Proctitis - Herpes Proctitis. Safe to resume receptive anal sex?

[Wayfarer19]

I had receptive anal sex with my monogamous partner three weeks ago.
The next day I had pain in my rectum that continued to get worse. I went to the doctor 2 days later and was told it was just an inflamed rectum. I began experiencing blood & mucous discharge and worsening pain in my rectum. The doctor again checked two days after that and said there were no visible tears or lesions and it was just inflammation-my prostrate in particular. The next night I had a fever and found lesions around my anus and testicles. The doctor diagnosed me with herpes and prescribed ten days of apo-valacyclovir (the initial swabs came back positive for HSV type 1-my partner has cold sores, and negative for chlymidia and ghon). I finished the antivirals last week. Stool has returned to normal movements & color and pain is gone.

I now experience mild pain in my tailbone, worse in the morning and some discomfort throughout the day. I am wondering what this tailbone pain could signal (sacral pressure?). I have had prostatitis in the past and am not sure if proctitis could trigger or affect this. I am wondering if there is any ointment or cream I could be using, how to know if the proctitis is gone, and when I can resume receptive anal sex.

[HowardH]

I can't comment on the expected appearance of douching solution in this situation -- you have a much better understanding of what to expect than I can guess at. (I don't know Life360's skill level.) But it seems to make sense to hold off on receptive anal untll you are confident all is well -- not so much because of transmission risk, which likely is now gone, but to avoid potential trauma to tissues not yet completely healed.

The herpes problem won't affect your prostate at all.  The prostate is next to the rectum anatomically, but inflammation is not likely to extend through the rectal wall to affect the prostate.

[Wayfarer19]

thanks for your reply and input!

although I only use warm water in the douche, I wonder if the inflammation could have reduced the sensitivity?

if there's pain I'm guessing the mucous is still being produced to protect the lining?

I'm early 20's and although I had prostatitis about 11 months ago, I'm not sure if this triggered it or can impact it.

[Life360_Dave]

Blood in the rectum could mean interior hemorrhoids. If you have these, they never really heal. It appears youve tramatized your interior and may take time to heal. When tissues are injured they do produce more muscus to aid in inflamation and the numbing could be from the douche chemicals themselve.
Swollen nodes are a symptom of newly infection and maybe from the herpes virus as the body  is building antibodies and attempting to block infections.
Just be gentle with yourself and followup with your doctor.
If your 45 or older do have a psa test on your prostate.

[Wayfarer19]

Thank you for your reply HowardH! it is very reassuring. I attempted to douche with the intention of having anal sex again; however, after 8 tries I was still expressing cloudy, mucous filled water and I felt slightly numb in my rectum. Even though bowel movements have returned to normal I thought these were bad signs. There is still minor pain in my rectum and a pain under my underarm, that had swollen into a lump then dissipated, for the last two weeks, it just feels tender now.

Do you have any other advice or opinion on these symptoms?

Thank you

[HowardH]

Your continuing pain is not likely to indicate continued active proctitis. Just like a sprained ankle may still ache for weeks or months after it has completely healed, any previously injured area may be uncomfortable long after healing is complete. So my guess is that your rectal HSV1 infection is not currently transmissible to your partner. And if it's the same partner, he isn't at risk for reinfection from you anyway. Since he already has HSV1, he is immune to catching it again -- only new partners might be at risk in the future.

This is a nonprofessional opinion on a community forum. You should also discuss this with the doctor or clinic where you were diagnosed and treated.