Any help is good

[yyyyy]

I have a question that is similar to many others.  I will give the long story.  About 1 year and 7 months ago I developed a rash on my penis.  I had slept with a girl the week before who I found out now has herpes (aparently from a partner after me).  I used a condom.  I went to the doctor who said I had a yeast infection.  I treated it with Canestan cream and it went away within a couple of days.  I felt great for the next 5 months or so and then I noticed a small irritation on the left side of my penis.  I didn't see anything there but it was irritating me.  Went to the doctor who said that there might be a bit of yeast there.  About a month later, my left testicle really started to ache.  Went back to the doctor who treated me for a epidymitis.  This was last January. The next day after starting antibiotics I noticed a red spot right under the glans of the penis where I had felt the irritation for the last month.  This spot has now been there for about 9 months.  It sometimes fades but never goes away.  And the left side is always somewhat irritated.  Often I feel a burning sensation there and sometimes feel like it is pulsing.  The right side feels fine.  I was sent to a urologist who did a ultrasound and said that I had a small varicocele that was causing the testicle pain.  The testicle pain is actually not bad now.  Only now and then and not as bad as at first.  Also in January though, I started noticing aches in my legs and buttocks.  Originally only the left side but then on the right side as well.  These seemed to go away but came back August 1 or so.  I had a small rash on my left thigh as well.  I went to an STD clinic and the doctor said the rash was nothing and that it would go away.  It did after about three weeks.  He also said that I showed absolutely no signs of an STD.  That the symptoms I was having were not herpes or anything else.  That made me feel better.  But then within a couple of days, I started to itch in the legs and buttocks and genitals a lot.  Sometimes other parts of body as well.  I know you said nerves can cause this but I actually had felt better after going to the STD clinic.  Finally, I went to a dermatologist who confirmed what the STD clinic said.  He said that my penis looked really healthy.  Unfortunately, the red spot was somewhat faded when I went to see him but I could still feel burning there.  He gave me hydroval to put on it but this has not helped.  I have also tried prescription creams given to me by my doctor for fungal infections but these haven't helped.  I was going to go request difucan but haven't yet.  I should mention that I have been seeing a girl long distance for about 8 or 9 months and we see each other about once a month and have unprotected sex.  She has no symptoms of anything and had a normal pap smear about a month ago.  I really do believe that I don't have an STD but I want these leg aches, itchiness and irritation on penis to go away!!!!  Any suggestions?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You are correct to say that any help is good, but accepting help when offered is even better.

Your symptoms are not those of herpes and never were, as several doctors of different sorts have told you.  I understand your continued anxiety--which no doubt underlies your itching, aching, and pain--but at some point you need to ask yourself, "Am I going to be able to take yes for an answer, or will I need psychological help to do so?"  After all these consultations and worry, perhaps the time to address this question is now.

I hope you will forgive me if I suggest that you at least consider letting your "long distance" partner know what's been on your mind.  That may help you get it off your mind.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[yyyyy]

Thanks Dr. Rockoff.  I will most definitely talk to my girlfriend about this.  Hopefully the creams that the derm gave me will work on the irritated spot on the penis.  That would go a long way in putting my mind to rest.