New to forum and scared to death...

[latteplease]

I had what appeared to be genital Herpes a few months back but it cleared up without much in the way of pain/discomfort.  Approximately a week ago, I had unprotected sex-with an x-gf and I thought maybe she had given me chlamydia or gono so I took 1000mg of Zithromax and 500MG of Cipro to be safe (I realize self-medication isn't the way to go).  After I took this medicine, the following day I noticed a nickle sized red spot on the head of my penis. There was no visable blisters or anything of the sort.

The rash has spread and on the left side of my penis there is an open area that has a clear liquid on top, similar to what you'd expect from a burn victim.   Why does it seem like when I took those other meds, that this has caused other symptoms.  It is much worse now than the first time and the rash is around most of the head of my penis making it exteremly unconfortable.  But not a single blister or sore.  Just a very red, not tingling, rash type blemish that is very unsightly.  

I don't know if it's appropriate but I've taken a few pictures with my camera as i'm not sure if this is Herpes or not.  

Can anyone help me please? I'm too shy to visit my doctor at the moment due to the unsightliness of this.

[latteplease]

I'm 31 years old and never had anything like that before. How do I know where I caught it from? Is it traceable or testable?

I'd like to atleast know for sure what it was.  But that Triamcinolone cleared it up 100% in <5 days from start to finish. It was really bad before. I mean, my penis was sticking to my boxes because of the open sores.  Horrible feeling.  I feel like I have my life back now.    I'm hoping there are not re-occurrences :(

[whatsok]

If it's eczema, it of course can and will arise again. Your future partners should be told that eczema is not contagious. Whether they believe you or not that it's only eczema is another matter, but informing them you have been tested for STIs including herpes might be helpful. Also trying to avoid sexual contact during an outbreak might be a good idea until you have a partner who you've discussed it with.

It looks like shredded cheese? :-O    No wonder you were worried!

[latteplease]

Oh it was something for sure. I'm not over analyzing and saying it's that bad. I mean, it's really that bad.  Blood, puss, flakes and skin fissures. Really!

But anyways, I went to the doctor and was given some cream. 2 x per day

I smoked a few last night but not hard core.  I can't believe how well this skin cream has cleared me up. I mean, it's almost completely gone now. From a few days ago to now is a complete change. Totally changed area.

I'm thinking this was a eczema attack or a rash that I got from unprotected sex.  From now on it's condoms for me as I don't want to risk this horrible situation again.

One thing that I wonder is that if this situation can arise again. I mean, is this outbreak capable of coming back. I am a single guy so it's easy for me to stay sheltered during this outbreak but I can't imagine explaining this to a GF or Wife why my penis looks like shredded cheese. How does one start to confront a loved one?

[gracefromHHP]

I 2nd the congrats on stopping smoking!! Stick with it!! Put the money you'd usually spend on cigarettes into a jar and treat yourself to a vacation next year ( or be a responsible adult and put it into an investment fund, IRA ....no fun in that but it's still an option....he he he ).

grace

[whatsok]

Congrats on quitting smoking and great that you started the vitamins too. I'm no expert at all, but i can't imagine the eczema medication would clear up a herpes outbreak, esp if your dr. has diagnosed it as that and prescribed the ointment.

Good luck with your follow up test and let us know the outcome - the actual numbers if you are still confused about the test results you get.

[helpmeplease000001]

bro, you just gotta bite the bullet and see a doctor. i mean, its prob nothing too serious. you could have got jock itch or maybe a yeast infection. the fact is that, your so worried, prob checking it regularly, your likely making it worse man. your saying it doesn't hurt. herpes hurts. quit self diagnosising or medicating. your looking online too solve a problem, one you have no clue how too answer. bite the bullet and get checked out. it is probably nothing but too know forsure, get checked out.

[latteplease]

Since i'm wondering if maybe I had it before, i'll wait a month or so and get a blood test which should reveal if I previously had it.  I'm really surprised the doctor didn't do a swap or fluid test on the "flaky skin/fluid" that was present there.

That being said, I visited the doctor on Tuesday around noon and was given this cream. First application was around 5pm on Tuesday. It's Friday morning at 8am now and I can say that I am 70% healed. Words cannot describe what this rash/bleeding/clear fluid/flaky/puss looked like. Surprised it can be cleared up so quickly.

Thanks again for all the forum's help.  I'm hoping it's just eczema.  I've quit smoking now for 7 days because of it and will continue. Also taking vitamin's to get the immune system in shape.

Tough ride so far... Scared still

[gracefromHHP]

you really do need to listen to what the specialist told you. They don't feel it's herpes so no reason to think that it is. They really do typically know what they are talking about.   I suggested following up with the testing for your own peace of mind. The blood test needs to be done 4 months after the first time this all started, not 4 months after the rash goes away.

As far as your prior testing - no such thing as just having been exposed to herpes. You either have it or you don't.  I can help you better if you call for the results from the last blood test and post them here - ie hsv1 igg .45 and hsv2 igg .56 or whatever they are.

grace

[latteplease]

The skin specialist that said "this is not herpes" prescribed me Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.02%

I guess it's for eczema and not Herpes2.  

I'm at a loss what to do because it's so unsightly, yet not painful or itchy at the moment

[latteplease]

So follow up with a test 4 months after this rash goes away?   There are anti-bodies for HSV2 right? What specifically are they because I recall having a test done before and the doctor said that I had been exposed.

This really doesn't look like Herpes that I have (at the moment) and the doctor told me to take Claritan (since I already did for a cold) which would relieve swelling and a topical cream that is not an antibiotic.

Really wish I knew what caused this.....

[gracefromHHP]

At this point all you can do is follow up with a type specific herpes igg blood test 4 months from the last time you had sex prior to the first time you had these symptoms ( hope that makes sense...lol. )

grace

[latteplease]

Well, I'm back and confused even more so now. I went to the top hospital in my city and had an appointment with an infectious diseases specialist. That specialist, after seeing my symptions, referred me to a skin treatment specialist as he said it wasn't herpes.  I'm pretty sure I'd had those blisters before "down there" but this time looks totally different and is much more spread out and no blisters.

Anyways, he said in was an Eczema and definitely not Herpes. It just seems odd to be that the Zithro/Cipro I took on Saturday caused tingly feelings the same day, and then the next day I had an outbreak. I hadn't placed any odd chemical or touched myself with a foreign substance to warrant such an outbreak.

Any advise?

[latteplease]

Going to clean myself up today and go to see the doctor.  Just one item that does concern me is that I haven't seen a single lesion, blister or anything of the sort. But now the skin is soft, clear fluid, scabbing and it starting to be painful.

I appreciate everyone's response to this. Thank you

[waringblender]

Sorry, you're not going to be written up in the medical textbooks as a new disease entity that will alarm the doctor. Docs see far worse than what you have every single day.

Just grow a pair and get seen. It's ridiculous how the Intertubes have somehow turned everybody into self-diagnosing faux-physicians or weaselly cowards. I'm always sort of embarrassed for people who say "I'm too scared to go to the doctor." Yeesh.  Being scared of a doctor because of what you might find out is something a 10-year-old says. Not a grown man.

[gracefromHHP]

I encourage you to go and be seen today and to stop self medicating. You've now pretty much guaranteed that you won't get an accurate bacterial lesion culture if your provider suspects that as well as made it less likely that you'd get an accurat eherpes lesion culture and to top it off, increased your risk of a fungal infection from antibiotic use.

You need to suck it up and go and be seen. we can't really help you until you do.

If you read our read before posting post on this forum you'll see that we don't allow pictures to be posted and why we don't.

grace

[latteplease]

I appreciate the time it took you to reply to my message. It is the most unsightly thing I've seen and compared to the minor blister pictures i've seen on herpes.org, it is much worse.  It is not causing any tingle or pain at the moment but I've taken the day off work and being careful how I sit (wearing boxer shorts) because the skin is quite sensitive. I couldn't imagine wearing pants the moment.

I've taken a few tablets of 200MG acyclovir, but I guess that it's a little too late.

Is it possible that the Cipro or Zithromax caused this?

[waringblender]

I  have no patience for this "too scared to visit a doctor" garbage.

Just go and get whatever it is looked at. If you are too scared to go to a doctor to take care of your sexual health, then you shouldn't even be having sex. Just own up to it and go get seen.

[latteplease]

I know this is an open forum.  I'm quite scared here as the rash on my penis is looking disgusting. I'm too scared to visit the doctor because I know what the word will be.  I'm wondering why the outbreak when I took those other meds? Is that normal?

I guess this is HSV2 but how can I know?   I've never seen anything like this and am quite scared.

Anyone out there????