DO I HAVE HERPES

[mzworried]

Hi,

    All I want is an honest opinion.  Im pretty sure I have genital herpes.  Here it goes....I had protected sex with a porn actor who did not have any visiable ob's. He told me he gets tested(unk what types) and that he doesnt have anything.  Six days after we had sex, I had a tingling and burning sensation in my vulva area.  I also had a small boil on my anus.  I went to the ER. The doctor took cultures and told me it did not look like herpes to her.  The cultures came back negative.  Five days after that I still had the sensation.  However it got worse.  I now had tingling, burning and numbnes in my vulva, anus buttocks,thighs,ankles,feet, a little bit in my nose, some in my arms and just a little in my mid section. So I went to the OBGYN.  They took a blood test and the nurse practioner told me i was experiencing neuralgia from herpes.  They took a blood test and it later came back positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention when I first went in to the ER, I was given acyclovir which did absolutley nothing.

I've had the neuralgia for over two weeks now. I have not had any blisters or sores  I can't think of any other reason why I have the neuralgia except for that I have either genital HSV1 or 2.  I have to wait about 4 months to take the blood test again which will tell me for sure I guess. But for now, Im extremely depressed and would like to know what I have so I can move on mentally.  I have no one to talk to about this.  Do you think this is herpes??

Thanks for your time in advance

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

OK, sounds good.
Terri

[mzworried]

Hi Terri,

   I changed my name from cdclark to mzworried. Anyways, I was doing some more research and found out some information that eased my mind a little bit more.  I have been taking Flagyl on and off consistantly for about three months.  I read that Flagyl can cause peripheral neurpathy, which feels like what I am experiencing.  So at least now I know that it could possibly be from that medication and not just the Herpes.  Just wanted to let you know...I feel like I could relax a little bit now until I get my follow up blood test in three months.  :  )      I will keep in touch

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Genital to genital contact can transmit herpes, yes, but a minute of such contact is very limited risk indeed.  I stand by my opinion that transmission of herpes is highly unlikely.  Do let us know about your follow up tests is you wish.

Terri

[mzworried]

Thank you SO SO much! That really helped. One thing though, all though we used a condom, we grinded for about a minute before using the comdom. Anyways i will let u know what happens with my next test. This is a great service. Thanks again mamm

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Given your symptoms, I would not assume that you have genital herpes.  Yes, there is some overlap between what you are experiencing and the symptoms of herpes, but there are also reasons to not believe that you have herpes.  First, you had a clinician tell you it didn't look like herpes.  Two, acyclovir made no difference - it would have helped herpes.  Three, you have a blood test that is negative for HSV 2 antibody.  Now granted, it would be good to repeat that 3-4 months after this contact to be certain.  Four, you've had no blisters or sores, and I would expect with new herpes infection with HSV 2, you might notice something like that.  Five, you used condoms.  This offers significant protection against the acquisition of genital herpes.  

Wait some time and get retested.  In the meanwhile, keep these five things in mind, OK?

Terri