Primary GHSV1 outbreak only in Pubic Area?

Hello, I have been seeing a girl for the past 6 months and have had no other partners in that time. She got tested a couple months ago and I got tested 2 weeks ago. We were negative for everything except she did not get tested for Herpes 1, as the Planned Parenthood she went to apparently doesn't offer that. However, she does get cold sores on her mouth with recurrent outbreaks.

After having unprotected oral and protected vaginal sex 3 weeks ago, about 30 hrs later I developed a burning sensation in the groin area. Over the next few days there was a pink spot followed by lesions on the upper part of the pubic hair area along with muscle soreness on my right thigh, muscle sensitivity on the same thigh, lower back shooting pains, insomnia, and temporary erectile dysfunction. The lesions grew in number (maybe 20-30 total) and spread towards my waist. I also got a few lesions on my butt and lower back. It's been almost 3 weeks and they are still very visible but in the process of healing. I also developed a sore throat that doesn't seem to want to go away. The muscle soreness and burning are now pretty much gone. Also, the lesions are concentrated on the right side and were not particularly painful or itchy. I still have a general feeling of being unwell, like having a mild fever.

None of the lesions were on the penis or scrotum. They are all located towards the upper part of the pubic area. I do shave there and on my butt.

A doctor visually diagnosed it as herpes but she did not seem too knowledgeable. She said it "didn't make a difference if it was herpes 1 or 2." I got a blood test after the infection and was negative for everything, but I know it was too soon.

Is it unusual to get a primary ghsv1 breakout primarily in the pubic area? Could this be a staph infection or folliculitis? Also I'm worried that maybe her HSV-2 test was a false negative and that she actually gave me HSV-2 instead.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

What a terrible shame that your doctor didn't test the lesions for herpes.  At this point, it is very hard to say what is going on.  Can you tell me a little bit more about the lesions?  

Were they open sores, were they initially blisters?

When people use condoms with intercourse, it is not uncommon to have a first outbreak located mainly on the base of the penis and above.  

When was her last sexual contact before you?  this would determine test accuracy.

If she's had cold sores, then she very likely has HSV 1 orally.  This could be transmitted to you via oral sex.

Terri

[Questioner34]

My doctor did take a swab to get tested, but I have not heard back. I may have gone too late, I saw the doctor several days after the first blisters appeared. I have put in another call to the clinic to get the results.

I am pretty sure that she didn't have any other partners at least 4 months if not longer before she tested negative for HSV2.

Initially I got a cluster of 6 sores lined up in what seemed like 2 rows of 3. They seemed like tiny blisters. She commented that it looked like her cold sores. But then it spread up from there to a palm-sized area and she said they looked different. That initial cluster is about 3 inches higher than the bases of my penis.

From the pictures I see it looks more like hot tub folliculitis, but it's very hard to tell.

The initial cluster will be 3 weeks old tomorrow and is scabbed over right now. It is looking like it will take a while longer before completely disappearing.

Also, my fever symptoms came after the sores appeared.

[Questioner34]

To add more- some of the later sores looked more like red spots under the skin and didn't really develop into blisters. Some have a hair clearly down the middle.

It is looking like it might scar, or at the very least leave red spots for a while longer.

[Questioner34]

Also for what it's worth, I took Valtrex for 7 days and it didn't seem to do anything for me.

I thought it was giving me a sore throat, so I stopped it, but the sore throat and coughing have persisted for a week since I stopped the Valtrex.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Sore throat would not be a side effect of Valtrex, no.

have you picked at them or are they making scabs on their own?

Terri

[Questioner34]

I have not been picking at them at all. Most of them have had very minimal scabbing or none at all, but they have left very obvious red spots.

Last night the sore throat was worse and the insomnia returned, I assume because of the flue like symptoms .

I also have a history of hyperhidrosis and jock itch. I have been using the pool recently after which I would shower with a loofah and reuse. I also may have reused the towel. Not sure if bacteria from the pool can transfer that way.

[Questioner34]

So I got the results of the culture, and they came back negative for herpes. The doctor said she thought she got plenty of "juice" to get a good test result, but at the same time could not rule out herpes for sure.

I am getting treated with antibiotics for the sore throat.

I think the sore throat is related to the pubic rash (I read it is common in hot tub folliculitis) but the doctor can't be sure if it is or not.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Good that your swab test was negative.

Terri