Hello. I am a very confused and frustrated 31 yr old woman. I would really appreciate any insight or help. Today is Sunday. One week ago (last sunday) i was in a bikini at a public pool when I noticed a weird rash of multiple red bumps on my right hip just below my waistline. It is right where my palm would be if I "put my hand on my hips". I thought it was an allergic reaction or a spider bite. But the next day it began itching and burning like crazy. The itch spreads all the way to my low back, even though there is no rash there. By Wed It had not lessened at all so I went to a cheap dermatologist (I don't have health insurance). I thought it might be scabies. He said it could be a viral infection but it was probably contact dermatitis, not contagious. Told me to put cortisone cream on it. To test for herpes he would need to take culture of blister fluid, but I didn't have any blisters so he said not to worry. On Fri, I went to a general doc who said it was prob contact dermatitis and to use cortisone cream. But Fri night I developed 3 swollen lymph nodes in my right groin area. The rash had deveoped very tiny clear fluid filled bumps. I rushed back to the cheap dermatologist on Sat morning. He took one look at the rash and said it definitely was herpes, probably hsv-1. He said there was no need to do a culture test and he made me feel stupid for asking. His diagnosis was purely visual. Today there are tiny brown scabs where the tiny bumps were. The rash seems to be getting better, but the area is still red, splotchy, and itchy. My lymph nodes are still hard lumps. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND! I have been in a monogamous relationship for over 2 yrs. It has been rocky lately so we haven't been intimate in a month or 2. I know I could have been infected earlier in life by an asymptomatic person and herpes can lay dormant for years. But I have never had any outbreak or any symptoms on my genitals or mouth ever. I have not had sex recently. My boyfriend has never had any outbreak or symptoms. The dermatologist sad that the only way I could have gotten infected was by that specific area of my hip coming into direct contact with an infected person's blister fluid (although that is not what I understand to be true). I can say for a fact that I never let someone rub their rash on my waistline. He also said that I could touch my rash and then touch other parts of my own body (including my genitals or mouth) and I would not spread the virus to any other part of my body. I have done a lot of research, but I am still confused. My questions are as follows:
1.Is it even possible to have herpes on my hip/waist/low back??
2. If it's herpes, Is it possible that my first outbreak ever would be on my waist? Or would it have to show up on my mouth, genitals, buttock, or even thigh area first?
3. Would hip/waist herpes be considered hsv-1 or hsv-2?
4. If this is herpes, will I get the rash in the same place each time? Or can it show up on my genitals or face next time?
5. If i have an outbreak only on my waist and I completely cover it with a large band aid, am I still shedding the virus through my saliva & vaginal secretions? Can I spread the virus to my boyfriend by kissing him? having sex? sharing water cup and eating utensils?..even if the rash is covered?
6. If I touch my rash and then touch my mouth, eye, genitals, can I spread the herpes to those locations or cause an outbreak there?
7, When we thought it was a bug bite, my boyfriend touched the rash with his finger. Could he have contracted the virus? I read somewhere that thick skin like the thigh (waist?) doesn't shed virus, unlike thin skin on the mouth/genitals.
8. Even though I have not been intimate with my boyfriend (or anyone!) for about a month before I developed this rash, could I still have infected him with the virus during unprotected sex in the last 2 years?
9. The doctor told me there was nothing I should take or put on the herpes rash to help it. He told me to just wait for it to go away. Is that true? Will lysine or tea tree oil help?
10. Or is this doctor completely incompetent and he should have done a culture when the blisters were present? Given my symptoms is it possible that this is something else?
11. If I get a hsv blood test, how accurate will it be? and does it matter if I get the blood test done a long time after the rash is gone? (I go to a low income clinic and it can take months to get anything done, and I am also leaving the country for work tomorrow)
Thank you so much for your time and help!!