Aa
Do I have genital HSV-2?
I had protected sex with a commercial sex worker 4 weeks ago. She had no visible symptoms.
She was on top for a minute or two, and then I finished when I was on top of her. We also kissed briefly at a time, 1 minute each time.
Four days later, I start getting flu like symptoms, running nose, sneezing, coughing, and then I start getting a white coating on my tongue with red bumps in the back(thrush?)
I start feeling fatigued, and I start losing my appetite. 7-12 days after exposure, I start getting discharge from my penis; clear, sticky discharge. One of the days the discharge was very painful, other days it usually just comes after I urinate. I have no sores, no blisters, no ulcers anywhere. I also have nerve pain on my left butt that comes for 5 days, goes away, and comes back. I got prescribed antibiotics(Erythromycin) for the discharge, but it did not work at all, so I'm assuming it's viral... I got bloodwork done, but the test was only IgM(<.50) and I know those tests are practically useless, and only IgG is accurate. But I would need to wait 3 months anyway.
I still have the nerve pain, extreme fatigue, no appetite, and the discharge, sometimes very painful, sometimes not.
Also, urinalysis didn't show white blood cells in it if that counts for anything.
Also got prescribed Cipro to see if that works(figure it won't...)
Is this herpes? I've read a lot of people get discharge and no sores all the time(which is what seems to be my case)
Would like your opinion, thanks a lot.
She was on top for a minute or two, and then I finished when I was on top of her. We also kissed briefly at a time, 1 minute each time.
Four days later, I start getting flu like symptoms, running nose, sneezing, coughing, and then I start getting a white coating on my tongue with red bumps in the back(thrush?)
I start feeling fatigued, and I start losing my appetite. 7-12 days after exposure, I start getting discharge from my penis; clear, sticky discharge. One of the days the discharge was very painful, other days it usually just comes after I urinate. I have no sores, no blisters, no ulcers anywhere. I also have nerve pain on my left butt that comes for 5 days, goes away, and comes back. I got prescribed antibiotics(Erythromycin) for the discharge, but it did not work at all, so I'm assuming it's viral... I got bloodwork done, but the test was only IgM(<.50) and I know those tests are practically useless, and only IgG is accurate. But I would need to wait 3 months anyway.
I still have the nerve pain, extreme fatigue, no appetite, and the discharge, sometimes very painful, sometimes not.
Also, urinalysis didn't show white blood cells in it if that counts for anything.
Also got prescribed Cipro to see if that works(figure it won't...)
Is this herpes? I've read a lot of people get discharge and no sores all the time(which is what seems to be my case)
Would like your opinion, thanks a lot.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, you should get it swabbed right away and yes, if it is herpes, there is danger to your eye.
Terri
Terri
sorry Terri but this is important.. I have a blister that just showed up on my eyelid, looks like a full blown blister.. was itchy, bunch of white dots, and somewhat of a gold crust. should I get this swabbed right away? is this any danger to my eye?
Thanks...
Thanks...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am going to stop this thread now because I cannot be helpful to you when you tell me about these skin presentations. I am going to refer you back to a health care provider who can visual what you are talking about.
Terri
Terri
Flesh colored, the ones on my stomach? I believe they looked like it, they were red-ish and slightly raised, two very small blister looking bumps next to each other, but they've already started to fade away.
I've been getting a lot of genital itching around the base of the penis, and the edge where my pubic hair begins(closer to the left leg, near abdomen).
It's accompanied by a burning feeling as well.
There's also a red rash directly to the right of my groin crease/fold on the right side. Two red raw looking spots on the rash are sore to the touch, and a small red dot is in the rash area as well.
Another thing, I've been getting muscle twitching(or is that actually tingling?) on my left leg for the past few days.
Are you sure the body itching is not related to herpes? It almost always starts with the genital itching, then it just jumps from place to place, like the virus is moving along the nerves or something.
I've never had any of these problems before this encounter...
I've been getting a lot of genital itching around the base of the penis, and the edge where my pubic hair begins(closer to the left leg, near abdomen).
It's accompanied by a burning feeling as well.
There's also a red rash directly to the right of my groin crease/fold on the right side. Two red raw looking spots on the rash are sore to the touch, and a small red dot is in the rash area as well.
Another thing, I've been getting muscle twitching(or is that actually tingling?) on my left leg for the past few days.
Are you sure the body itching is not related to herpes? It almost always starts with the genital itching, then it just jumps from place to place, like the virus is moving along the nerves or something.
I've never had any of these problems before this encounter...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If the bumps are no longer there, swabbing would not be useful, no. The itching that you have all over your body are not related to herpes, though the genital itching could be. You might expect herpes outbreaks between the waist and mid-thigh, so only you can determine if your blisters are in that area. Are the bumps flesh colored? Do they feel hard to the touch?
Urethral discharge is really not normal so I would suggest that you continue to follow up with urology.
Terri
Urethral discharge is really not normal so I would suggest that you continue to follow up with urology.
Terri
The bumps went away in a day or so, don't think they can be swabbed if that's the case?
Also, lately I've been experiencing an all over body itch: on my arms, stomach, neck, shoulders, feet, scalp of my hair, nose, and forehead.
The itching started one night, and I noticed the blisters on my shaft the same day.
The itching jumps from one place to another, usually starting from my genital region, then to any of the above spots I listed.
I've also been getting muscle twitching or some type of tingling feelings in my leg.
I know I'm not imagining these things because I'm pretty aware of my own body, and these things only happened after that one encounter.
The itching on my stomach was rash like and left two small blister looking bumps(definitely look like blisters and not pimples)
They are very small and haven't changed appearance in two days.
I've read an old WebMD post someone made about all over body itching as well, and MANY other people that have tested positive for herpes have this same itching as I am experiencing now.
http://forums.webmd.com/3/sexual-conditions-and-stds-exchange/forum/5184/32
You've also made a comment in there as well.
One last thing, the clear discharge is still there and it's been 5 weeks. There is still some slight stinging pain in the penis head.
I also plan to do another IgG in a couple of weeks.
Would really like your thoughts on ALL of this, I know your time is important but I'm also trying to get peace of mind here and it's hard when you don't post your thoughts on everything :(
Thanks again Dr. Warren...
Also, lately I've been experiencing an all over body itch: on my arms, stomach, neck, shoulders, feet, scalp of my hair, nose, and forehead.
The itching started one night, and I noticed the blisters on my shaft the same day.
The itching jumps from one place to another, usually starting from my genital region, then to any of the above spots I listed.
I've also been getting muscle twitching or some type of tingling feelings in my leg.
I know I'm not imagining these things because I'm pretty aware of my own body, and these things only happened after that one encounter.
The itching on my stomach was rash like and left two small blister looking bumps(definitely look like blisters and not pimples)
They are very small and haven't changed appearance in two days.
I've read an old WebMD post someone made about all over body itching as well, and MANY other people that have tested positive for herpes have this same itching as I am experiencing now.
http://forums.webmd.com/3/sexual-conditions-and-stds-exchange/forum/5184/32
You've also made a comment in there as well.
One last thing, the clear discharge is still there and it's been 5 weeks. There is still some slight stinging pain in the penis head.
I also plan to do another IgG in a couple of weeks.
Would really like your thoughts on ALL of this, I know your time is important but I'm also trying to get peace of mind here and it's hard when you don't post your thoughts on everything :(
Thanks again Dr. Warren...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I doubt that a urethral swab would provide much information because if you have lesions in urethra, they might be too high to reach with a swab. Ouch.
You should have the blister bumps swab tested for herpes immediately or ask your health care provider to send you home with a PCR swab that you could collect yourself at home.
I would test again at 16 weeks, not 12. There are a few people who don't test positive ever for HSV 2, but they are rare. If you still have concerns, we can do a western blot after 16 weeks.
terri
You should have the blister bumps swab tested for herpes immediately or ask your health care provider to send you home with a PCR swab that you could collect yourself at home.
I would test again at 16 weeks, not 12. There are a few people who don't test positive ever for HSV 2, but they are rare. If you still have concerns, we can do a western blot after 16 weeks.
terri
Ok, will not ask for acyclovir.
I'd like to ask, do you recommend I get a urethral swab testing for PCR? If so, should my urologist be able to do this? If not, where can I get this testing done?
Lately I've been getting small blister looking bumps on my penis(on the shaft). But they were there for a day or two, and then went away. I've read some peoples' personal stories that males can get much less severe and mild herpes that happen this way(in the form of just one or two bumps that never blister and just disappear within a few days), is this true?
Also in your experience with people with herpetic urethritis, where do the lesions usually form? On the shaft, the head, inside the urethra?
Would a 12 week negative result of the HSV-2 IgG test definitely confirm that I don't have herpes? or is it still possible I could be one of the people that always test negative?
Thanks again for all your help.
I'd like to ask, do you recommend I get a urethral swab testing for PCR? If so, should my urologist be able to do this? If not, where can I get this testing done?
Lately I've been getting small blister looking bumps on my penis(on the shaft). But they were there for a day or two, and then went away. I've read some peoples' personal stories that males can get much less severe and mild herpes that happen this way(in the form of just one or two bumps that never blister and just disappear within a few days), is this true?
Also in your experience with people with herpetic urethritis, where do the lesions usually form? On the shaft, the head, inside the urethra?
Would a 12 week negative result of the HSV-2 IgG test definitely confirm that I don't have herpes? or is it still possible I could be one of the people that always test negative?
Thanks again for all your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
NO. Do not take acyclovir as it can impact the antibody testing that you will be doing in the future. DO NOT TAKE ACYCLOVIR at this point.
Terri
Terri
The discharge seems to be getting worse. I keep mentioning to the doctor about herpes, but he's trying to rule out the other things first... but the antibiotics aren't working at all. This is really bothering me; is there any merit to asking him for avyclovir to see if it solves the issue, considering it's possible I can still have herpes?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think you should complete the course of antibiotics are directed and follow up with your doctors there. I agree that our 4 week test is completely negative.
Terri
Terri
I'd also like to add, I've been constantly checking my urethral opening to see if there's anything different, and yesterday there were(and still are)small white patches next to each other, maybe these are ulcers? They are located closer down towards the urethra where I can't see any further. I have a burning feeling in the urethral opening there now for the past few days(probably from these ulcers), and general symptoms of a UTI(constant urge to urinate, bubbles in urine)
I still have the clear discharge, it seems to not be going away.
Haven't seen any external lesions as of yet.
This is all very worrisome for me, would like to hear your thoughts on all of this, thanks
I still have the clear discharge, it seems to not be going away.
Haven't seen any external lesions as of yet.
This is all very worrisome for me, would like to hear your thoughts on all of this, thanks
I got my results back (tested at exactly 4 weeks post exposure), and I think the units used here in asia are different compared to my other test I had in the US.
All the units are in IU/ml
HSV-I IgG - 180.2 - says <20 is negative
HSV-II IgG - 0.81 - says <20 is negative
Not sure how this compares to the US unit numbers, but the HSV-II IgG seems to be an extremely low negative.
I am aware that only about 50% seroconvert at the 4 week mark, so I am probably going to get tested again at 8 or 12 weeks.
The urinalysis shows I currently have some type of infection.
I will list all the problems that showed up:
Protein - positive
Leukocytes - positive
Ketone body - positive
White blood cells - 6-10
Not sure what it is but the doctor is keeping me on doxy and azithromycin for another week to see if it helps.
All the units are in IU/ml
HSV-I IgG - 180.2 - says <20 is negative
HSV-II IgG - 0.81 - says <20 is negative
Not sure how this compares to the US unit numbers, but the HSV-II IgG seems to be an extremely low negative.
I am aware that only about 50% seroconvert at the 4 week mark, so I am probably going to get tested again at 8 or 12 weeks.
The urinalysis shows I currently have some type of infection.
I will list all the problems that showed up:
Protein - positive
Leukocytes - positive
Ketone body - positive
White blood cells - 6-10
Not sure what it is but the doctor is keeping me on doxy and azithromycin for another week to see if it helps.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
We know that people who have HSV 1 already, when the acquire HSV 2, are more likely to do so with minor symptoms than the person who doesn't have HSV 1 already.
Muscle soreness is really not part of herpes, as you are describing it.
Let's not post anymore until you have results.
Terri
Muscle soreness is really not part of herpes, as you are describing it.
Let's not post anymore until you have results.
Terri
Just wanted to say thanks again for taking the time to respond.
Also I want to clarify, I don't think this is nerve pain on my left buttocks, it feels more like muscle soreness, and it's been sore for almost two weeks now.
I'm just very scared this is herpes, since I have read that it usually likes to affect only one side of the body. Along with the flu symptoms and discharge symptoms that came like clockwork, I'm having a really hard time thinking it is anything but herpes.
Another question, has there been any research done on people that have existing oral HSV-1 infections for a long time, get infected genitally with HSV-2 and have no blisters/lesions/sores?
I got the testing done and I will be picking up the results in two days. Will post asap.
Also I want to clarify, I don't think this is nerve pain on my left buttocks, it feels more like muscle soreness, and it's been sore for almost two weeks now.
I'm just very scared this is herpes, since I have read that it usually likes to affect only one side of the body. Along with the flu symptoms and discharge symptoms that came like clockwork, I'm having a really hard time thinking it is anything but herpes.
Another question, has there been any research done on people that have existing oral HSV-1 infections for a long time, get infected genitally with HSV-2 and have no blisters/lesions/sores?
I got the testing done and I will be picking up the results in two days. Will post asap.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, many men have herpetic urethritis with their first infection, but most of those are accompanied by sores. I'm not saying it couldn't happen that you could get urethritis alone, but in this case, I think it is unlikely. Will look forward to seeing you exact ELISA index values.
Terri
Terri
Thanks for the response again...
I want to be optimistic but it seems too coincidental that all of this starts happening after this encounter.
I've also had oral HSV-1 for over ten years (HSV1 IgG >8.0), does this have anything to do with sores/lesions not showing up?
I've read that 30-40% of men get herpetic urethritis in their primary outbreak as well.
Source: http://www1.cgmh.org.tw/intr/intr5/c6700/OBGYN/f/web/Herpes%20Simplex/index.htm
I've read a bunch of old medhelp threads with Dr. Hook and Dr. Handsfield's responses, saying that Herpetic Urethritis usually involves excruciating pain... and I definitely had excruciating pain on a couple occasions; one occasion felt like I had a UTI and I couldn't sleep for hours.
On some days(like right this moment), I have a frequent urge to urinate.
I'm young (between 20-27) and I've never had problems like this before this encounter.
I'm going to get the IgG for type-2 later and I will post the results as soon as I can.
I want to be optimistic but it seems too coincidental that all of this starts happening after this encounter.
I've also had oral HSV-1 for over ten years (HSV1 IgG >8.0), does this have anything to do with sores/lesions not showing up?
I've read that 30-40% of men get herpetic urethritis in their primary outbreak as well.
Source: http://www1.cgmh.org.tw/intr/intr5/c6700/OBGYN/f/web/Herpes%20Simplex/index.htm
I've read a bunch of old medhelp threads with Dr. Hook and Dr. Handsfield's responses, saying that Herpetic Urethritis usually involves excruciating pain... and I definitely had excruciating pain on a couple occasions; one occasion felt like I had a UTI and I couldn't sleep for hours.
On some days(like right this moment), I have a frequent urge to urinate.
I'm young (between 20-27) and I've never had problems like this before this encounter.
I'm going to get the IgG for type-2 later and I will post the results as soon as I can.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think what people seem to forget sometimes is that when they have an encounter with another person, a sexual one, there is a lot of close contact and germs other than sexually transmitted ones are often passed between two people - germs that can cause flu like symptoms, including fatigue and decreased appetite (anxiety can cause those too). I have no thoughts about the tongue. By the way, everyone has bumps on the back of the tongue, they are taste buds.
I am concerned about your discharge and what is going on there. I hope the Cipro helps, but if it does not, you really need further testing and evaluation for this discharge. Neither of these medicines is a first line drug for treating urethritis anymore.
Terri
I am concerned about your discharge and what is going on there. I hope the Cipro helps, but if it does not, you really need further testing and evaluation for this discharge. Neither of these medicines is a first line drug for treating urethritis anymore.
Terri
I forgot to add, what are your thoughts on the extreme fatigue and no appetite for the past two seeks as well?
Hi Terri. Thanks for the quick response. What about the flu like symptoms? It seemed too coincidental to have that show up within 2-4 days after the encounter, especially since I haven't been sick the entire year. I've had an IgG before this encounter, which was negative for type 2 at <.20.
And yes, looking at the label now, it says Erythromycin. He gave me Cipro to try for now since the Erythromycin didn't work. The discharge is clear, sticky, and twice it has been extremely painful, like the feeling of a UTI. Still no lesions or sores or blisters of any sort.
I will go get tested again with IgG and post the results.
Any thoughts of the tongue that seems like thrush? (white coating, red bumps towards the back)
Thanks again
And yes, looking at the label now, it says Erythromycin. He gave me Cipro to try for now since the Erythromycin didn't work. The discharge is clear, sticky, and twice it has been extremely painful, like the feeling of a UTI. Still no lesions or sores or blisters of any sort.
I will go get tested again with IgG and post the results.
Any thoughts of the tongue that seems like thrush? (white coating, red bumps towards the back)
Thanks again
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think it is unlikely that you acquired herpes in this situation, both because the sex was protected (which is clearly not perfect but helpful) and because it was only once (which statistically lowers the risk) and because you have no skin manifestations of herpes at all. In my experience, is it quite uncommon to have a herpes first infection and have discharge as the only genital symptom. I'm not sure where you are reading it is common. I know you are having some nerve pain but that in itself is not diagnostic either.
Erythromycin is definitely not a first line drug for treating urethritis. I have no idea why that one was chosen. Are you sure you don't mean azithromycin (which is the drug of choice for some kinds of urethritis.
If the urine test showed no white cells, that suggests no infection.
You're right the IgM is useless and if you are concerned about HSV you will need to wait for the IgG. I am assuming you've had a baseline IgG test to determine that you didn't have herpes prior to this contact?
Terri
Erythromycin is definitely not a first line drug for treating urethritis. I have no idea why that one was chosen. Are you sure you don't mean azithromycin (which is the drug of choice for some kinds of urethritis.
If the urine test showed no white cells, that suggests no infection.
You're right the IgM is useless and if you are concerned about HSV you will need to wait for the IgG. I am assuming you've had a baseline IgG test to determine that you didn't have herpes prior to this contact?
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
