hsv?

[confused128]

After being abstinent for almost 5 years, in September I became active again.
For about 2 weeks we were having protected sex. Always used a condom and did not have contact without it.  Immediately, starting the next day I began to experience more vaginal discharge than usual, and itching. 3rd week I left town, but by the time I returned my discomfort grew and so stopped having intercourse. I eventually felt a burning (and I think a tingling) feeling and more itching.  I constantly checked myself for weeks even a couple of months but never had any vesicles/lesions/sores.
He told me he did not have any STDs prior to us having sex. After experiencing these symptoms, I asked and he said he has not had any sort of symptoms himself, and not even cold sores. Ever. And that no previous partner has aver come back to tell him the got any STD from him or otherwise.
I did also perform oral sex, unfortunately without a condom. Something I terribly regret. I later developed a very tiny bit of swelling on my upper lip. It basically follows my cupids bow and over to each side a little. It follows my lip line perfectly. No blisters, just raised along the lip line and has been there for just over two months. I saw a dermatologist and said it was not a cold sore (which I have never had) and gave me protopic to put on it. It has not improved any. I think it's very noticeable, but even the doctor said it was not that noticeable.

So of course, my concern is if this is herpes. This was back in September that we started seeing each other and I have just made myself sick looking online. Everything online points to herpes.  Of course, I have read plenty about asymptomatic carriers of HSV2 and still transmitting the virus. But really, how likely is that? And considering how stressed out out and down I have been over this and currently sick with strep, I would imagine I would have some sort of outbreak.
Due to our schedules with work, we only just made it to the clinic last week for STD testing but they do not do herpes blood test, and still waiting for results. I know that requires 3 months for antibodies to develop, so hopefully we will go next month for that.
What is your opinion?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[confused128]

Well. gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia came back negative.
Still trying to get blood work.

Still freaking out.

I'm wondering/hoping this was a yeast infection that eventually cleared on its own. If anyone can answer any of my previous Qs that would be awesome.

[confused128]

.

[confused128]

Ok, so I'm going to try to make this my last questions.

So since you said herpes symptoms last typically 1-2 weeks...starting off with discharge and itching for 2-3 weeks immediately after having sex following by at least a couple of weeks of itching and burning after that with no visible bumps/lesions/sores etc, that's all too long to be herpes? and i feel like i still get random irritation and burning sensations randomly that last for shorter bits. Maybe hours or just a day or two.  

Also, I was wondering if the igg test gives any indication as to how long one has had hsv if antibodies are detected. Does the level of antibodies suggest recent infection or long time?

Thanks again

[confused128]

Along with the handbook I feel like I've read everything online as well. I feel like there are a lot of contradictions out there, which is why I feel like I have so many questions still.
I can imagine you spend a lot of time answering the same questions over and over. So again, I thank you for taking the time to respond to all my posts so far. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I really have no one I can talk to about all of this right now.

Like here you guys say with hand to genitalia there is no risk of transmission.  But other places say hands should be washed after touching. Is that only during an OB? Touch a lesion/sore and then something else it can be transmitted, correct?   What about during shedding? Or no OB/symptoms. If he touched himself then me, can I get it? This is assuming he has it.
How often do people get herpes when they really are diligent about condom use? I feel like most often it is due to unprotected sex.

Or I see so many posts where people say they feel burning tingling but no sores and they are told that it is most likely not herpes. But I've read so much that 1st OBs can me so mild that most people don't notice or know. At the same time I read that the 1st OB is the worst.  

I've also read here that HSV2 transmission to the mouth is rare, but see so many posts elsewhere where people say they developed their 1st cold sore after performing oral sex.  Was it because the person had HSV1 on the genitals? BUt I've also read that HSV1 from genitals does not transmit as easily.   Or I've seen plenty of pictures or heard about HSV in the throat. Is that only with people with severely compromised immune systems? How likely is that, really?

Symptoms are listed off, but I have more specific Q's about them.  One of the articles on here says red patches. How long does that last for? Is it in the area where sores would develop?

The tingling: is it constant for days leading up to the OB? Does it come and go? Is tingling ONLY associated with herpes? Does it occur only where the sores would develop or generally all over? Or is there anything else?
I've seen a lot of posts where it's been said to be anxiety or psychosomatic
or now being hyper aware of your body and looking for something.
I feel like my entire body has been tingling for months now all of a sudden.  

I've read OBs tend to occur when you get stressed, sick/fatigued, etc. I've been down with strep throat and in bed for weeks at a time for apparently at least 2 months now. But imagine I would have had a OB when so weak for so long.

I'm sorry, clearly I'm driving myself crazy for months now waiting for the std test results and for us to both be able to get in for igg test.  
This is why I have abstained for so long and makes me wish I never had sex!  I'm sorry, but I need to get all of this out somewhere.

Thank you

[confused128]

OK. I've read the handbook, but I just still seem to have a ton of questions that pop into mind. Sorry.  I've just never experienced something like this. But it all seemed weird to have so many things wrong with me and the only thing I did different was have sex.

What worried me about my lips was that I felt a crawling along my lip line as it puffed up. But I've never had chapped lips. I don't know. I'm hoping it's unrelated.  
I'm generally a very healthy person with nothing wrong with me.  

[gracefromHHP]

correct -herpes symptoms are self limiting - they will only last a week or two and go away on their own.

chapped lips can cause all sorts of "normal" things about our bodies to look abnormal. the increased sensitivity of the irritated skin can cause color changes too.   continue to follow up with the dermatologist as needed though I'm very surprised they prescribed protropic for this to be honest.

[confused128]

definitely not dry or chapped lips. unlike anything i've seen before.  thanks.

I just checked with PP, you're right they don't do igg there. Will have to wait for him to get an appt with his dr (probably next month) to get blood tested and go back to mine.

But if this was herpes, the burning/itching/irritation would not last for weeks without lesions appearing right?

[gracefromHHP]

no such thing as an unsurfaced cold sore.  

sounds more like dry /chapped lips more than anything at this point.  

[confused128]

I am still curious about cold sores. I have read in a few of your other responses that it is not that common to get HSV2 in/on the mouth or to get HSV 1 from genital to mouth.
But when this first appeared on my lip i went to the pharmacy to find something to use and the pharmacist said it looked like an "unsurfaced" cold sore. i have tried looking up such a think and can't find anything. I even tried the lysine ointments with no luck.  Are you familiar with "unsurfaced" cold sores and what they look like?
The other thing i noticed about it now is that sometimes immediately upon a sip of alcohol (or even just nyquil) the area like a circle from middle top lip to under my nose turns bright red for about 30-60 seconds.
Any ideas?

Thanks again

[confused128]

Thank you so much!

[gracefromHHP]

we never blood test for uti's and yeast infections - urine testing and vaginal swabs.  

call your PP to see if they even offer type specific herpes igg blood testing first. not all offer it.

oh you used those fancy condoms - stop using them!! The chemicals in them can be very irritating for females and males.  

[confused128]

I did just go in last week for an annual and had regular std screening as well. I was not having any symptoms then anymore. That's why she said to come back if it occurred again.  I'm mostly upset that she made me feel stupid for being so scared/worried about herpes and got mad at me for not being worried about HIV instead. I don't think I'm at much risk for HIV.
She said she only does blood testing for UTIs or yeast infections when they constantly happen and don't get better.
I'm trying to get an appt at planned parenthood so we can both go in and get the igg test done together. Otherwise, I don't think he'd take the initiative because he feels that he or I don't have herpes.
All this just makes me wish I didn't have sex. Are you aware of any condoms causing problems like this? Like those new hot/cold lubricated ones? That's what we used.
I was also curious about the tingling everyone mentions. Is it all over the general genital area? Or is it specific to where the blisters develop?
Are there any other stds that can affect the lip like I described? I just seems like too much of a coincidence.

And thank you so much for your responses. After my doctor blew me off like that I was really upset.

[gracefromHHP]

you've been having protected sex so most likely your genital symptoms are yeast or bv going on. proper testing is needed to know.  it's a shame the provider dropped the ball like this for you :(  

[confused128]

I was in and out of town so much that i didn't get to have anything done.

My dr said if it is something that is reoccurring to go see her but didn't take the time to answer any of my questions. Nor did she seem very concerned.  I was told that symptoms for stds don't start the next day and that it takes a little longer.

I've mostly read that it takes about two days of tingling and then an OB occurs. I was mostly irritated and itchy. I felt irritated for much longer than that and nothing ever changed or appeared. I checked very regularly.
How likely is it to be herpes if we always used condoms and he has never had anything wrong with him? It's just going to be a while before we can get in for testing.
Is there anything else that could be a possibility?

[gracefromHHP]

you were seen and were told that your oral symptoms did not appear to be herpes related. oral herpes would not be active for 2 months either.  

you both going to be seen and getting type specific herpes igg blood testing is a good idea just so you know who has what.

what testing did you have done for your genital symptoms?

grace

[confused128]

I'm wondering if burning or tingling is only associated with herpes? Is it ever anything else? Could I have gotten a yeast infection and since it went so long caused the burning?