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3 month Herpes scare?
Unprotected anal sex (Receptive) and unprotected oral sex, in July (4 months ago). Tested 1 month later and had rectal chlamydia. Took the tablets, all was gone. However, for the past 2/3 months, just after finishing my treatment for Chlamydia I have had some strange symptoms:
- 2/3 months ago I noticed my foreskin was slightly redder and a pain in the tip of penis.
- 2 weeks later started to get an ache in my testicles and groin area.
Symptoms have been non-stop for 2/3 months now. Seen several doctors who said doesn't seem like herpes but REFUSE to test as there are no lesions. Tested neg for UTI, gave some cream in case it was a fungal infection and antibiotics but nothing has worked.
Now, I do have hemmeroids (sp?) but today I thought I would have a look at my anus to see if everything looked okay, I noticed that just inside the opening, next to a hemmeroid is a deepish hole (1/2mm maybe), it is hard to see it exactly but it isn't exactly circular but doesn't seem to take on the form of an anal fissure either. Around the ridge of the top of the hole is white jaggedy and looks a little ulcer-like. The hole inside is dark red and I noticed another on the other side of the hemmeroid. Now this may just be that my hemmeroid has gotten a little larger and has caused a crease/fold but I am not too sure. It doesn't hurt/itch or bleed.
I will be going to get this checked out tomorrow but does anyone have any idea on what this is? Do i have herpes on BOTH my penis and rectum?
Must make you aware since this scare I have inspected, prodded, probed every section of my anus and penis and research every day and the testicle pain MAY just be anxiety. However the anal cut is not self-inflicted. Maybe it is from straining too much when passing a BM? I don't know i'm just very tired of this and feel completely alone and lost.Does this sound like herpes on my penis/anus?
- 2/3 months ago I noticed my foreskin was slightly redder and a pain in the tip of penis.
- 2 weeks later started to get an ache in my testicles and groin area.
Symptoms have been non-stop for 2/3 months now. Seen several doctors who said doesn't seem like herpes but REFUSE to test as there are no lesions. Tested neg for UTI, gave some cream in case it was a fungal infection and antibiotics but nothing has worked.
Now, I do have hemmeroids (sp?) but today I thought I would have a look at my anus to see if everything looked okay, I noticed that just inside the opening, next to a hemmeroid is a deepish hole (1/2mm maybe), it is hard to see it exactly but it isn't exactly circular but doesn't seem to take on the form of an anal fissure either. Around the ridge of the top of the hole is white jaggedy and looks a little ulcer-like. The hole inside is dark red and I noticed another on the other side of the hemmeroid. Now this may just be that my hemmeroid has gotten a little larger and has caused a crease/fold but I am not too sure. It doesn't hurt/itch or bleed.
I will be going to get this checked out tomorrow but does anyone have any idea on what this is? Do i have herpes on BOTH my penis and rectum?
Must make you aware since this scare I have inspected, prodded, probed every section of my anus and penis and research every day and the testicle pain MAY just be anxiety. However the anal cut is not self-inflicted. Maybe it is from straining too much when passing a BM? I don't know i'm just very tired of this and feel completely alone and lost.Does this sound like herpes on my penis/anus?
indeed you would know if you had herpes in your urethra. it's not a pain you can ignore.
So i've carried on using the canestine cream thing and the redness on my foreskin has pretty much gone. It is pretty much back to its old self, not fully but it's not noticeable red anymore. FINALLY!
I still have pain in my penis head and I took a peak inside my urethra and thought I saw an ulcer but I think I am just being TOO anxious. My original concern for having herpes was JUST the red foreskin and a bit of pain at the tip of penis. After researching herpes more I started to get MORE symptoms. Now the redness is pretty much gone I think I can start to relax now. I think in all honesty that the pain in testicle/penis head is all psychological. Hell I even had a sore eye and a little redness and the first thing I think is "IVE GOT EYE HERPES".. I mean the pain is real I can feel it but I'm starting to think if I stop messing/prodding, researching herpes and stop thinking too much about it then the pains will go.
Now, just to put my mind at rest Grace for the last time (I promise I will let you get on with your gardening as i've seen you post multiple times about it aha) I would know if I had herpes in the urethra wouldn't I? I mean I would probably have external herpes and i'm thinking be in EXTREME agony when urinating?
Much appreciated!
I still have pain in my penis head and I took a peak inside my urethra and thought I saw an ulcer but I think I am just being TOO anxious. My original concern for having herpes was JUST the red foreskin and a bit of pain at the tip of penis. After researching herpes more I started to get MORE symptoms. Now the redness is pretty much gone I think I can start to relax now. I think in all honesty that the pain in testicle/penis head is all psychological. Hell I even had a sore eye and a little redness and the first thing I think is "IVE GOT EYE HERPES".. I mean the pain is real I can feel it but I'm starting to think if I stop messing/prodding, researching herpes and stop thinking too much about it then the pains will go.
Now, just to put my mind at rest Grace for the last time (I promise I will let you get on with your gardening as i've seen you post multiple times about it aha) I would know if I had herpes in the urethra wouldn't I? I mean I would probably have external herpes and i'm thinking be in EXTREME agony when urinating?
Much appreciated!
antifungal creams don't typically cause herpes recurrences. that's topical steroid creams that do that.
the pain you are having isn't related to herpes at all. continue to follow up with the gum clinic for your pains.
the pain you are having isn't related to herpes at all. continue to follow up with the gum clinic for your pains.
Posting another update. As mentioned in the initial post I was given a fungal cream (clotrimazole) which i used for 2 days but seemed to irritate the penis redness more, however after trying everything I thought I would just simply try again and use it (running out of ideas). For the past 4/5 days i've been using it and I have noticed that the penis redness has actually reduced quite a bit. Still some redness but compared to before it is actually starting to resemble its old self! I read that these creams usually cause a flare up of Herpes so I am starting to feel a little less helpless and more positive I did simply have a fungal infection without a drastic itch.
Went the doctors today for testicle pain and he is sending me off for a scan. I went a bit crazy yesterday trying to locate the pain and I think I have angered my lymph nodes in my groin from too much prodding at them so they hurt today but all-in-all I am starting to think I may just be a little anxious about the whole thing. I will go for the scan just in case there may be something a little more concerning than Herpes but I am starting to think I have just been making myself think I have Herpes! =D
Went the doctors today for testicle pain and he is sending me off for a scan. I went a bit crazy yesterday trying to locate the pain and I think I have angered my lymph nodes in my groin from too much prodding at them so they hurt today but all-in-all I am starting to think I may just be a little anxious about the whole thing. I will go for the scan just in case there may be something a little more concerning than Herpes but I am starting to think I have just been making myself think I have Herpes! =D
Thought I would post an update. Went to the GUM clinic and told them my concern. Doctor couldn't see any herpes symptoms. Checked lymph nodes and stated penis doesn't seem that red. He thinks I may just be a bit too overcautious and worrying too much.
However, I am still not satisfied with this. The redness is still there and the ache in my right testicle seems to have gotten a little worse these past 2 days. It feels as if the pain/ache travels from my right testicle up through my pubic bone to my hip through that little tube (No idea what tube it is, spermatic cord? I have no clue).
I want to get tested for Herpes but unfortunately money is a problem at the moment so I won't be able to.
I am going to visit my GP tomorrow and state that something NEEDS to be done.
This is really starting to have an affect on day-to-day life; the worry. 3 months of these mild pains and several trips to the GP and GUM clinic who stated it doesn't appear to be herpes. If not Herpes then what is it? I just feel like I could cry because there appears to be very little advice from the doctors.
Would you say this testicle/groin ache and red foreskin for 3 months is typical of an initial OB? I haven't had any visible sores/blisters over this time, simply just this redness, very mild penis head pain and testicle ache.
Thank you ever so much Grace, I really appreciate the advice you have given me up to so far as well!
However, I am still not satisfied with this. The redness is still there and the ache in my right testicle seems to have gotten a little worse these past 2 days. It feels as if the pain/ache travels from my right testicle up through my pubic bone to my hip through that little tube (No idea what tube it is, spermatic cord? I have no clue).
I want to get tested for Herpes but unfortunately money is a problem at the moment so I won't be able to.
I am going to visit my GP tomorrow and state that something NEEDS to be done.
This is really starting to have an affect on day-to-day life; the worry. 3 months of these mild pains and several trips to the GP and GUM clinic who stated it doesn't appear to be herpes. If not Herpes then what is it? I just feel like I could cry because there appears to be very little advice from the doctors.
Would you say this testicle/groin ache and red foreskin for 3 months is typical of an initial OB? I haven't had any visible sores/blisters over this time, simply just this redness, very mild penis head pain and testicle ache.
Thank you ever so much Grace, I really appreciate the advice you have given me up to so far as well!
Ah I see. Would a blood test be accurate now? I am a little confused on blood testing.
So...16 weeks since exposure and 10 weeks since symptoms began.
So...16 weeks since exposure and 10 weeks since symptoms began.
you have to go to a private clinic and pay out of pocket for herpes igg blood testing in the UK. it's widely available, just not at the gum clinics.
your penis symptoms sound more like irritation or even a fungal infection going on more than anything. continue to follow up as needed on symptoms as needed.
your penis symptoms sound more like irritation or even a fungal infection going on more than anything. continue to follow up as needed on symptoms as needed.
Oh sorry, I must add that when I pull my foreskin back to check out the redness it is quite red but then when exposed to the air for a minute or so tends to calm down and not look too different than a normal skin-coloured penis. I'm thinking that if this was a herpes rash/sore/redness then the colour would be constant and not change once exposed to 'fresh air' so to say.
Forgot to add that on! I'm just a big mess to be honest Grace. Kind of feel a little helpless and lost, i'm only 21 so don't really have anyone to talk to in terms of parents as it would be a tad awkward. =P
Forgot to add that on! I'm just a big mess to be honest Grace. Kind of feel a little helpless and lost, i'm only 21 so don't really have anyone to talk to in terms of parents as it would be a tad awkward. =P
Thank you very much for the quick reply.
I have never been so careless like this, it was a very dark time for myself. No excuses of course.
I have been tested for all other STD's at several stages throughout. Results came back negative for; Chlamydia, Ghon, HIV, Syph at 3 months which was a huge weight lifted.
Unfortunately i am in UK and there are no standard herpes tests. I have asked plenty of times to be tested but keep getting refused due to not having any ulcers.
I tend to ignore my hems and just usually use a little suppository the doctor gave me now and then. The doctor said they were not too bad so didn't really go in too much detail. Was only diagnosed with these hems about 2 months ago after complaining to the doctor.
I will be going tomorrow to the GUM clinic and hopefully they will do a test for herpes but I am very doubtful again.
Do the penis symptoms sound like herpes from what you can tell Grace? I mean, the red foreskin, bit of pain in penis head and ache in testical/groin? I must add that the red foreskin/pain in penis head get worse after ejaculation. The pain isn't constant in the penis head, moreso when i squeeze the head (yes very silly) and doesn't tend to burn when I pee which doesn't seem like I have herpes in my urethra. These symptoms have been going on for roughly 10 weeks now (a little long for a herpes OB i believe), am I going crazy and just being a complete psycho-Google searcher or should I genuinely be concerned would you say?
Again, thanks Grace, you are a star! :)
I have never been so careless like this, it was a very dark time for myself. No excuses of course.
I have been tested for all other STD's at several stages throughout. Results came back negative for; Chlamydia, Ghon, HIV, Syph at 3 months which was a huge weight lifted.
Unfortunately i am in UK and there are no standard herpes tests. I have asked plenty of times to be tested but keep getting refused due to not having any ulcers.
I tend to ignore my hems and just usually use a little suppository the doctor gave me now and then. The doctor said they were not too bad so didn't really go in too much detail. Was only diagnosed with these hems about 2 months ago after complaining to the doctor.
I will be going tomorrow to the GUM clinic and hopefully they will do a test for herpes but I am very doubtful again.
Do the penis symptoms sound like herpes from what you can tell Grace? I mean, the red foreskin, bit of pain in penis head and ache in testical/groin? I must add that the red foreskin/pain in penis head get worse after ejaculation. The pain isn't constant in the penis head, moreso when i squeeze the head (yes very silly) and doesn't tend to burn when I pee which doesn't seem like I have herpes in my urethra. These symptoms have been going on for roughly 10 weeks now (a little long for a herpes OB i believe), am I going crazy and just being a complete psycho-Google searcher or should I genuinely be concerned would you say?
Again, thanks Grace, you are a star! :)
As a gay male, you should be tested regularly for herpes. The rates of herpes infections in gay males are rather high for both hsv1 and hsv2 and also since having hsv2 makes you more likely to contract hiv, knowing your status in general is important.
did you also test for gonorrhea and trich? how about syphilis at least 6 weeks post encounter? hiv too?
have you had your gardasil shots for hpv?
whatever caused your hemorrhoids to flare up probably triggered the other symptoms you are noticing in the anal area. going to be seen is the best course of action. do you do anything to prevent constipation and do you treat your hemorrhoids when they are flared up?
in the future, only have protected sexual contact!! it protects you, saves you worrying and saves you frequent testing too. Be sexually responsible!
grace
did you also test for gonorrhea and trich? how about syphilis at least 6 weeks post encounter? hiv too?
have you had your gardasil shots for hpv?
whatever caused your hemorrhoids to flare up probably triggered the other symptoms you are noticing in the anal area. going to be seen is the best course of action. do you do anything to prevent constipation and do you treat your hemorrhoids when they are flared up?
in the future, only have protected sexual contact!! it protects you, saves you worrying and saves you frequent testing too. Be sexually responsible!
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
