Aa
Anal Herpes Likelyhood
My anxiety level is through the roof and I need some help putting things in perspective. I had unprotected vaginal sex with a pick up about 5 weeks ago. Freaking out, I talked a doctor into prescribing antibiotics a couple days later, namely Zithromax and Levaquin. This caused explosive and repeated watery diarhea for a couple days, followed by a day of semi-constipation. Shortly there after I experienced the classic symptoms of an anal fissure but with a lack of blood. The feeling of "passing glass" continued for about a week and some before going away, replaced by crazy itching.
The thing is, the signs of an anal fissure are the same as anal herpes, and the time frame fits as well (about 5 days after initial contact). Now, there was no anal play at all, and as far as symptoms go, there was no "flu" like symptoms or swollen glands.
A couple days after the worst symptoms subsided, I went to see my doctor and voiced my concern, that somehow I conducted genital herpes and in a weird twist of fate it showed up anally with no symptom anywhere in the groin/penile area (this was before the itching got bad). He quickly said that it doesn't work that way, that if it shows up it tends to show up on the shaft/glans, and that he never heard of such a thing and that herpes doesn't "jump" like that. He did take a look, but this was after the feeling had healed by about 4 - 6 days, and said he saw nothing. I did ask about a blood test, but he was against that, saying it's not necessary and not worth doing in the absence of symptoms. He also tried to sooth me by saying the actual probability of transmission was actually quite remote (but not impossible).
I went back recently due to the itching and he perscribed an anti-fungal cream, saying I probably have a fungal infection of some type thanks to all the loose stools I've been having (the itching is a sharp, really hard to ignore itching that comes in definate waves).
Anyway, I can construct a logical coincidence that describes all the symptoms I've had, that the diarrhea followed by a solid stool caused a fissure, made worse by a fungal infection, all brought on by high powered antibiotics. It all makes sense. Still, in the dark of the night, it's too easy to be scared of the other logical answer to the symptoms, that the fissure pain was in fact an initial herpes outbreak that by some cruel joke showed up on the opposite part of the body from where contact would have been made, and I've been writing it off as being something benign.
Thing is, the anxiety is eating me alive. I guess what I'm looking for is perspective to help put my mind at ease. My current plan is to go on the coincidence idea, that it was just a standard fissure and nothing more, but if it reoccurs I'll go quickly to get it swabbed.
The thing is, the signs of an anal fissure are the same as anal herpes, and the time frame fits as well (about 5 days after initial contact). Now, there was no anal play at all, and as far as symptoms go, there was no "flu" like symptoms or swollen glands.
A couple days after the worst symptoms subsided, I went to see my doctor and voiced my concern, that somehow I conducted genital herpes and in a weird twist of fate it showed up anally with no symptom anywhere in the groin/penile area (this was before the itching got bad). He quickly said that it doesn't work that way, that if it shows up it tends to show up on the shaft/glans, and that he never heard of such a thing and that herpes doesn't "jump" like that. He did take a look, but this was after the feeling had healed by about 4 - 6 days, and said he saw nothing. I did ask about a blood test, but he was against that, saying it's not necessary and not worth doing in the absence of symptoms. He also tried to sooth me by saying the actual probability of transmission was actually quite remote (but not impossible).
I went back recently due to the itching and he perscribed an anti-fungal cream, saying I probably have a fungal infection of some type thanks to all the loose stools I've been having (the itching is a sharp, really hard to ignore itching that comes in definate waves).
Anyway, I can construct a logical coincidence that describes all the symptoms I've had, that the diarrhea followed by a solid stool caused a fissure, made worse by a fungal infection, all brought on by high powered antibiotics. It all makes sense. Still, in the dark of the night, it's too easy to be scared of the other logical answer to the symptoms, that the fissure pain was in fact an initial herpes outbreak that by some cruel joke showed up on the opposite part of the body from where contact would have been made, and I've been writing it off as being something benign.
Thing is, the anxiety is eating me alive. I guess what I'm looking for is perspective to help put my mind at ease. My current plan is to go on the coincidence idea, that it was just a standard fissure and nothing more, but if it reoccurs I'll go quickly to get it swabbed.
Thanks Grace, see, what I needed was a level headed voice of reason to tell me that. Now, if you could just tell me that over and over again, about every 6 hours, for the next year, maybe I'll be able to keep my cybercondria in control. You know I'm joking about the last bit (sort of), but again, thanks.
No this really doesn't sound like it's anal herpes going on. Sounds more like pretty much what your doctor told you was going on.
grace
grace
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
