Herpes All Over Body?

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

Hi! I was wondering if you could help me with a problem I've been having for a few months now. About five months ago, in April, I tested positive for having the HSV virus through my OBGYN. I had gone in for a pap-smear and for possible hormonal imbalance blood testing that I thought might have been causing small bumps on my lower buttocks/thigh area. The bumps were small-dime sized and itched, especially if I sat on one wrong. I had the bumps starting early in March and they lasted until April, but cleared up before I went to my gyno, and only scars were left. She then had me tested a month later, which is when I came back positive for HSV. She said that I had come in contact with the virus sometime in the past year, and it would be another year until we would be able to effectively test to see which strain I had. (HSV-1 or 2). I was devastated, but my partner was very reassuring and caring about the whole situation. Over the last 4-5 months I have felt like I have been dealing with this issue a LOT though. I have had two distinct "outbreaks" where I will get headaches/feverish before I "break out." But usually a breakout consists of itching ALL over the body and no rash besides between 15-25 spread out (all over the body) TINY bumps that look smaller than flea bites. Hardly noticeable. They never appear in clumps or groups like "normal" herpes pictures suggest. And mind you, I will be itchy for days ALL over my body. Head, ears, inside the nostrils, face, neck, behind the ears, vagina (internally and externally) chest, arms, stomach, back, buttocks, thighs (front and back), calves (front and back) and even top of feet. At the time I had been diagnosed with HSV, it had been a year since I had gotten Chicken Pox for the first time. My symptoms of break out seem to be VERY much like my chicken pox symptoms, just my bumps are not "blistery," as they look more like tiny bug bites. Most of the time I'm just itchy EVERYWHERE... the area may not have a bump on it at all!! I am constantly scratching. Recently, about a month ago I had an outbreak, and after it recovered a week and a half later I had another outbreak! Very frustrating. My question is, could this virus have more of a correlation with my Herpes Zoster virus? Could you test positive for HSV if it's the Herpes Zoster virus? Or do the tests detect two completely different things? If it was the Herpes Zoster virus, does this sound like the symptoms? I am almost 19, and I thought that adults with the Herpes Zoster virus got more of painful, shingle symptoms, not so much itchy, scattered bump, chickenpox like symptoms. Please let me know what you think! Or if you just think this is normal herpes spread all over my body. Or if it's possibly something else? Please let me know! Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

do you know what herpes testing you had done?  no way to tell if you have been infected sometime in the past year and it certainly doesn't take another year to find out if you have hsv1 or hsv2. I'm very suspicious of the testing you had done. If it was blood testing, call tuesday and ask them to read your results to you, write them down and post them here - ie hsv1 igg 5.7 and hsv2 igg 2.3 or whatever they are.  

herpes will not cause issues all over your body.  you need to follow up on this with your provider or a dermatologist for a more proper evaluation.  also you could never mistake a herpes lesion for a flea bite.

zoster will not appear on this many body parts either.

grace

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

On my Lab Bill there is a list of all the tests they ran and the Herpes tests simply say "Herpes simplex I, each AB"  "Herpes simplex, type 2"  and "Herpes simplex II, each AB." My gyno called me personally to tell me the results but all she said was that I was positive. Would I call my gyno to find out the results? And what do those results mean? (hsv1 igg 5.7, etc.)

Does Herpes only occur in clusters? And couldn't it be spread to different areas of the body via your hands, or somebody else's hands?


I am appreciating the feedback!!

[gracefromHHP]

there are false positive issues so seeing the actual numeric results helps me figure out if you need additional testing done to confirm  your status. also we need to see if you had igg testing or not.  

no, herpes doesn't always occur in clusters. no you aren't likely at all to spread it all over your body via your hands.  

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

Alright, I will try to get the info from my gyno as soon as I can. What exactly is "igg" testing?

[curemeplease]

I also have itchiness all over the body exactly the way you describe.  It has been horrible and I haven't been able to sleep.  Nothing I take seems to help.

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

I think you should go get yourself checked out curemeplease! Do you have the red bumps symptoms? You should probably head to a doctor or planned parenthood and tell them your symptoms. How long have you been itching for?

[curemeplease]

i've been checked out several time now.  it all comes back to my hsv1 infection a few months back.  i've been plagued with problems.  but this is by far the worst.  i itch all over like you, including in the mouth and nose and ears.  i've been treated for bacteria and fungus but those haven't helped.  only herpes could cause this type of systemic itching with no relieif from antihistamines and antidepressants (elavil).  my itches last for a second or two then disappear.  i don't bother scratching since i know they will go away in a moment.

[ETS1]

Hi, did your itchiness ever go away? I have now had nerve itchiness/tingling all over the place for about 10 months. I have had three rounds of blood tests now, only thing confirmed is HSV1. Have had a couple of brain scans as well to rule out MS, tumours etc.

If it didn't go away did you ever find anything that helped reduce/manage it?

[gracefromHHP]

no, not only herpes can cause this. herpes isn't likely at all to cause these sorts of issues.  itching from herpes isn't only for a second or two either.

[InNeedOfAnswersPlease]

Grace, do you think this sounds like staph infection?

[gracefromHHP]

seeing a dermatologist at this point is the best course of action for better answers.

[Doublestandard]

Hi just want to follow up the itchy all over symptoms after being diagnosed herpes simplex 2 (actually not confirmed yet). My herpes symptoms on the genital area went away in about 5 days after taking valtrex. Now I am having these bug bite type of itchy red bumps on my thighs mostly. They look and feel exactly like mosquito bites. Sometimes it itches around the genital area but no symptoms at all. I have been getting two each night at first I thought has an allergic reaction to valtrex but I am no longer on it. So I think it has to do w the virus. I will speak to the dr. Tomorrow and let you know.

[lansie]

have you ever heard of diseminated herpes?

[Ughsoupset]

HAVE U gotten any answers?? I have this

[Doublestandard]

Hi just to follow up. I did spoke to a specialist at mt gynecologist's and she said it was unlikely it was herpes to cause the red bumps on my thighs and calves nor the medication had caused a reaction. Next stop my dermatologist.

While being attacked by these itchy bumps I noticed two diff red bumps on my bottock and I could tell the diff. Because I am back on valtrex these bumps reduced almost within a day.

I will see if further symptoms of either kind develops.

[janiny]

I am suffering simmilar sympoms. Started with a colsore tingling on lip, then very painful. A day before that I felt very unwell feverish, headachand exhasted. Then the lip and that night the very bad pain you feel in a cold sore through my chin into my mouth through toung up along to of the roof of my mouth up my face through my nose eyes. Stinging pain very sore and tingling sensations. Then today felt very unwell extreemly tiered, feverish hot and cold, aches and pains, stingy itching on all different parts of the body, front and back af legs, head, neck, arms. the wors thing is the feeling so unwell and the pain.  

[ETS1]

Hi, I am experiencing very similar symptoms, did this resolve eventually? How long did it last?

[NotUnderstandingthis2204]

I have everything you are describing. I recently tested positive for herpes too. I have bumps all over arms and trunk. I am scared I could pass to my children. The anti viral is not helping! It's driving me crazy!! I have been married for 6 years and just broke out in the last month and tested positive?? I do not see how this is possible.

[Ughsoupset]

Hi i have this to. Did u get any answers?

[kevin42894]

I'm having the same symptoms as well. I'm itching all over my body and little bumps appear that look like bug bites. I did allso have a sore throat and there was blisters in my throat and my lips were extremely chapped. My girl friend was told she had herpes from her doctor but we havnt gotten our test results back yet. Do the symptoms I'm having sound like herpes? I'm very worried please help if u can

[whiteshadowcgb]

any update as to what this actually was? was it all herpes related?

[bluejay000]

I'm another one who experiences these exact symptoms after being diagnosed with HSV 2, although my all over itching is much less severe, but the bumps itch and look like insect bites. So many of us with similar symptoms there must be something to it. Would be curious to know if anyone has any clarification about this. I asked a (straight out of uni) doctor and all they could say was "that's not herpes". I'm not convinced.

[catinbarefeet]

Your symptoms really don't sound like herpes. What they do sound like is hives. My dermatologist explained it this way - the way bug bites often work is that once you've had a bug bite, your body becomes susceptible to breaking out all over the body the very next time you get a bug bite. This was exactly what happened to me. She put me on an over the counter antihistamine (Claritin I think) for 3 weeks, and they went away. I suspect that if I'd started on them as soon as the hives started showing up, they would have been gone much sooner.

[sunshinemore]

From reading all these comments and hearing how everyone has herpes, some form of it.  Id say this itching and bumps is from that.  The break down of the immune system.  When you have a break down of the immune system skin issues develop. Example once you have mersa you can have psoriasis.  This could be excema and rashes. Doctors really need to run more tests and study this better.  These diseases affect the immune system which triggers a lot in people and everyone differently depending how you fight it.  Even Aids you get sores, why? because the immune system is failing.  Boost it up when you have herpes,  HPv, Epstein bar virus with vitamins , exercise and no stress, symptoms go away, a no brainer. But have stress, eat poorly don't take care of yourself more symptoms.  

[Carly255]

Did you start Valtrex suppression meds - hives is a recognised side effect.

I have tingling/prickly skin (maybe itchy on scalp) sensation on hands and head, all over the place for a few seconds. Valtrex side effects lists...

Allergic: Acute hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, pruritus, rash, and urticaria

http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2253

I think angioedema and pruritus are the ones to look at.
I can't work out if angioedema would cause the tingling/prickly sensation?

[Carly255]

A general search for symptoms of allergic reaction (which I guess would include drug allergic reaction)...

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/allergy-basics

...allergens cause a whole-body allergic reaction that can include:
- Hives and itching all over (not just in the exposed area)
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Hoarseness or tightness in the throat
- Tingling in the hands, feet, lips or scalp

I experienced nausea, slight tightening of throat, faintness and unsteadiness, drowiness which is why I started looking at Caltrex side effects, only then did I see Valtrex allergic reaction might also explain tingling in face/scalp/hands.

I've had all these symptoms since starting Valtrex beginning of ob, but didn't even consider drug reaction as just worried/scared re possible presence of hsv in all these places if I am infectious to others in these places.

Omg I'm exhausted with all the reading I've done (and depressed/scared), I feel I'm floundering in the dark looking for explanations!!

[lansie]

it's hell

[colourfulrainbow]

I have similar symptoms to you all.

I feel it is disseminated herpes but only affecting nerves and not organs (at least thus far).

Did anyone figure out what these pimples or bug bites are?  Did anyone get them swabbed?

I get them on my fingers, face, scap, mostly lower back, bum, thighs, calves.  I feel like I am a walking petrie dish.  Has anyone figured out what these are yet?  Any help or insight would be appreciated....I'm going crazy!

[Ughsoupset]

Hi have u gotten any answers?

[MsUnlucky1]

Yes! Thank you for your input!
This virus is most certainly evolving and causing much more than the regular symptoms would suggest.
I have recently been diagnosed with it (unfortunately from an inanimate object like a razor) which is also "unheard of" or "like getting stuck by lightening & winning the lottery on the same day" but after taking the medication to make the initial breakout below disappear, it seemed better.
I stopped taking the meds and went back to focusing on life, when about a month later (perhaps time for another breakout) of which i had only one sore below... i have had a rash all over me and spreading from within my skin whenever i scratch it for weeks now!
i took a steroid shot and pills thinking it was all poison ivy (of which i am also extremely allergic to).
And still the rash has not subsided, my skin is cracking from dryness and peeling and now my eye areas are getting swollen!
... about to go see if i can get a Zoster Shingles vaccine and if it does indeed lessen this side effect.. from which i am nearly positive is part of HSV-2. Therefore i consider myself extremely allergic to HSV2

[vickyindia22]

I hv silimar symptoms likr ur with hsv. not taking medicine