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Is it Herpes or Something Else?
Hi,
I am a 32 year old female, divorced mom of two. Sexually active with one partner, but had a few partners up until recently (all of which we practiced safe sex).
I am anxiously awaiting my test results for Herpes and am praying to God that my test results come back negative. I need help, reassurance, and suggestions as to other potential causes for the bumps incase it's not Herpes (which I'm praying for).
About 2 days ago, I noticed a line of red bumps (4 of them) on the outer labia (left side where my underwear line is) and thought they were ingrown hairs, so I plucked them (I do shave this area, so ingrown hair follicles just made sense). After plucking each of the red bump's hair follicle out, they got kind of irritated and red and went back to being just a line of red dots. However, the next day I noticed another red bump, but this time it was located in between where my labia meets the vagina (where it's a little more moist and where I typically do not shave). This had me thinking and very worried that it could potenially be something much worse than a hair follicle issue. I went to the doctor and she swabbed for Herpes, but that's it. She wrote me a script for Valtrex in which I've taken 4 times since being to the doctor. The morning after taking the 2 Valtrex pills, the line of red bumps were still there, and there were addtional bumps on the other side of my vagina, 1 on the upper right labia and another couple sporadically placed in and around my vagina. Now I'm freaking out. Here's a few things I noticed about the bumps:
They are red, then I noticed a few have a white center that could pop, like a pimple. I popped a few and had slight discomfort but they were not painful. They are all a littl irritated and uncomfortable, (especially when my underwear rubs against them) but I would not say they are painful. Also, I did not have a fever or flu like symptoms.
Also, I have a history of staph infections, yeast infections (but never have they caused blisters), bacterial vaginosis, and last Jan, an unexplainable all over body rash that no one could diagnois, but reacted well to antibiotics.
Please somebody tell me it's not herpes. I was told herpes do not have white heads or white centers and that they are very painful (which mine aren't). Also, have been told a fever or flu accompanies the first outbreak. I can't tell by the photos out there because I'm not sure what I'm looking for.
The other causes that I've been told they could be are:
Molluscum contagiosum
Strep-B
Bacteria Infection of some sort
Yeast Infection
How can I tell these apart? Please any response at this point will help me
I am a 32 year old female, divorced mom of two. Sexually active with one partner, but had a few partners up until recently (all of which we practiced safe sex).
I am anxiously awaiting my test results for Herpes and am praying to God that my test results come back negative. I need help, reassurance, and suggestions as to other potential causes for the bumps incase it's not Herpes (which I'm praying for).
About 2 days ago, I noticed a line of red bumps (4 of them) on the outer labia (left side where my underwear line is) and thought they were ingrown hairs, so I plucked them (I do shave this area, so ingrown hair follicles just made sense). After plucking each of the red bump's hair follicle out, they got kind of irritated and red and went back to being just a line of red dots. However, the next day I noticed another red bump, but this time it was located in between where my labia meets the vagina (where it's a little more moist and where I typically do not shave). This had me thinking and very worried that it could potenially be something much worse than a hair follicle issue. I went to the doctor and she swabbed for Herpes, but that's it. She wrote me a script for Valtrex in which I've taken 4 times since being to the doctor. The morning after taking the 2 Valtrex pills, the line of red bumps were still there, and there were addtional bumps on the other side of my vagina, 1 on the upper right labia and another couple sporadically placed in and around my vagina. Now I'm freaking out. Here's a few things I noticed about the bumps:
They are red, then I noticed a few have a white center that could pop, like a pimple. I popped a few and had slight discomfort but they were not painful. They are all a littl irritated and uncomfortable, (especially when my underwear rubs against them) but I would not say they are painful. Also, I did not have a fever or flu like symptoms.
Also, I have a history of staph infections, yeast infections (but never have they caused blisters), bacterial vaginosis, and last Jan, an unexplainable all over body rash that no one could diagnois, but reacted well to antibiotics.
Please somebody tell me it's not herpes. I was told herpes do not have white heads or white centers and that they are very painful (which mine aren't). Also, have been told a fever or flu accompanies the first outbreak. I can't tell by the photos out there because I'm not sure what I'm looking for.
The other causes that I've been told they could be are:
Molluscum contagiosum
Strep-B
Bacteria Infection of some sort
Yeast Infection
How can I tell these apart? Please any response at this point will help me
the actual numeric values for both of your tests aren't related at all. One being higher than the other tells you nothing since they are both negative.
did they type your culture? if not, call them monday and ask them to call the lab to see if they still have your sample to order it typed.
did they type your culture? if not, call them monday and ask them to call the lab to see if they still have your sample to order it typed.
not all HSV has to have crusty blisters, a lot of times, MILD herpes can look just like a pimple, just like a papercut, when I get herpes on my lips, they NEVER burst, or grow that nasty watery crap, they are just big ol' fever blisters that hurt like hell, swell up, and the last ones took months to go away, when one healed, another one popped when I would squeeze my skin almost like they are hiding underneath, if I touch my skin right now and squeeze it, another one will come out, I have basically destroyed my lip area, I have scars now. HSV also can just be a burning feeling with no sores ever breaking out, or it can just be one blister that you think is an ingrown hair or pimple. Sometimes you just get burning feelings and nothing ever comes out. Everyone has a different story depending how strong your body is it can fight the ******* and you might just get chills, feverish, but never sores.......if you believe you have it, you probably do. Please be careful to those around you, you can spread it as I spread it to my sibling by toothpaste.
Iggs were both negative.
My HSV 1 was 0.24 and my HSV 2 was 0.09. My doctor said that this was recently acquired. I asked her what she meant by recent and she said that this could not have come from a past partner, but from the one I am currently with. I said not even from someone 3 months ago? And she said no, that I would have developed some antibodies by now if it was from a partner 3 months ago. She said to come back a retest in 4 weeks and that I will definitely show antibodies at that point.
Does this sound right?
Also, because my HSV 1 is showing slightly higher of a number, does this indicate that it's most likely genital HSV 1 that I have?
Thanks for your help.
My HSV 1 was 0.24 and my HSV 2 was 0.09. My doctor said that this was recently acquired. I asked her what she meant by recent and she said that this could not have come from a past partner, but from the one I am currently with. I said not even from someone 3 months ago? And she said no, that I would have developed some antibodies by now if it was from a partner 3 months ago. She said to come back a retest in 4 weeks and that I will definitely show antibodies at that point.
Does this sound right?
Also, because my HSV 1 is showing slightly higher of a number, does this indicate that it's most likely genital HSV 1 that I have?
Thanks for your help.
was your culture hsv1 or hsv2+?
did you also have igg blood testing for herpes done too?
if your current partner tests negative on his igg blood testing then you know it didn't come from him.
did you also have igg blood testing for herpes done too?
if your current partner tests negative on his igg blood testing then you know it didn't come from him.
Grace and Maggie -
My swab came back positive. I'm so confused. I'm scared and slightly depressed which I know are normal emotions at this time. I understand this is not the end of the world, but to me at this time in my life, it's not something I had ever envisioned would happen to me.
Moving forward, I have a new questions that you or someone else can help with. Over the past two weeks, I've had sex with my partner (unprotected)4 times, (I am on a very efficient BCM though) This "breakout" occured the day after our last sexual encounter.
I have reason to believe this breakout is my initial case, because I have not ever had any symptoms and never any blisters down there like this before.
First - What are the chances that this is from my current partner? Don't the initial outbreaks usually occur from 2-14 days after exposure? He's the only one I've been having unprotected sex with since my ex husband (I was married 10 years and my ex was STD free, that I know of).
Second - I plan on telling my current partner (this scares me to death, but I know it's the right thing to do), and I think I'm actully falling in love with this man. He's never had any signs of herpes before and trust me, I've seen everything of his up close. I do know that he could have it but not be symptomatic. What are the chances of this? I also heard alot of men breakout in their anus (this part of him I have not seen up close).
However, the person that this is, I feel would tell me, as he's a man full of integrity and very honest about everything.
If it's not from him, then I'm at a loss. I really don't think it would have laid dormant all these years (having contracted it from my ex or previous partners) - does anyone know if it's more likely that my inital outbreak is the "classic" type (2-14 days after exposure)? Or, the dormant type? What's more typical???
My swab came back positive. I'm so confused. I'm scared and slightly depressed which I know are normal emotions at this time. I understand this is not the end of the world, but to me at this time in my life, it's not something I had ever envisioned would happen to me.
Moving forward, I have a new questions that you or someone else can help with. Over the past two weeks, I've had sex with my partner (unprotected)4 times, (I am on a very efficient BCM though) This "breakout" occured the day after our last sexual encounter.
I have reason to believe this breakout is my initial case, because I have not ever had any symptoms and never any blisters down there like this before.
First - What are the chances that this is from my current partner? Don't the initial outbreaks usually occur from 2-14 days after exposure? He's the only one I've been having unprotected sex with since my ex husband (I was married 10 years and my ex was STD free, that I know of).
Second - I plan on telling my current partner (this scares me to death, but I know it's the right thing to do), and I think I'm actully falling in love with this man. He's never had any signs of herpes before and trust me, I've seen everything of his up close. I do know that he could have it but not be symptomatic. What are the chances of this? I also heard alot of men breakout in their anus (this part of him I have not seen up close).
However, the person that this is, I feel would tell me, as he's a man full of integrity and very honest about everything.
If it's not from him, then I'm at a loss. I really don't think it would have laid dormant all these years (having contracted it from my ex or previous partners) - does anyone know if it's more likely that my inital outbreak is the "classic" type (2-14 days after exposure)? Or, the dormant type? What's more typical???
Hi Hopeful711!!! My name is Maggie, I was reading your post and this seems to be the exact issue I had, I was wondering how you made out with your test results? Herpes or no Herpes??? My culture came back positive for Herpes but for some reason I just don't believe it because it doesn't make sense, none of what I had feel or look like herpes..who knws though!! Hope your test was good results!!!!
Grace,
Ok, some of the blisters/pimples I sqeezed are now red and crater-like (pink in the middle with a red circle ring around the sore area). There's a few other red bumps that had the whitish fluid come back (these were ones that popped and drained already).
Do herpes sores typically burst a white head or white fluid then re-fill again like a pimple? I thought with Herpes that once they drain, they crust over. Only one of the bumps looked like it could have been defined as "crusted over" but that's one that was right in a hair follicle.
Also all of these bumps/blisters seemed to have come up from underneath the skin with a red base and a white center.
Still taking Valtrex (3 days now).
Hoping to get my results tomorrow. I am a little worried, as my symptoms are starting to look like herpes.
Ok, some of the blisters/pimples I sqeezed are now red and crater-like (pink in the middle with a red circle ring around the sore area). There's a few other red bumps that had the whitish fluid come back (these were ones that popped and drained already).
Do herpes sores typically burst a white head or white fluid then re-fill again like a pimple? I thought with Herpes that once they drain, they crust over. Only one of the bumps looked like it could have been defined as "crusted over" but that's one that was right in a hair follicle.
Also all of these bumps/blisters seemed to have come up from underneath the skin with a red base and a white center.
Still taking Valtrex (3 days now).
Hoping to get my results tomorrow. I am a little worried, as my symptoms are starting to look like herpes.
Hi Grace!
No, neither of us has had testing that know of until me just the other day and my doctor wanted to do the swab test first.
Something else I thought of this morning -
Are herpes always in clusters? Mine are all singular red bumps with whiteish centers, some popable like a white head, others popable more like a small blister. the ones along my hairline where I shave, I plucked then a little center dot appearred in the middle. The next day, a white head, which I poped, then this morning, the white heads were back! Have you ever heard of whiteheads on Herpes sores?
Thanks for finding my question!
No, neither of us has had testing that know of until me just the other day and my doctor wanted to do the swab test first.
Something else I thought of this morning -
Are herpes always in clusters? Mine are all singular red bumps with whiteish centers, some popable like a white head, others popable more like a small blister. the ones along my hairline where I shave, I plucked then a little center dot appearred in the middle. The next day, a white head, which I poped, then this morning, the white heads were back! Have you ever heard of whiteheads on Herpes sores?
Thanks for finding my question!
these don't really sound like herpes going on.
have you ever had type specific herpes igg blood testing done? has your partner?
grace
have you ever had type specific herpes igg blood testing done? has your partner?
grace
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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.
