Herpes Symptoms

[Jul2014]

Would someone be able to elaborate on Herpes symptoms and their timing for me. 7 weeks ago, I had an encounter that was protected, the only skin contact would have been the sides of my pubic mound and upper legs against the butt and upper backside of the legs of the other person. The encounter did not last very long and consisted of some bumping, but no excessive grinding.

Shortly after the encounter, I had a very bad cold that lasted about 2 weeks which was mostly congestion, sneezing, coughing, etc. No not really think I had a fever and I now wonder if this was really a cold, alergies or initial herpes symptoms.

I never noticed an lesions, at this time but about a month after the exposure, I started getting shooting pain in my lower back, down my legs, back of my knees and could occasionally feel it in my heels. This lasted for about 5 days. The pains went away but started back up a week later and lasted about the same amount of days. Went away again and I have been experiencing them now for the past 2 days. Would nerve pain associated with HSV2 act like this?  I also noticed that on the right side of my pubic mound, under a good amount of hair, I have a small pimple like thing that I believe has actually been there for a couple weeks I think (maybe showed up 5 weeks after exposure) that has never tingled, itched, ruptured or hurt at all. I was thinking it was just an ingrown hair.

I guess I thought my exposure was low risk based on the limited amount of contact I had. I also do not know if the timing and symptoms I am experiencing are typical. It seems like to much of a coincidence to be getting these types of pains that I am told are classic HSV2 symptoms. I am prone to major anxiety and this is driving me crazy.

I know I have to wait another month or so to get a blood test since I do not really have any lessions to swab, but I really want someone to tell me that I am crazy and that this does not all add up to having HSV2.

Please Help!

[Jul2014]

Would you be able to comment on the likely location of recurrent HSV2 outbreaks? Do these typically occur at the point of infection or really just randonmly appear anywhere in the boxershort region? Also, an outbreak has been described as either blisters or razor like cuts but would both be clearly visible on the skin? I am having a good deal of pain but can not really see any razor like cuts, just feels like razor cuts. As I said, the location where I am having the pain was clearly condom protected so it was not the infection site.

[Fleetwood20]

I agree that you need to wait until week 16 to be conclusive in a negative test.

As you have HSV1 it is true that the symptoms you have had are far more likely to be caused by something else. The flu at 2 weeks with nothing else is probably just the flu.

Have you checked with this partner as to their HSV status?

[Jul2014]

Would you be willing to comment on my situation. Life360 has been very helpful but I am stressing about a recent comment of your concerning HSV2 infection being mild to unnoticeable if already positive for HSV1

[Jul2014]

With regards to the sore appearing for a recurrent outbreak, would this normally be around the same place as the initial outbreak / site of infection? I am assuming that if I am getting significant nerve pain than my "outbreak" if that is what it is, may not be an initial outbreak, but rather a recurrent. It is hard to believe I would have missed the initial, but if I did, how quickly would someone experience a recurrent outbreak after the first? With such a quick recurrent would someone experience the type of prodrome that I described?

I am not seeing the types of sores that people typically describe, but 4 days after my recent back and leg nerve pain, i started to get a lot of pain in my penis. It hurts a lot but it is at the site where I just had a biopsy 3 weeks ago so I am not sure if it is related. I am just confused as the site in question definitely could not have been the site of infection but people tend to say that recurrent outbreaks can occur anywhere in the boxer short region.

[Life360_Dave]

With prodrome a sore would show up shortly there after maybe a few days. The pain comes when the sore reached the surface. Remember, the sore would be traveling up a nerve and sits on top of a never, this is why its painful

[Jul2014]

Thank you very much. Just one follow up regarding prodrome. Are prodrome symptoms normally followed by some sort of obvious lesions? If so, when would these lesions typically appear in relations to the prodrome symptoms? Is there usually pain associated with these leasions or could they show up and leave without me really noticing?

[Life360_Dave]

As mentioned these type of symptoms are called prodrome and is for someone who already has herpes, not from a new infection. your risk was low using the condom.

[Jul2014]

I was wondering if you agree with all of this and could possibly give me your opinion. I can not ignore the back / leg pain and think that it must be herpes (although i do not even know how prevalent of a symptom that is with HSV2).

Just looking for a second opinion and some peace of mind. Also, what is the likelihood of transmission from a one time encounter which is protected and no visible lesions on the other person anyway even if they have HSV2?

[Life360_Dave]

Depends on the person but often hsv2 genital could be quite painful hsv1 genital would be much milder and having hsv1 antibodies does help to some degree in acquiring hsv2.

[Jul2014]

I have had HSV1 for a long time but confirmed HSV2 negative via blood test back in March of this year. Would the initial OB of HSV2 be more mild or different than normal due to my HSV1 positive status?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, Only testing would confirm your status but the shooting pains your having would no appear as herpes related esp from a new infection. Those with herpes mention tingling prior to an outbreak anywhere in the boxer short area but any first time exposure would be at point of contact like the genital area. The pimple your describing also does not appear as a herpes sore as would be a blister or razor type cut that scabs over an heals inbout 2 weeks and also would often be more than one.