Aa
Worried about skin to genitals contact
So on July 6th, 9 days ago I went to a strip club. I got a dance from a nice looking girl, but without my permission (and I don't say this just to make myself less guilty) she pulled my shirt up and was rubbing her bare vulva on my stomach. It took me a minute to say I was uncomfortable with this. A few minutes later I went to my car and disinfected myself with hand sanitizer, then went right home and showered with lots of soap. My skin on my stomach was intact; no cuts, abrasions, nothing. Her genitals didn't look like they had any sores, I guess that doesn't mean much.
I also had some Valtrex that I keep on me for my HSV-1 cold sores on my lips, I take it when I get an outbreak, which I even had one recently, and I get an OB twice a year or so. I started taking this the next day, so 14-16 hours later.
So I contacted Dr. EHW on the expert forum, he told me that I was at "virtually no risk" of getting HSV-2, and the Valtrex was a waste of time. He later even said I had "no risk". I didn't believe him, and I've abstained from sex with my girlfriend anyway, and I told her about this.
So, onto my symptoms. On July 10th, 5 days after exposure, I got a transient sinusitis with a temperature that quickly went away (I get this occasionally, so I wasn't worried). I also noticed a couple of small red rashes, they looked like mosquito bites, on either side of my torso just below my ribs (i.e. not where she actually was grinding with me, which if I remember correctly was more on my lower right stomach). Over the weekend I got some hives that were irritated by clothing along with warm flushes. I also started having a bit of an upset stomach. The whole time I was on the Valtrex.
Itching also started over the weekend, sometimes it's present where she was grinding, sometimes all over my skin. Moreso when I think about it. I've also been having panic attacks since the weekend, with both cold and hot flashes.
On Monday, I went to a local STI clinic. The doctor there also said I was at no risk, that he wouldn't even recommend testing in three months etc. Monday night, July 13th, I took my last Valtrex pills, so I've been off them for two days.
To my complete surprise, the hives or urticaria have largely gone away. On the negative side, I still have an upset stomach, and sometimes, there's a deep ache in the area where the lady was on on my lower abdomen. I sometimes still get itches. Today I've started feeling a bit warmer, and I've been experiencing extreme panic attacks, including a tightness in the throat. Some itching still occurs on my stomach, but it's transient. No sores or cluster of sores have appeared, apart from those couple of insect bite things I mentioned earlier, and they're fading, not crusting over or anything.
So, all in all, I think I'm probably infected with most likely Herpes-2, and that the Valtrex supressed any blisters, but not the other symptoms, and that the hives (past) and upset stomach are due to the Herpes, which some people have suggested they could be.
Of course, I've had a history of producing symptoms where there are none to be had before, including massive pains, hot flashes, night sweats, chills, fatigue, etc.
Either way, I'm tortured by anxiety. Telling my girlfriend about this helped, and she was understanding, and I think thankful that I didn't have sex with her. But then that brings up other questions, right now I'm looking every day for the "typical" sores. And what happens when I get them, and end up testing positive? Will she want to stay with me?
I also had some Valtrex that I keep on me for my HSV-1 cold sores on my lips, I take it when I get an outbreak, which I even had one recently, and I get an OB twice a year or so. I started taking this the next day, so 14-16 hours later.
So I contacted Dr. EHW on the expert forum, he told me that I was at "virtually no risk" of getting HSV-2, and the Valtrex was a waste of time. He later even said I had "no risk". I didn't believe him, and I've abstained from sex with my girlfriend anyway, and I told her about this.
So, onto my symptoms. On July 10th, 5 days after exposure, I got a transient sinusitis with a temperature that quickly went away (I get this occasionally, so I wasn't worried). I also noticed a couple of small red rashes, they looked like mosquito bites, on either side of my torso just below my ribs (i.e. not where she actually was grinding with me, which if I remember correctly was more on my lower right stomach). Over the weekend I got some hives that were irritated by clothing along with warm flushes. I also started having a bit of an upset stomach. The whole time I was on the Valtrex.
Itching also started over the weekend, sometimes it's present where she was grinding, sometimes all over my skin. Moreso when I think about it. I've also been having panic attacks since the weekend, with both cold and hot flashes.
On Monday, I went to a local STI clinic. The doctor there also said I was at no risk, that he wouldn't even recommend testing in three months etc. Monday night, July 13th, I took my last Valtrex pills, so I've been off them for two days.
To my complete surprise, the hives or urticaria have largely gone away. On the negative side, I still have an upset stomach, and sometimes, there's a deep ache in the area where the lady was on on my lower abdomen. I sometimes still get itches. Today I've started feeling a bit warmer, and I've been experiencing extreme panic attacks, including a tightness in the throat. Some itching still occurs on my stomach, but it's transient. No sores or cluster of sores have appeared, apart from those couple of insect bite things I mentioned earlier, and they're fading, not crusting over or anything.
So, all in all, I think I'm probably infected with most likely Herpes-2, and that the Valtrex supressed any blisters, but not the other symptoms, and that the hives (past) and upset stomach are due to the Herpes, which some people have suggested they could be.
Of course, I've had a history of producing symptoms where there are none to be had before, including massive pains, hot flashes, night sweats, chills, fatigue, etc.
Either way, I'm tortured by anxiety. Telling my girlfriend about this helped, and she was understanding, and I think thankful that I didn't have sex with her. But then that brings up other questions, right now I'm looking every day for the "typical" sores. And what happens when I get them, and end up testing positive? Will she want to stay with me?
Man, that heffa123 guy is really bothering me.
I need somewhere to keep writing out my thoughts, so here goes. I went yesterday to my doctor, who wasn't available, got told to go to emerg. Went there, a nice former public health nurse (i.e. STI clinic nurse) and current Nurse Practitioner examined me, and reassured me a little bit. I felt a little better. She even swabbed that small pimple thing I have and sent it away for testing.
I went to the local STI clinic today to have him also check out that pimple, he said it wasn't herpes at all. Which was good, and he said it was low risk, due to girl's unknown status, shedding status, low risk, intact skin, HSV-1 antibodies, etc. But he also told me that it's possible I did get infected.
Talked to my girlfriend last night, she seems to think I'm just being anxious. I really think it's different this time, the more I think about it.
There are things to weigh in the positive and negative column:
Negative:
1. The pimple, and two small nonspecific rashes, appeared 4-5 days or so after exposure. Major abdominal burning pains started along with it.
2. Hives started 4-5 days after exposure, along with hot flashes and upset stomach.
3. While I've had night sweats, hot flashes, and chills, upset stomach, etc, in all of my previous anxiety freakouts, I've never had hives before.
3a. Hives can be a sign of infection with a virus, including Herpes.
4. 1-day sinusitis attack (typical of many I have had over the year) started 4-5 days after exposure.
5. I started taking Valacyclovir 14 hours after exposure, so my symptoms can be modified to be nontypical.
6. The lady in question did grind her genitals into my stomach for at least a minute.
7. The last doctor says it's possible I could get infected from this.
8. The recolections of jaybird791. He'd also taken antivirals, but 1 month post exposure.
"To make you aware, I did contract HSV 2. described probably every other symptom in the book, (sore neck with headaches, fever, lesions of all varieties, etc.) and was told not to worry. No doctor, including the 5 I spoke with (three online docs, 1 urologist, and 1 family physician) can diagnose herpes without a classic presentation. If you are concerned, only you know your body, and should get tested. I just had that feeling this time, and my instincts were correct. I am positive it was from this encounter nearly 3 months ago bc I tested negative prior to the incident. "
Positive:
1. Dr. Hook and Nurse Practitioner and first STI doctor doubt I got infected.
2. If I am infected, the Valtrex only stopped me from developing overt lesions. But it had no effect on the hives or other symptoms, which is in contrast to a case report of HSV-caused hives, where Valtrex got rid of them.
3. The hives stopped/markedly decreased when I stopped taking Valtrex.
4. Other symptoms either improved or did not change significantly when Valtrex discontinued.
5. No additional typical or atypical herpes symptoms since discontinuing Valtrex; i.e. no new rashes/pimples/pustules.
6. Hives could have been caused by contact dermatitis from clothing which I washed with too much detergent and too little water two weeks ago. Clothing not washed during that cycle caused hives to diminish.
7. Some, including Dr. Triple-H, doubt that hives could be a symptoms of primary HSV infection only recurrent.
8. Warm flashes/pains/itching/nausea/sinusitis continue off and on, independent of hives. To me this is a good thing, if they were all related to infection along with hives, then they'd have disappeared too.
9. I didn't take the doctor's advice and I abstained from sex with my girlfriend. I can take comfort in the fact that I couldn't have infected her.
But, all in all, I have to sadly balance it towards HSV-2 infection, and prepare myself for a secondary outbreak or positive test which I'll take in a few weeks. Why? Because all the "positive" stuff requires a series of coincidences to explain it. Whereas the "negative" stuff only requires the one precipitating event to explain it. Right?
I need somewhere to keep writing out my thoughts, so here goes. I went yesterday to my doctor, who wasn't available, got told to go to emerg. Went there, a nice former public health nurse (i.e. STI clinic nurse) and current Nurse Practitioner examined me, and reassured me a little bit. I felt a little better. She even swabbed that small pimple thing I have and sent it away for testing.
I went to the local STI clinic today to have him also check out that pimple, he said it wasn't herpes at all. Which was good, and he said it was low risk, due to girl's unknown status, shedding status, low risk, intact skin, HSV-1 antibodies, etc. But he also told me that it's possible I did get infected.
Talked to my girlfriend last night, she seems to think I'm just being anxious. I really think it's different this time, the more I think about it.
There are things to weigh in the positive and negative column:
Negative:
1. The pimple, and two small nonspecific rashes, appeared 4-5 days or so after exposure. Major abdominal burning pains started along with it.
2. Hives started 4-5 days after exposure, along with hot flashes and upset stomach.
3. While I've had night sweats, hot flashes, and chills, upset stomach, etc, in all of my previous anxiety freakouts, I've never had hives before.
3a. Hives can be a sign of infection with a virus, including Herpes.
4. 1-day sinusitis attack (typical of many I have had over the year) started 4-5 days after exposure.
5. I started taking Valacyclovir 14 hours after exposure, so my symptoms can be modified to be nontypical.
6. The lady in question did grind her genitals into my stomach for at least a minute.
7. The last doctor says it's possible I could get infected from this.
8. The recolections of jaybird791. He'd also taken antivirals, but 1 month post exposure.
"To make you aware, I did contract HSV 2. described probably every other symptom in the book, (sore neck with headaches, fever, lesions of all varieties, etc.) and was told not to worry. No doctor, including the 5 I spoke with (three online docs, 1 urologist, and 1 family physician) can diagnose herpes without a classic presentation. If you are concerned, only you know your body, and should get tested. I just had that feeling this time, and my instincts were correct. I am positive it was from this encounter nearly 3 months ago bc I tested negative prior to the incident. "
Positive:
1. Dr. Hook and Nurse Practitioner and first STI doctor doubt I got infected.
2. If I am infected, the Valtrex only stopped me from developing overt lesions. But it had no effect on the hives or other symptoms, which is in contrast to a case report of HSV-caused hives, where Valtrex got rid of them.
3. The hives stopped/markedly decreased when I stopped taking Valtrex.
4. Other symptoms either improved or did not change significantly when Valtrex discontinued.
5. No additional typical or atypical herpes symptoms since discontinuing Valtrex; i.e. no new rashes/pimples/pustules.
6. Hives could have been caused by contact dermatitis from clothing which I washed with too much detergent and too little water two weeks ago. Clothing not washed during that cycle caused hives to diminish.
7. Some, including Dr. Triple-H, doubt that hives could be a symptoms of primary HSV infection only recurrent.
8. Warm flashes/pains/itching/nausea/sinusitis continue off and on, independent of hives. To me this is a good thing, if they were all related to infection along with hives, then they'd have disappeared too.
9. I didn't take the doctor's advice and I abstained from sex with my girlfriend. I can take comfort in the fact that I couldn't have infected her.
But, all in all, I have to sadly balance it towards HSV-2 infection, and prepare myself for a secondary outbreak or positive test which I'll take in a few weeks. Why? Because all the "positive" stuff requires a series of coincidences to explain it. Whereas the "negative" stuff only requires the one precipitating event to explain it. Right?
Yeah, I have, I was seeing one until earlier this year. I don't know what to tell you. I've tried going to therapy, and I'm going to try going again soon; i'll definetely need some extra toughness if I'm going to get diagnosed with HSV-2.
But of course, if you know you're insane, then you're sane, aren't you? Every time I feel it's different this time around. In my defense, I'll say this: every time I go through these anxiety issues, I have real physical symptoms, not just neuropathic pain, but real swelling or discolorations or discharges or whatever. The tests all say I'm wrong, my body says I'm right. Can my body really generate penile discharges, swollen testicles to twice their size, swollen lymph nodes, lopsided facial paralysis for 12 hours, brown urine, hematospermia? That's apart from all the stuff that can be explained by anxiety, like hot flashes, chills, night sweats, massive pain deep in my groin, trouble breathing, choking, weakness, and feelings of deep, deep terror.
This time again: real physical symptoms. What's worse, I can't just take some antibiotic to make it go away. I'm 12 weeks away from a conclusive test if these swabs aren't positive. Plus, I've got mountains of case studies from these very boards that show atypical symptoms and methods of transmission.
Look, I really appreciate that you're even responding to this thread, and I'd again like to reiterate that I'm not belittling the suffering of diagnosed HSV patients. But I need somewhere to get my thoughts out, report my progress in my testing, and get some support if I do get diagnosed with HSV-2.
But of course, if you know you're insane, then you're sane, aren't you? Every time I feel it's different this time around. In my defense, I'll say this: every time I go through these anxiety issues, I have real physical symptoms, not just neuropathic pain, but real swelling or discolorations or discharges or whatever. The tests all say I'm wrong, my body says I'm right. Can my body really generate penile discharges, swollen testicles to twice their size, swollen lymph nodes, lopsided facial paralysis for 12 hours, brown urine, hematospermia? That's apart from all the stuff that can be explained by anxiety, like hot flashes, chills, night sweats, massive pain deep in my groin, trouble breathing, choking, weakness, and feelings of deep, deep terror.
This time again: real physical symptoms. What's worse, I can't just take some antibiotic to make it go away. I'm 12 weeks away from a conclusive test if these swabs aren't positive. Plus, I've got mountains of case studies from these very boards that show atypical symptoms and methods of transmission.
Look, I really appreciate that you're even responding to this thread, and I'd again like to reiterate that I'm not belittling the suffering of diagnosed HSV patients. But I need somewhere to get my thoughts out, report my progress in my testing, and get some support if I do get diagnosed with HSV-2.
You've been posting for 2 years now periodically with anxiety from strip club incidents. I really have to wonder why you continue to frequent these establishments when you know it just causes you all sorts of anxiety? Each time we tell you you weren't at risk but you then continue to argue that you were. Are you seeing the pattern here? Have you consulted a therapist at all to work on these issues?
grace
grace
A) I actually was waiting for treesnake to respond to this, because I thought she'd give a compassionate answer to my freakouts, and maybe some assurance especially since she's just gotten some good news.
B) First off, I've seen pictures online, yeah they're big and ugly and obvious. But in my defense, I have type-1 antibodies, and I took Valtrex 14 hours after exposure, so why would my initial OB be typical? Herpes can be atypical. Lots of times.
Honestly, if the swabs come back negative, they I'm going to think they're false negatives anyway, so I'm in for months of hell in order to take a blood test. Assuming I don't break out in obvious lesions in the intermediate time, or my swabs come back positive. In which case I'm in for another level of problems, my girlfriend will likely break up with me, and I'll have a nervous breakdown. As if I'm not having one already.
Honestly, Grace, I wish I could stop thinking about it. I really do.
B) First off, I've seen pictures online, yeah they're big and ugly and obvious. But in my defense, I have type-1 antibodies, and I took Valtrex 14 hours after exposure, so why would my initial OB be typical? Herpes can be atypical. Lots of times.
Honestly, if the swabs come back negative, they I'm going to think they're false negatives anyway, so I'm in for months of hell in order to take a blood test. Assuming I don't break out in obvious lesions in the intermediate time, or my swabs come back positive. In which case I'm in for another level of problems, my girlfriend will likely break up with me, and I'll have a nervous breakdown. As if I'm not having one already.
Honestly, Grace, I wish I could stop thinking about it. I really do.
I wish I could take you to work with me and show you what herpes blisters on the chest really look like. You'd finally believe in a second that what you are describing is no way, no how herpes related.
Stop checking out your body obsessively. Stop worrying that you picked something up from this.
grace
Stop checking out your body obsessively. Stop worrying that you picked something up from this.
grace
Thanks.
I'm not so sure. I have what looks like a whitehead / pimple / raised bump, that I noticed on last week on July 10th, right in the crease where my skin folds on my chest, right at my sternum, dead center on my chest. But it could be a herpes blister. It's very very small.
I didn't think anything of it earlier; it wasn't red at all, or inflamed, and I itched all over, not just in that one spot. Plus I didn't remember her being that high up on my chest, I remember her being mostly on my stomach. I wouldn't have been able to breathe; but who knows. Maybe?
Yesterday I felt warm during the day by 2 degrees Faharenheit, which went down by afternoon, and that spot has been itching intermittently. Not the site itself, exactly, more like the skin around it. Of course I'd had a high temperature on the weekend too that went down, but still. Nothing's changed about the bump/zit, it hasn't gotten darker or started crusting or anything, which isn't unusual, i heard, though I did get it when I was still on the Valtrex.
I'm gonna try to get it swabbed today, before it goes away.
I'm not so sure. I have what looks like a whitehead / pimple / raised bump, that I noticed on last week on July 10th, right in the crease where my skin folds on my chest, right at my sternum, dead center on my chest. But it could be a herpes blister. It's very very small.
I didn't think anything of it earlier; it wasn't red at all, or inflamed, and I itched all over, not just in that one spot. Plus I didn't remember her being that high up on my chest, I remember her being mostly on my stomach. I wouldn't have been able to breathe; but who knows. Maybe?
Yesterday I felt warm during the day by 2 degrees Faharenheit, which went down by afternoon, and that spot has been itching intermittently. Not the site itself, exactly, more like the skin around it. Of course I'd had a high temperature on the weekend too that went down, but still. Nothing's changed about the bump/zit, it hasn't gotten darker or started crusting or anything, which isn't unusual, i heard, though I did get it when I was still on the Valtrex.
I'm gonna try to get it swabbed today, before it goes away.
yes indeed it does happen but your symptoms do not sound at all herpes related.
this is your anxiety getting the best of you and allowing you to make the proverbial mountains out of molehills.
grace
this is your anxiety getting the best of you and allowing you to make the proverbial mountains out of molehills.
grace
Furthermore, look at this:
"by Edward W Hook, MD, Mar 28, 2008 07:57PM
To: ria84
Parts of this (who you got it from) are peculiar. That yo had a lesion which turned out to be HSV on your chest is less so. During sex and foreplay, on occasion, people get sites other than their genitals or mouth innoculated with the virus. "Geographically" we most oftersee such lesions on the buttocks, the thigh or the lower abdomen but they can occur anywhere"
See, there you go. There's an example of some woman who got type two herpes on her chest. It happens. So I have to deal with the reality that I probably got it as well.
"by Edward W Hook, MD, Mar 28, 2008 07:57PM
To: ria84
Parts of this (who you got it from) are peculiar. That yo had a lesion which turned out to be HSV on your chest is less so. During sex and foreplay, on occasion, people get sites other than their genitals or mouth innoculated with the virus. "Geographically" we most oftersee such lesions on the buttocks, the thigh or the lower abdomen but they can occur anywhere"
See, there you go. There's an example of some woman who got type two herpes on her chest. It happens. So I have to deal with the reality that I probably got it as well.
Hi Grace, thanks for your answer. I hope you're right, I just have the feeling that I'm the "little" in the "little or no risk" this time, and my luck's run out. All these symptoms right after all this happened can't be a coincidence, can they? Or can they be generated by my anxiety? (admittedly high). Like, for example, I've had anxiety attacks before about diseases, but I've never had hives. Hives can be caused by HSV-2 infections, correct? So is that a coincidence? Or maybe it's because I used too much detergent in my laundry this past week? I don't know.
I mean, herpes is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, which is what occured here. Granted, most cases of herpes transmitted outside the "traditional" areas are due to cuts in the skin (like herpetic whitlow, which I have from an autoinoculation from my HSV-1 cold sores). And yes, she'd have to have HSV-2, have been shedding virus at that time, and the virus would have had to have gone through intact skin. Sure, that requires a series of coincidences, but they're hardly insurmountable.
I don't mean to belittle the experiences of diagnosed suffferers by any means, but I'm going to have to deal with the possibility of having this for the next three months, or shorter if I get active lesions, but then I'll be dealing with it for a lifetime.
Verysaddude, I don't have lesions on my genitals because that's not where the skin contact occured The lady had her genitals on my stomach, so that's where I'd be infected.
I mean, herpes is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, which is what occured here. Granted, most cases of herpes transmitted outside the "traditional" areas are due to cuts in the skin (like herpetic whitlow, which I have from an autoinoculation from my HSV-1 cold sores). And yes, she'd have to have HSV-2, have been shedding virus at that time, and the virus would have had to have gone through intact skin. Sure, that requires a series of coincidences, but they're hardly insurmountable.
I don't mean to belittle the experiences of diagnosed suffferers by any means, but I'm going to have to deal with the possibility of having this for the next three months, or shorter if I get active lesions, but then I'll be dealing with it for a lifetime.
Verysaddude, I don't have lesions on my genitals because that's not where the skin contact occured The lady had her genitals on my stomach, so that's where I'd be infected.
you were at no risk for herpes as Dr Hook has already advised you. Why you continue to think otherwise is beyond me. You've had 2 medical professionals now tell you that you weren't at risk, you didn't need valtrex and you don't need tested. What has to be done to get that to sink in?
Your anxiety about all of this is the issue.
grace
Your anxiety about all of this is the issue.
grace
I'm confused by this...why do you feel like you are infected with Herpes 2? Are you having any genital symptoms?
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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.
