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Could it be herpes?
Hi everyone,
Thank you in advance for your help.
I am a 24yr old female, and I think I am having my first outbreak of herpes.
My timeline of symptoms so far:
Day 1 - muscle ache down back of right thigh
- pimple like bump on right side
- pressure right before urination
Day 3 - severe gastro symptoms (Vom + diarrhoea)
- intense lower back pain + nausea all night
- no change to appearance of labial bump
Day 4 - labia now feels to have a painful to touch rash above clitoris stretching down right side of labia
- removed hair to see better - confirmed rash and pimple like bump (no head on pimple just red)
- patch tingling and itching
- diarrhoea continues
Day 5 - saw doc at medical centre. He said not herpes but I convinced him to take swabs (even though area not broken) and serology because I am aware that herpes can manifest in just a simple rash - not always seeping blisters
Day 6 (today) - noticed red blotchy rash on right side buttocks - clusters of bright red spot. Not tingly and not itchy but painful to touch.
- original labial rash/bump have not changed
- I am still aching down my right leg, now also in my calf
- I am having minor fevers and chills
That's my story so far - now a bit about my sex life....
Age 16 - I shamefully admit I was a bit promiscuous and not always using condoms with partners
Age 17-20 - 3yr monogamous relationship with a partner who was a virgin
Age 20 - shameful fling as a rebound. Condoms used (although I know for herpes that doesn't mean much)
Age 20-21 - 1.5yr monogamous relationship with a partner who had one sexual partner before me
Age 22 - shameful fling as rebound :(
Age 22-24 - current monogamous relationship with a partner who has only one sexual encounter before me. I have a child with this partner and we are very happy!! :)
We have not had sex for almost 2 months (due to a child, opposite work shifts etc), and as incubation period for herpes is 2-20days post infection, if what I have is herpes it cannot possibly be a recent infection. It must be an older one that simply has not surfaced until now, am I correct?
That being said, will blood tests pick up on it being an older virus (will my body have made antibodies to it) even though to my knowledge I have not had an outbreak before now?
My partner has not, to his knowledge, had any breakouts but I do remember him having a linear scab on his willy one where he said he wore undies with a hole there to work and they chaffed him all day. I do recall that scab reappearing at a later stage. Perhaps this was a mild outbreak.
Now, a concern (a great one) is that I have a 1yr old daughter. I had a bath with her on Day 2 before I really noticed anything was amiss. She was climbing all over me in the bath as she does.
She is in nappies, and also requires urinary catheterisation 3 times a day so I am fiddling around down there quite frequently. I ALWAYS wash my hands before a cath but I do admit to not washing my hands at a regular nappy change.
Yesterday I noticed a red spot on her outer labia, she also has diarrhoea and has been quite cranky. Is there a chance, through either diaper changes or bath play that I could have infected her?? I am terrified :(
My partner is going to get tested shortly.
Based on my history, does everyone think I do have herpes?
What is everyone's advice?
This is very hard on us but we are trying to be supportive of each other.
Thank you to everyone in advance, I am so grateful for any information.
Thank you in advance for your help.
I am a 24yr old female, and I think I am having my first outbreak of herpes.
My timeline of symptoms so far:
Day 1 - muscle ache down back of right thigh
- pimple like bump on right side
- pressure right before urination
Day 3 - severe gastro symptoms (Vom + diarrhoea)
- intense lower back pain + nausea all night
- no change to appearance of labial bump
Day 4 - labia now feels to have a painful to touch rash above clitoris stretching down right side of labia
- removed hair to see better - confirmed rash and pimple like bump (no head on pimple just red)
- patch tingling and itching
- diarrhoea continues
Day 5 - saw doc at medical centre. He said not herpes but I convinced him to take swabs (even though area not broken) and serology because I am aware that herpes can manifest in just a simple rash - not always seeping blisters
Day 6 (today) - noticed red blotchy rash on right side buttocks - clusters of bright red spot. Not tingly and not itchy but painful to touch.
- original labial rash/bump have not changed
- I am still aching down my right leg, now also in my calf
- I am having minor fevers and chills
That's my story so far - now a bit about my sex life....
Age 16 - I shamefully admit I was a bit promiscuous and not always using condoms with partners
Age 17-20 - 3yr monogamous relationship with a partner who was a virgin
Age 20 - shameful fling as a rebound. Condoms used (although I know for herpes that doesn't mean much)
Age 20-21 - 1.5yr monogamous relationship with a partner who had one sexual partner before me
Age 22 - shameful fling as rebound :(
Age 22-24 - current monogamous relationship with a partner who has only one sexual encounter before me. I have a child with this partner and we are very happy!! :)
We have not had sex for almost 2 months (due to a child, opposite work shifts etc), and as incubation period for herpes is 2-20days post infection, if what I have is herpes it cannot possibly be a recent infection. It must be an older one that simply has not surfaced until now, am I correct?
That being said, will blood tests pick up on it being an older virus (will my body have made antibodies to it) even though to my knowledge I have not had an outbreak before now?
My partner has not, to his knowledge, had any breakouts but I do remember him having a linear scab on his willy one where he said he wore undies with a hole there to work and they chaffed him all day. I do recall that scab reappearing at a later stage. Perhaps this was a mild outbreak.
Now, a concern (a great one) is that I have a 1yr old daughter. I had a bath with her on Day 2 before I really noticed anything was amiss. She was climbing all over me in the bath as she does.
She is in nappies, and also requires urinary catheterisation 3 times a day so I am fiddling around down there quite frequently. I ALWAYS wash my hands before a cath but I do admit to not washing my hands at a regular nappy change.
Yesterday I noticed a red spot on her outer labia, she also has diarrhoea and has been quite cranky. Is there a chance, through either diaper changes or bath play that I could have infected her?? I am terrified :(
My partner is going to get tested shortly.
Based on my history, does everyone think I do have herpes?
What is everyone's advice?
This is very hard on us but we are trying to be supportive of each other.
Thank you to everyone in advance, I am so grateful for any information.
Hi all,
just an update...
My hsv 1 and hsv 2 both came back negative. Not even a low number, but 'not detected'.
I am going to have another done in 3 months anyhow to see whether any antibodies have created.
My swab also came back negative (although nit surprising as at that stage there was nothing to swab).
I went and saw a sexual health clinic doc who was lovely and said he was 90% sure it's a shingles outbreak, not hsv2.
Which of course is great news, but I am still skeptical. My lumps and bumps on my buttocks are sort of in a 'banded' fashion but horizontal, not downwards along any nerve paths.
Also the patch on my labia are not banded at all. Why would there be 2 distinct patches if it was shingles? It still sounds like hsv2 to me.
He did break open a blister and swab it, so am waiting for those results.
My partner was tested also, and tested positive for hsv1 (never had any symptoms) but negative for hsv2.
He put me on famcyclovir and the pain is much better now thankfully, it was nasty.
Has anyone ever had zoster (shingles) on their genitals or buttocks? Or both?
Thanks in advance :)
just an update...
My hsv 1 and hsv 2 both came back negative. Not even a low number, but 'not detected'.
I am going to have another done in 3 months anyhow to see whether any antibodies have created.
My swab also came back negative (although nit surprising as at that stage there was nothing to swab).
I went and saw a sexual health clinic doc who was lovely and said he was 90% sure it's a shingles outbreak, not hsv2.
Which of course is great news, but I am still skeptical. My lumps and bumps on my buttocks are sort of in a 'banded' fashion but horizontal, not downwards along any nerve paths.
Also the patch on my labia are not banded at all. Why would there be 2 distinct patches if it was shingles? It still sounds like hsv2 to me.
He did break open a blister and swab it, so am waiting for those results.
My partner was tested also, and tested positive for hsv1 (never had any symptoms) but negative for hsv2.
He put me on famcyclovir and the pain is much better now thankfully, it was nasty.
Has anyone ever had zoster (shingles) on their genitals or buttocks? Or both?
Thanks in advance :)
Oh, and since already went to a doctor (who didnt think it was herpes, btw), just wait for your swab results, really.
Calm down, this could be a number of things. First of all, be seen by a doctor! And if your baby is also having symptoms, please take her to the doctor. Don`t try to guess what`s going on, really. No one is this forum will diagnose you.
That said, you and your husband getting type specific blood tests for herpes sounds like a good plan as well. But if you`re having symptoms, be seen - this way you can get a prompt answer.
That said, you and your husband getting type specific blood tests for herpes sounds like a good plan as well. But if you`re having symptoms, be seen - this way you can get a prompt answer.
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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.
