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Could this be disseminated HSV?
About nine weeks ago on a business trip I was sexually assaulted when I was blacked out/unconscious. I woke up to a text message from someone I vaguely remember chatting with in the bar of the hotel I was staying. I tried to put the possibilities of what may have happened out of my mind, as I am in a serious, long-term monogamous relationship. After reviewing the text message a few days later, I began asking questions about what happened and asked if I should get tested. At this point I was terrified because I haven't' done anything like this before and I would never knowingly or willingly sleep with someone else. The response I received was "of course not".
The encounter occurred on a Thursday night/Friday morning. I'm not exactly sure what happened (oral, vaginal, anal) or how long the encounter lasted. I called this person to ask some additional questions after I began experiencing some unusual symptoms. He said we started to have intercourse, but I was passing out so he stopped. He said no protection was used but that he was certain he didn't have anything. But obviously, I can't believe anything this dude has to say.
The following Tuesday, I noticed two bumps next to each other on the outside of my vagina. They were a little larger that the size of pencil erasers and hard to the touch, but had fluid in them. I went to planned parenthood and the nurse told me they didn't look anything like herpes. She popped them and clear liquid came out along with some blood, but she did not do a swab test. I had blood and urine tests for common STDs at the time. Everything came back negative. Wednesday and Thursday night of the same week, I had terrible night sweats. On Friday, I started itching all over my body. Friday evening, I noticed a small, fluid filled pustule on my right arm. The fluid was filled with white puss. That same night, I developed a rash on my forearms and chest. I also developed a strange mark on my right buttock. It looked like a flat red spot about the size of a quarter with three or four dark dots on it. It was completely flat.
The following Tuesday morning, I found two small white lesions on either side of my labia, inside my vagina. I went to my GP who looked at the lesions and said that they didn't look like herpes. She ordered blood tests and everything came back negative. I am kicking myself for not going somewhere else and requesting a swab test. I am not confident in her opinion, because one of the tests she ordered was an IgM (in addition to IgG) which I have read are unreliable. All tests came back negative
Over the next couple weeks I continued to experience a ton of itching all over my body. I also had diarrhea for about two weeks straight. Tiny tiny red dots (about the size of tip of a pen) began to appear, disappear and then reappear again in the same spot (mostly on my arms/hands). I can feel them coming on, its like an extreme pinch or zap and then they appear. I began experiencing pretty bad vaginal/anal itching as well. I've also began developing strange skin lesions on my arms and legs. They are small indented flesh-colored circles on my skin. They are about the size of a pencil eraser and look very similar to chicken pox scars. I am absolutely certain they were not there before. I had dull pain on both sides where my thigh and vagina meet. One night, I was out with my significant other and the itching/pain was so bad I had to leave and only felt relieved when I took off my jeans and underwear. I found that I had several small red bumps inside my butt cheeks that were causing the pain. There are still a few there today and it has been weeks. I also developed lesions on the tops both feet that look very similar to herpes lesions I find online, a red ring with a pustule. There was not much pus/liquid in the lesions and they never burst. The red marks are still there and itch from time to time. As I began to develop these symptoms, I visited my gynecologist and two dermatologists. The gynecologist examined me and did a pap smear. She said everything came back normal and did not believe I have HSV. I showed her the marks on my body and she said she doesn't believe they are related to HSV. The dermatologists also said they did not believe my symptoms are related to HSV either. The dermatologist believes I have eczema, folliculitis and petechiae and tiny warts on my hands. They Gyn thinks the dots on my butt are pimples. I find it hard to believe that all of these just randomly started happening at the same time along with the other symptoms I was/am experiencing.
I began to wonder if I am experiencing disseminated HSV? I know its rare, but I can't find anything else to explain these symptoms. Recently, I've noticed a few of the indented marks on my face. I've also had tiny dots of blood appear on my face as well (this happened twice). About two weeks ago, my upper cheek/outer eye area was inflamed. My eyes itch and burn whenever I touch them too. I'm concerned I've spread whatever I have to my face. I also developed a large bruise on my forearm with a very hard bump under my skin (feels about the size of a small marble). The dermatologist refused to examine the bruise, but I've never seen anything like it and I know I didn't hit my arm on anything.
With all of my concern and anxiety about what happened and possibly having and STI, I sought out a psychiatrist who along with prescribing me medication for depression/anxiety, also prescribed Valtrex. He said based on the opinions I received he didn't believe I have anything, but if it would help calm me down to take the medicine that he'd give it to me. I began taking Valtrex at the end of October and took the medicine between two-three weeks and then stopped after a follow-up visit to the gynecologist who told me to stop taking it.
I know I should be confident in the opinions of the medical professionals I have seen, but after doing so much research myself, it doesn't seem like doctors are always well-versed/well-informed about STIs, especially HSV. I'm curious if any others with HSV have experienced any of these symptoms. Or if any doctors/medical professionals have seen what I'm describing in people with HSV. I know I will know for sure in time, it is just difficult right now. I have not told my partner anything that has happened for fear that he will leave me. The last type-specific blood test I had was at 8 weeks and it came back negative. I am unsure of these results because I was taking Valtrex daily for 2-3 weeks up to that last test. I asked my Gyn if that could have impacted my results and she said no. She said I should feel very confident I don't have HSV and should live my life as though I don't. Again, my biggest concern is putting my partner at risk. We have not had intercourse since what happened early October. I've contacted this person and he assures me he doesn't have anything. He has promised to send test results since October, yet I haven't received anything to date. He assured me again yesterday that he will. I am hoping he does because that will help me rule out HSV if he's negative.
Anyway, any insight is super appreciated. Obviously am extremely terrified about what is happening in my body and I just want answers.
The encounter occurred on a Thursday night/Friday morning. I'm not exactly sure what happened (oral, vaginal, anal) or how long the encounter lasted. I called this person to ask some additional questions after I began experiencing some unusual symptoms. He said we started to have intercourse, but I was passing out so he stopped. He said no protection was used but that he was certain he didn't have anything. But obviously, I can't believe anything this dude has to say.
The following Tuesday, I noticed two bumps next to each other on the outside of my vagina. They were a little larger that the size of pencil erasers and hard to the touch, but had fluid in them. I went to planned parenthood and the nurse told me they didn't look anything like herpes. She popped them and clear liquid came out along with some blood, but she did not do a swab test. I had blood and urine tests for common STDs at the time. Everything came back negative. Wednesday and Thursday night of the same week, I had terrible night sweats. On Friday, I started itching all over my body. Friday evening, I noticed a small, fluid filled pustule on my right arm. The fluid was filled with white puss. That same night, I developed a rash on my forearms and chest. I also developed a strange mark on my right buttock. It looked like a flat red spot about the size of a quarter with three or four dark dots on it. It was completely flat.
The following Tuesday morning, I found two small white lesions on either side of my labia, inside my vagina. I went to my GP who looked at the lesions and said that they didn't look like herpes. She ordered blood tests and everything came back negative. I am kicking myself for not going somewhere else and requesting a swab test. I am not confident in her opinion, because one of the tests she ordered was an IgM (in addition to IgG) which I have read are unreliable. All tests came back negative
Over the next couple weeks I continued to experience a ton of itching all over my body. I also had diarrhea for about two weeks straight. Tiny tiny red dots (about the size of tip of a pen) began to appear, disappear and then reappear again in the same spot (mostly on my arms/hands). I can feel them coming on, its like an extreme pinch or zap and then they appear. I began experiencing pretty bad vaginal/anal itching as well. I've also began developing strange skin lesions on my arms and legs. They are small indented flesh-colored circles on my skin. They are about the size of a pencil eraser and look very similar to chicken pox scars. I am absolutely certain they were not there before. I had dull pain on both sides where my thigh and vagina meet. One night, I was out with my significant other and the itching/pain was so bad I had to leave and only felt relieved when I took off my jeans and underwear. I found that I had several small red bumps inside my butt cheeks that were causing the pain. There are still a few there today and it has been weeks. I also developed lesions on the tops both feet that look very similar to herpes lesions I find online, a red ring with a pustule. There was not much pus/liquid in the lesions and they never burst. The red marks are still there and itch from time to time. As I began to develop these symptoms, I visited my gynecologist and two dermatologists. The gynecologist examined me and did a pap smear. She said everything came back normal and did not believe I have HSV. I showed her the marks on my body and she said she doesn't believe they are related to HSV. The dermatologists also said they did not believe my symptoms are related to HSV either. The dermatologist believes I have eczema, folliculitis and petechiae and tiny warts on my hands. They Gyn thinks the dots on my butt are pimples. I find it hard to believe that all of these just randomly started happening at the same time along with the other symptoms I was/am experiencing.
I began to wonder if I am experiencing disseminated HSV? I know its rare, but I can't find anything else to explain these symptoms. Recently, I've noticed a few of the indented marks on my face. I've also had tiny dots of blood appear on my face as well (this happened twice). About two weeks ago, my upper cheek/outer eye area was inflamed. My eyes itch and burn whenever I touch them too. I'm concerned I've spread whatever I have to my face. I also developed a large bruise on my forearm with a very hard bump under my skin (feels about the size of a small marble). The dermatologist refused to examine the bruise, but I've never seen anything like it and I know I didn't hit my arm on anything.
With all of my concern and anxiety about what happened and possibly having and STI, I sought out a psychiatrist who along with prescribing me medication for depression/anxiety, also prescribed Valtrex. He said based on the opinions I received he didn't believe I have anything, but if it would help calm me down to take the medicine that he'd give it to me. I began taking Valtrex at the end of October and took the medicine between two-three weeks and then stopped after a follow-up visit to the gynecologist who told me to stop taking it.
I know I should be confident in the opinions of the medical professionals I have seen, but after doing so much research myself, it doesn't seem like doctors are always well-versed/well-informed about STIs, especially HSV. I'm curious if any others with HSV have experienced any of these symptoms. Or if any doctors/medical professionals have seen what I'm describing in people with HSV. I know I will know for sure in time, it is just difficult right now. I have not told my partner anything that has happened for fear that he will leave me. The last type-specific blood test I had was at 8 weeks and it came back negative. I am unsure of these results because I was taking Valtrex daily for 2-3 weeks up to that last test. I asked my Gyn if that could have impacted my results and she said no. She said I should feel very confident I don't have HSV and should live my life as though I don't. Again, my biggest concern is putting my partner at risk. We have not had intercourse since what happened early October. I've contacted this person and he assures me he doesn't have anything. He has promised to send test results since October, yet I haven't received anything to date. He assured me again yesterday that he will. I am hoping he does because that will help me rule out HSV if he's negative.
Anyway, any insight is super appreciated. Obviously am extremely terrified about what is happening in my body and I just want answers.
Hsv lesions don't heal in a few days. I really doubt that herpes is the cause of your bumps and discomfort.
1 Comments
Thanks for your reply, a couple more questions. I am approaching twelve weeks post exposure. I took acyclovir for one week and valacyclovir for about three. At my twelve week mark I will have been off all antivirals for six weeks. Last week (10 weeks post exposure) I had another bump appear. I was examined by my gyn who said that it didn't look like a herpes sore. I also had a culture test that came back negative. How much if an impact would the antivirals I took have on the recent culture test? How about a blood test at twelve weeks? Could the antivirals cause a long delay in serocoversion time? The doctors I've seen have told me that antivirals don't impact blood test results and that I should feel confident in my six week results that were negative. It's hard to believe because the itching/burning/stinging in my genital and anal areas have persisted over the past three months. Thanks for your help.
Ok. The initial lesions that were hard lead me away from thinking it's hsv. I agree it would have been a good idea to swab any lesions or fluids from one.
Now all the other symptomside you describe are not hsv related. I bet far more due to stress and being overly aware. The odds of contracting hsv from this is exposure is very very small. Less than 1 in a 1000. If any new bumps or lesions show up get them swabbed. Other than that you can test at 12 weeks with an igg blood test.
Now all the other symptomside you describe are not hsv related. I bet far more due to stress and being overly aware. The odds of contracting hsv from this is exposure is very very small. Less than 1 in a 1000. If any new bumps or lesions show up get them swabbed. Other than that you can test at 12 weeks with an igg blood test.
1 Comments
Thank you for your reply. The initial hard lesions were about 4 days post exposure, the other two on the inside of my vagina were about a week and a half later. One on each side almost directly opposite from one another. They were small and puss filled. They lasted about two days and were gone. Could those have been HSV lesions? The entire inner area of my vagina was red and irritated/inflamed. My GP said they didn't look like HSV it, that it looked like and inflamed hair follicle, but this is the same person who also ordered an IgM blood test. Also, I don't have any hair in that particular area so that explanation doesn't make much sense. I also have recurring painful sensations in those exact spots. Also where the first two harder bumps appeared. Does pain at the site of previous lesions typical occur with HSV? Thanks so much for your response.
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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.
