Nervousness.

Hi Doc,

I have been going crazy for sometime now. I initially felt a burning sensation on the side of my lip about the middle of June. I thought it was herpes. I saw a few little pimples with fluid in them come on the side of my lip. I scratched it, got nervous about it because I thought I looked hideous and then placed lipstick on my lips. Then I noticed small pimples under the surface of my lip everywhere on my lips. I had to stretch my skin for them to look prevalent. I went to the doctors and they said it could be a small cold sore. I shouldn't touch anywhere. I got paranoid that someone I had sexual relations with gave it to me. So I looked but using tissue and not my bare fingers.

The symptoms have been persistent all this time.. As in, my lips always itch and feel funny. I have been to the doctors seven times over June and July. One said my lips looked like an allergy. Then another said that my lips looked fine. I got paranoid so I bought one of those lip balms that I found on the Herpes Association website. I used it and it lessens the pain a bit. I have now seen ulcers in my mouth. and swellings under my skin under my top lip. Plus the nerves are enlarged towards the sore in my mouth.

I have put my hand in my mouth before to feel the sore.. But then I wash my hands immediately after with soap and water. I spoke to the lady from the Herpes Association and she said that I cannot re-infect myself after my initial event. I figured this must be the second event because of everything that has been happening before this one. I hadn't shaved in a while and I was wondering if that is the reason why the doctors cannot see my vagina well enough to see if I have anything down there. So I washed my hands and shaved. Then I took a bath and wiped myself dry. I then had a look myself with my hands because I thought that I couldn't infect myself with my hands because I had washed it. Do you think I could have infected down there?

Also, during one of my visits, the doctor gave me aciclivor, and I have been using it. I used it correctly for 3 days, but the last two days, I haven't been taking it at the right times. I haven't seen any changes in my condition. I have never been so worried and nervous in my entire life. Especially because the doctors are not telling me what it is. I showed one of the doctors the sore in my mouth and they said that it wasn't herpes. I showed them my small pimples on my lips and they say it's not herpes. I don't know what in the world is wrong with me and I have never felt like this in all my days. I feel very anxious, nervous and sad.

I hate these feelings and I just want someone to be straight with me and tell me what is wrong with me.

[gracefromHHP]

this is not the doctor's forum - you have to pay to post there.

you did not give yourself genital herpes.

oral herpes will not stay present this long with symptoms. whatever is going on, isn't all due to herpes if you even have oral herpes. see an ENT specialist at this point for a full work up to try to figure out what is going on.   Many things can cause symptoms like this from other viruses, wheat allergies, sensitivities to toothpaste/mouthwash/chewing gum ingredients etc.

grace

[shaunab1]

Thanks Grace. I will try again at the doctors. I haven't had a big sore on my lip, just the burning sensation and then i saw the little blister looking pimples. I have been putting zovorax on my lips and this lip balm business. But I have fluid filled boils in my mouth. Does this sound like it's still not herpes?  I have anxiety problems as is and this is making me go crazy. I think I am causing myself more harm than anything else. I have had a complete blood test and it came back negative but they do not offer herpes blood tests here. Only if you have a sore do they take a swab.  

[gracefromHHP]

I'd stop both of the herpes ointments on the lips to be honest. Neither of them do much to begin with and you want to make sure you aren't having reactions to anything. Also then if you get an obvious cold sore, easy to culture it for better answers too.

as I said, soooo many other things than herpes that can cause these issues. follow up with the specialist and hopefully you soon get answers and relief!

you can get herpes igg blood testing done in the UK. You have to go to a private doctor and pay out of pocket. The rates of hsv1 infection in the UK are similar to the US - 60% for adults so even if the blood test says hsv1+, it still really isn't the answers you need as to your symptoms at this point since many folks your age have hsv1 orally whether they know it or not. Herpes doesn't cause these sorts of symptoms this long so odds are it is something non-herpes going on, even if you do have hsv1 orally already. does that make any sense?

[shaunab1]

I am going home to Jamaica to get myself thoroughly checked.

The doctors here in the UK did a swab of the sores in my mouth the last time I went and it came back negative. I hope when I go home I can get the answers I need. The doctors did say that the rates for oral herpes were high here. I really wish I were able to avoid it, if this is really it.

It's very hard being a scientist, seeing things wrong with yourself and not being able to prognose the problem. The symptoms have cleared for the time being. My lips have stop getting swollen and the sores in my mouth have cleared.

I just hope I haven't done anything silly to re-infect myself if this is the case.

Thanks Again,

Shauna

[gracefromHHP]

the rates of hsv1 are about the same in jamaica too. not many of us make it through life without it.

lesions inside the mouth are typically canker sores and not herpes.

allergies to wheat as well as ingredients in toothpastes and lip balms can all cause these issues as well as many other things. follow up with a dermatologist  or an ENT specialist at this point to try to get to the bottom of it all.