Online Health Advice > My doc not sure what to make of this.. >

Ask Your Health Question. Health Experts Answer You ASAP.

(Not a Health Question?)

I visited my primary doctor I mentioned to him that about 3 weeks ago I did a really stupid thing. I had a short timed protected intercourse with a sex worker. I got a full blown STD test and they all came back negative. Also my HIV test came back negative but it was done about 18 days after the encounter.
I have been extremely scared that I may have caught an STD till this day.

About a week after I had that sexual encounter, I started to get dizzy and experienced heart burn for two weeks. Each time I would eat, I would have bowel movement (with a lot of gas) within 5 to 10 minutes, they was not diarrhea except for one day. I took Aciphex and it did help with the hearburn.

I have had no flu like symptoms or fever, no pain or rashes or swollen lymph nodes.
Slight fatigue due to stress and work. No significant weight loss for the last 3 weeks.

At this point (3 weeks from sexual encounter), when I'm hungry I loose my sense of balance, my vision is blurred and have trouble concentrating. I also feel tingling at the tip of my fingers and burning sensation at my feet. My stool has not been normal for about a week, it's either light brownish or extremely dark kaki with a foul unusual smell.

It feels like the more hungry I get, the worse the symptoms are. As soon as I eat, I get better but the process repeats again when if I go hungry again.

My primary doctor tested my glucose level @ 101, did a general blood test and could not find anything. I will be going through a glucose tolerance test tomorrow.

At this point my main concern is that I think or are under the impression that I have caught HIV. Even though it was protected sex (with hand to genital contact), the HIV came back negative but it was done about 2 ½ weeks after the encounter.

Can you please advise? I'm very worried.. Thank you.

Optional Information:
Male , Age: 34

Already Tried:
Aciphex, Prevacid

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

The symptoms you are describing are not symptoms of HIV, they are symptoms of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar drops too low and causes dizziness, blurred vision, and lack of concentration. It is a good thing that you are having the GTT tomorrow; hopefully that will catch the disorder. I would recommend that if you aren't doing this already, that you break up your meals. If you are consuming 3 meals a day, make them into six meals to make your blood sugar levels even throughout the day. Always carry some glucose tablets or glucose syrup with you in case you start feeling lightheaded again. You can also carry around some hard candy or packets of table sugar. If the GTT doesn't reveal any problems, don't get discouraged. Many times, hypoglycemia is related to another disorder such as a kidney problem. Work with your doctor and even bring some information with you about low blood sugar. Together, hopefully you will get the answer you've been waiting for. Here is a website:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypoglycemia/DS00198

Also, if you are still worried about HIV, have another test done in 6 months to clear your mind. Since you used protection, hopefully this won't be an issue for you. Best of luck.

Edited by FutureMidwife on September 29 2006 at 1:21 AM

If you found the advice helpful, please hit "Accept"! A bonus is always appreciated!! Thanks!

Reply to Carrie's Post: Thank you for your response, at least I know it's not HIV.

My primary doctor does not believe it is hypoglycemia since that he test my glucose level and it was normal.

Any other ideas what could cause this? Can the glucose level test not be correct?

How long had it been sinced you had eaten before the glucose test? Have you been experiencing any other symptoms such as cold sweating, heart palpatations, etc?

Reply to Carrie's Post: This morning I had a fruit but I went to the bathroom right away and the stool was dark kaki with a foul smell. Then I went to the doctor about 2 hours later and he tested my glucose.

Since that I did not have a meal at the doctor, I started to loose a senses and yes my heart palpatated kinda felt like I was having a heart attack almost.
So then the doctor gave me some cashews to eat and I felt better right away.

Also I was very thirsty.

Blood sugar is a tricky thing. Since you ate the fruit 2 hours before the doctor visit, it was probably causing the 101 reading. If you had tested it at the doctors before you at the cashews, I'm almost certain that it would have shown your blood sugar had plummeted. Heart palpatations are another symptom of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can be caused by diabetes or another health problem, such as kidney problems or metabolism disfunction. If you read the information connected to the website I recommended, it will give you all the symptoms.
Since the normal procedure for GTTs is to fast overnight and have the first blood sample be a fasting sample, your hypoglycemia will probably be a result of the blood test from the first sample. After drinking the glucose, your blood will rise to a normal level, or high level, depending if you have diabetes or not. Here is a website all about GTTs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose_tolerance_test

If you found the advice helpful, please hit "Accept"! A bonus is always appreciated!! Thanks!

Reply to Carrie's Post: Thank you.

The only bad thing is I ate and havn't fasted a full 12 hours.

It will be 9 hours until the test. One thing that I'm afraid of is (since all this started) when I go to bed usually the next morning I wake up hungry and disorianted.

I have been moderatly drinking alcohol since May every weekend which is somewhat alot for me.

Is having tingling and burning sensation at the feet and hands a symptom? Last question I promise and I really really appreciate your help.

John

No problem with the questions...that's what I'm here for. It sounds to me like you have a kind of diabetic disorder called diabetic neuropathy. It is causing the tingling and burning in your hands and feet. Here is a website on that also:

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/

Don't worry about the fasting time. You are only required to fast 8-14 hours and you'll fall in that timeline. If diabetes is the result, you'll need to cease drinking alcohol. Diabetes already effects the liver, so it is important that you are healthy otherwise. Also, if you are overweight, you'll be instructed to go on a diabetic approved weight loss diet. You can request nutritional counsel if you are confused about which foods you can and can't eat. It's been a pleasure assisting you and I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes.

If you found the advice helpful, please hit "Accept"! A bonus is always appreciated!! Thanks!

Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Online Health Advice

Related Answers