Qualified Medical Doctor's Answer To Common Questions

Question: I had UTI symptoms and was prescribed Nitrofurantoin which I took for 7 days. The symptoms still have not completely gone. What should I do? Answer: You should have a urine test done along with urine culture. It seems that you have had a treatment failure and this can be due to antibiotic resistance and other factors. The urine culture will give information about which antibiotic will be effective for your infection. With treatment with a sensitive antibiotic, your infection will be cured and symptoms will resolve.  Stay blessed!

Question: I am feeling terrible! For a momentary pleasure now I am suffering so much. I receive oral sex, and now I am plagued with worry that I have been infected with Herpes. What is my risk? Answer: You should relax. Herpes is only very rarely transmitted by oral sex. The possibility of you being infected is very low. You should not worry regarding this episode. Only if you have any concerning symptoms I would recommend testing for herpes. Stay safe!

Question: I suffer from terrible anxiety? Will my anxiety improve with dietary modification? Answer: Anxiety may improve with dietary modification. But for the definitive treatment, you should get therapy or medications. To know the dietary modifications that help please refer the below suggestions: Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. Half of your plate should consist of vegetables and fruits. Avoid alcohol. Limit caffeine intake. Drink lots of water. Avoid overeating. Eat to live and don't live to eat.  Stay blessed!

Question: I am long time sufferer of anxiety. Recently my mood has gone low and I am feeling sad most of the time. I also cry a few times every day. Is it possible that I am suffering from depression as well?  Answer: It is very much likely that you are now having depression as well. Depression and anxiety can occur together. Both conditions have similar treatment and improve with therapy and if required medications. You should consult a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Please do not continue feeling sad. There is effective treatment available.

Question: I am extremely shy and afraid to go out? What should I do? Answer: It is possible that you are an introvert and this is not due to any underlying condition. However, if this is disabling and preventing you from doing your activities of daily living and achieving your goals you should consult a psychiatrist since it is possible that you are suffering from social anxiety disorder. The treatment of this condition is by behavioral therapy. You should consult a therapist who has experience in Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT). This type of therapy has shown a very good result in treatment of this condition. 

Question: Dear doctor, I shamelessly committed the sin of oral sex outside of my happy marriage. I am now feeling terribly guilty, but my question to you is regarding the HIV risk for the receiver of oral sex. Answer: There is little to no risk for transmission of HIV when you receive oral sex. The risk is almost 0%. You will not be infected because of this exposure and can relax. Take care!

Question: I did a sin and committed a risky act which could have lead to HIV transmission 20 years back. I have since repented and been faithful to my wife. I tested recently with a 4th generation test. It was negative. Can I move on with my life? Answer: Yes, you should. A 4th generation test after 3 months is considered to be accurate. After 20 years you can safely depend on the result. No more testing is required. You are not infected with HIV. Be aware!

Question: I did a rapid test in my home for detection of HIV. There was a faint line. Is it possible that this was a false positive?  Answer: It appears that the test was not done correctly. You should follow the instructions carefully when you do this test at home. At present, I would recommend a blood test in the lab or hospital. It is possible that this was a false positive. Since this test is very sensitive a possibility of a false positive result is always there. Love yourself!

Question: I am afraid that my barber will use a razor that was previously used on an HIV positive person. Is transmission of HIV possible? Answer: HIV virus is very fragile and will not survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Transmission of infection is most common in a closed environment such as during sexual intercourse. So, the risk of transmission in this scenario is only theoretical and practically transmission via this route is very unlikely. Love yourself!

Question: I am having pimples on my face after I had a risky exposure 1 week back. I am afraid that this means I am infected with HIV. Answer: No, this does not mean HIV infection. HIV rash is more diffuse, occurring all over the body, and is commonly seen on the trunk. It is symmetrical. It appears as small pink dots. Associated symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and enlargement of lymph nodes occurring in multiple locations of the body are seen. So, you don't have the typical appearance of HIV rash, neither is the location typical, and there are no associated symptoms.  You should get tested with HIV tests. Symptoms do not diagnose HIV and only tests are conclusive. Also, you won't have symptoms so soon after infection. Stay nice!

Question: I think that I may have been infected after a risky exposure 5 days back. I am now suffering from a sore throat. Is this due to HIV? Answer: There are two periods after HIV infection when symptoms can be seen. Initially, symptoms can appear after an acute infection and this is known as Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS). These symptoms are the manifestation of the first response of the body to the infection and are similar to flu symptoms. Fatigue, cold, fever, body ache, and sweating. In addition, there may be enlargement of the lymph nodes in different locations of the body. These symptoms will occur 3 to 4 weeks after infection and will last for a week or two.  So, your symptoms after 5 days are unlikely to be due to HIV. You can relax.  Another phase of symptoms occurs when there is full blown AIDS. This is not something that is relevant to you.  You should get tested after a month with an antibody test. Then repeat the test after 3 mon...

Question: Any risk from kissing? Answer: Kissing is a risky activity and you should avoid it with persons of unknown health. Kissing your partner who is healthy is safe. Diseases that can be transmitted by kissing are: Oral herpes Cold Flu Mono Meningitis Gingivitis If there is bleeding with open sores in the mouth then even HIV can rarely be transmitted. Be informed!

Question: I am on PEP after a possible exposure. I did a PCR test after 28 days. It was negative. Is there a need for any further tests? Answer: You must do a 4th generation test after 3 months. There is no other option. Though the PCR test result strongly indicates that you are negative, still this result cannot be taken to be confirmatory.  Your health matters!

Question: Had an exposure 14 days back. Did a PCR on day 10. Should I do any further tests?  Answer: A PCR test done on day 10 is very accurate. However, this test is not confirmatory. You should do a 4th generation test after 6 weeks of exposure to get a confirmatory and conclusive result.  Stay healthy!

Question: I am trying to sleep. I have already taken diazepam, without much help. Is it OK for me to take Benadryl? Answer: You can take Benadryl after taking diazepam (Valium) if your goal is to sleep. When you take them together, they will have an additive action which can cause you to feel much more sleepy. So, as a consequence of the increased sedation, you should avoid doing any activities that require mental concentration such as driving.  They will however not cause any dangerous or fatal interaction when taken together. Medications are not the solution for persistent sleep problems. A good sleep hygiene will be beneficial in most cases. A sleep study may be required to diagnose the exact cause of the sleep problem which when treated will resolve the sleep disturbance.  Be healthy!