Could this be herpes? What is with the pressure bumps on my face?

[clearsky24]

Hello,

I have a few concerns and am wondering what might be going on!  This past weekend (Saturday) I noticed 5 small bumps of which 2 were open sores (very red) while the others were clear liquid filled located on my scrotum near and on the base on the backside of my penis.  They are a bit tender and somewhat burn.  I have shaved the area for years and sometimes get a few ingrown hairs if I am not careful, especially in the area mentioned.  These however look a bit different.  I went to a walk-in clinic Monday morning and the NP (no doctor) was fairly certain that it was genital herpes.  She took a culture and am waiting the results.  The glands in my groin were also swollen and later on that evening I did not feel good.  I had a slight fever (99.8), felt somewhat light headed and a runny nose.  That evening I also noticed several pressure bumps on my face.  Like the ones you might get as a teenage with acne.  One located on my forehead, nose, right cheek, and one deep just forward of my left hear.  I haven't had these types of bumps in years.  Overall, I have fairly clear skin normally.  I guess my question is....Does this sound like herpes and if so why the sudden pressure bumps on my face?  Any thoughts?!  

[clearsky24]

Hi Grace,

I realize NPs (and PAs) are well qualified....there just wasn't a doctor on duty.  She just happened to be really short with me on the subject and I had to pry information out of her.  Also, how accurate are lesion culture tests?  From what I have read they don't seem to be too accurate.  Should I see about getting into a Dermatologist right away or wait until the tests are back?  

Are there any other things it could be besides herpes?  And if so what else could it be?  From pictures on google images, etc it kind of looks more like syphilis.  But if that were the case, wouldn't this girl who I have known for 2 years as acquaintances until recently have known she had syphilis?...after all it doesn't come and go like herpes or be asymptomatic.  I guess could you give me some other possible causes?  After all not everything is herpes right?  :-(  

Thanks in advance!!!

[gracefromHHP]

NP's are very well qualified.  testing for herpes and ruling it out was the best thing to do.

many things could be going on. at this point, wait for your lesion culture results and go from there.  

grace

[kaoticblue87]

Well, right now too, you need to tell the girl you had sex with to get tested so that she and you know her status. Plus, your balls aren't exactly covered by the condom so since you are having the symptoms on your balls, then it can very well touch an infected area on her body if she is positive for herpes. But again, to try to rule out herpes, you need to tell her to go get a type specific blood test for both HSV 1 and HSV 2 to know if she has antibodies for either of these that she may not be aware of.

[clearsky24]

I had sex a little over 2 weeks ago.  It was protected but I know that does not prevent transmission.  I have casually known her for 2 years and we had a talk before we acted.  Also, something else I was pondering.... I did recently get new winter running thermals and went the first run in them this past Thursday.  They are a polyester type fabric similar to biking shorts.  I was thinking it may have been from sweat/bacteria/allergic reaction but that wouldn't explain the other signs/symptoms such as swollen glands, fever, etc would it?  The NP said I would find out by the end of the week but was thinking I should make an appointment with a dermatologist.

[kaoticblue87]

When was your last possible exposure? Herpes symptoms generally appear 2 to 20 days after a sexual act though most people show blisters/symptoms around the 4th day.