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STDs (Expert Forum)
Atypical Symptoms
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Atypical Symptoms
by FeelingDuped, Nov 19, 2006 12:00AM
Dear Doctor,
I am 52 years old and have had HSV2 for twenty-one years. I have been taking acyclovir-then Valtrex-for 10 years. Recognizable outbreaks happen about twice a year and are very mild.
Recently I had a beneath-the-skin bump on my vulva. I was annoyed that I could not tell if it was herpes, and that those type bumps seem to take forever to go away. I went on-line about it and in my searches found a website that describes a supposedly effective treatment for herpes using DMSO and stabilized liquid oxygen.
I spent hours on the web looking up DMSO and ended up feeling sure that it would not harm me but might help me.
So I ordered it and applied it to my vulva and lower back nine times spread out over three days. (70% DMSO in a cream base; 3X per day.)
On day two I noticed an area on my mons pubis (NOT where I put any cream) where the skin was a normal color but there was a ring of jagged skin as there would be if a blister had been there and was broken off. There was no redness or pain, and I did not think much about it.
Then after I stopped treatment, I broke out in about eleven large shallow fragile round watery blisters in and around the crease in my groin on my right front side (again, NOT where I put any cream and no mucous membrane involvement). The blisters were all about the same size...a little smaller than one centimeter, and flat. They did not touch each other. They were very watery and so weak that they broke almost as soon as formed.
The areas under the blisters was a clearly defined round red spot, but it was not swollen and did not hurt. It was uniformly red...did not look like a "target".
That was 4 weeks ago. The blisters and redness have gradually subsided, but as they shrunk and dried up, some of them re-blistered on the very same spot with the same type blister only smaller. I now have two small blisters left and am hoping that they will go away and that will be the end of it.
Is there any evidence that the DMSO or stabilized liquid oxygen was responsible? The website says that if the directions were not followed exactly that treatment may result in an atypical herpes outbreak in an area different than usual. That sure sounds like what happened, even though I followed directions.
I am shaking with anxiety that I did something real stupid and my punishment will be a new and more virulent site of herpes outbreaks. After twenty years I thought I had made peace with this virus and really don't want to start over. I am on Valtrex and the symptoms and duration are not typical, but I could not find anything else that it could be.
Please tell me your thoughts on this. Thank you in advance.
I am 52 years old and have had HSV2 for twenty-one years. I have been taking acyclovir-then Valtrex-for 10 years. Recognizable outbreaks happen about twice a year and are very mild.
Recently I had a beneath-the-skin bump on my vulva. I was annoyed that I could not tell if it was herpes, and that those type bumps seem to take forever to go away. I went on-line about it and in my searches found a website that describes a supposedly effective treatment for herpes using DMSO and stabilized liquid oxygen.
I spent hours on the web looking up DMSO and ended up feeling sure that it would not harm me but might help me.
So I ordered it and applied it to my vulva and lower back nine times spread out over three days. (70% DMSO in a cream base; 3X per day.)
On day two I noticed an area on my mons pubis (NOT where I put any cream) where the skin was a normal color but there was a ring of jagged skin as there would be if a blister had been there and was broken off. There was no redness or pain, and I did not think much about it.
Then after I stopped treatment, I broke out in about eleven large shallow fragile round watery blisters in and around the crease in my groin on my right front side (again, NOT where I put any cream and no mucous membrane involvement). The blisters were all about the same size...a little smaller than one centimeter, and flat. They did not touch each other. They were very watery and so weak that they broke almost as soon as formed.
The areas under the blisters was a clearly defined round red spot, but it was not swollen and did not hurt. It was uniformly red...did not look like a "target".
That was 4 weeks ago. The blisters and redness have gradually subsided, but as they shrunk and dried up, some of them re-blistered on the very same spot with the same type blister only smaller. I now have two small blisters left and am hoping that they will go away and that will be the end of it.
Is there any evidence that the DMSO or stabilized liquid oxygen was responsible? The website says that if the directions were not followed exactly that treatment may result in an atypical herpes outbreak in an area different than usual. That sure sounds like what happened, even though I followed directions.
I am shaking with anxiety that I did something real stupid and my punishment will be a new and more virulent site of herpes outbreaks. After twenty years I thought I had made peace with this virus and really don't want to start over. I am on Valtrex and the symptoms and duration are not typical, but I could not find anything else that it could be.
Please tell me your thoughts on this. Thank you in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 19, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 19, 2006 12:00AM
I cannot tell you whether DMSO in "stabilized oxygen" (whatever that is) can cause genital blisters or ulceration. However, I can tell you for sure that no scientifically rigorous studies show they are effective for herpes. Sounds like magical quackery to me. That said, I doubt that such treatment would make your herpes worse.
I know nothing more about this area. I suggest you visit a dermatologist.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I know nothing more about this area. I suggest you visit a dermatologist.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
