Genital herpes in/on anus... but never anal intercourse

[worryjewww]

Hey all. I was just diagnose with genital herpes. I had an outbreak on my right buttocks, and I noticed some almost at the opening of my rectum.

My question is, I am sexually active and gay, but I have never had anal sex! Unprotected oral, yes. But no anal, as I am very cautious with HIV and scared of it.

I am so ashamed I have herpes. I don't know why I have this on my anus, if I have never had anal sex! Is this possible?

And the pain is AWFUL. I cannot even pass stools without cringing.

Also, is a swollen lymph node in my groin related to this?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi ,this post is 4 years old and long gone.

[johnhill80]

Any follow up on this?  Was it in fact hsv 1 and did it ever recur?

[gracefromHHP]

herpes lesions don't have pus and they don't smell.

yes you can work out.

[worryjewww]

Can I work out? My dermatologist said it is the pus that smells....

[gracefromHHP]

the gas is not related to your herpes. You even said you had diarrhea last week so it's probably related to that plus you are on or were just recently on antibiotics which can also cause both.  

yes you can swim. it's not an issue.

if your provider thought you had a bacterial infection causing your odor, did they treat it with anything?   if you still have this odor, you need to follow up on it. it's not normal and not a part of herpes infections.  

I already said it takes 2-3 weeks on average for a newly acquired herpes infection to run its course. Also the herpes handbook has tons of info in it too.

[worryjewww]

Also, I have a prescription for Valtrex until Monday. That is when I finish it! THANKS!

[worryjewww]

A few questions:

On Valtrex- I have been noticing dizziness and AWFUL GAS! Like, all the time and it smells very bad. Normal?

General:

How long will this outbreak last? It's been about 10 days. Going away but still red on my buttocks, where it occured. And it still hurts a bit. Is this normal? How long will it last and when will the redness/pain go away?

Also... can I swim? I have to swim for work... day camp counselor. It's almost going away. Can I work out?

(I have been on Valtrex for a week now).

[worryjewww]

thanks so much!

[petal130]

As grace replied above, in regards to genital herpes anywhere in the boxer short area:

"you don't have to have anal sex to get lesions in the anal area. when you are infected, it infects the same nerve group that supplies the entire "boxer short" area and ob's can occur anywhere in that area."

You have HSV1 genital herpes. There's no such thing as cold sore herpes in the genital area. Cold sores are strictly oral. Your doctor is confusing type with location, but if you have herpes in the genital/boxer short area, well then you have genital herpes, regardless if it's HSV1 or HSV2.  Genital HSV1 is almost always transmitted via oral sex - I in fact have genital HSV1, transmitted from my partners mouth (he's had oral herpes for years, but no outbreaks in the 5 years we dated)....

The good news is, HSV1 doesn't "like" the genital area, so you'll have very few outbreaks, typically, and the virus doesn't shed as much as HSV2.

You can read more about genital herpes in the herpes handbook, here:
http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html

[worryjewww]

The culture came back positive for herpes 1,the cold sore kind. But the blood test said negative, Is this weird? My dermatologist said It's not genital herpes, it's cold sore herpes (not recurring). She gave me two valtrex a day. This sound right?

[worryjewww]

Thanks people. Well I guess I can be glad it isn't herpes and that it's going away, albeit Vvery slowly :)

[Mistakeguy789]

Sadly we can't help with that.  We can only tell you what we think and it doesn't sound like HSV.  You should continue to work with your doctor they can work with you on telling you what it is.  

[worryjewww]

Yes, he said it was just some kind of bacterial infection. He said it is normal for the puss to smell. I just want to know what the heck it was! And what caused it!

[petal130]

It's best to discuss treatment as such with your doctor. Surely he was aware of the puss and foul smell??

[worryjewww]

I've been on penicillin for 8 days now for a strep throat infection diagnosed the same day this rash/bumps started... it's getting better. Will the penicillin help with the rectal infection? It seems to be going away slowly...

[petal130]

Clearly you need to be seen again. Puss and a foul smell is completely indicative of a bacterial infection, which can be serious! Shingles or herpes will NOT smell or produce puss!

[worryjewww]

Blood test for herpes- negative. Still waiting on culture...

What the heck was this?! No one knows yet and it is getting better but the redness and bumps are still there and though they have stopped hurting mostly and oozing puss, they are there. It's been 8 days.

My doctor thinks it was shingles. But I am 23! How could I have shingles? Can stress bring out shingles? My dad had a heart attack last week and I was so stressed, having major diarrhea for a week! Then this happened along with my strep throat. Is this related?

[gracefromHHP]

something non-herpes is evidently going on causing it.  follow up on it with your provider.

[worryjewww]

so why the smell? there is white fluid/puss appearing over the red rash and they smell.... what is this from?

[gracefromHHP]

neither. herpes lesions don't have an odor no matter if they are herpes simplex or herpes zoster.

grace

[worryjewww]

Also, there is a distinct smell in the area of the outbreak- it is a very foul odor, when I touch where the blisters are and smell it, it smells awful. What is this more indicative of- shingles or herpes?

[gracefromHHP]

you've already been on valtrex so odds are that the culture will come back negative regardless :(

[worryjewww]

The dermatologist thought it may be shingles, did a culture so awaiting results... the tingling and pain is driving me nuts!

[gracefromHHP]

the first ob takes 2-3 weeks on average to run its full course.