Dealing with syphilis

[BritishCumdump]

Hey, so it's finally caught up with me and I've been diagnosed with stage 2 syphilis. Far too many slutty meets and cumdump sessions so I guess I deserve this. It must have dodged the net of my every 2 month checkup and unlike most of the time when I get an std this time it's really symptomatic (red spots, swollen joints, the lot). 

I've had my injections now (I think it was just penicillin) and the doc says it'll be two weeks minimum before I can fuck again which is fine. I just wanted to ask about syph from the community here as the official information online seems vague. 

How infectious is syph usually? Like I've informed the last 15 guys I've slept with and while some have gone and immediately got treated just in case, others have just shrugged and said they feel fine and will see what happens at their next test. Should I be pushing them to go get treated? I remember I got fucked by a big rough dom a few years ago who told me when he was already inside me that he had syph and I managed to dodge it then but is that a rare exception? I might he a cumdump pig but I hope I haven't spread this too far. 

Also does anyone have advice for dealing with these symptoms? I'm trying to rest and not scratch but is it just a case of waiting it out and not spreading it any further? 

Will Doxyprep help me avoid this in the future?

[Electricterror]

Honestly, you should probably ask a doctor about most of those questions. I've always thought syphilis is very contagious, but it might be more infectious in the early and late stages based on what you said. 

I do know for a fact that there's nothing like PreP that prevents the infection like for HIV. I'm pretty sure you're much less likely to get or give the infection when you don't cum inside though. 

I would think that soaking in a hot bath with ground oats, some powdered milk, and a little honey could probably help with the rash and make your joints feel better. You'll feel much better in a week or two, but it takes the anti biotics a little time to work. Just be sure to try and get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and try to keep your stress low while you're healing.

Your future syphilis tests are always going to be positive after this, but the doctors can tell if you have an active infection or not based on some stuff in the test. If you're asked if you've had syphilis before next time you get tested let them know.

[viking8x6]

Those questions are definitely things to ask your doctor.

Syphilis varies in infectiousness depending on the stage of the disease. As I understand it, it's typically more contagious when there are skin lesions.

Contrary to @Electricterror's comment, doxyPEP is fairly effective against syphilis. The only trouble is that people often don't know they have it, so you are in the dark about whether you need to use it or not.

Your syphilis antibody test will always be positive from now on. Your RPR test may or may not return to negative (mine sometimes is and sometimes isn't). You have now joined the club of people who get to wonder whether they have been reinfected or just have antibodies from before. Sadly, the available tests are not great at distinguishing that. C'est la guerre.

[BritishCumdump]

4 minutes ago, viking8x6 said:

Those questions are definitely things to ask your doctor.

Syphilis varies in infectiousness depending on the stage of the disease. As I understand it, it's typically more contagious when there are skin lesions.

Contrary to @Electricterror's comment, doxyPEP is fairly effective against syphilis. The only trouble is that people often don't know they have it, so you are in the dark about whether you need to use it or not.

Your syphilis antibody test will always be positive from now on. Your RPR test may or may not return to negative (mine sometimes is and sometimes isn't). You have now joined the club of people who get to wonder whether they have been reinfected or just have antibodies from before. Sadly, the available tests are not great at distinguishing that. C'est la guerre.

This is really interesting information! How will I know whether I am infectious or not if the tests will always come back positive for the antibodies? My main concern is being able to tell guys that they're not at risk when going to breed me. 

[PozBearWI]

12 minutes ago, viking8x6 said:

Those questions are definitely things to ask your doctor.

Syphilis varies in infectiousness depending on the stage of the disease. As I understand it, it's typically more contagious when there are skin lesions.

Contrary to @Electricterror's comment, doxyPEP is fairly effective against syphilis. The only trouble is that people often don't know they have it, so you are in the dark about whether you need to use it or not.

Your syphilis antibody test will always be positive from now on. Your RPR test may or may not return to negative (mine sometimes is and sometimes isn't). You have now joined the club of people who get to wonder whether they have been reinfected or just have antibodies from before. Sadly, the available tests are not great at distinguishing that. C'est la guerre.

Thanks brother.  I would think doxyPEP each time one has raw play should keep it from reinfecting.  I'll have to discuss this with my HIV doc when I see him next month.

[viking8x6]

4 minutes ago, BritishCumdump said:

This is really interesting information! How will I know whether I am infectious or not if the tests will always come back positive for the antibodies? My main concern is being able to tell guys that they're not at risk when going to breed me. 

Once you have done the course of treatment (usually penicillin injections, either 1 dose or 3 doses at intervals) your RPR titer (quantitative RPR test that gives you a number rather than positive or negative) will level off or start going down. A stable or declining value indicates no active infection. It's a fairly lame test and I don't know why they don't have a better DNA based test, but I researched it a bit and couldn't find any such thing. Might be time to get access to a university library.

[ErikRaw]

Having suffered chicken pox as an adult, along with multiple poison ivy outbreaks, I recommend a blow dryer for the itching in between baths and showers.  Much better than scratching!

[PozBearWI]

11 minutes ago, viking8x6 said:

Once you have done the course of treatment (usually penicillin injections, either 1 dose or 3 doses at intervals) your RPR titer (quantitative RPR test that gives you a number rather than positive or negative) will level off or start going down. A stable or declining value indicates no active infection. It's a fairly lame test and I don't know why they don't have a better DNA based test, but I researched it a bit and couldn't find any such thing. Might be time to get access to a university library.

That sounds like the same theory with mGen.  Treat, will always be poz for it.  Seems like something our researchers left behind...  Clearly we could do better...

[PozBearWI]

12 minutes ago, ErikRaw said:

Having suffered chicken pox as an adult, along with multiple poison ivy outbreaks, I recommend a blow dryer for the itching in between baths and showers.  Much better than scratching!

Interesting.  Something we might try if we have to.  I'm immune to poison ivy.  Maybe it just got tired of trying???  LOL  Still I wear gloves and do wash up when I come inside.  I wonder if that technique would apply to shingles (should that occur)?

[ellentonboy]

I know I had it multiple times, I was informed either by a call from the Health Department, or a letter shoved under my door, and I then went to my infectious disease specialist for treatment.  The call said that a sexual parter had tested positive, so he thought it would be in my best interest to see a doctor.   I have had several "false alarms" over the years.   That first time, the doctor declined to treat me, something about "titers".  He said he was reluctant to give me medication, as he assumed (correctly) that I would probably be back in the future for treatment.

The first thing the nurse did during each appointment, and this was at a time I was very ill and quite active sexually, was to check my palms.  The nurse could spot it immediately.  I never noticed any kind of skin irritation, and as someone who could never walk by a mirror without looking, I would have noticed it.  I have been to group parties where someone had it all over their back.  Though I didn't feel it was my place to tell him my suspicion, I did tell the host. Sometimes it is much easier to notice on a stranger than it is on yourself.  

But if you suspect you have it,  go to your doctor or clinic ASAP.

[ErikRaw]

Shingrex vaccination, my man.  Two shots 4-6 months apart.  schedule them on Friday.  They both put me down for the weekend like a mini flu.  Should keep me from ever experiencing shingles. 🤞

[RubberAustria]

12 hours ago, BritishCumdump said:

Like I've informed the last 15 guys I've slept with and while some have gone and immediately got treated just in case, others have just shrugged and said they feel fine and will see what happens at their next test. Should I be pushing them to go get treated?

That is very very fair! It would be great if everyone acts like you. But no more pushing is necessary. They are old enough. Getter better soon!!!