Troubles with penis 4 months...herpes?

Hello MedHelp!

Ive read alot of posts here and am thankfull In advance for any reply and for this community in general.

Ive had alot of problems with my genital area which I will try to summare as shortly and consizely as possible.

I recivied unprotected oral sex as well as inserting my penis some 2cm before going flaccid on a person that occasionally has cold sores on the mouth. (I know nothing of any other possible conditions of that person)

Three days afterwards I had a pretty sharp pain in the area to the right of my groin/upper leg. Some sort of burning/crawling feeling proceeded on a single side of the penis. Got antifungal cream from doctor, didnt work, however the upper thigh pain moved to the left along with a feeling under the foreskin to the left of "sandpaper" or perhaps like the foot falling asleep. Stopped using the cream after two weeks after a horrible burning feeling which lasted two days. I was afraid it was a reaction to the cortizone.

During the next 4 months until todays date the sandpapery feeling come and go approx once every or other week on the left side of the penis head, while the right side just seems to experience daily outburts of pain ca 2 hours under the head. Always this same separation of problems and side. The groin area (lymph area?) hurts to date. Some days enough to break me down others just enough to bother me.

Last 5 weeks Ive also had a constant(!) lower-back pain to the left. It too breaks my sprirts some days. I excercise 3 times a week and this sort of pain is very new to me.

Doctor seemed to decide from day one that this was what he called "balanitis" and not herpes. I have also had red bumbs come and go but showed all to the doctor who says they dont look like herpes which I feel I can trust.

Following bloodresults have been extracted: (No numbers due to stupid norweigan system)

First test, 5 weeks

IgG 1 - Negative
IgG 2 - Negative


Other test taken by other healthcare provider 12 week mark (with even more stupid results)

IgG 1+2: Negative
IgM 1+2: Negative
IgG 2 : Borderline

I cant make sense of the above.

I know I should wait more months for a final bloodtest, but I turn to you for two reasons despite the fact that you guys cant really change anything. Partly I turn to you out of pure fear, and partly I turn to you because I feel that my doctor has "decided" the cause to this and will hear nothing of anything else, maybe you guys had a clue, I would much like the pain to stop. Who knows....Any input will be apprisiated, even if it is indicative of me having herpes.

Thank you for reading.

[eatingmypsyche]

I also wanted to add that the initial lymph(?) pain was accompanied by high fever and acute dissyness.

The woman in question wrote on her facebook page 36 hours after the acvtivity that she woke up with a very sore throat.

Dont know if it matters or not. Thanks again.

[Joe239]

Your story is similar to many on here including myself. I call the sandpaper feeling and icy/hot/menthol feeling which I have been getting on my thighs, buttocks, lower back/tailbone, calves, and even in my arms, shoulders and my face. This all happened after I revieved oral from a woman who latrer I found out was HSV 1 & 2 positive. I have tested 4 X post 12 weeks exposure and all test have been negative 12,13,15,17 weeks. I continue to get pimples on my buttock and thighs which the doctors say is folliculitis...had it for 20 years. I also get a raw feeling in my anus and in my genital area.  I am convinced I have GHSV1. I can not prove it through a test just how I feel. I am in pain everyday from this and it is driving me crazy.

[eatingmypsyche]

Well if that wasnt troubling news I dont know what is!

Your problem seem horrible and I am sorry that you have to endure your problems.

I would appriciate any news regarding your situation if you feel you have the energy to share.

Although I must say from the other side of this, it doesnt really sound like you have herpes, I think alot of things can go wrong in a persons body. Maybe its something else? I dont know, your nerves seem damaged, maybe mine are too. I suppose herpes could cause that......

I wish somebody knew.

[gracefromHHP]

nothing you've described sounds like herpes going on. don't be dismayed by what some folks post/obsess about from their own situations.  You've also been seen by a medical provider who has actually examined you and seen your symptoms and they don't feel it's herpes either.

It's up to you if you feel the need for more testing or not in a few months as far as herpes igg blood testing. I can not really help you with any tests done outside of the US though since oftentimes they are different from the tests we use that I have taken the time to learn the false negative/false positive issues about.  For help with testing in your country, I recommend a support group online near you that has someone like me who is properly educated on interpreting blood test results for herpes.


grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Hello and thank you for a reply Grace! I must admit I was waiting/hoping for an answer from you.

Thank you for your input. I feel I will test myself one more time and if its negative I will drop that line of investigation, although it would be a relief to not have herpes it would also be scary to not have a single clue as to what could be wreaking such havoc on me.. :(

I was afraid you wouldnt be able to say anything regarding my bloodwork, but thank you for looking at it.

To anyone: If you have a clue as to what this could be, please, please, post. Post anything.

[OttMar]

I have similar symptoms to you and Joe239. As far as I know my 15.5week Igg test said negative for HSV1-2. So did my 6 month test, but it was a combined IgG and not that accurate, so I do not trust the result, aiming to possibly get another IgG type specific test.

As i told Joe239 and several other people. IF this is not HSV, it might be a viral or bacterial infection that we got from the oral exposure that may mimic some of the HSV symptoms (Can you chime in on this Grace??) It may be normal oral flora or something we got that caused trauma to our nerve area in that region. You are right if you, I or anyone else got such symptoms with no clear diagnosis it can be frustrating.
There may be some many other things that are not classified as STD that we can get. Ive read papers that state strep throat infections can even infect the urethra.

[eatingmypsyche]

Have you guys checked for postatitis? I mean the check with the fingers up where you supposedelly dont want them.

I have and it was apparently all normal. But you know, just wanted to mention in case it helped you.

Regarding your six month test I feel that even if it wasnt supersensitive I think it would have picked up on the antibodies by now?

I wish some doctor would listen to us all at once, and figure this out, what are our common denominators, both before and after?

[gracefromHHP]

medicine doesn't even begin to have all the answers to everything. many viruses out there that we don't test for that can cause issues too ( ones we haven't even discovered yet ). Not unusual once you've had symptoms for a few weeks, for them to persist for various reasons from  as HHH likes to say "genitally focused anxiety"  ( definitely an issue for many ) to even our bodies that sometimes kick into over drive and keep us feeling issues long after we should've been feeling them.  Even just the unusual postions we assume to look at our nether regions can use muscles we typically don't use and cause us issues ( pelvic pain syndrome - plenty of links from my posts and HHH's about it ).   think of it as when you've spent a long time at the computer - what happens?  Your neck and shoulders get tight, you get headaches, your eyes get dry and sore, your hands and arms ache a little, your lower back aches and sometimes even your legs and feet will swell some and give you aches and pains trying to walk - anything you do more than usual can cause issues.  

For the  probably 500th time, herpes is not the cause of everything that goes on in the genital area. If you have tested negative at 6 months and haven't had any lesions to be cultured, it's past time to stop thinking herpes as a cause.  You are selling yourself way short if you continue to think herpes as a cause after that point.  I say this even from my own experience - have had plenty of things go on in my own genital area that had absolutely nothing to do with herpes that it took me over a year to even figure out what was going on and years more to get under control. it's frustrating to keep going back to be seen by providers but it's the best thing you can do. also  it's important to try methods to stop the itch/pain cycle as it's often called if things have persisted for more than a few months.  This can range from something as simple as otc pain killers, anti itch medications and topical anesthetics to massage therapy/physical therapy to prescription medications ( some of the anti depressants also work well for chronic pain ).  breaking the cycle is probably more important than figuring out the what caused this question.  

grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Thanks!

Im seriously trying to work on my psyche, will continue. I feel this helped.

I hope life smiles on you on account of the help you provide.

[gracefromHHP]

the sandpaper feeling to the skin might even just be plain ole dry skin/irritation going on.  have you tried something as simple as a moisturizer?  even just powdering your genitals before getting dressed helps to cut down on friction from clothing rubbing against already irritated skin.

back pain can be many things but just back pain isn't typical for herpes.  assuming advanced yoga positions  to check out your nether regions though surely can cause it too :)  have you thought about splurging for a nice massage?  ( not the kind with a happy ending either or you'll be back here again posting...lol )

grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Hey all!

Unfortunatly I have a new question since i experienced something yesterday and still today and was wondering if it sounded like herpes (which I ofcourse think it does in my paranoia state)

During the afternoon I had a feeling of pressure in my abdomen, and when night came the side of my penis glans (glands) which always feels uncomfortable started to itch alot. I tried my best not to itch and let loose just once. Pooring cold water on it helped. When I woke up I hade a really bad case of the runnies. (diarreah (diarrhea) I hope it is spelled)

Now I just feel sore. Does this sound like how herpes might progress. Im so scared because I feel it does.

Also; on the occasions when I drink alcohol I feel more uncomfortable down there, like its crawling in my skin. The day after I have always woken up with a much higher level of pain on my left side of the groin and down the leg than I normally have experienced during this hell. (lymph area I think) Anyone with herpes recognizing this?

Thanks to anyone who feel they can take their time to answer this!

[gracefromHHP]

nothing more we can add at this point. none of this really sounds like herpes going on. At this point following up with your provider when you have symptoms is the best you can do to get to the bottom of things.

grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Hello again all!

Ive tried my best to not ask unnecessary questions but and constantly update everyone on my status, but now I have to ask some.

Yesterday I sorta had pain in my groin/pelvic are on one side for the whole day, and today I woke up with that sore spot again just at te tip of my foreskin. It itches in the way that a cut in the skin itches. I doesnt look red though, atleast not redder than the other parts of the glands which are constantly red so....I really cant se what causes this. Feels like an open wound sorta? But I cant see it? Its really annoying when I walk around since my underwear scrapes against it. Herpes?

(Im guessing the answer to the above will be: It could be, but not likely. But hey, I gotta ask)

Also I have some nonpersonal questions which I though I could do in the classical medhelp numbering way:

1. Can you have prodromes in for examples your penis and then get the "sore" at another place? Like another side or even in the but or something like that.

2. If you for example have genital herpes II, can you get genital herpes type I and vice versa?

3. Does Lymph node generally heart before or during herpes?

Thank you all, hope to hear some replies!

[eatingmypsyche]

just a quick fill in on what I mean with "sore"

It feels like when you bought new shoes, walk around for hours and get these spots where your skin is loose and like, both hurts AND itches when you touch it. Hope that helps. Does herpes feel like that?

Sorry for redundancy.

[gracefromHHP]

if you have a return of symptoms, being seen promptly is the best course of action.  

grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Hey grace thank you for you quick answer!

I was seen but my doctor just says that since he cant see anything he cant swab it. He also cant tell me what else this could be and how I should act to perhaps get rid of this.

I feel like all Im doing is wait around for the bloodtest, and if thats negative(which would still be good news) then I dont know what the freck is happening.....

It only hurt-itches if somehing bumbs against it, otherwise it mainy doesnt itch.

[gracefromHHP]

if he can't see anything, odds are it's not a std related issue going on.

grace

[eatingmypsyche]

Hello, just wanted to say Im getting my final test tomorow, not much hope though. I havent had pain in my lymph area for a while and the few times it comes it goes away fast.

Still burns heavily for like three days every, or every other, week....

I'll tell you all the results late on if anybody feels they are in the same seat.

[justcurious25]

Hi,

I just read all the posts in this thread and I must say you have very similar symptoms as I have been experiencing. I had unprotected oral sex about 5.5 weeks ago with a healed over cold sore (though to me it looked pretty red and not healed up at all), and since then have had a flurry of small but def. very real symptoms occur. I had a very sore mouth a few days after, I was real fatigued and my body felt sore and my neck to me felt swollen and really tender (doctor said it wasn't swollen) about two weeks later I started to feel pain on my left side of my groin right where the thigh meets the testicle, all the way up and down it was very tender and looked like it was bruised. I began to see very small little circles in a few locations at the base of penis, but only noticeable if I stretched the skin (didn't itch too much, not much of a burn feeling either but felt sort of like a very bad ingrown hair however I def. was not because I know what those look like). The pain started to expand to the right side of groin and my anus has felt tender (like Joe239 said) but I am not sure if this is due to my hemorrhoids or not (there really isnt much pain so thats good I guess). I was tested right after encounter and was neg. for both 1 n 2, and I just tested again last week (at the 4 week mark and am still negative). Also, my symptoms have not really progressed nor reduced (not sure what this means). Throughout this whole experience I have seen my primary and a dermatologist and all have said this is not herpes, but I am skeptical bc they are going based upon visual inspection, and I have heard all of them say some questionable things about herpes which makes me question their full knowledge of the virus.

I also, along with the groin pain, got symptoms in my testicles (dragging, heavy feeling) and had a slight burn when I urinated, which I began urinating way above normalcy. My doctor thought I might have had epidydimitis and gave me Levaquin 500mg for a week (it didnt' do much). I also developed on my lip a red strip, sorta like a sun burn look (i was in the sun for two days straight while on that medication), and I thought I saw small little round marks but this never turned into blisters. It was just strange that all this was happening and I happened to get this mark right by my lip that I never ever had before. as of late the testicle/groin pain is a mild ache that bothers me but doesn't debilitate my life (cept I am not having sex and actually passing up opportunities). I also have been experiencing pinching pain scattered in my pubic region, sorta like when the hair gets caught on your clothing for a second, and I have redness on both sides on base of penis which the dermatologist has attributed to just normal irritation (but its been there for a week or so now). My doctor has also said it might be kdney stones or a bladder infection (I really dont see how these two could relate to the ton of other symptoms I have been experiencing). Overall, I think I am in the same boat with you guys in that this is something real, not imagined, not easily able to identify, and could be too many things. I hope of all things its not herpes, but it just seems too eerily similar to your stories of which you all suspect, as I suspect, that the oral sex we received was from an HSV positive person. I will admit, as I can tell you guys have been doing as well, I have been obsessing over this and losing sleep, etc. but over the last week or so I have calmed down with the idea that its Herpes, but I am still sick over not knowing what it is or when will it go away. I do believe its an infection of some sort, def. from this oral sex encounter I speak of. If you guys have more info, or updates, please share as we may be able to help each other possibly. Thanks.

[eatingmypsyche]

Hello, got an earlier appointment that wednsday and my doc just called with the results, he said they werent all all below equivocal line but looking at the values and considering past values he said there is no way I could have herpes.

On this forum Ive read about alot of doctors telling people that they have herpes using only the tinest positive value. I feel my doctor is doing the oppisite and just saying no way.

The burning still comes up time from time and when it does I also feel it in my foot. Also cortisone does nothing, if anything it makes it worse. I still feel this is herpes. It feels like its coming from under my skin.

Grace, I know you cannot see values since it didnt get any, all I know is it was type specific and IgG. Do you think I should trust my doctor? I am atleast trying to. The test was at six months.

Thank you for any response.

[eatingmypsyche]

Bump...soryy for the massive textblocks...

[gracefromHHP]

your results were negative and you waited long enough to test again. you need to stop thinking herpes is the cause of this and pursue  work ups for other causes.

honestly it's not all herpes just because it's in the genital area and I've been consistently telling you this doesn't even sound like herpes which your test results back up.


grace