Puzzled

[Mickyll]

I contracted what I thought was herpes about a year and a half ago.  It was a condom protected vaginal exposure that only lasted a couple minutesand a very brief oral exposure me giving. after a couple months I started experiencing symptoms which have not let up to this day. Burning itching tingling redness soreness nausea fatigue and multiple other symptoms have plagued me for the last year. Even had some oral symptoms which lasted for a couple of months like a sore throat and thrush. After a few doctor visits within the first Few months and even a visit to a urologist and an STD clinic I still had no answers. I had IgG type specific tests one at 10 weeks and one at 18 weeks both were negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2. And still the symptoms persist mostly soreness and tingling which almost never let up. The doctor didn't think anymore IgG test was necessary and I've looked into taking the Western blot but haven't followed through yet. I just don't really understand what's going on but it seems very clearly to be herpes based on the symptoms. I just don't know what else could cause the symptoms especially the tingling and the soreness. Any thoughts would be appreciated very much.

[Life360_Dave]

Its conclusive at 18 weeks for sure

[Mickyll]

Thanks for the response... Appreciate all the answers and all the comments... Could someone comment about the test conclusive at 18 weeks... I read so many conflicting things just curious... It seems like if I went on test results alone and didn't have any symptoms I would be able to be at peace

[feelingundone]

You can not infect an area that was condom covered. The scrotum is very rarely ever infected due to the very thick skin. I agree with life360 as none of this sounds like hsv. Yes most reoccurring outbreaks happen in the same spot or very close to it. Thats most of time as outbreaks can happen anywhere in the boxer shorts area

[Mickyll]

Thanks again for the response... I guess based on the symptoms I thought maybe I contracted herpes both genitally and orally at the same time... And I understand what you're saying about the first time outbreak but following outbreaks it would be on that area right... The spots I had on my testicles and base of my penis were early on before the  outbreak on my penis shaft

[Life360_Dave]

Well if you gave her oral would have nothing to do with genital herpes as the oral if a different ganglion area so that leaves us with the protected vaginal  so since your penis was covered your penis issues are not related to herpes. As  mentioned that first time outbreaks occur at point of contact and since your issues are with your penis head it would not be infected because it was covered.

[Mickyll]

Thanks again for the response... Just to clarify though it was me giving oral not her... Just as a follow-up what would be the chances of it missing an infection at an18 week test... I understand what you're saying about the touching myself but I've handled myself as most males have pretty regularly over the years and just never had any issues before... Until this encounter everything was pretty much normal...

[Life360_Dave]

Also you fall into a very low risk group as those most at risk are in long term mono relationships where one partner is infected.

[Life360_Dave]

The penis tip has many blood vessels which creates the erection so it be red would not be something out of the ordinary and if your constantly checking it by touching you could be stimulating the tingling yourself as the area have millions of nerves. The sex you had a year ago was extremely low risk activity and the condom sex would not be a risk for herpes appearing anywhere on your penis shaft at first time outbreaks occur at point of contact. So that leads us to the brief oral and if she did not have any lip sores at the time your risk for herpes would be close to zero.
People can have unprotected sex multiple times even with a herpes sore and still not contract herpes.
Also first time outbreaks occur about a week after not months.
Also testing at 8 weeks is a good indicator.

Since all evidence goes against herpes i would not consider herpes an issue.

[Mickyll]

Thank you so much for replying... On my penis shaft right below the head about an inch and a half down... It seems like there's always a constant amount of redness there also... The only time i ever saw what appeared to be blisters was once on my testicles and once at the base of my penis and both went away in a couple of days without scabbing

[Life360_Dave]

What your describing are not herpes symptoms. What area is the burning and tingling?

[Mickyll]

I'm sorry I meant 18 weeks not 18 months sorry

[Mickyll]

I guess an easy solution would be a follow-up test but I guess if I didn't test positive at 18 months with all the information given on here about 12 weeks being conclusive it makes me wonder if I would even test positive now.