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What Causes Numbness In Extremities, Depression And Brain Fog After Intercourse?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Jun 2016
Question: Dear doctor,

First of all the question:
is there any type of full, complete vaginal exam that would show possible fungi, bacteria or serious vaginal infections? I have no discharge nor itching but the following problems:

me and my husband are having BOTH all symptoms that seem the same as Candida Overgrowth (numbness in arms/feet, tingling, depression, mood swings, heavy brain fog, etc.)... We have these symptoms since over a year now, on a regular basis.... but the worst part is that it gets worse every time we have an intercourse, as if it is strictly related to sex.

He had/has athlete's foot for a very long time.

We lived in Europe and run a general blood ans stool. We moved to the States a year ago and have no insurance at the moment. We got only tested for STDs and nothing came up.
His athlete's foot seems to be clearing up... (after all the supplements plus foot creams used) but after an intercourse he feels sick again, as well as me... not related to ejaculation.

I am thinking that I might have some vaginal bacteria that might keep making him sick? We tried candida, parasites, colon cleanses.... but nothing seems to work

My husband feels it more than me. But I am definitely suffering as well from brain fogs, memory loss, difficulty focusing.. and lately I have numbness in my arms almost every day when I wake up (rarely during the day, my feet are tingling too).

I would like to run some more specific tests but have no idea where to start and would like to avoid just wasting money (no insurance!). What type of test would you suggest? We are kind of desperate... we really don't understand what is going on...

I have asked doctors before and got no answers or suggestions about:
a) having lack of vitamin D
b) having thyroid problems...
c) post orgasmic syndrome
But none of these seem to be the answer.

I need to do some real testing... but I don't know where to start without wasting a lot of money - because I don't know what to look for

All symptoms seems related to Candida Overgrowth, all of them...BUT Candida Overgrowth does not seem to make people sick after each intercourse :(

Should I do any of these tests?
1) Comprehensive Stool Analysis plus Parasitology x3 (CDSA/P). DOCTOR'S DATA KIT
2) Candida Antibodies, IgA, IgG, IgM, ELISA Blood Test

Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Following suggestions for your problems.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and can say as following:

1. If you are having problems after intercourse then, I should know first what type of problems you are having:
- pain: during intercourse? or after?
- itchiness?
- redness?
- skin peeling?
- discharge (any of you): smell? color?

2. As your husband is having a personal history of athletes foot, may I know what part of his body is mostly affected: foot? groins?

3. Commonly we do advise following tests to determine the real problems for both of you:
- vaginal swab testing
- culture of vaginal swab for candida? or bacteria?
- culture of sperm to see if your husband is having infection problems too?

4. We cannot say it is Candida overgrowth unless it is found in the tests reports.

5. With regards to the tests you are proposing, yes you can do a stool examination for ova/parasites; but no need to go further with such specific tests for candida, just run the tests as advised earlier.

6. Apart infection, having dry or heavy sex also matters. Are you both reaching orgasm at same time? Are you having discharge at the moment of penetration or you still dry?

Thank you!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (15 hours later)
Hi and thank you for your answer.

Me and my husband have been married for 6 years and only since a little over a year we are experiencing symptoms that make us sick:
- brain fog,
- depression,
- muscle pain,
- joint pain,
- confusion,
- headaches,
- numbness and tingling in arms and feet...
- feeling as if something is traveling through our body)...

All these symptoms seem to be the same as the ones for "Candida Overgrowth"...

BUT the main problem is that for some strange reason it seems that it is connected to sex:
every time after an intercourse all those symptoms come back stronger than before.
These can occur after hours from the intercourse or in any case within the following day... and stay latent every day... we feel slightly better if we have no intercourse for days (or weeks), but the symptoms still remain.

My husband can feel all these symptoms stronger than me, almost immediately.
It is as if I had some type of vaginal bacteria that would trigger something and make us sick again.

During the intercourse (or after) we have:
- No pain,
- no itchiness,
- no redness,
- no discharge,
- no peeling,

The only thing my husband gets sometimes is some skin rashes that come and could disappear within hours. (In form of tiny little bubbles).

He has been suffering of Athlete's Foot (dark spots under his foot plantar) for years and he surely did not cure that fungus/those fungi well enough.

- No POS (post orgasmic syndrome). My husband is not allergic to his semen, nor is it related to ejaculation.
- No Vitamin D lack.
- No thyroid problems.
- Not suffering of OCD
- No STDs (we have been checked for those).

We have two kids (the youngest is almost 2 years old).
I am taking the pill, so no excessive bleeding or any vaginal visible problems.


I am just lost and don't know where to start looking for some answers.
I guess I could start doing another vaginal swab and culture (since I have not done it in a year).
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Following data are required

Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,

OK, I too think to have a complete vaginal swab testing (microscopically and culture) to determine if there is any vaginal infection and what type.

After the results are in, can discuss further options.
Athlete's foot is commonly affecting foot. If not appropriate measures are taken, it can be spread to the groin area.
So, advise him to start treating his athlete's foot rigorously and not to wear his underwear without wearing socks.

Do you remember if you had any travel or new food/drink consumed at the moment you first had the above mentioned symptoms?

Let me know.
Dr.Albana


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (11 hours later)
No unfortunately I don't remember about food or drinks..

I remember that in the beginning of our symptoms we started taking antibiotics hoping it would get better.... but I think we took too many antibiotics and made whatever we have worse or stronger.

Do you have any idea of what type of infection/parasite/bacteria... can travel through the whole body and you feel it "moving"? Like a pain that first is on the arms.. and than moves to the feet for instance?

Or feeling confused and with a brain fog... and then all of a sudden it seems to have moved somewhere else after some hours...
Or even, going to the toilet and feeling slightly better (as if you expelled something).

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Should start checking for following problems...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear

If your symptoms started after taking antibiotics, that can explain why you are having them.

Keep in mind that antibiotics can alter your GI tract flora, causing Candida overgrowth. A simple culture of stool for Candida can confirm it.

Next, such alteration will be visible in your genitalia causing Candida overgrowth too
Vaginal swab testing, culture of vaginal swab and culture of sperm for Candida can confirm it.

As your GI flora is altered, your overall body is also suffering giving the weird symptoms you were experiencing. As having a bowel movement, can ease your symptoms, then should start with stool examination first to rule out/confirm Candida overgrowth for most appropriate treatment.

All the best!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (21 hours later)
Thank you. I will definitely try a vaginal swab test and culture as a start.... and will take it from there.

To be honest, I hope something will come up... if not, we are back at the start, not knowing what to do.

Oh and another thing. Why according to you would I wake up almost every single morning have tingling or numb arms or hands.... and than it would disappear after some minutes?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Following causes....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

With regards to waking up with numbness in limbs and hands, that could be due to:
- arthritis
- overweight (compression of nerves due to high body mass)
- neurological problems

Further tests are done:
- complete blood count to exclude anemia or blood disorders
- blood electrolytes
- arthritis blood tests
- neurological examination

After getting the results, I need to analyze them for a final conclusion.

Let me know how it goes.
Dr.Albana
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 7300 Questions

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What Causes Numbness In Extremities, Depression And Brain Fog After Intercourse?

Brief Answer: Following suggestions for your problems..... Detailed Answer: Hi my dear, I have gone through your medical history carefully and can say as following: 1. If you are having problems after intercourse then, I should know first what type of problems you are having: - pain: during intercourse? or after? - itchiness? - redness? - skin peeling? - discharge (any of you): smell? color? 2. As your husband is having a personal history of athletes foot, may I know what part of his body is mostly affected: foot? groins? 3. Commonly we do advise following tests to determine the real problems for both of you: - vaginal swab testing - culture of vaginal swab for candida? or bacteria? - culture of sperm to see if your husband is having infection problems too? 4. We cannot say it is Candida overgrowth unless it is found in the tests reports. 5. With regards to the tests you are proposing, yes you can do a stool examination for ova/parasites; but no need to go further with such specific tests for candida, just run the tests as advised earlier. 6. Apart infection, having dry or heavy sex also matters. Are you both reaching orgasm at same time? Are you having discharge at the moment of penetration or you still dry? Thank you! Dr.Albana