonsillitis. Fast forward to February, drastic things started occurring. First my legs and buttox became extremely freezing. The chill was so intense that it was painful. However my legs to the touch felt normal. I also felt tingling in my brain and stomach. When my boss or counselor tried to talk to me, I could not register or retain what they were saying. At one point I became disoriented, feeling as though I could fall over. At one point my hearing went, but then it came back within a matter of moments. The tingling went away after a few days, but I noticed muscle spasms continuing for awhile. On different areas of my body, my muscles would contract. My facial muscles would spasm too. My upper lip would twitch occasionally, as well as the skin above one of my eyebrows. My formal thought process was not/ is not the same. I can't think of simple things to say. I've lost my sense of humor. My personality is gone, and I've lost a lot of my sense of empathy. I also noticed physical sensations have deteriorated. For example, I used to be extremely ticklish. Just the notion of someone about to tickle me would make me laugh. But now, when someone tries to tickle me, I feel hardly anything. I'll also mention that I've been tested for every STD and came out clean. With some of the earlier symptoms I experienced, I thought it could be possible that I contracted HIV. I tested frequently and always came out negative . I also had an MRI done and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Thank you for reading

[AnnieBrooke]

Why do you think this has anything to do with an STD? It sounds more like Lyme Disease or some form of trauma to a nerve. I would try a neurologist.

[Laurenelainelea]

I had no idea what was going on with my body. I was panicking. And I thought it could've been an STD because I had unprotected sex about six weeks prior to having the flu like symptoms that lasted for about two weeks. I was reaching for an explanation.

[FrustratedGirl11]

Lyme disease? Lol. Nope.
This is anxiety!! Been there, done that. Stress and anxiety make you notice normal things and give scary meaning to them. Anxiety can also manifest as physical symptoms. You already said you are scared to get HIV. These fears and phobias consume our minds and make us go crazy. Wait 4 months, have a complete STD panel done so you can relax. And then vow to NEVER have unprotected sex again. Even better, have any potential partner get tests done. HIV, HSV1/2 and Hepatitis C. Any others can be cured with antibiotics. That’s the only way to avoid this anxiety loop. You’ll be fine. :)

[AnnieBrooke]

Is there more to this conversation on another thread? I'm still kind of puzzled about why you would leap to the conclusion that the symptoms you name have to do with having sex.

Yes, it could be anxiety pure and simple. There is nothing wrong with seeing your doc, though; checking thyroid, iron, anything the doctor thinks is sensible. (Unless, of course, you already know you have a lot of anxiety, and this is just another chapter in the story.)

[Laurenelainelea]

As I mentioned before, I had unprotected sex. Then about six weeks later, I had flu like symptoms which included fevers, chills, joint pain, and muscle spasms. I researched that some people can experience this about six weeks after coming into contact with HIV. But this usually goes unnoticed as it could simply be the actual flu or something of the like. Then things usually appear to be normal for quite sometime. And for me, things were normal. I also read that HIV can affect the CNS/the brain, so when things started happening to my CNS/brain, I thought there could be a connection. I didn't know what was going on. I was grasping for straws. I don't think it has to do with anxiety because things have cooled off. The only thing I've noticed now is the change in my brain, how it feels basically empty and my personality has gone. It's like what made me me has vanished.

[AnnieBrooke]

I don't know why you aren't talking this over with a doctor and getting a complete workup. It doesn't sound like HIV to me, or anything sexually transmitted.

[Laurenelainelea]

I never said I was not talking this over with a doctor. That's why I have gotten tested for every STD, done blood work countless times, and got the MRI in the first place. I also saw a psychiatrist who had no idea what it could be, and a psychologist who recommended I visit a neurologist. I am currently working on getting a referral to see one, as I have another doctors appointment Monday. I am on here because no doctor has given me a definitive answer or had an idea on what is going on. And they haven't pursued anything further. I'm posting because I was hoping someone else may have an answer or direction I could go in. I've done research myself and can't find similar cases.

[AnnieBrooke]

I'd look up Lyme Disease, despite FrustratedGirl11's scoffing at the idea. It can manifest without a rash (which is what happened to a girlfriend of mine. She didn't think she had it, because she had never had the characteristic bulls-eye rash.) Symptoms take 4-6 weeks to appear, and a lot of them seem like neurological problems. At least check out the description and see if it looks possible.

[Laurenelainelea]

I'll ask my doctor to test me for it.

[AnnieBrooke]

Good luck!

[Laurenelainelea]

Thank you!