Scared ********

[chriskim]

Hello.  I have an unusual question.  I am happily married for 13 years with neither of us with a history of Herpes (1 or 2).  About a week ago, I I took a shower on a working boat.  When i went to dry off, I realized someone else in the shower had used it after I had almost finished up (I use 2 towels, one for my private and one for the rest of my body--the one for my privates was wet).  Now why I think I  may have contracted herpes.  As of today, I have a slight fever (99.1), headache, slight sore throat, a burning sensation on my penis the side of (feels like a friction injury from chaffing) and testicles, and I have sporatic shooting pain and tingling in my testicles, hips, elbow and the back side of leg. When I got home, I thought it was jock itch or something fungal because the area was a little red but its back to its normal color now. No blisters have formed and if they do I will be sure to go to the Drs.  From what i read online here, though, its seems premature to go before i have blisters.  I have several questions if you could take the time to answer.  
1.  Is it possible to contracted herpes from this?
2.  Unfortunately, I was abroad accompained by several foreigners on this trip and know that there are different strains of herpes. I read that if infected with HSV1 or 2 that you cant infect someone who already has it.  If I have contracted a different strain of HSV1 that someone else, is that still valid?
  I am having severe anxiety of this and appreciate any help you can provide.  

[gracefromHHP]

if you are going to have a true primary infection of genital herpes, the initial symptoms will also include prodromal symptoms - they will all hit at once.  if you had hsv1 orally previously, you might not get much of anything before your initial lesion appears though for most folks some itching and/or redness will occur a few hours to a day or two prior.   since 1 out of every 2-3 adults has hsv1 by the time they reach their 30's, this is why so many folks never suspect that they contracted hsv2 genitally - the initial presentation of symptoms can be so mild as to go unnoticed or attributed to something else.

that was for the inner scientist in you - now send me a nice fru fru girlie drink to beat the heat with :D  not even 9 a.m and already I feel like I"m close to spontaneous human combustion....lol

[chriskim]

Good morning.  I know I wasn't at risk.  I found the topic interesting and couldn't stop reading about (the little scientist in me).  The prodromal/primary OB relationship is not well defined.  In some sources they indicated they were different (with differing timelines) wheras others indicated there were for both.  I was just trying to clarify for knowledges sake.

[gracefromHHP]

it differs from person to person and depends on your prior hsv1 status prior to contracting hsv2 as to how severe your symptoms will be.   most people never have a true primary genital herpes infection since they already have hsv1 orally beforehand which takes the "edge" off of initial hsv2 symptoms.

once again, you were never at risk for herpes so don't worry yourself needlessly!

[chriskim]

Thank you for reponding.  I have another question though.  I am a little confused on prodromal symptoms.  Is that for a primary outbreak or recurring outbreaks?   The way I understand it, primary outbreaks symptoms occur all at once (pain, tingling, blisters, redness and flu like symptom) but prodromal for a recurring OB occurs in stages starting with pain or tingling and resuls in blisters if they come.  Is that correct?  The online material seems to gloss over the relationship between the primary and prodromal symptoms.  Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

you  had no risk for herpes from this.

grace