Possible Herpes?

[bambooshoot]

Hi all,

I have slept with three different women, all of whom I was dating in some capacity, since October. Perhaps ten incidents of sex split between all three. Prior to this, I was in a lengthy monogamous relationship.

On Monday night, I wore a new pair of jeans, a brand I've not worn before, and which were not stonewashed at all, so dyed very dark blue. I went out for drinks, more than I would usually drink.

When I woke up on Tuesday, I had an area of general redness just above my pubic area/about two inches below my stomach, that stung/burnt. I immediately went to the GUM after googling the symptoms and scaring myself thinking it might be genital herpes. They had a look, and a said it might be, but it was too early to tell, and that I should come back if it changes/if I develop blisters.

If hasn't got any better since then; I've taken a photo of the area each day, (slightly larger than a nickel, with a small thin line of indentical symptoms adjacent to it). It's been very painful every day, like a really bad sunburn kind of feeling. More pronounced red 'spots' have developed, and today, two white blisters appeared, which are extremely sore. Most of the red dots have hairs growing out of them, including one of the blisters. I pulled the hair out of that one and the blister immediately drained, and the pain from it subsided somewhat. The other one is continuing to get bigger. I've left it alone as I'm going to return to the gum clinic tomorrow and have them swab it. None of the other red spots have developed into blisters.

I have checked my penis, scrotum, groin, thighs etc, and there are no rashes/spots/blisters anywhere else. I've had shooting pain going to a specific area in my buttock, and tenderness in my groin, but I've googled herpes symptoms extensively over the last few days so I'm not sure whether these are psychosomatic as I've read about them (I worry a lot).

What I wanted to ask is, do people think this sounds like genital herpes? Or could it be an allergic reaction to something in the jeans? I also read about folliculitis and shingles, all of which seem to present similar symptoms. Do herpes blisters/sores have hairs growing out of them, or typically not? It seems very co incidental that it all started the day after wearing a new pair of quite tight jeans, from a brand I'd never worn before, that certainly rubbed around that area, on a warm evening. Would you expect an allergic reaction to last this long or present in this manner? I've not had any sexual contact with anyone since February, and I've never had anything like this before. I've contacted all three women I slept with and they all insist they are tested regularly and have never exhibited any symptoms of herpes. Any advice or thoughts would be much, much appreciated. I'm at my wits end, and the thought of having herpes is really upsetting me.

[Fleetwood20]

Nerve pain is not a symptom of HSV.

Your tests are negative you can move on with confidence having done more than just about anyone to confirm your negative status.

[bambooshoot]

Thanks Fleetwood. I've been thinking about things today; I've had pretty much unending pain in the area since it started (varies from sharp pain, to what feels like bad sunburn), despite having very little in the way of anything that resembles the initial rash in any of the affected areas (bilateral pain). I know nerve pain is a lot more closely associated with shingles than HSV, do you think that's the more likely cause/do you think it'd be worth getting tested for zoster? As I understand it, HSV doesn't leave visible areas/obvious scarring after this amount of time, or cause long term pain after the event, but shingles is known to. The rash was just on one side. I have had suggestions of shingles from a doc too.

My final (final!) question, before I leave you alone (I really do appreciate your help and patience, genuinely, thank you). Am I putting anyone at risk to move on with my sex life/should I be talking about this to future partners or is the negative testing I've had (when combined with the symptoms I've described) in your opinion, sufficient that I can move on without worry/with a clean conscience?

Thanks

[Fleetwood20]

He doesn't really know what he is talking about. His 'probably' herpes comment is wrong.

[bambooshoot]

Thanks again Fleetwood.

I've just been to see my G.P tonight, he took a look at the photos I'd taken of the area, and the area now, and said it was "probably herpes". I told him about my negative swab and igG, but he said that "sometimes things come back negative even when they're not". I've never ordered that blood test so I'm not an expert on it". He said he thought the area now was scarred, and no longer active, but would refer me to a dermatologist.

I don't get it. Why would he say that, if a negative igG after six months definitely puts me in the clear? I appreciate I've posted a lot of messages in this thread, but if you could please reply I'd greatly appreciate it. Do I need further testing? I feel really worried now, I have a new girlfriend who I like a great deal and feel I'd be putting her at risk to be intimate sigh her. I feel like I've been thinking things can go back to normal when they can't.

[Fleetwood20]

That's the point, your symptoms are nothing like herpes such that it must be concluded that it isn't. Only a fraction of a percent do not test positive for HSV2 (but most of these test positive by a swab).

[bambooshoot]

Please could you let me know what you think re: my last post? Thanks in advance Fleetwood. The igG was after seven months, not six.

[bambooshoot]

Plus I've heard some people never test positive, even if they are, is that true? I've just tried some anti fungal cream on the area and it's made it really sore and a sore/spot formed in the space of about fifteen minutes. I don't see how this could be anything else, confined to the boxers region, and going on for months without resolving. I can't see it ever going away, no doctor has been able to give me a diagnosis, or anything that's worked to treat it. Surely one of antivirals, antibiotics, and anti fungal cream should help. Surely?

[bambooshoot]

Thanks for the reply Fleetwood.

The reason I can't let it go is because I'm still getting new sore 'spots' that come and go (small and barely noticeable compared to the original place, but I can see them) and the original site is either unresolved, heavily scarred, or both. I'm still in a fair bit of pain, seemingly all around my pubic area (even places that have no 'marks') and now I seem to have a very light clear discharge from my penis. It seems pretty confined to the boxers region, so I'm worried that it's slipped through the net and I'll be putting people at risk if I ever sleep with someone. Plus I can't get it to go away, no matter what I do. If I'm being mad, please tell me, feel free. I think I'm driving myself mad with this in all honesty.

[Fleetwood20]

I'm not sure why you can't see past the symptoms as not being HSV.
HSV doesn't cause the symptoms you describe and you've had specialists who have seen thousands of cases in the their time tell you it wasn't herpes. Finally, tests confirm you do not have it. There are no filters left through which the possibility of herpes can sieve.

[bambooshoot]

Thanks for the reply life. Is what I've had done completely conclusive though, even with long standing symptoms? I've got a bit fixated on this (as you can probably tell) and I'm finding it hard to see beyond HSV as the cause of my symptoms despite the results.

[Life360_Dave]

You dont have hsv as evidenced by you negative test results so you can put this behind you

[bambooshoot]

Could someone knowledgeable on these things please reply. The problem hasn't gone away and I'd like to be able to at least get some closure on HSV, if that's what my results warrant in spite of the ongoing problem. It's been 17 weeks now. Please someone, reply.

[bambooshoot]

Anyone?

[bambooshoot]

Got the igg results back:

HSV I - 0.0488
HSV II - < 0.500

So both negative, and done over six months since my last sexual activity. Based on everything I've had done, can I now conclusively say that whatever my issue is, it's not HSV related?

[bambooshoot]

Can anyone else offer me any further advice or opinion since my update? This has been going on for 14 weeks, I just can't take it anymore. I'm worthless now.

[bambooshoot]

Sorry, don't know why I said four months, it's actually seven since my last sexual activity.

Thanks for your reply. Any others would as always be appreciated.

[teenmom1998]

I think yur clear of herpes congrats! But for what yuh have I think yur skin was damaged pretty bad and it can be just a rash spreading to different parts try creams to help ones read the labels before to make sure it won't make it worse something that won't stinning it try the stuff that babys use for diaper rashs ask yur doctor about that also cover it up when yuh wear cloths so it doesn't rub against while wearing the cream. And try to let it breath walk around naked if yuh have to in yur house of course.. Good luck

[bambooshoot]

Hi all,

Update: original area of rash still hasn't completely gone away (14 weeks now). I went for a blood test two weeks ago, which came back negative. Unfortunately, when I asked which test had been done, they said igm (despite me specifically asking for igg when I made the appointment!)

Just seems like an endless nightmare that I'm never going to wake up from. I've taken vitamins, not touched a drop of alcohol for nearly three months, got plenty of sleep, but it's never completely disappeared. It seems to wax and wane from being a faded area, to then getting small bumps, which then disappear after a period of days to a week or so, and then going back to a slightly faded area. Some days it's redder than others, some days it's more sore than others. Always been visible, and obvious.

Can I put any trust in a negative igm, four months after my last sexual activity? I know it can be false positive, but is a negative result a good indicator, bearing in mind I had two swabs done too when the rash first appeared? Or do I need to get igg?

Thanks

[bambooshoot]

Thanks Fleetwood. Do you think it's gone on too long to be HSV? Eight weeks now.

[Fleetwood20]

Have a blood test for confirmation regarding HSV.

Herpes will not cause pimples on hands.

Otherwise follow up with your doctors.

[bambooshoot]

Can herpes last for eight weeks anyone? Could it also cause these two pimples on my hand? Antibiotics finish tomorrow, don't seem to have made any great deal of difference to the initial site.

[bambooshoot]

I've just noticed I've got two very small pimple like marks on my hand now, about 3/4 inch apart, like pin prick size. I've never, in my entire life, had anything like that on my hand. Is it possible to spread herpes to your hand from down below, or for an outbreak to occur there if you have it in your genital region? Also, is it possible for it to spread to my hand from having a bath? I started bathing in the stuff the doctor gave me a few days ago. Really hope this is folliculitis, but I can't see it.

Anyone who knows about these things, please, take five minutes to talk to me. I'm mentally worn out. Honestly considering ending it all now, I'm worthless, nobody would want me now. Out of the blue I've turned into some sort of leper. Heartbroken.

[bambooshoot]

Well it first appeared as a red patch of skin, which over a period of around ten days produced white blisters, a few at a time, which popped. The area then seemed to heal a bit, but has by no means gone away, it's still red and just looks like it did at around day four, and now and again I get tiny new blisters that seem to come and go (nowhere near as severe as the first ones). It's never 'healed' per se to the point that it's gone away. It's still obvious.

I've also had a patch above this, just below my waist, since the onset of symptoms, which just looks like off coloured skin, but is clearly related to this. That's never changed, just stayed the same the whole time. Then I've had a few small minor blister in my public hair etc during the last two weeks or so, they just seem to come up randomly, they re not as long standing as the original site.

[Fleetwood20]

I really cannot get a sense of the sort of lesion/rash/patch you are experiencing. It does not sound like a typical herpes progression no. Herpes lesions are not persistent over a period of weeks.

[bambooshoot]

Thanks Fleetwood, I appreciate your replies.

Whatever it is, it now seems to be appearing on the other side of my pubic area too, in a patch. In your opinion, would this point more to bacterial folliculitis rather than hsv as well, because the first area hasn't gone away yet, and has already been there for seven and a half weeks?

I don't understand why the ointment seems to have made it angrier again. I've been getting a good eight hours sleeps a night, and not touched a drop of alcohol since this started, but nothing seems to help get rid of it. I'm living a pretty monastic life at the moment, it's getting really disheartening, especially as I don't even know what it is for certain.