October 12th 2024.
I woke up one morning with an odd feeling in my body. Little did I know that this would be the start of a life-changing journey. As I sat across from the doctor, lying in a hospital bed, I listened intently as they delivered the news. My STI test had come back positive for chlamydia – a common and treatable sexually transmitted infection. The doctor assured me to stay calm, but how could I when I was in shock? I never imagined being hospitalized for an STI, let alone experiencing excruciating leg pain that made me fear for the worst – the possibility of amputation.
At the time, I had been seeing someone I met on a dating app. We had gone on a few dates and things were going well. On our third dinner date, I had to leave early for work. I was a go-go dancer at a club and had promised to come back to his place after. As the night went on, we had fun together, and in the heat of the moment, I didn't think much about protection. But the next morning, I woke up with a strange discomfort in my legs. They felt heavy and sore, and I could barely put any pressure on them without wincing. At first, I thought it was just a result of working too hard at the club. But as the day went on, the pain became unbearable, and I started to worry that something was seriously wrong.
I was unable to move my leg or put any pressure on it, making it impossible to walk. The second day, the pain was so excruciating that I could barely get out of bed. One leg was worse than the other, almost feeling paralyzed. I couldn't move it at all. The constant throbbing made it difficult to sleep. I knew something was wrong, so I called the non-emergency services. They booked me in for tests at a sexual health clinic and advised me to go to A&E. I was hesitant at first, thinking the pain in my legs had nothing to do with an STI. But I had no other choice, so I called an Uber and headed to The Royal London Hospital.
I spent about ten hours at the hospital, hopping around on crutches for various tests. By this point, the pain had gotten worse, and my leg had started to swell. The tests revealed that my blood pressure and circulation to my foot were not good. I was admitted to the hospital, and my mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario – what if I needed an amputation? The hospital stay was miserable, and the pain was unbearable. The nurses would give me painkillers, but it would take hours for someone to authorize them. Every day felt like a battle. I had to exercise my leg to improve blood flow, but even that was difficult. The hospital carried out numerous tests, trying to figure out the cause of my pain.
After about a week, the chlamydia test results came back positive. It turned out that I had contracted reactive arthritis, a rare reaction to chlamydia. I was surprised and couldn't believe I had such a severe reaction. I just wanted to leave the hospital, but I had to stay for treatment. The nights were the hardest. The pain would come on suddenly, and no one would come when I rang the bell. The medication only provided temporary relief, and I would have to wait for hours for another dose. This took a toll on my mental health.
After two weeks, I was discharged from the hospital, still using crutches to walk. It took me another month to fully recover and return to work. I was also prescribed codeine to help with the pain and inflammation. While the treatment was effective, it was a slow recovery process, and I had to be patient and listen to my body.
The day after I left the hospital, I finally had the chance to confront the person I had been dating. He revealed that he had also tested positive for chlamydia but was already on medication. I was furious and felt betrayed. My experience with chlamydia was traumatic, but it taught me a valuable lesson. Regular testing is crucial, especially after unprotected sex. Even if you don't have any symptoms, you could still have an infection. And if you do experience symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
This experience has changed me in many ways. I now prioritize my sexual health and understand the potential consequences of unprotected sex. I never thought someone my age could suffer from arthritis caused by an STI. That's why I feel compelled to share my story – to raise awareness and prevent others from going through what I did.
Have you had a similar experience? I'd love to hear your story. Share your views in the comments below or email me at jess.email. Let's start a conversation and support each other.
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