What could this be? Herpes or autoimmune or?

[Mitchell1983]

Hi guys,
I have a difficult problem to diagnose and was hoping someone can shed some light on the situation. I am a 32 year old married man. Been with my wife for over 11 years. Due to my wife being pregnant and then my health issue I have not had sex in over 17 months. My issues started about 6 months ago. I went on a weekend trip with some of my buddys. We had a couple nights of drinking but overall nothing too wild and a pretty PG weekend. Get home from the trip and 3 days later my lips start burning and feeling numb. Something I have never felt before and It persists for a few days. I start Googling my symptoms and immediately come across herpes info. I assume that I must have picked up oral herpes off a glass or something and wait for the cold sore. After a couple days I notice a round faintly white spot on the bottom of my lip but the big cold sore Im expecting never comes. The burning and overall strange feeling on my lips persist for a couple weeks so I decide to go to the doctor. After a quick examination My general practitioner says that it may be a mild hsv1 outbreak and that I probably contracted it when I was younger since she did not think it was likely that I got it from a glass. She went ahead and did some general bloodwork and a type specific hsv test and said lets wait to see the results. Two days later I get my results and the doctor tells me bloodwork is fine and I DO NOT have hsv1 or 2.. She tells me to put aquafor on my lips and relax. Fast forward to month 3. Lip symptoms have been a steady Slight burning and numbness. I now have a swollen area on the front of my bottom lip. Not a blister but just a little red and swollen. I decide again to go the doctor. This time to a walk in clinic since its a saturday. The doc looks at my lips and immediately says its got to be herpes because it doesn't look like anything else he can think of. I ask him to do another herpes blood test to make sure. He prescribes me 6 pills of valtrex and gives me another type specific herpes test. I begin taking the valtrex and on  the 5th day get a burning at the tip of my penis. The underside of the shaft is very red as well. A day later I get the results of my second herpes test and they are negative for HSV1 and 2. The urethritis persists for a few days so i assume I have a fungal infection and get some jock itch cream. The burning goes away after about a week of applying the cream. Meanwhile the burning in my lips is starting to come and go. It will persist for a week then go away for a day or two. Then come back.
Another symptom that started about month 3 is itching red eyes that comes and goes. Started in my left eye but now is in both. Went to eye doctor and he said that he saw some minor bacteria but nothing too concerning.

  Fast forward to month 5. Lip issues still the same. Goes and comes but seems like I have them more then I dont. Burning no longer at the tip of my penis but comes and goes at the base and side shaft with No sores. Not one ever. Seems to come and go with the lip syptoms. Same with itchy eyes but is less frequent then it used to be.
I now have developed a overall body itch sometimes acompanied by a singular small bump sometimes red sometimes skin color. It effects my arms and legs mostly.
Ive recently been to the dermatologist who said based on my sexual history and the fact that Ive had 2 negative hsv blood tests, she did not think it was herpes related. Unfortunately She was unsure of what it could be and I have another follow up appointment tomorrow.
It has been 6 months now. Symptoms still the same and no answers. Is this Herpes or another autoimmune issue? Any suggestions for tests I should get?

Sorry for such a long post but this is like a constant ringing in the ear and it is really wearing on me emotionally.
I am also very concerned since whatever I have seems to be active that I can give it to my 10 month old son. I am very careful to wash my hand and use alcohol based hand sanitizer but you now how kinds are. He tries to put everything in his mouth.

Thanks for any help.

[Mitchell1983]

Fleet, I appreciate your response and optimism. My concern is that it goes against everything I have read.
A quick google, Straight from aad.org
"An adult does not have to have sores to spread the virus. A child can get this virus from an infected adult. A kiss, eating from the same utensil, or sharing a towel can spread the virus"
This pertaining to children I am sure pertains to Adults as well.
Certainly sharing a bottle or cigar would fall under this category. My friend who shared my room could have mistakenly used my towel as well. Not sure if he is hsv positive or not.

All I am saying is that it is possible.

Have seen a dermatologist and they have provided me with no helpful information so far. This is mostly due to the fact that my body is providing little in the way of visible proof. There are slight red patches that will form on my lips but last only a few days have become faint by the time of my appointment. Not the textbook coldsore. I have read on herpes.org that this is what a outbreak for some could look like.

If not HSV What other syndromes or diseases or issues do the symptoms fit?

[Fleetwood20]

Cigars and bottles are not feasible methods of transferring the virus.

A dermatologist as you mention is your next best move.

[Mitchell1983]

Fleetwood, I am not saying that I am 100% sure I have HSV. In my research many of my symptoms seem to be closely related to the hsv virus.There were instances where I could have theoretically contracted hsv1. Taking a puff of a buddy's cigar or a drink from a flask. From my understanding if I did somehow contract Hsv for the first time the outbreak could be long lasting and easily spread throughout my body due to no previous antibodies.

At this point I am at a loss and am looking for any explanation as to what could be happening inside my body. So far the doctors I have seen have not had the answers.
Any suggestions on what avenue to go down next to get to the bottom of this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Fleetwood20]

There is absolutely nothing that suggests these symptoms are related to herpes. If you had not had unprotected sex with someone, then there is no chance of genital herpes. If you have not kissed someone, then there is no chance of oral herpes.

[Mitchell1983]

I doubt the lip burning is from biting my lip. it seems to move from top to bottom lips and is sometimes quite intense. However sometimes it can feel strange like a piece of tape stuck to my lip.
Another symptom that started yesterday, my index finger started itching with the occasional faint pain on the side near the knuckle. It doesn't look too severe but i can see and feel a rash under the surface. Almost like the beginning of poison ivy. It has not gotten worse since my discovery yesterday.  I have covered it with band aids and medical tape to make sure i do not spread whatever it is. At least until i can get the dermatologist to swab it tomorrow.

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, well its not herpes for sure due to your negative tests and even if your one of those people who never test positive your symptoms donot suggest herpes either. They are not white centered nor just a lump under the skin but are a blister type lesion.
With you lip issue with numbness is a sigh of a nerve damaged and cannot say here whats causing it. Maybe you bit your lip at the outing or an insect bite.