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Herpes and urinary pain
First, I want to thank you for this invaluable resource!
I posted here a few weeks ago. To recap my symptoms, 23 days after protected sex, I developed a vulval sore. My gyno said it didn't look like herpes (it was perfectly circular and raised, not ulcerated), gave me Keflex, and the sore began healing about 2 days after I began the antibiotic course. Viral culture of the sore was negative, as was a blood test taken 7 weeks after exposure. The sore was on the right side of my body, but for about a month now, I have been experience pain on the left side of my groin and my upper thigh. I haven't been able to pinpoint any painful swollen gland. The most painful part, however, is my urinary symptoms. The pain is pretty much perpetual, and has been going on for two months, though it varies in intensity. It hurts when I urinate as well. Yeast and bacterial STD cultures have come back negative. The doctor said there is no urethral discharge, though my urethra is sore to the touch. Urine came back negative for bacteria. He gave me Zithromycin anyway, which isn't having any effect.
I guess my questions are
(1) what are the symptoms of herpes in the urinal tract?
(2) Is it common to get them there without any vulval sores?
(3) Would herpes in the urinary tract take longer to heal, accounting for the seemingly perpetual nature of my symptoms?
(4) Would it be easy to locate swollen lymph nodes, and my groin pain and leg pain is unrelated or psychosomatic?
I apologize for yet another long posting about atypicalsymptoms. My Gyno is stumped and there is a long wait for me to get in to see a urologist. The only guy that I could have gotten this from (given the negative blood test result) is in the army, and deploying soon. This is not a conversation I want to have while he is in Baghdad.
I posted here a few weeks ago. To recap my symptoms, 23 days after protected sex, I developed a vulval sore. My gyno said it didn't look like herpes (it was perfectly circular and raised, not ulcerated), gave me Keflex, and the sore began healing about 2 days after I began the antibiotic course. Viral culture of the sore was negative, as was a blood test taken 7 weeks after exposure. The sore was on the right side of my body, but for about a month now, I have been experience pain on the left side of my groin and my upper thigh. I haven't been able to pinpoint any painful swollen gland. The most painful part, however, is my urinary symptoms. The pain is pretty much perpetual, and has been going on for two months, though it varies in intensity. It hurts when I urinate as well. Yeast and bacterial STD cultures have come back negative. The doctor said there is no urethral discharge, though my urethra is sore to the touch. Urine came back negative for bacteria. He gave me Zithromycin anyway, which isn't having any effect.
I guess my questions are
(1) what are the symptoms of herpes in the urinal tract?
(2) Is it common to get them there without any vulval sores?
(3) Would herpes in the urinary tract take longer to heal, accounting for the seemingly perpetual nature of my symptoms?
(4) Would it be easy to locate swollen lymph nodes, and my groin pain and leg pain is unrelated or psychosomatic?
I apologize for yet another long posting about atypicalsymptoms. My Gyno is stumped and there is a long wait for me to get in to see a urologist. The only guy that I could have gotten this from (given the negative blood test result) is in the army, and deploying soon. This is not a conversation I want to have while he is in Baghdad.
Ack. Before you have surgery for vulvar vestibulitis, do some research. There are lots of other far less intrusive options... things like switching to unscented detergent, not using soap on your vulva, physical therapy, biofeedback, antidepressants (amitriptyline, etc.). Also, you might consider finding a pelvic pain specialist.
I don't know about the Valtrex, but nothing about this sounds anything like herpes - and nothing makes me think he's lying to you. Did he say why he gave it to you?
I don't know about the Valtrex, but nothing about this sounds anything like herpes - and nothing makes me think he's lying to you. Did he say why he gave it to you?
Doctor, I don't know if you still view threads this long after, but I figured it was worth a shot. In summary, I have been having vaginal pain for 3 months straight. A doctor took a swab from my vestibule and looked at it under a microscope. He told me that I had vestibulitis caused by a virus. He gave me a week's worth of Valtrex and told me there may be surgical options to remove the hymenal remnants and possibly steroid treatment. Because of the Valtrex, I point blank asked him if it was herpes. He said no, it's not herpes. I asked him if this was something I could give to someone else, and again he said no. I am confused; does Valtrex have off-label indications? I can understand wanting to avoid being the one to give me "The Bad News", but can he legally lie to be outright like that?
No herpes outbreak is going to last two months. Google interstitial cystitis; that could explain the urinary pain and UTI-like symptoms.
But honestly, if your doctor's stumped, I'd suggest seeing someone else. Since it sounds like your primary symptoms are urinary, I'd look for a urologist, not a gyn. If you live near a teaching hospital, that might be a good option for finding a specialist.
But honestly, if your doctor's stumped, I'd suggest seeing someone else. Since it sounds like your primary symptoms are urinary, I'd look for a urologist, not a gyn. If you live near a teaching hospital, that might be a good option for finding a specialist.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This doesn't sound like herpes--which cannot cause persistent symptoms for several weeks. And herpes not a likely cause of persisting urinary pain.
1) Herpes in the urethra would cause excrutiating pain for a few days, then completely pain free. The symptom might recur once every few weeks or months (but no more often than once a month).
2) No. 3) No. 4) Recurrent herpes usually does not cause enlarged lymph nodes. In anyc ase, self diagnosis of enlarged nodes is usually not helpful. Rely on your provider's exam, not your own.
On balance, you can be quite certain that herpes is not the cause of your symtoms. Most likely, whatever is going on is not an STD of any kind. But if not yet done, you should have an HSV blood test. And see what the urologist says, but also consider seeing an infectious diseases specialist, or a provider who is especially knowledgeable about STDs (which most urologists are not)--for example, your local health department STD clinic.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) Herpes in the urethra would cause excrutiating pain for a few days, then completely pain free. The symptom might recur once every few weeks or months (but no more often than once a month).
2) No. 3) No. 4) Recurrent herpes usually does not cause enlarged lymph nodes. In anyc ase, self diagnosis of enlarged nodes is usually not helpful. Rely on your provider's exam, not your own.
On balance, you can be quite certain that herpes is not the cause of your symtoms. Most likely, whatever is going on is not an STD of any kind. But if not yet done, you should have an HSV blood test. And see what the urologist says, but also consider seeing an infectious diseases specialist, or a provider who is especially knowledgeable about STDs (which most urologists are not)--for example, your local health department STD clinic.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
