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HSV 2 Advice
I added a post on infectious disease a few weeks back, and seem to be anxiety based: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Infectious-Diseases/Inguinal-lymphadenopathy-after-handjob/show/2728300
To recap, almost 12 weeks ago I had a handjob at erotic massage parlour. There was masturbation of course, but may or may not have been some direct penis-vagina contact when she pulled her front body over mine, which was unexpected, and this is what scares more as I am not certain.
Anyway, since then I have had a range of genito-urinary based presentations. For weeks now I have had all sorts of presentations. At about 3 weeks I had very tender groin, what I thought maybe tender lymphnodes, as well as back pain and all sorts of burning/tingling deep in the groin. This lasted a few weeks, with what I thought maybe a small lesion on tip of penis, which is still there even now. That post was at 5 weeks, and the response offered me some reassurance, but not for long.
By week 8 or so, much of the groin pains and back pains had eased up. However, at week 7, I got a rash on my penis, to the right side of the meatus. Also, a scanty, clear, urethral discharge started, intermittant, few days on, few days off. I have has some degree of sensitivity in my penis tip for almost 2 months now, varies in sensitivity, but is there most the time. The discharge also is variable, sometimes there, sometimes not. The rash on the penis extended into the forskin and so on over 2-3 days then regressed. But sensitivity remained. A similar rash on penis head to right of meatus is now back, no difference in sensitivity as it is always there.
No it should be very unlikely for me to get HSV this way. However, I did some tests last week (10.5 weeks after exposure). I was negative for HSV-2 IgG, positive for HSV-1 (which I expected, I get mouth ulcers often which I have always presumed to be HSV-1 and I know how common it is). A urethral swab was negative for chlamydia, gonnorrhea and both HSV1 and 2 via PCR, however, there was no discharge on the day. Urinary MCS showed nothing at all, no leukocytes, no growth, no fungal even (I have been thinking this may all be fungal infection maybe).
However, after the tests, this rash is back, so not certain what to make of all of this. Should I now relax on STD and 'move on', or still be concerned? If not STD/genital herpes, then what else could it be? I have consciously tried to not be obsessive in looking, checking, washing penis etc, but hard for me to judge how good I have been at this.
So, evidence for HSV maybe potential exposure however unlikely, development of a 'lesion' 3 weeks later following a week or so of penis sensitivity (this 'lesion' is still there), followed by intense GU symptoms of pelvic pain, back pain, groin tenderness and lymphadenopathy lasting about 10 days. Then a rash at 7 weeks, a groin rash at about 9 weeks (did not mention that, right sided mostly, looked very fungal, lasted 3 days or so with no treatment and now gone. Now the return of the penis rash that does not appear vesicular.
Evidence against this is the fact that transmission from my exposure should be unlikely, very different set of symptoms in first 14 days (frequency, bloating, local pain in groin, what I thought to be an enlarged prostate, weight loss) which does not fit normal HSV2 picture after exposure in this time from, the continuous sensitivity of penis is also not typical, and then the tests although I now doubt them again in terms of false negatives.
So I need some further advice on this please.
To recap, almost 12 weeks ago I had a handjob at erotic massage parlour. There was masturbation of course, but may or may not have been some direct penis-vagina contact when she pulled her front body over mine, which was unexpected, and this is what scares more as I am not certain.
Anyway, since then I have had a range of genito-urinary based presentations. For weeks now I have had all sorts of presentations. At about 3 weeks I had very tender groin, what I thought maybe tender lymphnodes, as well as back pain and all sorts of burning/tingling deep in the groin. This lasted a few weeks, with what I thought maybe a small lesion on tip of penis, which is still there even now. That post was at 5 weeks, and the response offered me some reassurance, but not for long.
By week 8 or so, much of the groin pains and back pains had eased up. However, at week 7, I got a rash on my penis, to the right side of the meatus. Also, a scanty, clear, urethral discharge started, intermittant, few days on, few days off. I have has some degree of sensitivity in my penis tip for almost 2 months now, varies in sensitivity, but is there most the time. The discharge also is variable, sometimes there, sometimes not. The rash on the penis extended into the forskin and so on over 2-3 days then regressed. But sensitivity remained. A similar rash on penis head to right of meatus is now back, no difference in sensitivity as it is always there.
No it should be very unlikely for me to get HSV this way. However, I did some tests last week (10.5 weeks after exposure). I was negative for HSV-2 IgG, positive for HSV-1 (which I expected, I get mouth ulcers often which I have always presumed to be HSV-1 and I know how common it is). A urethral swab was negative for chlamydia, gonnorrhea and both HSV1 and 2 via PCR, however, there was no discharge on the day. Urinary MCS showed nothing at all, no leukocytes, no growth, no fungal even (I have been thinking this may all be fungal infection maybe).
However, after the tests, this rash is back, so not certain what to make of all of this. Should I now relax on STD and 'move on', or still be concerned? If not STD/genital herpes, then what else could it be? I have consciously tried to not be obsessive in looking, checking, washing penis etc, but hard for me to judge how good I have been at this.
So, evidence for HSV maybe potential exposure however unlikely, development of a 'lesion' 3 weeks later following a week or so of penis sensitivity (this 'lesion' is still there), followed by intense GU symptoms of pelvic pain, back pain, groin tenderness and lymphadenopathy lasting about 10 days. Then a rash at 7 weeks, a groin rash at about 9 weeks (did not mention that, right sided mostly, looked very fungal, lasted 3 days or so with no treatment and now gone. Now the return of the penis rash that does not appear vesicular.
Evidence against this is the fact that transmission from my exposure should be unlikely, very different set of symptoms in first 14 days (frequency, bloating, local pain in groin, what I thought to be an enlarged prostate, weight loss) which does not fit normal HSV2 picture after exposure in this time from, the continuous sensitivity of penis is also not typical, and then the tests although I now doubt them again in terms of false negatives.
So I need some further advice on this please.
So 2 days short of 12 weeks post my potential exposure, I had another negative IgG for HSV2. The did the IgM incorrectly at first, which was also negative. I had another PCR on a swab from urethral meatus and this little rash next to it, also negative, but these 'false negatives' still get me. I think I must have confidence now that at 12 weeks a negative IgG is good enough to be quite certain what ever is happening to my genitals is not herpes.
I did a MCS on the swab too, and nothing, no bacteria, no yeast/fungi, nothing, so not fungal either. Then what? I have been using a vaginal antifungal for 7 days now, and no real improvement?Can the rashes, constant sensitivity, groin pain and all that actually be a manifestation of anxiety? Really? I can understand pain etc, and even lymphadenopathy if I was always prodding there, but rashes can't be imaginary can they.
Anyway, in case other read this in the future, this is my story, and so far so good. My wife and I have moved through the difficult issues, and we will likely make love soon enough again, can I be mentally strong enough to be certain I can't give herpes, we will see, if only this sensitivity then it would help.
Thank you again for your advice.
I did a MCS on the swab too, and nothing, no bacteria, no yeast/fungi, nothing, so not fungal either. Then what? I have been using a vaginal antifungal for 7 days now, and no real improvement?Can the rashes, constant sensitivity, groin pain and all that actually be a manifestation of anxiety? Really? I can understand pain etc, and even lymphadenopathy if I was always prodding there, but rashes can't be imaginary can they.
Anyway, in case other read this in the future, this is my story, and so far so good. My wife and I have moved through the difficult issues, and we will likely make love soon enough again, can I be mentally strong enough to be certain I can't give herpes, we will see, if only this sensitivity then it would help.
Thank you again for your advice.
Many of us have been through the same thing. Although the experince of most people is to wake up one day and go "look at these little lesions on my junk that itches like crazy".
Try to calm down, apply the creams and take medicine that doc has prescribed. You'll reach a point maybe a few weeks ago when you say "hey, there's no way I have herpes". I hope that day is sooner rather than later, but it is a day that will come.
Try to calm down, apply the creams and take medicine that doc has prescribed. You'll reach a point maybe a few weeks ago when you say "hey, there's no way I have herpes". I hope that day is sooner rather than later, but it is a day that will come.
OK, yes, I get it, but it is so hard to push past any doubt. Anxiety is a terrible state to be in! Sometimes I like to think that ignorance really is bliss! But I cracked, exactly one week later I have gone for another IgG HSV test and a swab MCS and PCR for HSV2 of this rash. How many will I need? It is the recurrence of a similar rash, and now this morning the groin rash is back too, excoriation on the right side and painful, with erythema, so my head goes round and round.
Thank you so much for 'entertaining me' with reassurances. I realise it may divert time away from those with HSV2 that need more urgent advice in addition to reassurance themselves. Once I get over all this, I would like to consider helping others here too if that is possible? Pay back the benefit I have received in my on-going stress and inability to accept logical reasoning.
I will post my updated results none-the-less. Thanks again, I am felling better at 1:5000, let alone 1:100000!
Thank you so much for 'entertaining me' with reassurances. I realise it may divert time away from those with HSV2 that need more urgent advice in addition to reassurance themselves. Once I get over all this, I would like to consider helping others here too if that is possible? Pay back the benefit I have received in my on-going stress and inability to accept logical reasoning.
I will post my updated results none-the-less. Thanks again, I am felling better at 1:5000, let alone 1:100000!
As you can see, even your conservative maths suggests there was 1 in 5,000 chance of infection. You are way out too by the way, it is more like 1 in 1,000,000. The no obvious symptoms of herpes makes that even longer still.
Would I be correct in thinking the following:
- chances the 'therapist' had HSV2 is high (lets say 100%)
- 10 - 20% chance she could transmit the virus on any given day
- 1 in 100 chance to transmit the virus to me with the handjob and possible very brief genital to genital contact which I do not to know if it even happened
- 10% chance of a IgG test for HSV2 to be a false negative at almost 11 weeks post exposure
These are conservative, but maybe overall put me at low risk (well less than 1% chance?), yet there was some form of lymph node groin issue with back pain for a week or so, with continuous penile pain and some what are now recurrent lesions/rashes.
I know this is irritating if this is anxiety, so apologies for the post in that sense, and thank you for your comments. It has helped alot!
- chances the 'therapist' had HSV2 is high (lets say 100%)
- 10 - 20% chance she could transmit the virus on any given day
- 1 in 100 chance to transmit the virus to me with the handjob and possible very brief genital to genital contact which I do not to know if it even happened
- 10% chance of a IgG test for HSV2 to be a false negative at almost 11 weeks post exposure
These are conservative, but maybe overall put me at low risk (well less than 1% chance?), yet there was some form of lymph node groin issue with back pain for a week or so, with continuous penile pain and some what are now recurrent lesions/rashes.
I know this is irritating if this is anxiety, so apologies for the post in that sense, and thank you for your comments. It has helped alot!
Actually I think your assessment is very balanced and I agree that you are leaning toward this not being herpes, it doesn't seem to be at all.
Note that your mouth ulcers are probably not related to HSV1; I'd suggest you carry an asymptomatic oral infection.
As a male, this gves you immunity against genital HSV1 which would be the main risk as miniscule as it is. So that is further evidence against an infection.
Whatever it is, it is damn annoying. I hipe they hit acorss the right antibiotic, steroid cream etc. that fixes you rght up!
Note that your mouth ulcers are probably not related to HSV1; I'd suggest you carry an asymptomatic oral infection.
As a male, this gves you immunity against genital HSV1 which would be the main risk as miniscule as it is. So that is further evidence against an infection.
Whatever it is, it is damn annoying. I hipe they hit acorss the right antibiotic, steroid cream etc. that fixes you rght up!
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Yeah, anxiety and guilt because of what I did, or anxiety because I should be anxious as this is actually HSV2 with false negative results at this time. It does drive one totally insane I must say.
I think annoying is an understatement to say the least. Thank you so much for the comments and time, like heart attacks symptoms, I am sure a lot of 'nut-cases' are here with anxiety that must be difficult to help. I am now so convinced the HSV2 IgG is a false negative, no matter what I do, that is getting worse. So I am back to where I started in mind frame as before the tests, which the tests was supposed to 'cure'.
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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.
