Aa
Im scared that i have Herpes!
Hi Please help.
Ive had symptoms of herpes over the last 5 weeks and am now extremely worried.
I had unprotected sex during a drunken sexual encounter on the 10/06 and 2 days later had a rash of red lumps on the inside foreskin of my penis and head.
I visited my doctor a week after the rash had appeared on my penis (bright red bumps varying in size) who advised did not look like herpes lesions and took a swab/culture which came back with light growth of candida albicans and moderate growth of skin flora. I was then advised to apply anti-fungal cream / steroid cream which i did for a week. I then started to experience tingling in my scrotum which continues today 21/07 and itchiness specifically on my scrotum and anus including stabbing pain in my penis. I went back to the same doctor advising of the new symptoms who then swabbed my lesions for herpes and took my blood/urine for STD tests (Hiv, Hpv, Ghonorrea, Hsv 1 + 2, Syfillis, Hep a + b) All came back negative other than hsv1 although was advised that this would've been from my childhood (I have had one cold sore my whole life when very young).
2 weeks later i visited a STD clinic for advise - The doctor advised that my symptoms did not represent herpes and believed that my symptoms were due to anxiety although agreed that my scrotum did show signs of irritation and also advised to continue use of a steroid cream, specifically hydrozole. Seeking another opinion i visited a doctor specializing in STD's who thought my symptoms represented balanitis and prescribed a steroid cream .002%. I used this where the tingling decreased the first day but had no effect over the other 9 days of use. I re-visited this doctor who on second look thought that my scrotum symptoms represent tinea cruris as i also had jock itch. Prescribed another anti fungal cream but i was hesitant to take due to all the creams that i have applied over the 5 week period.
Today:
My scrotum is bright red, the skin has started to flake, the tingling is continuing in my scrotum but moved to my hands/lips as well. My arm pits, groin and hip areas experience stabbing pain. My lips are dry, my eyes are itchy and dry. My anus/scrotum continues to itch. I have sharp stabbing pain throughout my groin area including the penis/stomach area, i have started to experience a sore lower back and neck and am at a loss on what to do next.
I don't believe that all these symptoms are due to anxiety?
I now believe that the overuse of creams have added to my symptoms specifically in flaking of my skin on my scrotum.
What is wrong with me?
Overview of Symptoms:
Fatigue
Shooting pain in testicle on occasion
Dry lips
Itchy/dry eyes
Itchy scalp
White coated tongue with spots
Sore throat in mornings only
Itchiness in genital area - specifically scrotum
Expanding feeling in scrotum skin
Redness in scrotum area (Bright Red)
Jock itch
Tingling scrotum (mainly when sitting)
Tingling Lips
Tingling Hands
Pain in stomach
Shooting pain in penis
Sharp pain in groin
Itchy genital area
Itchy anus
Muscle weakness/sensitivity
Depression
Brain fog
Memory lapses
Hard to concentrate at work
Small penis papules that weren't there previously
Fingertip sensitivity
Lower-back pain
Shoulder/neck stiffness
Red scrotum
Diarrhoea only 3 times
Pain in abs
Pain in groin
Pain in hip
Pain in heels
Pain in fingertips
Gassy
Did have:
Rash of Red lumps on penis and inner foreskin / none burst (used hydrozole/canesten cream and tablet which seemed to have worked or was this circumstantial?)
Reading online many herpes sufferers advise that on many occasions the above has happen to them.
Medication taken/applied:
Canesten antifungal cream and tablet ( 9 days)
Hydrozole (4 days)
Talc powder for tinea on genitals (4 days) extremely helpful but scared to dry out area
Pro-biotics (caused pimples and bloating) (1 week)
Antroquoril steroid cream 0.02% (1 week)
Ive had symptoms of herpes over the last 5 weeks and am now extremely worried.
I had unprotected sex during a drunken sexual encounter on the 10/06 and 2 days later had a rash of red lumps on the inside foreskin of my penis and head.
I visited my doctor a week after the rash had appeared on my penis (bright red bumps varying in size) who advised did not look like herpes lesions and took a swab/culture which came back with light growth of candida albicans and moderate growth of skin flora. I was then advised to apply anti-fungal cream / steroid cream which i did for a week. I then started to experience tingling in my scrotum which continues today 21/07 and itchiness specifically on my scrotum and anus including stabbing pain in my penis. I went back to the same doctor advising of the new symptoms who then swabbed my lesions for herpes and took my blood/urine for STD tests (Hiv, Hpv, Ghonorrea, Hsv 1 + 2, Syfillis, Hep a + b) All came back negative other than hsv1 although was advised that this would've been from my childhood (I have had one cold sore my whole life when very young).
2 weeks later i visited a STD clinic for advise - The doctor advised that my symptoms did not represent herpes and believed that my symptoms were due to anxiety although agreed that my scrotum did show signs of irritation and also advised to continue use of a steroid cream, specifically hydrozole. Seeking another opinion i visited a doctor specializing in STD's who thought my symptoms represented balanitis and prescribed a steroid cream .002%. I used this where the tingling decreased the first day but had no effect over the other 9 days of use. I re-visited this doctor who on second look thought that my scrotum symptoms represent tinea cruris as i also had jock itch. Prescribed another anti fungal cream but i was hesitant to take due to all the creams that i have applied over the 5 week period.
Today:
My scrotum is bright red, the skin has started to flake, the tingling is continuing in my scrotum but moved to my hands/lips as well. My arm pits, groin and hip areas experience stabbing pain. My lips are dry, my eyes are itchy and dry. My anus/scrotum continues to itch. I have sharp stabbing pain throughout my groin area including the penis/stomach area, i have started to experience a sore lower back and neck and am at a loss on what to do next.
I don't believe that all these symptoms are due to anxiety?
I now believe that the overuse of creams have added to my symptoms specifically in flaking of my skin on my scrotum.
What is wrong with me?
Overview of Symptoms:
Fatigue
Shooting pain in testicle on occasion
Dry lips
Itchy/dry eyes
Itchy scalp
White coated tongue with spots
Sore throat in mornings only
Itchiness in genital area - specifically scrotum
Expanding feeling in scrotum skin
Redness in scrotum area (Bright Red)
Jock itch
Tingling scrotum (mainly when sitting)
Tingling Lips
Tingling Hands
Pain in stomach
Shooting pain in penis
Sharp pain in groin
Itchy genital area
Itchy anus
Muscle weakness/sensitivity
Depression
Brain fog
Memory lapses
Hard to concentrate at work
Small penis papules that weren't there previously
Fingertip sensitivity
Lower-back pain
Shoulder/neck stiffness
Red scrotum
Diarrhoea only 3 times
Pain in abs
Pain in groin
Pain in hip
Pain in heels
Pain in fingertips
Gassy
Did have:
Rash of Red lumps on penis and inner foreskin / none burst (used hydrozole/canesten cream and tablet which seemed to have worked or was this circumstantial?)
Reading online many herpes sufferers advise that on many occasions the above has happen to them.
Medication taken/applied:
Canesten antifungal cream and tablet ( 9 days)
Hydrozole (4 days)
Talc powder for tinea on genitals (4 days) extremely helpful but scared to dry out area
Pro-biotics (caused pimples and bloating) (1 week)
Antroquoril steroid cream 0.02% (1 week)
OK, thanks so much for the feedback/response. All test came back negative. Now recently I've had some lesions pop up on the outside of my penis foreskin, very pimple like looking, in addition to this I have found red lumps on the inside of my penis head/skin. None are painful nor have oozed. I had the pimples for 3 days now and the lumps have presented themselves this morning. With all my tests coming back negative prior, am I overthinking this again? What are the chances I have herpes? I have had sexual relations with a woman in this time who has had a bacterial infection, so logically I should point my concern to this, but the hyperchondriac in me doesn't allow this. Please help!
Nope. That's not how the virus works at all. It stays in the nerve ganglia it's in. Doesn't move around.
So in addition to the above has anyone seen an outbreak to a completely different body part completely e.g blister in the mouth 6months after a possible infection?
I retested at 22 weeks and again had a negative result for hsv2. Some weird random things I've noticed occur with my body and not sure what to point it to. The itchiness is still there but not as intense(rss), could be linked to all the creams I applied. Additionally, I've had a few weird lumps appear in my mouth. One was a blood blister and another which looks like clear filled blister (inner lip) I've just had it checked at a local doctor who advised does not look like herpes and swabbed. Again awaiting results.
Update:
Blood test results: negative at 10 weeks.
Most of the above symptoms have subsided which tends to lead me to thinking that most were created through my anxious state. I still have an itchy anus and scrotum that tingles from time to time including stabbing pains in my penis.
The tingling has changed in my hands and feet to mild burning (this was only after i had read burning was a herpes symptom), and my underarm pain is constant although im constantly touching the area. I find the times im not concentrating on them the less symptoms i have.
I saw a dermatologist the other week who advised i have absolute no skin symptoms to indicate any issues in my genital area although i had saved pictures during a time of extreme itchiness (Scrotum bright red) where he agreed to some form of mild irritation. but suggested that my anxiety is probably a key cause here.
Im planning another blood test in a couple of weeks.
So to summarise ive seen approximately 6 doctors who all advised that this due to anxiety and my symptoms seem to escalate in times of stress/anxiousness.
Blood test results: negative at 10 weeks.
Most of the above symptoms have subsided which tends to lead me to thinking that most were created through my anxious state. I still have an itchy anus and scrotum that tingles from time to time including stabbing pains in my penis.
The tingling has changed in my hands and feet to mild burning (this was only after i had read burning was a herpes symptom), and my underarm pain is constant although im constantly touching the area. I find the times im not concentrating on them the less symptoms i have.
I saw a dermatologist the other week who advised i have absolute no skin symptoms to indicate any issues in my genital area although i had saved pictures during a time of extreme itchiness (Scrotum bright red) where he agreed to some form of mild irritation. but suggested that my anxiety is probably a key cause here.
Im planning another blood test in a couple of weeks.
So to summarise ive seen approximately 6 doctors who all advised that this due to anxiety and my symptoms seem to escalate in times of stress/anxiousness.
Some people show mild symptoms and others obvious symptoms. A really accurate result will be that one at 3-6 months after "exposure". I do not trust visual diagnosis(thats just my opinion). Have you stopped to take a breather? You seem pretty convinced that you have it. Our minds can play tricks when we overthink a situation like this. You should wait for lab results. I'm sorry I cant help more.
1 Comments
Thanks for your comment. Taking a breather is quite difficult unfortunately due to the constant tingling/sharp pain and itching in the area. I've organised a blood sample to be taken this week (7week Mark) as another doctor is quite confident that this is due to anxiety. Assured me herpes would not last this long. Additionally I've noticed that my hair follicles are raised. I was able to pop some which resembled a pimple popping. No idea if this adds any relevance. Anyway, Thanks again for your help :)
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
