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Avatar universal

Concerned I have Herpes

I kissed and performed oral sex and on a woman about 3 months ago (one night stand), and am now concerned about a bump on my upper lip.  The bump started about a week ago, began with tingling/mild stinging pain, then quickly formed a bump on the lip.  It's also possible that the bump is nothing more than a coffee burn or maybe even from a bite (I have a habit of nibbling dead skin of my lips).  

The bump continued to swell over the next few days, and within 3-4 days it popped on its own.  The pus was very much like a pimple - yellow & opaque.  There was minor pain and irritation leading up to this.  In the past day or 2, the bump appears to be getting smaller, and is becoming less irritating.  It has not started to form any crust, and there has been no further oozing since the initial pop. It is now nearly the same color as the rest of my lip, and not very noticeable.  It is right in the middle of my lip - not on the outside, nor on the inside.  Unless I lift my lip up, it is not noticeable to others.

I can't recall if I ever had cold sores as a child, but I think maybe???  I have had a history of canker sores, but this is presenting in a different location, and the pimple like pus filled bump is different than past canker sores.

One other piece of info that I don't know is related:  I came down with a bad cold a few days after the encounter that lasted most of the winter.  I also had a fever and aching body about 3 weeks after the encounter.  I went to the ER, and they were not able to diagnose me with anything other than a mystery virus.  Don't know if that's related, but thought I'd at least mention it.

What do you think?  Does it sound like HSV 1 or 2?  Something else?  Also, I'm married, and scared to death about telling my wife.  I just want this memory to go away.  It was a bad bad mistake.
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101028 tn?1419603004
enteroviruses are the most common.

doubtful this is hsv2 orally if that is your main concern.  could it be hsv1 orally?  would take a lesion culture within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms for better answers.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks again.

Can you elaborate on these other viral illnesses?  Maybe a link?  I did have mono when I was a kid (some info I'm seeing says this is sometimes called Human Herpes Virus type 5).  I also get canker sores on the inside of my lips from time to time, but my symptoms were unlike previous canker sores.

I want closure.  I hate this guessing game.

BTW, you're helping, Grace.  I really appreciate it.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
the tests miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.  best you can do is get a lesion culture if you get a return of symptoms.

there are also viral illnesses that present with symptoms like this too.

assure your daughter that 1 out of every 3 people she knows has oral herpes if she asks. it's important as a parent to talk about oral herpes since in her age group, hsv1 genitally is the most common cause of genital herpes from receiving oral sex. it's something she should be aware of for when she does start being active with others.   ( can I stress you out more about sex and your children? he he he )
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much for the reply.  I really appreciate you taking the time.

No, haven't done taken her to be seen.  I know what you'll say when I type this, but I'm scared about coming forward and saying anything to my family, so I'm hesitant to bring anything up about my daughter going to see the doctor - foolish, I know, but I'm really a wreck right now.  

I'm 95% sure she has had no recent contact of any kind with boys (or girls, I guess) as she's just not interested in relationships or even flirting. I know my daughter pretty well, so let's just assume I'm right about this. She thinks it may be because of a lip bite, as the bump occurred in an area that she sometimes bites out of habit / accidentally, but the way she described it sounded like what I had - round puss-filled bumps that swelled and appeared suddenly.  She said her friends immediately started joking with her that she had herpes. My heart is in the pit of my stomach today, and I can't sleep.  Just seems like too much coincidence.

Can someone address the question of false negative results?  What would be the chance of that if having the tests done around 100 days after initial possible exposure?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
we don't kiss out children at her age with the type of kisses it takes to transmit hsv1.  odds are this is a non-hsv related issue.   have you taken her to be seen yet?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just checked on the tstd website, and this is what they say about the HSV tests:  Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 IgG, Type Specific Antibody (HerpeSelect®)

More info here:  https://tstd.org/test-details#Q40

Is this a fairly accurate test?  Any chance of false negative?  Or another nagging question:  do labs/online STD testing services ever mix up specimens/results?  Could I be viewing someone else's results?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok now I'm still worried. My lip has been irritated again this past week and now my oldest daughter is describing similar symptoms to what I had: raised pimple-like swollen bumps on her bottom lip. She's 17, and I haven't kissed her on the lips for a few years (maybe a kiss in the cheek or forehead here and there). I am really concerned that I've brought something ugly to the family. Even if it's hsv-1, I'm overwhelmed with guilt and stress right now. I thought I was in the clear and now I'm freaked out.

Is it possible that the HSV tests could produce false negatives? I can't recall exactly which tests they were. I ordered them through tstd.org and I had separate results (not combined) for 1 and 2. Again, this was done at labcorp.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
the tests aren't as good at picking up hsv1 but really no reason for more testing.  congrats!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just got my results:  ALL NEGATIVE!!!  I was tested for all the major STDs.  The HSV tests indicated <.90 and the result said "negative."  I guess that means I'm in the clear?

Is there any need to get retested at any point?  I waited about 100 days after potential exposure to get tested, and plan on remaining monogamous from here on out with my wife, who is also monogamous.  Any chance of false negatives?  I was tested at LabCorp.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I visited the test lab last night.  Now the long 48 hour wait for results. Thanks for your replies so far.  I'm going to be a nervous wreck until I see these results.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
they both present the same.

should you get a return of symptoms, be seen for a proper exam. otherwise at some point seek out type specific herpes igg blood testing so you know your status so that you and future partners can make educated decisions about what precautions to take together.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No, and I know that I need to.  Just trying to find the right place to go.  I'm concerned with privacy issues in my local health community, as I live in a small town, and I know the staff at my local doc outside of the doctor's office.

Since writing this, the bump has shrunk considerably, and has never really broken open or crusted over like I would expect a cold sore to do.  (Side question - do the sores from HSV-1 and HSV-2 present themselves differently, or do they both pretty much behave the same?)  I'm kind of thinking that this bump isn't HSV, but I'm still worried.  Every little tingle or itch on my face sets me off, and I start to get nervous.  I regularly have small pimples around my mouth / lips from time to time, and every little bump is freaking me out - none really look like a cold sore at all, but still.  
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
have you ever been tested for herpes before to know your status?

grace
Helpful - 0
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