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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Another herpes question for Dr. Rockoff
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Another herpes question for Dr. Rockoff
by Johnybravo, Nov 29, 2003 12:00AM
Dr.
I had a regrettable experience with a prostitute over a month ago. I did wear a condom the entire time. I did regret the exprerience immediately. 2 days later I had a raw spot on both sides of my legs that concerned me. I put lotrimin af and vaseline on the areas. Approximately a week to 10 days later I started ot have what I would describe as a rash on my scrotum. I put hydrocortizone cream on it and it made the situation worse and painful. I went to my doctor at approximately 7 days after exposure and he indicated that I did not have herpes. He tested me at my insistance for std's and they came back negative - the test consisted of 2 swabs of my urethra. I had severe pain urinating after that for about 3 days.
The next week things did not improve and I felt that in addition to the rash there were bumps all over my scrotum as well as bumps on the underside and along the side of my penis. The bumps are not red and are either flesh color or clear in apperance. I went to the local health department and the NP examined me. She said that what I had did not look like any STD. She said it could be a yeast infection or reaction to Tide with bleach detergent. Got bleach free Tide, got some monostate and rubbed it on my scrotum and that made things far more irritated.
Basically I have become obsessed with the situation and I went back a week later to the health department and the Dr. saw me and said that I did not have herpes. Oddly enough I had an appointment the next week with my GP for another reason and he looked at it again and said it was in my head and not herpes. At this point in time I developed a sensation at the tip of my penis. This would not be pain per say but it is uncomfortable and is durning urination and without urination. He gave me medicine for the pain that changed my urine color and 1 pill in case I did have a yeast infection.
That was 6 days ago. I am still not any better. My scrotum is extremly dry and irritated and I do have bumps on it. The area above my penis is irritated and feels like I need to itch it. Now I know that 3 seperate doctors have told me to that I do not have an std but I know that I did not feel like this prior to the encounter. I am very concerned and upset at this point. So much in fact for the last 5 days I have been taking acyvlicor just in case. Unfortunately I do not feel that this is helping either.
I am at a complete lost and I do not know what to do. I know that the internet sites say that herpes take all different symptoms and can be easily misdiagnosed.
1. Do you feel that I have been misdiagnosed?
2. What are the chances of getting herpes with a condom?
3. What do I have if I do not have herpes?
4. How can I get control of this aspect of my life back?
5. currently it has been about 34 days since potential exposure does this make a case that it is or is not herpes?
6. would bumps stay this long and not burst and crust over?
Thanks doc.
I had a regrettable experience with a prostitute over a month ago. I did wear a condom the entire time. I did regret the exprerience immediately. 2 days later I had a raw spot on both sides of my legs that concerned me. I put lotrimin af and vaseline on the areas. Approximately a week to 10 days later I started ot have what I would describe as a rash on my scrotum. I put hydrocortizone cream on it and it made the situation worse and painful. I went to my doctor at approximately 7 days after exposure and he indicated that I did not have herpes. He tested me at my insistance for std's and they came back negative - the test consisted of 2 swabs of my urethra. I had severe pain urinating after that for about 3 days.
The next week things did not improve and I felt that in addition to the rash there were bumps all over my scrotum as well as bumps on the underside and along the side of my penis. The bumps are not red and are either flesh color or clear in apperance. I went to the local health department and the NP examined me. She said that what I had did not look like any STD. She said it could be a yeast infection or reaction to Tide with bleach detergent. Got bleach free Tide, got some monostate and rubbed it on my scrotum and that made things far more irritated.
Basically I have become obsessed with the situation and I went back a week later to the health department and the Dr. saw me and said that I did not have herpes. Oddly enough I had an appointment the next week with my GP for another reason and he looked at it again and said it was in my head and not herpes. At this point in time I developed a sensation at the tip of my penis. This would not be pain per say but it is uncomfortable and is durning urination and without urination. He gave me medicine for the pain that changed my urine color and 1 pill in case I did have a yeast infection.
That was 6 days ago. I am still not any better. My scrotum is extremly dry and irritated and I do have bumps on it. The area above my penis is irritated and feels like I need to itch it. Now I know that 3 seperate doctors have told me to that I do not have an std but I know that I did not feel like this prior to the encounter. I am very concerned and upset at this point. So much in fact for the last 5 days I have been taking acyvlicor just in case. Unfortunately I do not feel that this is helping either.
I am at a complete lost and I do not know what to do. I know that the internet sites say that herpes take all different symptoms and can be easily misdiagnosed.
1. Do you feel that I have been misdiagnosed?
2. What are the chances of getting herpes with a condom?
3. What do I have if I do not have herpes?
4. How can I get control of this aspect of my life back?
5. currently it has been about 34 days since potential exposure does this make a case that it is or is not herpes?
6. would bumps stay this long and not burst and crust over?
Thanks doc.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Dec 01, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 01, 2003 12:00AM
I do not think you have been misdiagnosed. The chances of getting herpes with a condom are quite small, but more relevant in your case is that the symptoms and signs you describe do not suggest herpes, as the doctors and nurses who examined you all said. I don't know what the bumps on your scrotum are, but they may just be cysts you have perhaps irritated by examining and rubbing.
To get control of your life and stop obsessing about this, you need to take the diagnosis of those who examine you to heart and get what whatever counseling you need to deal with the guilt and regret you feel. These are without question behind you sensations and obsessions.
As to what kind of medical reassurance you need, I advise you to see a dermatologist, who can tell you once and for all what the bumps are, give you what you need to deal with the irritation, and then you can, hopefully, move on.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
To get control of your life and stop obsessing about this, you need to take the diagnosis of those who examine you to heart and get what whatever counseling you need to deal with the guilt and regret you feel. These are without question behind you sensations and obsessions.
As to what kind of medical reassurance you need, I advise you to see a dermatologist, who can tell you once and for all what the bumps are, give you what you need to deal with the irritation, and then you can, hopefully, move on.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
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Angela
www.yoshi2me.com
My doctor performed a swab of my urethra that consisted of 2 swabs that were unmercifully painful. When I got the report back it said that there were tests for chlymidia, gonneria, I have no idea how to spell those and herpes. All negative. I asked the doctor how this could be since I thought to test you had to have an active lesion. He said that the swab of the urethra tested for a lesion in the urethra. I did not argue with him beyond that.
I am just really bummed out over all of this. I have been basically obsessed with all of this for a month now. All of the answers have been no but I am still concerned. I think that the irritation that i am seeing all have hair follicles with them. However the sensation at the tip of my urethra is still concerning to me. Everyone is like there is nothing wrong and I think that there is.
Also I took 400mg avcyclor for 8 days and it did not help the situation at all. I do not know if that is good or bad. I took 30 pills in those 8 days.
I am concerned but nobody else seems to be at all. I just want resolution.
Doc's dont seem to concerned, cant make a diagnosis, no lesions to swab. want to move on, cant. On Valtrex last 5 days, doesnt seem to help. Dont know what to do, dont want to sleep with anyone, or get in arelationship for that matter, until i can resolve this one way or another.
I didnt mention that i had a fever for a couple days after i would have been exposed. Same time i also got a cold sore. I have alot of clues but cant put it all together.
Biggest dissapointment is the doc's dont see it as a big deal. Which typically its not a big deal physically speaking, they probably run into this alot, status quo, however it can be quite dramatic emotionally.
Hope you figure it out, let me know.
Angela- nice to see you on this forum
At first it drove me crazy thinking what it could be, after research online my initail thought was herpes, however after two doctor visits they insist it isn't. In my recent doctor visit my doctor dismissed it rather quickly as a simple fungal infection(Simple to him perhaps, yet enough to drive my mind crazy not knowing for sure) he gave me a few pills called Diflucan for fungal infections as well as a jock itch cream. This was just yesterday, last week similar to yourself I purchased valtrex and have been taking 2 pills per day, however my doctor is sure that I wasted my money and It was not needed.
Its only been 1 day since the last doctors visit and Im interested to see how the medication as well as the cream work.
Have you found out for sure what your specific case is? has it cleared up completely and has it returned? I've been reading more about Eczema, do you think that could be the case...?
At first it drove me crazy thinking what it could be, after research online my initail thought was herpes, however after two doctor visits they insist it isn't. In my recent doctor visit my doctor dismissed it rather quickly as a simple fungal infection(Simple to him perhaps, yet enough to drive my mind crazy not knowing for sure) he gave me a few pills called Diflucan for fungal infections as well as a jock itch cream. This was just yesterday, last week similar to yourself I purchased valtrex and have been taking 2 pills per day, however my doctor is sure that I wasted my money and It was not needed.
Its only been 1 day since the last doctors visit and Im interested to see how the medication as well as the cream work.
Have you found out for sure what your specific case is? has it cleared up completely and has it returned? I've been reading more about Eczema, do you think that could be the case...?
How about you have you had any closure?
for weeks I thought to myself that herpes seemed to be the best fitting description of what I had after reading symptoms on the internet. (BIG mistake) After a trip to the dermatalogist, they took a culture which I have yet to get the results back, however when I stopped thinking in my head it was herpes and began treating the problem for what the derm thought it might be ( a fungal infection), I saw improvement rather than development.
My advice to all that are dealing with their own issues would be
A. never "assume" (your mind will take you for a crazy ride!)
B. don't wait or self diagnose, see a doctor!
C. be patient... results don't happen over night
Im still not clear of what i had and remember Im not a doctor but Id suggest to stop using acylovir if you dont have herpes, dermatalogist seem to know what herpes looks like and if you've seen one and they suggest it isnt I'd go with the idea it's not.
In my particular case I was perscriped an antifungal called Naftin, it seems to be working but is quite expensive.. $80 per tube and I used it very quickly, I was told most creams like lamisel for jockitch and ringworm work just as well. If you havent tried using any of those creams yet I highly suggest doing so...
has your doctor taken a culture of the rash? If not that would be something to ask him to do, I think If I hadn't waited so long to use something as simple as the cream rather then buying valtrex and assuming I had herpes my rash wouldnt have gotten as bad because I would have been treating the problem rather than my self diagnosis of herpes.
Try the cream and see how it works, you can buy it in most stores and let me know what happens.
My doctor prescribed me Clotrimazole which is indeed an anti-fungus cream. I called the dermatologists under my insurance plan and I cant get in until the mid of January but I made an appointment. I have bumps that seem to be spreading but the bumps are not red the skin is somewhat and they have been there for 2 months now. I only ordered 30 pills of the acylycor and that is all that I took. For what it is worth they did nothing. I am at the point that I realize it is not herpes but it is something.
I put the cream on last night and this morning. I have to put it on 2 times a day.
I am curious - how soon did you start to see relief? Also did you have bumps along with the rash?
Thanks
have you developed your rash in only one are?
said to come back in a couple of months for the herpes test, since she said it wouldn't have showed up anyway, and that it was expensive ($80 bucks)
Fast forward to one month ago when I got drunk and picked up a hot guy from a bar. We did use a condom, but only after fooling around without a condom, and without actual complete penetration..
Well, needless to say he accused me of giving him herpes and showed me his scrotom which was pretty inflammed..we both agreed to see the doc since i also have the inflamation (inflammation) in my vaginal area and butt area...
Does anyone know if herpes can flare up INSIDE the vagina, so that i would have no i had those nasty pimples, that i have seen only online!
An exboyfriend also had inflamation (inflammation) in his genitals, although i never saw any sign of clusters..I really need to get to the bottom of this, no pun intended..thanks!! and happy new year!