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Some strange sore

Hi, I'm trying to figure out whether some unusual symptoms I've experienced recently have anything to do with herpes.

I posted this question about a year and a half ago in the dermatology expert forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dermatology/Herpes-Outbreak-or-Fungal-Infection/show/1595847#post_7250562

Based on the advice I received, I stopped worrying about Herpes and went to the dermatologist a few months later for treatment of the persistent fungal infection. They agreed it was a fungal infection, (or at least that it probably was) and advised that I use a milder soap and put an anti-fungal powder in the area daily. I also received oral antifungals and antifungal cream. I used the medicine as indicated (occasionally forgetting to put on the cream but generally pretty good about it). The skin in the perineum never quite seemed to get much better though, it continued  to look the same and continued to itch and burn mildly on an almost daily basis as it did before. I returned to the dermatologist  to complain, and they simply said that this was normal for me and that there was no chance the fungal infection survived. I accepted the news and continued using my mild soap and applying my powder. The only thing that seemed to stop  was the sores because I had stopped using the fungi-cure that had apparently caused the nasty skin reaction in the first place.

Just about a 10 days ago, however, I noticed a sore or two in the perineum, in an area impossible to see without a mirror, and got a bit worried. The sore was flat and didn't seem to actively weep liquid or ooze pus. The sore(s) didn't hurt, except when the area was touched directly, though it did feel like there was a hair constantly being pulled in the area. I'm not sure whether there were any other noteworthy symptoms other than pain in my legs, but since I do a lot of crossfit, it's hard to say much except my legs seemed even more tender and sore than usual. The sores completely disappeared after 2 or 3 days from when I discovered them (though it's hard to say exactly how long they might have been there before I found them, or whether they began as red bumps or anything like that). The sores then left behind hard-ish white areas that may have had the distinctive herpes crater for a day or so (I can only get to use the mirror to check them once or twice a day, once when I looked at them, they sort of looked like the crater). Now they are almost completely gone except for a very subtle scar and there are hair follicles growing out of the areas where the sores were.

Bottom line, I'm not sure what to think. The sores are hard to explain as the result of friction or a skin reaction (though not impossible, I suppose) but if the fungal infection can cause them and it has, contrary to my doctor's claims, persisted or reappeared, then I suppose they are possibly the result of the fungal infection. Also, the co-occurrence with the hair follicles makes me wonder if this wasn't some variation on folliculitis or a pimple, though I don't know if any pimple has ever resulted in a sore like then one I saw.

I have an appointment to the dermatologist again, and will discuss it with them and probably request a good herpes blood test. Since I'm going to have to wait almost a month to be seen, however, I thought I would solicit some sage counsel about what might turn out to be going on here. I've mentally prepared myself for the possibility that it's herpes, but I also know I'm prone to be a bit of a hypochondriac. Still, a sore in an area where a fungal infection should be gone isn't exactly normal, is it?
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Avatar universal
Grace,

I agree its sexually responsible, and as my comments about condom use would indicate, that's generally how I roll. I just want to make sure you understand that I have had the testing done frequently prior to 2010, because I had many more encounters and partners back then. I haven't had the testing done in the past few years because I haven't had too many sexual encounters since my last test, and they all seem fairly low-risk. That said, there's only so much one can learn from speculating and trying to describe symptoms on the forum. I'll ask for the test when I see my derm.

Thanks again!
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101028 tn?1419603004
this could be many things going on.  as I said, it's being sexually responsible to have the testing done periodically. since you've never had it done , seek it out for better answers as to your status.
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Avatar universal
Grace,

I suppose if you think it sounds like herpes I might do just that. As it is, I haven't seen a GP or anyone other than a dermatologist for a few years, as the only problems I've had have been skin related. I want to see the same dermatologist if possible (even though they're really backed up) because they've been dealing with the skin problems the whole time and would be in the best position to tell me if they didn't think the fungal infection wasn't still possibly responsible.

If you think it sounds like Herpes though, then I might go to an STD clinic or Planned Parenthood and see about getting it done sooner.

Thanks for your reply and everything you do here.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
seeking out a type specific herpes igg blood test is your best course of action. why not just call your regular provider and ask them to order the blood testing for you? you don't need to be seen to request the testing done.  since it's sexually responsible to test for herpes periodically, it would be seeing what your status is as well as helping to see if herpes could be the cause of any of your symptoms.

grace
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Avatar universal
I forgot to add that since the earlier post I've only had an additional 2 sexual partners, both times condom-protected though with one brief mishap where it broke. My last protected sexual encounter was about 3 months and a week from when I saw the sore I mentioned above.

This makes me think it probably isn't herpes, but I haven't had a blood test since 2010. I suppose I could have gotten it from one of the few sexual encounters I've had since then, even though I've been very good about using condoms consistently, and that it was dormant for a long time. I suppose it's also possible that the sores I mentioned in the earlier post were always herpes. I guess that's the possibility that's worrying me.
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