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Question about Herpes symptoms.

I am a 21 yr old male. About 1-2 weeks ago I engaged in unprotected sex with a woman who I know but not well enough to know her sexual history. Right after I left for vacation and about 9 days ago I noticed the first symptoms of what I believe might be herpes.

The first thing that I noticed was that my lymph node on my left side of my genital region was swollen, at first I thought that it might have something to do with the fact that I began running for a few days relatively intensely after a period of not running at all.

One night I noticed small red flesh colored bumps on the base of my penis shaft, only on the left side. In addition there seemed to be one small sore slightly to the right of the bumps but very close. Since then the bumps turned into a grey patch that was rather moist, and about the size of a dime or nickel and the area are them was very red. After a few more days nothing really changed, until now. Now the grey patch has started to come off in a couple spots almost as if the skin is now dead, and a yellowish crust has began to for in some areas. However, there appears to be a few separate little bumps that have formed off to the right and just above this localized patch that I just mentioned, these have come about just in the last few days but look similar to what was there in the beginning.

I have been struggling with relating my symptoms to information that I have read on the web (being that I am still away from home I have not been able to see my doc yet) and this is causing me some anxiety which im sure can't be helping.

I have not experienced and headaches, fevers, flu-like symptoms, aches or pains, painful urination or anything like that. Also other than the obvious discomfort that comes with a rash in the genital area it has been relatively painless, just a bit tender.

Also I have been swimming in the ocean, and waterfalls, eating exotic fruits and doing other things that are generally outside my normal behavior being that I am on vacation. At first I thought it could be irritation from my board shorts being wet for an extended period of time, but obviously I am concerned with the fact that this could be HSV-2.

Also, In the recent past I have been dealing with some odd fungal infections on other parts of my body (small patch or irritated skin on my face, elbow, and right above my pants line), I also have a history of eczema and currently have some patches on my upper back.

As you can probably tell I am very concerned and truly hoping this is something other than herpes. I have a doc appointment scheduled for when I get home because I know that a true diagnosis cannot be attained on this website, however some professional opinions and feed back might put my nerves to rest or at least give me some answers and help me sleep.

Thank you very much.
13 Responses
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101028 tn?1419603004
call and get exact test results if it was blood testing. write them down to post here - e.g. hsv1 igg 7.9 and hsv2 igg 3.4 or whatever they are.
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Avatar universal
Hey Grace, so the test came back and I was positive for HSV2. I never saw the results so I dont have any numbers they just told me over the phone. Anyway this is been extremely hard to handle on my own but I just had one question I was wondering if you could answer? How long does a swollen lymph node normally last for. My sore is almost healed and the lymph node is still a bit swollen.. is that normal?
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Avatar universal
Thank you for all your help by the way I have no one to talk to about this so it is much appreciated
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101028 tn?1419603004
testing needs to be done at the times I listed to be accurate.

chlamydia and gonorrhea are your biggest risks. wait for test results and try to keep busy so you don't fixate on your genital area.
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Avatar universal
I believe they tested for hiv, herpes, chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Maybe some others I'm not exactly sure, like I said the doctor was very short with me and offered pretty much zero information other than a useless packet on herpes.
Thank you so much for all your help I don't know what else to do
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Avatar universal
I had a urine test, as well as a blood test. I do not have the results yet.
The sore seems to be pretty healed now. And I stopped using the creams although i felt good using them. There is still an itchy sensation down there but there is also some achy ness in my left ball..? I might just be freaking myself out into thinking these are new symptoms because this is all I can think about.
I am very worried about hiv, and this whole situation is causing me insane amounts of anxiety.  
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101028 tn?1419603004
what testing did you have done yesterday?
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Avatar universal
I just got tested yesterday so I am waiting on results. But although my scrotum is itchy there is still an area of rash on the the left base of my penis, and my lymph node on the left side is still sort of swollen. Is there any hope that it is not herpes. My doctor said he was 70% sure it was herpes, which really doesn't help me to understand at all what is going on other than make me worry even more.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
since you had unprotected sex, did you get tested for any std's? youc an get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trich and ngu after 1 week post encounter. syphilis after 6 weeks. herpes, hiv and hepatitis after 3 months.

blood testing now for herpes is too early.

usually an itchy scrotum is due to jock it, not herpes.
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Avatar universal
Also my scrotum has been very itchy. I might just be overly anxious about this as well though..
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Avatar universal
I just now saw this. But I went to the doctor today. He said he was 70% sure it was herpes, although he was very short and non conclusive. Im really freaking out.

I ended up puting on the clotrimazole and triamcinolone on it and it actually made it feel better.. its almost healed now.

I had a blood test taked how sure can I be that it is conclusive, also, does this sounds like i should be worried about anything else. HIV specifically?

Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
you really need to be seen promptly and have this looked at. you've already put it off too long :(


could this be herpes? it could be but also many other things it can be.

I wouldn't apply any topical steroid cream to this either - if it is herpes, it will just make it worse.

grace
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Avatar universal
Oh my doctor prescribed me Clotrimazole and Triamcinolone for the Fungus, I also have a topical steroid creme for the rash like thing on my pant line. I dont know if that helps considering this rash looks different. Thanks again
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