Possible Herpes Symptoms timeline

[Scaredee]

I'm trying to understand the timeline of a possible Herpes infection - I've had some symptoms that have me scared, but after research and watching the progress of the symptoms, I'm beginning to doubt Herpes.  It's too late for a culture and too early for a blood test.  Trying to ease my fears a bit here.

I'm female, known to be all STD free until an episode in late January of unprotected sex with someone I don't know and can't contact.  Big mistake - I know.  17 or 18 days after, I found a small bump on the inside of my labia.  I tend to have lots of normal "chicken skin" looking bumps anyway, and this looked like one of those too, but a bit inflamed and irritated.  I watched it for a few days, and then picked at it with a tweezer thinking it was an ingrown hair.  The spot got kinda blister like in the day after picking it, then healed in another 12-24 hours to look exactly like a chicken bump, ingrown hair again, but still pretty irritated and inflmed.  6 days after that, I started to come down with a cold or flu - feeling icky, congested, sore throat.  No real fever.  Bump is still there, but returning to normal.  Cold symptoms gone now (2 days later), and so is the bump.  Well, it's still there, but looks just like all the other normal bumps in that area.  

I called Planned Parenthood to see about a culture, but by the time I thought about Herpes, it was likely too late - 5 days after the onset.  Now I think I'm stuck waiting for a 12 week blood test?  That's a long time away - it's barely been 4 weeks since the possible exposure.  I will be tested for everything at 6 weeks and again at 12, but wondering if this sounds like herpes?  The sore never broke open, it never crusted over or scabbed, just looked a little blister like when I picked at it.  

I'm so nervous - can't sleep.  Would love some reassurance.

[Scaredee]

No Gardasil - I think I'm too old - wasn't available when I was a teen.  And I'm not too worried about my fertility.  I'm 42, have my 2 beautiful kids already.  Just really worried about having gotten something I could pass on, like Herpes, or that will effect my long-term health, like HIV.  I suspect my regular Doc will look for anything HPV related when I have my pap later this year - had some squanamous cells at last year's pap, so they ran the HPV test and it was negative.

Wishing it had all never happened.  But it did, so now I just need to be responsible, clean up my mess, and make sure I don't have a problem.

[gracefromHHP]

no danger in waiting since it's only weeks, not months/years so no risk to your future fertility.

usually no one will test you for hpv. as it is we only can test for the types of hpv that infect the cervix.  did you have your gardasil shots?

[Scaredee]

Thanks Grace for the comment.  That's kindof what I was thinking - the cold/headache was after the blister, but my head is creating all kinds of fears around this stupid encounter.

So, I was planning to head to a clinic for syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea in 2 more weeks - at the 6 week point, so I could do all of them at once.  Bad idea?  Is there danger in waiting?  I'm not sexually active with anyone else right now, and won't be until I know I'm clean.   Then planning to go back at 12 for HIV and Herpes.  Is it possible to get a reliable result for either Herpes/HIV/HPV earlier than 12 weeks?

thanks so much!

[gracefromHHP]

flu like symptoms with herpes occur right before or with symptoms, not afterward.  your symptoms you describe sounds like a cold, not the flu like symptoms of herpes.

as you already know, nothing else you can do at this point. if you get a return of symptoms , be seen promptly for an exam, otherwise follow up with blood testing at the appropriate time.

you can be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea now if you haven't been already. syphilis anytime after 6 weeks post encounter. hiv and herpes at the 3 month mark.

grace