Do I have Herpes?

[bob_needshelp]

Hi, I am a 37 year old man in need of help and advice.
Just over 10 weeks ago ago I am embarrsed to say while extremely drunk I visited  massarge parlour and received a massarge from a sex worker.
I did not have sex she did provide a naked massarge and touch and rub against my genitals.
I could not see any active blisters or any signs of herpes on her, however I was extremely drunk at this point.
Ever since the incident I have had burning, itching and tingling genitals and anus, which have not left me for a single second of any day.I have felt devastated ever since, not only have I cheated on my wife I have also cheated on my children which I can not live with. I have made a huge mistake and I am scared I have ruined the lifes of my wife and children.I have never been in a situation like this before.
I have had several spots in on my anus and pubic region but none that have blistered or scabbed so far.
I have been to 3 GUM clinics, all have said they dont think it is herpes and that it is all in my mind because of the guilt I am feeling. However I have read mountains on the internet in regard to mis-diagnosis and doctors unable to verify without visible signs.
At 8 weeks I went to private doctor who run blood tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2. With result negative for HSV-2 and positive for HSV-1. My joy was short lived as I have read since that the tests are not always accurate and the results do not show until 12 weeks anyway? The doctor did say it should show after 8 weeks...
To compound things my wife has started itching down below and I can not handle the consequnces of my actions.
I have tried every cream imaginable, zovirax, sudacrem, savlon, canneston, canneston with hydroquartizone, moisturiser, but the symptoms never subside.
From what I have explained, what do you think the likelyhood of me having herpes?

[bob_needshelp]

I was really hoping somebody could make some suggestion for the following questions:
1) Can you have itching burning tingling for 10 weeks but no obvious herpes lessions?
2) Has anyone had the itching burning tingling constantly for this length of time?
3) How accurate are the blood tests after 8 weeks? The doctor said it was certain I didnt have herpes hsv-2 but couldnt even provide me eith the name of the test, he just said its an antibody test and you didnt show any hsv-2 antibodues.
4) Can the testers easily confuse hsv-1 and hsv-2 antibodies?
Please help if possible?

[gracefromHHP]

This is unlikely to be a herpes issue. At this point I'd follow up with a dermatologist for yourself.

Your wife also needs to go and be seen by the gum clinic and get some basic testing done to determine the cause of her symptoms too.

grace

[bob_needshelp]

Thanks for your reply, thiseases my mind a little.
My wife is going to visit a nurse.
I have visited several doctors and they are unable to find any thing wrong with the skin to refer me to a dermatologist. Their suggestion is that it is all in my head and I just need to forget about it. Easier said than done as I am constsntly feel physical discomfort every second of the day across the whole area.
However I have a new spot come up and was looking at visiting another clinic to get this checked out?
Thanks again for your advice I am very appreciative.

[gracefromHHP]

guilt vs risk is a big factor sometimes.

if you have new symptoms, following up on them is the best course of action.

grace

[bob_needshelp]

Thanks for all your help and and advice,
I have just returned from the health clinic and the doctor has told me that the spot in the area is not herpes.However I a still have uncontollable itching and tingling in both my anus and scrotum ever since the incident.
I have one more question:
Is it possible for herpes to itch and tingle for over ten weeks without any Identifiable blisters?

[gracefromHHP]

this isn't at all likely to be due to herpes. Have you tried antifungal cream or even just a soothing barrier cream like aquaphor, zinc oxide, bag balm etc?

grace

[bob_needshelp]

I have tried every cream imaginable, zovirax, sudacrem, savlon, canneston, canneston with hydroquartizone, moisturiser, but the symptoms never subside.
This is driving me completely insane.
I now have a number of cold saw's appered on my lips, I am now wondering is it possible to transfer HSV-2 from the genitals to the mouth and can your transfer HSV-1 from the mouth to the genitals?
Thank you for your assistance.

[wasntthinkn]

Have you got any answers, My situation is so similar to yours, the wife kids and everything.  

Let me know.  
thanks

[bob_needshelp]

I have no answer to what the problem is..
I am now getting pain in the tip of my penis, I am hoping this may be from where they took the swab nearly two weeks ago.
This is completely unrelenting and I can not sleep, eat or even think about anything else.
What are your stmptoms and what have you found out so far?

[wasntthinkn]

I have the same syptoms (symptoms), burning at tip, small bump. Like a week later a bump or cold sore appeared on my lip.  I have been separated for over 2 1/2 years and my wife was just starting to talk to me again. I told her that I thought I could have something like an std and she freaked and won't talk to me and is going thru with a divorce. It has been absolute hell for me and I can't really deal with it.  I am still hoping that it is something else.  

Being hopefull but have to wait it out another month or so to get conclusive results. I have found that this is more a nightmare than anyone can imagine trying to diagnose this. But I am hopefull.

[jacki0]

I know how you feel.  I have had symptoms and negative test results for well over a month and a half now.  Everyone says to talk to a doctor, but doctors don't seem to understand herpes.  They don't offer another possibility even.  All my other tests were negative.

All I can say is, maybe the power of the mind is stronger than you think.  Honestly, when I have stopped worrying, my symptoms have gotten better for several hours at a time.  Shame and guilt are horrible, and if you can do some work on those obstacles in the meantime...

I tell myself until the 12 week mark, I have to do everything in my power to cope.  We just cannot know until then, and no one can tell us definitively.  It sounds like you are going to be in the clear. I bet when the 12 week mark hits, and we are both negative, our symptoms have a good shot at disappearing, too.

You are human.  People make mistakes.  You are not a criminal.  The best thing you can do now, is be a strong and leading example for your wife and kids, forgive yourself, and make a pact with yourself to move forward and work on being a better person every day.

[gracefromHHP]

you didn't have sex. You weren't at risk for std's.  odds are that most of your symptoms are related to your guilt about the whole thing though the massage oil they used might also be an issue here.  Continue to follow up for this but it's time top stop thinking std's as a cause of your symptoms. There really are other germs out there that don't have a thing to do with std's I assure you!

grace

[bob_needshelp]

Hi Grace
It is now just over 12 weeks, and I am still experiencing intense itching, burning, tingling scrotum, anus and now it is affecting the tip of my penis.
Also my wife is still itching in the virginal area.
From the contact I received (genital rubbing in the initial incident) Herpes is the only possibility.
Now my boy (12 months,) has a rash, down one side of his body, arms and legs and on his bum, the doctor said he thinks its eczema (commonly mistaken for herpes)  I cant stop thinking that this is all linked. I just can not cope with this anymore.
I have no rash, although it was very red in the area in the week after the incident.
I have had a further spot in the pubic area (4 in total since the period began) I have read in various places that genital herpes first outbreak can be as little as a small spot without any blistering or ulcer and can last for months.
I have been yet again to the doctors and again to the clinic, all are saying it is in my mind but it cant be. as I am feeling genuine physical discomfort.
The problem appears to be that herpes is so dificult to diagnose in the early stages.
I do find the symptoms subside considerably if I remove all clothing, but the anal itch still pursist strongly.
I have tried a 4 day course of anti-biotics but no change whatsoever.
I need to know what is wrong with me, but I don’t know what to do or where to go?
I have so many questions constantly swimming around in my mind driving me mad.

Should I have another blood test, (hsv-2 negative after 8 weeks) I have read it can take 12 weeks to show?
Can you itch burn and tingle for 12 weeks without any blisters or ulcers?
Can thrush be present without any visible signs?
Is there any over the counter treatment I can use?
Can you get HSV-1 on your genitals?
Can you get herpes on you body, arms, legs, etc?

Thanks again for your help, I am in desperate need of assistance.

[bobjones101]

Hey Bob, I am in the same boat still with you.  It has been about 8 weeks of constant symptoms too. burning at tip and all the same things you describe.  Where did you read it can last this long because I have been told it usually doesn't persist this long.  I am going insane too, and need answers.  I guess I'm gonna wait to the 16 week mark and get tested again.  Let me know your outcome please, and I will keep you posted too.

[bob_needshelp]

I have just received a printed copy of my test results and am now even more terified.

HSV1: 3.506
HSV2: 0.294

The fact I have .294 at 8 weeks, is a very bad sign right?

[gracefromHHP]

you will never get a 0 as a result, if you do, then the test probably wasn't done right.  It's due to the way the test is done.  Your result is a clear negative and absolutely nothing to panic over.  

once again, whatever is going on in your household is not herpes from this encounter. I don't know why you are stuck on herpes and refuse to believe otherwise. You have been seen by various doctors who see no signs of herpes going on.  Why you continue to believe that you know more than how many doctors now? is beyond me!!!

Has your wife been to the doctor to be checked to see if she has yeast or bacterial infections going on genitally?

Also you absolutely, positively do not give your son herpes!!!

grace

[bob_needshelp]

Thanks Grace, LOL,
I know I must seem mad, but I just can not find any logical explaination the symptoms I/we are getting, and due to the contact I received and its timing, added to the variety of symptoms and reactions to herpes, I keep coming back to this theory.
Just so I can try and move on I have a few more questions.
Do you think I should take another blood test now its 12 weeks?
Is a score of HSV1: 3.506 particularly high, and should it not be lower if it was dorment in my system?
Is it possible to have HSV1 on your genitals?

Thanks again Grace, you are doing a great job in pulling me back from insanity.

[gracefromHHP]

hsv doesn't cause 12 weeks of non-stop symptoms. There are definite breaks and periods of no symptoms at all.

Most adults will test + for hsv1. Most have it orally even if they can't recall ever having any obvious cold sores.

As I said before, herpes and std's really aren't the only germs out there.

grace

[bob_needshelp]

I have now had a white head on the shaft of my penis and the pain in the tip of my penis is increasing by the day,I am absolutely devastated.
I am certain this must be herpes and I dont know where to turn...
Everyone has told me I am fine, but I am not fine, I really am not imagining this.
Has anyone had these symptoms and does anyone know what Iis going on with me?
Please help/

[gracefromHHP]

If you have new symptoms then you need to return to the clinic and have them evaluated.

grace

[bob_needshelp]

I went back to the clinic this morning, this must be about the 10th time I have been since the itching started.
They performed a swab test and they have found an NSU and i was given antibiotics.They said that there were no signs of chlamidya or Ghonore, just inflamed cells.
I have looked up NSU's and their seem to be a lot of contradiction over wether they can be contracted non sexually, more worryingly I have read that Herpes can cause NSU's.
My question is, do most herpes infections cause NSU's?

[gracefromHHP]

it's far more likely to be something else causing it.

has your wife followed up on her end of things?

grace

[bob_needshelp]

hI All
I'd just like to say thanks for all the support, blood test results for HSV2 were still negative 0.14.
I can now move on from the Herpes Theory!