Numb Left Buttock - Symptom?

Hi,
I have been worried about having Herpes for 2 months now.

I currently have a sore tip of my penis. There has been no blister and the sore does not hurt, more an area of redness of the tip of penis on one side of the opening.

This started 2 months ago, went away and is now back. In between I has really sore itchy groin (between thighs) which seemed to improve with treatment as a yeast infection.

Also 2 months when the symptoms first became apparent I had a mild fever, loss of appetite all consistent with a virus.

In addition I have what can only be described as a numbness in my left buttock. My real question is around this symptom . I have read about Scatica like symptoms sometimes happening with Herpes, so I am wondering if this is what I am experiencing. Please can you confirm what Herpes symptoms exist like this.

Interested to hear from the medical experts or any one who has confirmed Herpes and gets such symptoms.

Thanks

Nick

[gracefromHHP]

you need to go and be seen and follow up on this. you can also request a herpes igg blood test to see what your status is.

grace

[fedupnick]

Grace,

Apologies, I forgot to mention I have been seen already at a GUM but this was before the recent buttock numbness.

I went to a UK GUM and saw a new doc who was accompanied by a consultant. They recognised my itchy groin and sore on the tip of the penis but advised it was herpes.

No test was offered for Herpes, though I was tested for everything else which came back all clear.

But that was almost 2 months ago so I am planning on going back.

What's your view on a) the buttock sensation and b) the chance of getting a blood test done by a UK GUM?

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

it's my understanding that unless you have an obvious lesion to culture, they don't offer the blood tests for herpes at the GUM clinics. You will need to seek it out specifically from a provider at this point. A visual diagnosis only of genital herpes is inadequate and needs confirmed with additional testing.  

could this be herpes? it could be so follow up on it and get better answers than it appears you've had so far.

[fedupnick]

Grace,

Apologies, what is a provider? Do you mean a private clinic?

And any thought on the buttock pain - really interested in your view on this one.

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

medical provider - doctor, PA, NP

[fedupnick]

Well I went back to the GUM today and then checked out a few "suspect" pimples on thighs etc which they advised were not Herpes.

They advised you can get buttock sensations with Herpes.

They said they don't do blood tests and I would need to go to a private clinic... but also that the results would not really tell me much.

Today my buttock pain remains and I now feel shivery and tired, like I did 2 months ago.

Could this be a recurrunce of Herpes. I've has not obvious lesions or blisters previously or this time but something is not right with me and I am really worried it's Herpes. Is it possible to get the fever and buttock aches with no other sympton other than a small sore area on the tip of m penis (which I have been told is not Herpes by 3 GUM doctors now).

This is starting to really effect me mentally and it's frustrating that no one can discount Herpes for sure.

No sure where to go from here....

:o(

[fedupnick]

Also, how long should buttock aches and fever last in a reoccurance?

[gracefromHHP]

you wouldn't get a fever with a recurrence - only the primary infection.

buttock pain would last no more than 2 weeks or so.

I say seek out the type specific herpes igg blood test at least 3 months after the last time you had sex prior to all of this starting. if it's hsv2 negative, seek out medical help for a possible nerve injury of some sort ( sciatica or something similar ).

[fedupnick]

OK, we'll I have had the buttock pain for 2 weeks now.

I've also just had a specific herpes igg test.

hsv1 was 0.47
hsv2 was 0.52

Are this results "normal"?

It's roughly 3 months since last having sex and 2 months since these symptoms begun. Which event should I be timing from? Is my test too early?

Today, penis and foreskin are red and sore AGAIN... just when I thought I was feeling better!

[gracefromHHP]

your hsv1 and hsv2 are negative.  you start the 3 month countdown from the last time you had sex prior to symptoms, not when symptoms began.

see your provider because whatever is going on, it's not likely to be herpes related.

grace

[fedupnick]

thanks Grace. What are the reliability of these tests at 3 months?

My last visit suggest that the symptoms were result of stress and anxiety, which I accept on many levels.

However there is no doubt I have an actual issue down there somewhere. My penis is red and sore again - here is hoping it's just more "thrush"?

I'll post back and share any useful feedback. At the very least my story would be a good case study for those whose symptons are anxiety related. At worse I do have herpes and time will tell.

[fedupnick]

Been back today and the GUM doctor accepts I have something going on down there.

He has taken a swap, but advises he would be very suprised if it come back +ve. He does not think it is Herpes (I forgot to mention the -ve Igg which I had done privately).

He suggested either fungal or irratation from shower gel.

I'm not convinced but will give the cream a good go over the next 10 days and avoid shower gel.

Beginning to think that I wish some one would just tell me it's herpes to put me out of my misery. Not knowing what the issue and the associated worry some times seems worse than having herpes itself.

[gracefromHHP]

it's not likely this is herpes going on with negative igg testing at the 3 month mark. only a small percentage of folks do not test accurately at that time.