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Confused and concerned about whitlow...
Okay, so I was diagnosed with herpetic whitlow when I was 23. The outbreaks have always come the same way and in the same place (middle finger of my left hand). About 1-2 days before the outbreak, I feel some tingling and swelling in my finger followed by it being really itchy and erupting into a blister that is quite painful. I have always been very careful about keeping it covered and have taken Acyclovir to help. It's always covered with a band aid or other dressing unless I'm washing my hand or putting ointment on. The last outbreak that I had was earlier this summer and it came and went in the same way. As the infection was clearing up, I noticed what appeared to be a small white pimple on the outside of the knuckle on my right hand. No pain or itching...it was just there and I didn't think much of it. It took longer to go away than a normal pimple would and as that one was clearing up, a second one appeared between my knuckle and where my finger joins my hand. It cleared up in about the same time. Nether instance itched, swelled, or became painful. Friday night I was sitting watching tv and I noticed my finger getting really itchy and I look down and there is a patch of read skin where the second pimple was. This area itched like a *******, I panicked and wrapped it up in a band aid. I never noticed a sore or anything like I experience when I'm having an outbreak in the primary infection site. The only thing was the itching.... I made a Dr.'s appointment, but he can't see me until Thursday, and I was wondering if it is possible that I may have infected my other finger. The only time my outbreaks on my left hand are uncovered are when I'm washing my hands and changing the dressing on it. I have been so careful over the last 5 years and this is the first time I'm had anything like this happen. I was just wondering if anyone had any answers/comments..... Also, it's only been a few days, but all that is left on my right finger is a small red spot....
It's doubtful this herpes too.
really not much to do other than to be seen and get a culture done. thursday is probably too late for one though.
how were you originally diagnosed as having whitlow? did you have a lesion culture done?
really not much to do other than to be seen and get a culture done. thursday is probably too late for one though.
how were you originally diagnosed as having whitlow? did you have a lesion culture done?
I never had a lesion culture done...the ER docter listened to what I had to say about what was happening and told me that it was whitlow and what it was and what to expect... it answered a lot of questions at the time and seemed to be really helpful. Ever since that time I have taken really great care in treating it and covering it and taking the medication. It wasn't until I started researching my recent problem until I learned about lesion tests and blood tests for the type of HSV.
I'd start with a type specific herpes igg blood test just to see what your status is over all.
I'd also try to get a culture done the next time your "typical" whitlow ob happens too just to confirm.
I'd also try to get a culture done the next time your "typical" whitlow ob happens too just to confirm.
I just got back from the doctor and and he said that based on what I said was going on with my finger that he was 'quite confident' that it wasn't whitlow, but due to how my finger has healed over the last 4 days or so, there wasn't a chance to get a culture done on it. He told me that due to the duration of whatever was going on, that it sounded more like an allergic reaction than anything. Although that really didn't explain the pimple like things, but all that is left from those is a small mark on the inside of my knuckle.
Another thing....I've never taken the time to ask a lot of questions or talk openly about this with a lot of people, but am I doing enough to keep myself from infecting other parts of my body and others by keeping it covered up with a band aid? Is there more that I can do? I change the band aids on a regular basis, but one thing the DR mentioned today is that there is a possibilty that when my finger sheds that it can go through the band aid, so I guess I'm just wondering if there is more I can do. I hadn't really thought about that before.
And one last thing...One thing that scares me is the thought about spreading it in the shower. I heard that running water could possibly carry the virus, but I wasn't sure if that was true. I typically shave in the shower, and I worry about possibly infecting myself in other areas that way.
I'm sorry for all the writing, I've just never thought there was a forum like this to express my thoughts and concerns... I agree that ordering up a blood test would be a good starting point. Thank you for your help so far....
Another thing....I've never taken the time to ask a lot of questions or talk openly about this with a lot of people, but am I doing enough to keep myself from infecting other parts of my body and others by keeping it covered up with a band aid? Is there more that I can do? I change the band aids on a regular basis, but one thing the DR mentioned today is that there is a possibilty that when my finger sheds that it can go through the band aid, so I guess I'm just wondering if there is more I can do. I hadn't really thought about that before.
And one last thing...One thing that scares me is the thought about spreading it in the shower. I heard that running water could possibly carry the virus, but I wasn't sure if that was true. I typically shave in the shower, and I worry about possibly infecting myself in other areas that way.
I'm sorry for all the writing, I've just never thought there was a forum like this to express my thoughts and concerns... I agree that ordering up a blood test would be a good starting point. Thank you for your help so far....
yep, just keeping your finger covered when you have a recurrence is all you need to do. No need to even change the band aid frequently, just when it starts to fall off, put a fresh one on. Traditionally soaking the finger several times a day in domeboro's solution is helpful too to speed healing and help with pain. the skin on your finger/hand is thick and the virus only sheds from the area of lesions.
not likely to transmit your herpes to other body parts at this point. Not sure if you can remember back to what activities you participated in around the time of your original symptoms - did you have your finger in someone's mouth or had you been with a new partner sexually? typically you have herpes more than just on the finger whether you have symptoms elsewhere or not - depends on the activities when you contracted it.
keep asking questions :)
grace
not likely to transmit your herpes to other body parts at this point. Not sure if you can remember back to what activities you participated in around the time of your original symptoms - did you have your finger in someone's mouth or had you been with a new partner sexually? typically you have herpes more than just on the finger whether you have symptoms elsewhere or not - depends on the activities when you contracted it.
keep asking questions :)
grace
Thanks for the response again... So, I am fine with the band aid and the virus probably will not shed through it? That's a little bit of a relief....I had been thinking about that all day.
I had read something about HSV not being able to be passed through water, so I think my shower question may have been answered by that. My only worry was that I shave my face while I shower and I typically do not use the infected hand.... I just think of the times that water may have washed over the infected area and over another part of my body that could possibly have become infected, like a nick/cut or a scrape. Or my mouth and eyes for that matter...
I don't remember a lot about the time the first OB happened...I had cut my hand pretty severely in an accident, but I don't remember any activities that could have caused it, but I'm not ruling anything out.
I had read something about HSV not being able to be passed through water, so I think my shower question may have been answered by that. My only worry was that I shave my face while I shower and I typically do not use the infected hand.... I just think of the times that water may have washed over the infected area and over another part of my body that could possibly have become infected, like a nick/cut or a scrape. Or my mouth and eyes for that matter...
I don't remember a lot about the time the first OB happened...I had cut my hand pretty severely in an accident, but I don't remember any activities that could have caused it, but I'm not ruling anything out.
the virus is killed easily with soap which is why the shower isn't really much of an issue. Water flowing over the ob and then down on other body parts isn't an issue either. Really just being careful about touching your face/eyes when you have an obvious lesion is about the only concern and that too is very low. I'd also wipe with the other hand if they typically appear on your wiping hand ( no secrets here on this forum....he he he ).
Well...that makes me feel a little bit better. Like I said, when the Docter made the comment about shedding through the band aid, I just looked at him with a blank look. It's good to know that I have been doing the right thing by keeping it covered.
On a note back to the initial question that I had posted about. The area on my right hand finger that was in question has returned back to 99% of it's normal color and the only mark that you can see is where the second 'pimple' that I had written about in my first post first appeared. So all I have left for marks from the whole prcess are the remnants of what appeared to be the two pimple like bumps and nothing more.... I don't know if this gives you any more insight into whatever might have been happening, but the whole process has been nothing like what I have experienced when I have an outbreak on my left hand, except for the itching part that I experience Friday night. I possibly could have overreacted, but I just wish I would have gotten in to the Dr. sooner so it could have been cultured so I know 100% either way.
On a note back to the initial question that I had posted about. The area on my right hand finger that was in question has returned back to 99% of it's normal color and the only mark that you can see is where the second 'pimple' that I had written about in my first post first appeared. So all I have left for marks from the whole prcess are the remnants of what appeared to be the two pimple like bumps and nothing more.... I don't know if this gives you any more insight into whatever might have been happening, but the whole process has been nothing like what I have experienced when I have an outbreak on my left hand, except for the itching part that I experience Friday night. I possibly could have overreacted, but I just wish I would have gotten in to the Dr. sooner so it could have been cultured so I know 100% either way.
Grace...I had a weird question... I was wondering if smoking a tobacco product while infected with a cold sore could potentially auto innoculate someone with herpetic whitlow if the had a cut or scrape on their hands... Personnaly I can't recall ever having a cold sore, but I was just wondering if it was a possibility.....
no it isn't going to happen that way. the skin on the hands/fingers is too thick to be infected that easily.
Okay Grace, Just wanted to start out by saying that the service you all provide here is great and the help that you all give to people is such a wonderful thing. Thank you for answering all of my questions so far, it's been much appreciated.
Okay, now I wear contacts and have always worn them when I have an OB...since the OB is on my weak hand, I've always changed them after washing my hands, and the covered blister has never been close to my eye, but I normally use a finger on my weak hand that isn't near the affected finger to hold my eye open with the skin on my cheek and I've never really thought twice about it. I'm assuming I should just go back to wearing my glasses and 'get my geek on' while I'm having an OB. Am I correct in thinking this way or am I overthinking it a little. I'm assuming my contact would have to come into contact with the sore or I would have to have the finger that my sore is on touch my eye to pass the virus into my eyes? Or would there be a chance that even after washing my hands, there could be viral particles on my fingers...
My last question for now is involves children.... I have an amazing and understanding gal in my life who has been with me for a while and as far as I know has not contacted anything from me or my finger:) For the last year or so, she has been talking about the idea of us having kids and I'm scared to death to have a child because of my condition...I would be scared to death to pass this on to my child... are there ways to make this safer if I do happen to have a child, or am I stuck being completely paranoid about passing this on to my potential offspring?
Again...thank you for yer time and help...
Okay, now I wear contacts and have always worn them when I have an OB...since the OB is on my weak hand, I've always changed them after washing my hands, and the covered blister has never been close to my eye, but I normally use a finger on my weak hand that isn't near the affected finger to hold my eye open with the skin on my cheek and I've never really thought twice about it. I'm assuming I should just go back to wearing my glasses and 'get my geek on' while I'm having an OB. Am I correct in thinking this way or am I overthinking it a little. I'm assuming my contact would have to come into contact with the sore or I would have to have the finger that my sore is on touch my eye to pass the virus into my eyes? Or would there be a chance that even after washing my hands, there could be viral particles on my fingers...
My last question for now is involves children.... I have an amazing and understanding gal in my life who has been with me for a while and as far as I know has not contacted anything from me or my finger:) For the last year or so, she has been talking about the idea of us having kids and I'm scared to death to have a child because of my condition...I would be scared to death to pass this on to my child... are there ways to make this safer if I do happen to have a child, or am I stuck being completely paranoid about passing this on to my potential offspring?
Again...thank you for yer time and help...
well luckily having your "geek" on is a trendy look nowadays :)
really this is low risk and the way you've been handling it up until now is just fine as far as your contacts.
definitely you both should get tested to see who has what herpeswise. that way you can better assess each others risk in general plus if you are thinking about kids in the future, you both need to know hsv2 status most definitely. when you do have kids, cover your ob's like you do now. If you find you are having recurrences a lot while having diaper wearing children, you can always consider suppressive therapy to keep them down to a minimum. speaking of which, at the first tell tale tingle of a recurrence, start your antivirals to help keep the ob as mild as possible as well as heal fastest. I would err on the side of caution and wear gloves if you have a whitlow recurrence and are changing diapers but other than that, nothing really special to do other than what you already properly do.
really this is low risk and the way you've been handling it up until now is just fine as far as your contacts.
definitely you both should get tested to see who has what herpeswise. that way you can better assess each others risk in general plus if you are thinking about kids in the future, you both need to know hsv2 status most definitely. when you do have kids, cover your ob's like you do now. If you find you are having recurrences a lot while having diaper wearing children, you can always consider suppressive therapy to keep them down to a minimum. speaking of which, at the first tell tale tingle of a recurrence, start your antivirals to help keep the ob as mild as possible as well as heal fastest. I would err on the side of caution and wear gloves if you have a whitlow recurrence and are changing diapers but other than that, nothing really special to do other than what you already properly do.
Okay...I have another doctors appt. tomorrow. Those little pimples or small blisters or whatever they are are continuing to show up. It's always one at a time and generally do not cause me and discomfort. They are about the size of the tip of a pen and they don't grow any bigger than that. I think I caught this one fast enough so I may be able to get it cultured, but it doesn't look or sound like any other case of herpetic whitlow that I have read about. This makes 5 for the summer.... all while I have been taking antivirals. I guess I'm at a loss for what is happeneing to my body. Any thoughts would be great right now, maybe you've come across or heard about something like this before....
probably either a bacterial infection or an allergic reaction to something. metals as well as cleansers/hand sanitizers can cause these too.
let us know how your appointment goes.
let us know how your appointment goes.
*Sigh* Well, I guess it didn't go as bad as it could have but could have been better. The doctor called it a 'papule (sp?)' and said that it is probably nothing to worry about and that I'm probably freaking myself out by reading way too much into this whole thing. He said that it did not look anything like a herpes lesion or blister and that at this point a culture would probably show nothing anyways. So, I am either wasting my time and money worrying about this or I should just accept the fact that these small pimple like things are not related to my herpetic whitlow. I'm just thinking about protecting all the people I come into contact with as I know how contagious I can be while having an outbreak. He said that the fact that there was no redness around the 'papule' showed and absence of infection. Also said that where I have been on antivirals ever since the last OB was a good sign that this wasn't herpes related as well. Do all of these things sound about right? I'm not sure how well versed my PA is with herpes and viral infections so I thought I'd share the events of my appt. with you.
sounds like a proper assessment to me. keep following up to find out what is the cause of your symptoms.
Nothing really new to add...whatever it was has faded away like the other ones. The docter did tell me he could refer me to a dermotologist next time it occurs. I'm just worried that between the wait to get in and the fact that he/she lives in the city 3 hours from where I am will allow time for the papule to heal and not get properly treated.
I did have another question about herpetic whitlow. I understand that it is quite rare and I understand how people can catch it, I just don't understand why more people don't have it. Due to the nature of asymptomatic shedding, wouldn't a guy with genital herpes not showing an OB be able to give it to his girl/boyfriend by receiving a hand job? Even if the person had no cuts on there hand, this can be a very vigorous activity so could it potentially push the viral particles through the skin? Also in that regard, couldn't a girl with genital herpes not having an OB but experiencing asymptomatic shedding spread it to a girl/boyfriend through fingering? This same question I have holds true for masterbation as well, even if someone was not having an OB could they potentially get herpetic whitlow from themselves if they are shedding asymptomatically while they masterbate?themselves?
I hope you don't think I am trying to waste your time. I feel this would be an important question for anyone after finding out they had contacted the herpes virus. Hopefully you can elaborate a little on this for me. Thanks in advance.
I did have another question about herpetic whitlow. I understand that it is quite rare and I understand how people can catch it, I just don't understand why more people don't have it. Due to the nature of asymptomatic shedding, wouldn't a guy with genital herpes not showing an OB be able to give it to his girl/boyfriend by receiving a hand job? Even if the person had no cuts on there hand, this can be a very vigorous activity so could it potentially push the viral particles through the skin? Also in that regard, couldn't a girl with genital herpes not having an OB but experiencing asymptomatic shedding spread it to a girl/boyfriend through fingering? This same question I have holds true for masterbation as well, even if someone was not having an OB could they potentially get herpetic whitlow from themselves if they are shedding asymptomatically while they masterbate?themselves?
I hope you don't think I am trying to waste your time. I feel this would be an important question for anyone after finding out they had contacted the herpes virus. Hopefully you can elaborate a little on this for me. Thanks in advance.
the skin on our hands is pretty thick and not easily infected with herpes. that's why not as many folks have it as you would think should. The most common cause of whitlow is actually hsv1 - from folks having their hands in others mouths. Used to be very common in health care workers and dental workers until routine gloving became the standard.
That's understandable.....but I'm still guessing that there would be a risk regardless of the thickness of the skin on the hands. I mean, wouldn't the force generated by masterbation either by yourself or by someone else be enough to possibly infect your hands or the hands of whomever is doing the act to you? I understand that this is probably low risk, but it still would be a risk....right?
incredibly low risk. the skin on our hands protects us very well or we'd have infections on them all the time. think about all the germs your hands come into contact with every day!
Hey Grace, so I have something new to ask you.... Thinking back to your post where you said that people who have herpetic whitlow usually have it in another place besides on their hands, I noticed after being manually stimulated by my girlfriend last night that I had redness and irritation on my foreskin around the top part of my penis. It didn't look like there were any ulcerations (that I could see) after a close inspection. This is someting that happens usually a couple of times per year but doesn't happen exactly in the same place. It's usually on different spots around my foreskin. It doesn't bother me...like itching or burning, but it got me to thinking... Is it possible that this could be herpes? I made a Dr's appt., but it's gonna be Wednesday before I can be seen. Where it has never bothered me before, I've never really thought to go to the docter for it before now. It wasn't until I started looking into things about my finger that I read different things about genital outbreaks as well, so I guess I am kind of concerned now.
Where I already know that I have whitlow, I'm a little freaked out about my gal now. What happens to me is pretty painful and awful and I wanted to know that if what is on my foreskin IS herpes, is she at risk of getting it on her hand as well? I know that outbreaks for people are all different, but IF this was an active outbreak, I would like to think that she is going to be okay. I asked her if there were any cuts or scrapes on her hand, and she said there was nothing. No torn cuticles or anything like that either.
So I guess for me...it's gonna be waiting until Wednesday to see the doctor, but would she now be at risk of getting whitlow if in fact it was an active herpes outbreak?
Where I already know that I have whitlow, I'm a little freaked out about my gal now. What happens to me is pretty painful and awful and I wanted to know that if what is on my foreskin IS herpes, is she at risk of getting it on her hand as well? I know that outbreaks for people are all different, but IF this was an active outbreak, I would like to think that she is going to be okay. I asked her if there were any cuts or scrapes on her hand, and she said there was nothing. No torn cuticles or anything like that either.
So I guess for me...it's gonna be waiting until Wednesday to see the doctor, but would she now be at risk of getting whitlow if in fact it was an active herpes outbreak?
have you and your gf had type specific herpes igg blood tests yet to know each other status?
Not yet...I was planning on ordering up the blood test when I go in on Wednesday for the swabbing... based on what she has told me, she has hod no history of cold sores and/or other herpes related issues. I know this doesn't rule anything out on her part by any means . I know like you have said before...the skin on the hands is thick, and I know she washed her hands really well after we were done. I was just wondering the 'ifs' risk involved assuming she's had no history of herpes related infections and if in fact what is going on with me is in fact herpes related. I know it probably sounds like I'm being paranoid, I'm just trying to get an idea of things before my appointment. Thanks...
at this point you both need tested to see who has what and then go from there. assume nothing based on a presumed lack of symptoms - you both need testing.
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