herpes or not herpes--that is the question

[diverdown]

Doc,I am very concerned that I may have contracted herpes. I am a 30 year old sexually active male.I have had unprotected sex with about 6 girls over the last year and a half and a female escort about 6 weeks ago but have never had any symptoms until recently. The sex with the escort was protected vaginal intercourse.About 5 weeks ago I noticed several small pinkish-red bumps or blister-like sores on my lower stomach about mid way between my belly button and my penis.I first noticed the sores 5 weeks ago, after closer investigation I noticed that there were several in the pubic region but none on my actual penis. They are above my penis in the pubic region and some of the sores (smaller ones with the same appearance but very small) extend upward just below my belly button on my lower stomach. The ones on my lower stomach are hardly noticeable unless you look very closely.  There are a few sores (literelly 3 or 4) in the pubic region that are a little bigger like the size of a fairly large zit and appear to be fluid filled or have a whitish look to them like a zit that needs to be popped although they have never opened. The sores have been painless up until a few days ago when I started feeling a slight burning sensation in the area although it doesn’t seem like the individual sores hurt just the general area seems sensitive or inflamed. Actually the sores do not hurt when I touch them, I just get this very mild tingling or burning sensation in that general area. On a scale of 1 to 10 the pain is like a 2 as it’s just kind of noticeable and may be exacerbated by my anxiety. The sores are bilateral and are spread apart…not clustered together…although one of the sores appears to have a couple of different white areas within it…but I suppose that’s just one sore? I have had no other noticeable symptoms such as headaches, swollen or sore glands, painful urination or the various other symptoms I read about.  The sores are pinkish-red and have a shiny appearance. As far as I can tell none have ever bursts and I have yet to experience this scab or crusty stage. I thought herpes would hurt a lot more than this or would be mainly on the genitals themselves and not just the surrounding areas? It doesn’t appear to be progressing too much as far as the size and amount of sores but as I said earlier I have been experiencing this mild burning sensation lately.I saw some pictures of this Molluscum Contagiosum which looked pretty similar but I’m unsure.If this is herpes shouldn’t the sores have changed (opened, crusted, scabbed) after 5 weeks? AND people seem to describe it as very painful which this has not been so bad. Lastly, do some people with genital herpes never get sores on their actual genitalia but just the surrounding area such as in my case? My lower abdomen seems like an unlikely place of initial infection doesn’t it?since the location of the sores usually represent the initial infection site right? Will this spread to my genitals? Thanks Dr

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think you have molluscum, which often appear in the lower-abdomen/suprapubic region.  They don't sound like herpes.

Mollusca--which are usually not contracted from someone else, by the way--go away on their own, but they take 9 months on average, so most adults would rather have them treated.

Instead of trying to figure out what you have by using the internet, please see a doctor in person and have these diagnosed and taken care of.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[diverdown]

Thanks for your feedback Doc. It has now been 6 weeks since i first noticed the bumps/sores. I have researched MC quite a bit and it seems to fit the bill i think. The only change i have noticed is there appears to be a few very small bumps on the tysons gland area and a couple on the under side of the shaft. These look similar to the others just very small and they dont seem to cause much of a sensation. I have also noticed some sensitivity around my anus which feels slightly unpleasent but not too bad. Feels like a mild rash. I didnt see or feel anything unusual back there but its difficult to see. Does this still sound like MC? I have also noticed more zits on my butt lately....maybe this is unrelated but the timing makes me think there is a relationship between the two. Lastly, at six weeks of having these rather unchanging symptoms the diagnoses of herpes seems fairly unlikely right? The bumps never opened and then scab...just stay the same. Ohh...what is the likelihood of the girl that i'm seeing getting this?

[mackie2006]

Hello,
I have a question that has been bothering me for a while.
I have been to three doctors now.
I have a spot on my buttock that is very high and on the very top inside (where they meet).
It comes up as a spot that itches really badly.  I went to the doctor and he told me I had a spider bite, there were two holes in the middle of it.  It was hard and felt like a fever.  Very sore.  It went away and about 6 months later the very same thing came back.  I didn't think the chances of this spider biting me in the same place was possible so made an appt with another doctor.  She said she thought it was herpes and asked how long I'd been married and if I had ever cheated.  I said NO and I am honest.  I never have even thought about it.  She told me I need to speak to hubby because someone has, she was pretty sure it was herpes.  She did not test it though.
I have been having lots of stress issues with hubby lately and it is starting to come and go in the same place every time.  It comes on every 3 or 4 months.  It is painful and wearing jeans is what hurts it so much.
I went to another doctor, a specialist.  He looked at it.  There were no blisters to check it for sure but he said it was definiately NOT herpes.  And it was not contagious.  I was so very relieved but did not ask him what is was.  So, my question is do you think he was right or the other doctor?  If it is not herpes, what is it?  Please let me know if you have any idea.  Seems to happen when I very very stressed or if I wear jeans without underwear and it rubs but that doesn't explain why it would feel hard and feel hot like it has fever inside.
PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS...BEEN CRAZY FOR 3 YEARS NOW.

[CJ101]

Doc, About two years ago I started shaving my body. I started itching after a few months.  After awhile, I would start to have little pimples in different areas all over my body. I would have more itching in my in my genitels. About a month ago I talked to my doctor, he referred me to a dermatologist as "jock itch" or other. He did a blood test that day. I was diagnosed with herpes type I and II. i have never had an outbreak that consisted of more than one blister. i did not know I was having them.  I think some of them were ingrown hairs because the mucus was not oily but creamy. Usually the single blister was in the same spot. My doctor and I were both shocked to see such high amount of anitbodies in my blood without me having some idea that i had herpes. He put me on Valtrex 3 weeks ago. Two days ago I had one of my single "pimples" not cream - but oily.
I am so confused because now i don't know what is what. I get small pimples on my body when i shave. I have had a mild, but  constant itch in my jock for years and now I have herpes outbreaks while I am taking Valtrex. What do you think the pimples and itch are? Is Herpes known to cause a single blister in hair of your pubic area in the same spot repeaitidly?