Aa
Should I be worried or not?
I'll start at the beginning. Between October and December 2013 I had unprotected intercourse 3 times. A few weeks after the latest exposure (21/12/13) I went for a screening which came back + for chlamydia, what I was expecting as during that time I was having discharge from the penis in addition to swollen glands in my neck which I'm not sure are related. I took a single dose of zithromax and after a week there was no discharge and my neck went back to normal. I am 99% certain I didn't have any sores in the few weeks after exposure as I was regularly inspecting my genitals and even went in to the clinic worrying about an infected hair follicle.
Around 6 weeks after the latest exposure I woke up after sleeping in a youth hostel with an uncomfortable bed with a very sore back and neck. And red marks on my penis which where not raised and looked like irritated skin. I washed and this went away.
In the week that followed I started feeling itchy in my scrotum, anus and the pubic hair on my groin. This has persisted until even today (9 days). I also went into the clinic a further two times last week with two sores which again turned out to be hair follicles. I've noticed dry skin on my scrotum also. I'm using a shower emollient for the itch which appears to be working. I've also noticed during this period a crawling feeling across the outside of my scrotum. Now I feel my throat getting sore which appears to be getting worse and I feel my neck glands might swell up again. My neck and back pain is persisting (it's been over 2 weeks).
I haven't been tested as my local clinic in the UK only test by swabbing a visible sore.
1. Is it likely I missed the first & that these new symptoms are the virus returning?
2. Has the length of time these symptoms been too long to be herpes prodrome?
3. Is the sore throat/swollen glands something to worry about?
4. Am I perhaps overreacting and over analysing symptoms? does it sound like herpes or can I move on with my life?
Around 6 weeks after the latest exposure I woke up after sleeping in a youth hostel with an uncomfortable bed with a very sore back and neck. And red marks on my penis which where not raised and looked like irritated skin. I washed and this went away.
In the week that followed I started feeling itchy in my scrotum, anus and the pubic hair on my groin. This has persisted until even today (9 days). I also went into the clinic a further two times last week with two sores which again turned out to be hair follicles. I've noticed dry skin on my scrotum also. I'm using a shower emollient for the itch which appears to be working. I've also noticed during this period a crawling feeling across the outside of my scrotum. Now I feel my throat getting sore which appears to be getting worse and I feel my neck glands might swell up again. My neck and back pain is persisting (it's been over 2 weeks).
I haven't been tested as my local clinic in the UK only test by swabbing a visible sore.
1. Is it likely I missed the first & that these new symptoms are the virus returning?
2. Has the length of time these symptoms been too long to be herpes prodrome?
3. Is the sore throat/swollen glands something to worry about?
4. Am I perhaps overreacting and over analysing symptoms? does it sound like herpes or can I move on with my life?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm sorry you are having these problems. It's difficult that you can't get tested for herpes in the UK, though I have certainly spoken online with people that have been able to be tested.
These symptoms without lesions does not sound like herpes to me. Your back pain started with a specific trigger, i.e. a different uncomfortable bed. It would not be surprising that your back pain would continue a couple of weeks if you got something out of place.
Dry skin on the scrotum is not a symptom of herpes, nor is generalized itching such as what you have experienced. I'm not clear about the scrotum crawling feeling, but many people do describe a crawling skin feeling that DO NOT have herpes but are worried about having having herpes.
I don't think the sore throat again, without genital lesions of some kind, is likely related to herpes infection.
Have you by chance spoken with the person you had sex with to see if they are aware of any history of herpes infection?
Terri
These symptoms without lesions does not sound like herpes to me. Your back pain started with a specific trigger, i.e. a different uncomfortable bed. It would not be surprising that your back pain would continue a couple of weeks if you got something out of place.
Dry skin on the scrotum is not a symptom of herpes, nor is generalized itching such as what you have experienced. I'm not clear about the scrotum crawling feeling, but many people do describe a crawling skin feeling that DO NOT have herpes but are worried about having having herpes.
I don't think the sore throat again, without genital lesions of some kind, is likely related to herpes infection.
Have you by chance spoken with the person you had sex with to see if they are aware of any history of herpes infection?
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Carry on! Certainly if you develop a blister, go be seen. Otherwise, carrying on sounds like a great plan to me.
terri
terri
Judging by your concise answers I take it you don't see too much cause for concern here. I'll carry on trying to be positive and hope the rest of my symptoms resolve without the appearance of blisters.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1. Unlikely, but there is no way to know if you have old herpes without testing
2. Probably.
Terri
2. Probably.
Terri
Would you be able to specifically answer my questions 1 & 2 in the original post as well?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Hello Terri.
Thanks for the reply.
There are GUM clinics which offer the test but closest to me is a 3 hour drive. Unfortunately the sex was with multiple partners and I haven't spoken to any of them since. I certainly haven't heard from any of them pre or post encounter, regarding any infections.
Since using the shower emollient (specifically for itchy or irritated skin) I've felt significantly better "down there". Itching is rare throughout the day and no more redness or dry skin from what I can make out. And this has had a positive effect on my anxiety and I believe has stopped the crawling feeling which may well have been a result of anxiousness.
All of these symptoms have now been ongoing for 10 days and there are definitely no lesions.
It's just been a long few weeks, while one thing gets better, something else gets worse and so on and I feel like I've forgotten what it was like before I made all those mistakes last year.
Is it accurate that prodrome lasts only a few days max, ruling out that this is all the build up to an outbreak?
I know you can't offer a definite diagnosis over the internet but with all things considered, you believe my symptoms are unlikely linked to herpes given the unusual time frame and no lesions?
Thanks for the reply.
There are GUM clinics which offer the test but closest to me is a 3 hour drive. Unfortunately the sex was with multiple partners and I haven't spoken to any of them since. I certainly haven't heard from any of them pre or post encounter, regarding any infections.
Since using the shower emollient (specifically for itchy or irritated skin) I've felt significantly better "down there". Itching is rare throughout the day and no more redness or dry skin from what I can make out. And this has had a positive effect on my anxiety and I believe has stopped the crawling feeling which may well have been a result of anxiousness.
All of these symptoms have now been ongoing for 10 days and there are definitely no lesions.
It's just been a long few weeks, while one thing gets better, something else gets worse and so on and I feel like I've forgotten what it was like before I made all those mistakes last year.
Is it accurate that prodrome lasts only a few days max, ruling out that this is all the build up to an outbreak?
I know you can't offer a definite diagnosis over the internet but with all things considered, you believe my symptoms are unlikely linked to herpes given the unusual time frame and no lesions?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
