Aa
What is this
On August 19th I woke up peeing blood and strong urgency to urinate, no other symptoms, so I went to the dr and was diagnosed with a UTI and given a different kind of antibiotics I've never taken before. A week later I stopped the antibiotics (around the 27th) and that weekend my bf came down from LA and we had pretty rough sex. (sexual history- have been with him and no other sexual partners since May... in March I had 3 sexual partners and 1 was unprotected, but didnt experience any problems) On Sunday I also tried shrooms for the first time, and during my trip I noticed a weird discharge from my vagina with a strong smell. By Monday when my bf left, sex was really painful. On Wednesday I was having thick white discharge with a slight odor and noticed a cut on the very bottom part of my vagina. Everything kind of itched (and never having had a yeast infection before, I scratched it like hell). By saturday everything was very painful, sore, and swollen, although I didnt have a fever or muscle aches or any other symptoms of illness. That night I looked and saw what looked like canker sores on the lips of my vagina, but the sores are not grouped together...there's one on each side of my inner labia, 1 or 2 on each side of my outer labia, and 3 at the very bottom of my vagina. They are round and slightly flat with a lighter top than the surrounding skin, however the "cuts" on the bottom were darker than the other sores. There was also a significant amount of white discharge. I went to the store and bought Monistat 1 day insert, and it hurt like hell to put into my vagina. I also used the topical creme. The next day (Sunday), the discharge had somewhat subsided, but the sores no longer had the lighter tops, and just looked like open gashes. It is extremely painful if urine touches the sores. However unless the sores are touched, they dont itch or bother me at all. That Sunday, my bf called me saying that a girl he was with before we decided to be exclusive (in May) had been diagnosed with chlamydia, and thinks he might have it also.
I went to the Dr and she said it looks like herpes, but we're waiting on the tests... I got a yeast infection tablet (Because the discharge is still present and now very smelly) and acyclovir. Its been 24 hours and everything seems to be worse... the discharge is subsiding but the odor is not, in fact its MUCH worse and the discharge is now watery and yellow... the sores are now constantly painful and even woke me up in the middle of the night. I dont know what to do and it seems like waiting 5 days for the test results is taking forever!! Can you give me any hope?
I'm hoping that by scratching the area around the yeast infection (or chlamydia infection) I opened skin, allowing the bacteria to get in
I went to the Dr and she said it looks like herpes, but we're waiting on the tests... I got a yeast infection tablet (Because the discharge is still present and now very smelly) and acyclovir. Its been 24 hours and everything seems to be worse... the discharge is subsiding but the odor is not, in fact its MUCH worse and the discharge is now watery and yellow... the sores are now constantly painful and even woke me up in the middle of the night. I dont know what to do and it seems like waiting 5 days for the test results is taking forever!! Can you give me any hope?
I'm hoping that by scratching the area around the yeast infection (or chlamydia infection) I opened skin, allowing the bacteria to get in
I'm sure to you it seems like something just doesn't seem to fit but most of your symptoms are pretty classic for a primary herpes ob. The only thing that isn't classic is the discharge you are having - that needs further follow up on to rule out bacterial causes. why your provider didn't automatically treat you for chlamydia too when your partner was diagnosed with it is beyond me. You should be treated automatically.
You have a + lesion culture so there's really no reason to repeat the blood test. At this point your bf needs tested to see what his status is. Most adults have hsv1 whether they can recall obvious cold sores or not.
Personally I would not continue using the neosporin on the genital area. sensitivity reactions to it in the genital area are quite common and you don't want to risk making a bad thing worse. Instead try things like soaking in the tubby with a packet of aveeno bath thrown in or some epsom salts for comfort. Pick up a can of dermoplast spray ( the blue can for the genital area, not the red can ) or a similar product ( no steroids in it, no antibiotics/antibacterials in it ). I prefer dermoplast because you can spray it on without touching the lesions which is nice I think. The ice packs like Jess suggested are also quite helpful.
continue taking the acyclovir too.
grace
You have a + lesion culture so there's really no reason to repeat the blood test. At this point your bf needs tested to see what his status is. Most adults have hsv1 whether they can recall obvious cold sores or not.
Personally I would not continue using the neosporin on the genital area. sensitivity reactions to it in the genital area are quite common and you don't want to risk making a bad thing worse. Instead try things like soaking in the tubby with a packet of aveeno bath thrown in or some epsom salts for comfort. Pick up a can of dermoplast spray ( the blue can for the genital area, not the red can ) or a similar product ( no steroids in it, no antibiotics/antibacterials in it ). I prefer dermoplast because you can spray it on without touching the lesions which is nice I think. The ice packs like Jess suggested are also quite helpful.
continue taking the acyclovir too.
grace
So the results came in... my blood tests were negative for everything... but the culture of the sores came back positive for hsv 1... the dr says that means this is a primary outbreak, and i just contracted hsv 1... but my bf says he's never had a cold sore in his life (i know he could still have the virus, but still) The pap hasnt come back yet, so I'll talk to the dr about the blood when that happens... she says the neosporin was just a coincidence to me responding to the aclycovir... but the timing seems a little funny on that too. Either way, I'm gonna wait a few weeks for my body to build the antibodies to either hsv1 or 2, and then get tested again to make sure the results stay the same... Whats the possibility of 2 false negatives? id rather have hsv1 than 2, so I'm happy it wasnt the worst case scenario, but something just still doesnt seem to fit...
COMMUNITY LEADER
Ohh what did the doctor say? Did you talk to him about the blood?
The fact that you responded to the neosporin makes me think this is a bacterial thing, and not herpes.
Aj
The fact that you responded to the neosporin makes me think this is a bacterial thing, and not herpes.
Aj
Finally yesterday I got SO fed up with the pain that I went to the store to look for some kind of creme relief, because I refuse to believe when my dr says that there's nothing topical you can do for the pain. I found a little bottle of neosporin pain relief + antibiotic. At this point I was willing to try anything, so I went home and put it on... I saw improvement within hours!! It does wonders to help with the pain (so maybe there's an idea for those of you looking for a little pain relief). But what I really noticed is the almost immediate healing of the sores. They're not scabbing over, but slowly becoming smaller and more shallow. I can walk!!! I put it on pretty frequently, probably every 3 or 4 hours, but it works :)
As far as the other symptoms go, the discharge remains mostly unaffected, and yesterday I decided to give in and BM for the first time (I was really worried about the pain but also infecting the open sores) and I noticed a significant amount of blood... so thats not good.
But I called the drs office and they got my results in this morning... so as soon as the dr looks them over, they'll give me a call. Cross your fingers for me!!
As far as the other symptoms go, the discharge remains mostly unaffected, and yesterday I decided to give in and BM for the first time (I was really worried about the pain but also infecting the open sores) and I noticed a significant amount of blood... so thats not good.
But I called the drs office and they got my results in this morning... so as soon as the dr looks them over, they'll give me a call. Cross your fingers for me!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
It wouldn't have given you any stds, but the chemicals in the hot tub might have aggravated things.
You'll be ok taking the dose you are taking. That might be the shingles dose, but it won't hurt you any, and might help - who knows.
The vaccine and the meds will have no interaction.
Hang in there,
Aj
You'll be ok taking the dose you are taking. That might be the shingles dose, but it won't hurt you any, and might help - who knows.
The vaccine and the meds will have no interaction.
Hang in there,
Aj
my bf and i had sex in a public hot tub the weekend before my symptoms started... could that have an influence?
lol i feel like im grasping at straws
lol i feel like im grasping at straws
i dont know... the instructions say to take it 3x a day for 7 days... and then under it says acyclovir tab 800mg... so im assuming im taking 2x as much? the pills look like 800mg pills.
my dr also started me on the hpv vaccine on monday... would taking an antiviral like acyclovir affect the vaccine?
also the discharge and smell are not better.. it seems like the sores are worse where the discharge would drip/come into contact with them. i have VERY sensitive skin, so im hoping this is a skin reaction to a bacterial infection...
i called the office just in case the results came in early and no dice. :(
my dr also started me on the hpv vaccine on monday... would taking an antiviral like acyclovir affect the vaccine?
also the discharge and smell are not better.. it seems like the sores are worse where the discharge would drip/come into contact with them. i have VERY sensitive skin, so im hoping this is a skin reaction to a bacterial infection...
i called the office just in case the results came in early and no dice. :(
COMMUNITY LEADER
What dose of acyclovir are you taking?
You should be on 400 mg three times a day for 7-10 days.
Aj
You should be on 400 mg three times a day for 7-10 days.
Aj
I agree with AJ as to what it could be. herpes sores can get worse before better but usually do not look like whiteheads ever so really perplexed. as far as who gave you what you had a few unprotectred events in close proximityto each other so it would be hard to know for sure who gave you what unless everyone agreed to be tested and share the results with you. I am sorry you are going through this. Make sure all of your escapades are protected in the future as you can catch Chlamydia again once it is cured as well as have recurring vaginosis and catch other things including HIV. Never trust anyones statements that they are healthy you just cannot know for sure. Good luck I wish you all the best.
Thanks for the help!
I went to the Dr on Monday and told her about the chlamydia, but she didnt give me anything for it until the results come back :( Do herpes sores get worse before they get better? Because so far I've taken acyclovir and everything is worse, except for the last sore that appeared. Now instead of being open, it looks like a whitehead pimple, and no longer hurts. Thats literally the only progress since I've been to the dr... the first sores I noticed (near the back opening of the vagina) feel like a bad scrape or rugburn and bother me constantly, they sting and make walking a chore.
Would it be more likely that I caught whatever this is from my current bf, or from the guys I hooked up with in March, if it is sexually related?
I went to the Dr on Monday and told her about the chlamydia, but she didnt give me anything for it until the results come back :( Do herpes sores get worse before they get better? Because so far I've taken acyclovir and everything is worse, except for the last sore that appeared. Now instead of being open, it looks like a whitehead pimple, and no longer hurts. Thats literally the only progress since I've been to the dr... the first sores I noticed (near the back opening of the vagina) feel like a bad scrape or rugburn and bother me constantly, they sting and make walking a chore.
Would it be more likely that I caught whatever this is from my current bf, or from the guys I hooked up with in March, if it is sexually related?
COMMUNITY LEADER
It could be a host of miserable things. :(
It sounds like herpes, maybe chlamydia, or maybe bacterial vaginosis.
Have you been to the doc since you found out about the chlamydia? She might want to treat you as if you have it while waiting on test results.
I'm sorry you are so miserable.
In the meantime, sit on an ice pack or a bag of frozen veggies (peas work best). That will help numb everything. You can also pour water over yourself as you pee. This helps dilute the acid in the urine, which is why its hurting so bad to pee.
If you have benedryl, and can take it safely, take it tonight before going to bed. That might help with the itchies and sleeping.
I hope you feel better.
Aj
It sounds like herpes, maybe chlamydia, or maybe bacterial vaginosis.
Have you been to the doc since you found out about the chlamydia? She might want to treat you as if you have it while waiting on test results.
I'm sorry you are so miserable.
In the meantime, sit on an ice pack or a bag of frozen veggies (peas work best). That will help numb everything. You can also pour water over yourself as you pee. This helps dilute the acid in the urine, which is why its hurting so bad to pee.
If you have benedryl, and can take it safely, take it tonight before going to bed. That might help with the itchies and sleeping.
I hope you feel better.
Aj
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You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs Community
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.
