Herpes Proctitis

I was diagnosed with genital herpes 11 years ago.  I also had unprotected anal sex with this person 16 years ago.  I have had 3 really bad episodes of diarrahea a couple of weeks ago.  A week ago I had bright red blood in the stool after a BM which was soft.  I went to the dr and he said my rectum was irritated and I have very minor pain around my anus.  He prescribed suppositories but they haven't helped a whole lot.  I am on suppressive valtrex and am female. Does this sound like herpes proctitis?  The dr couldn't feel any sores he just saw irritation from an anoscope.  He is going to send me for a colonoscopy.  I don't feel any fullness in my rectum or any pain anywhere except the rectum.  The dr said it was probably irritated from the diarrahea I have been having.  I was also diagnosed with IBS about 12 years ago.  I have had 2 colonoscopies in the last 12 years and nothing was ever found.  I only had one instance of the blood and another dr said it was probably a hermorrhoid since the blood was floating in the water.  I just don't understand the irritation in the rectum.  I am pretty worried about this.

[gracefromHHP]

I removed your other post since it was almost the same as this one.  Please read our read before posting post on this forum if you haven't already.

You have been examined properly and no one saw lesions. No reason to suspect herpes as a cause of this. Continue to follow up on this as it appears you already have scheduled to do.

grace

[carmen447]

I went to the dr on Friday and he is doing a culture for herpes proctitis.  I have only had blood in the stool twice this year but I have had either diarrahea or soft stools.  He is hoping it is only a hemorrhoid.  I have also been having a lot of burning and irritation in the vaginal area.  I did feel a small bump under the skin next to my vagina opening.  I don't know if that is what is causing all of this irritation.  With proctitis, would I have blood all of the time or only a few times and would my stools be soft or really bad diarrahea.  I only had 1 encounter of unprotected anal sex over 15 years ago.  Does it take that long for something like this to show up? I read somewhere that herpes proctitis usually shows up in the first episode of genital herpes and most of the time does not recur.  I have never  had problems here before and I was diagnosed with genital herpes 2, 11 years ago.  Any ideas?

[gracefromHHP]

as I said, it's not likely to be due to herpes.  You already have a diagnosis of ibs too which explains a lot of this too.

have you been tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally too? If things are "off" in your bowels, they can cause issues everywhere down yonder.  Do you take any probiotics for your bowels?

grace

[carmen447]

I don't take probotics.  I am seeing the dr tomorrow about this severe vaginal itching.  I don't have an sores but my vagina is extremely irritated and itchy.  I am having a colonoscopy on Friday so hopefully I can find out what is going on.  Still having soft bowel movements and the area right where the crack of our butts are is now all red and itchy.  Could herpes cause that many problems for me?  I have the extreme vaginal itching, anal itching, blood in the toilet only twice this year, 3 extremen bouts of diarrahea withing 2 weeks (didn't make it to the bathroom) soft stools and now redness and irritation in my butt crack. Is all of this herpes related?

[petal130]

As grace has stated twice now, it's not likely due to herpes. You have no reason to think so when IBS clearly could be the cause of the symptoms.

[carmen447]

Is there a possibility that they misdiagnosed the IBS and this has been herpes proctitis all along?  Why would I have so much diarrahea and soft stools for the last month?

[gracefromHHP]

Your gi doc isn't likely to do an exam on your vagina and proper testing for yeast and bacterial infections there. I recommend following up with your regular doctor or a gyn for those issues.

grace

[carmen447]

I just came back from the dr due to severe vaginal itching.  She did some test and couldn't find anything.  She is treating it as a yeast infection but she is not sure if that is what it is.  For the last 3 days I have had severe vaginal itching to the point where I made myself bleed.  I have been using yeast creams that did nothing.  I had 2 bumps under the skin, one near my vaginal opening that hurt and the other on the outside of my vaignal lips that didn't hurt.  I also started having itching right at the top my butt crack and it is now red and raw.  Could this be due to herpes?  I am on 1000 mg a day of valtrex for suppressive therapy.  Maybe it is not working any more.  I am going for my colonoscopy on Friday to see if there is any irritation in my colon.  

[gracefromHHP]

Did she give you oral diflucan this time for the yeast?


did she say if she felt it looked like herpes or not?


grace

[carmen447]

She gave me oral diflucan and the genital itching has pretty much stopped.  I have an irritating rash from my butt crack all the way down.  It has spread to the inside of my thighs.  I had my colonoscopy yesterday.  The found 2 hemorrhoids and took multiple samples of my colon to test for ulcerative colitis.  They said everything else looked fine.  I figured when they inserted the scope they would be able to see any lesions or ulcers around my anus or in my rectum.  They told me before they put me under that they test for everything.  I didn't mention herpes proctitis specifically.  I called them later and she asked my why I didn't mention it but I thought if I had it they could tell.  I am on 1000 mg of Valtrex suppressively but it is doing nothing for this rash and the irritation around my anal opening.  Would Valtrex help clear up this rash?

[gracefromHHP]

You've been posting this on hhp under copper correct?  Let's just keep it all in one forum instead of two - thanks!

grace