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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Previous syphilis infection

13 replies

Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 12:18

Please don’t judge me. I tested for syphilis and was positive in 2016 and had full treatment, further blood tests have confirmed that the infection was gone but the antibodies stay in your blood for life unfortunately, even though you don’t have the infection.

I received a letter today from the obstetrics department for an appointment and had no idea what it was for, rang the receptionist and she for some reason starting talking about hiv and hepatitis which scared me, she then confirmed it was negative which i knew. Then she said I was positive for syphilis. I told her this was an old infection and that I had been treated years ago, she said that they couldn’t really interpret the pathology results and they will get someone who can to ring me back. Now I’m panicking - surely four years after treatment there is no threat to my baby? I don’t want to keep going over my past as i am shameful about it, and spoke to a midwife following my booking appointment bloods who confirmed that she could see it was a previous infection and the baby would be fine and I wouldn’t have to go over this again, so why do I now have an appointment for it? Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Feeling really down even thinking about it now

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Destroyedpeople · 26/05/2020 12:23

First of all please forget about the 'shame' it was really bad luck getting infected and you have been treated.
Try not to worry too much. How soon are they going to ring you back?

InglouriousBasterd · 26/05/2020 12:25

No experience but just wanted to say there is no need to feel shame over this. You’re not the first and most certainly won’t be the last to get an infection! Hope they call you back soon and put your mind at rest Flowers

Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 12:25

They can’t seem to tell me that it’s an old infection though. And I’ve had about four tests in the years since that say I no longer have the infection.
I have no idea, could be today and could be tomorrow. I’m 30 weeks so don’t know why this wasn’t discussed sooner rather than letting me receive a letter through the post 🙁

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Honeybee85 · 26/05/2020 12:40

Don't feel shame OP.
It can happen to anyone.
As a doctor I dated once said to me: the only way to avoid STD's is by never having sex with anyone!

Btw I think it's not very professional of them to let such personal medical stuff being discussed with you by a receptionist and not a midwife or dr. They made you unneccesairy worried by doing this and I think that's not ok

Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 12:42

Thanks @Honeybee. Had a nice day planned but now feel pretty distraught and have been crying. My baby has been perfectly healthy and no one has mentioned anything til I get a crappy letter through the post. I hope they are just going from the antibodies in the blood and there’s no infection there like I have been told for the last four years

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Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 12:43

Thinking about making a complaint about the receptionist as she actually said I was positive for hiv and hepatitis at first before looking back and saying ‘oh no HIV and hepatitis results are negative’

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Honeybee85 · 26/05/2020 12:45

Flowers + Cake

Remember it's normal to worry more during pregnancy. Try to talk to a dr or midwife asap and in the meantime try to do something to relax xxx

Honeybee85 · 26/05/2020 12:46

What??

That is very unprofessional.

Yes I would put in a complaint.
This isn't the way to speak to patients about potentially life threatening diseases.
Very inappropriate.

Destroyedpeople · 26/05/2020 12:47

@Birdy1991 that's terrible I think you should make a complaint ,

Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 14:24

I think I will just got to work out how to. I haven’t heard from this ‘specialist midwife’ who is supposed to explain the results to me. So worried about it! Don’t know if I should try ringing any of the other midwife numbers or just wait and see.

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Honeybee85 · 26/05/2020 14:31

I would call them.

They should have already given you an update instead of letting you worry on your own.

Birdy1991 · 26/05/2020 14:57

The expert with the results called!
The clinic totally got their wires crossed about something. The infection is previous and treated as expected. She said she was concerned about how the conversation with the receptionist went as she shouldn’t have been talking about things like that with me anyway, and i explained the situation which she was shocked at! She is going to have a word with them and has given me the details to make a complaint, without even asking! She was lovely.

However no one seems to know now why a referral has been made for me... apparently my usual midwife is going to ring me tomorrow.
Thanks for your kind words 😊☺️

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Honeybee85 · 26/05/2020 15:27

Very happy to hear that OP.
You must feel so relieved!

Please enjoy the rest of your day now and do something you enjoy. You deserve it after all the worrying!

And please do make a complaint, not as a punishment but to make sure this won't happen again to other women!

Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy, may it be joyful and free of worries !
😘

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