Is it all in my head?

[Anxiety to say the least]

Ok, this is going to be long, so I apologize in advance.  I had numerours (8-12) sexual encounters with one man with out protection.  I was informed by a very reliable source that this man had Herpes and began to freak out.  I asked him if he had anything and he said that he had been tested for everything and that he was fine.  I went to my gynochologist complaining of pinching feelings and discomfort in my vaginal area.  She said she saw nothing, but I still didn't feel right.  We (both of us) then went to his doctor and had herpes tests done via blood.  I had negative results and he had posistive results.  Fast forward:  I then proceeded to get 3 more visual exams done and all doctors said everything looks perfectly normal.  At 17 weeks I had a type specific IGg test done through Lab Corp and my results were again negative for both types.  Still feeling irritation and pain in my vagina.  I have since been to two more gynochologists and one saw irritation in my vaginal area and referred me to an infectious disease specialist.  The inf. disease specialist examined me and saw nothing and performed another blood test (apprx 22 weeks past last sexual encounter) It was IGM and it came back negative for both HSVI and 2.  I have had the following symptoms every day for the past six months:
sharp pains in the vaginal area on both sides that come and go
Hot burning feeling in my butt and itchy there off and on
Ringing in my ears periodically,Feeling weak a couple of times
Tingling in the vaginal area,Skin crawling feeling on my legs
Two bumps on my facial lips that have been there since December, not together completely separate (one on the left side and the other in the middle)that will not go away
Numbness in my right leg,Hot feelings come and go in my left foot,My feet hurt all the time if I am standing on them or not
Mysterious bumps on my wrist and both thumbs(some close together some all alone),Neck pain,Bloating  
Heightened sensitivity in the vaginal area,Headaches (throbbing) in the back of my head,Eyes are irritated often
Stomach cramps and feeling sick sometimes,Vibration in my vagina and down my left leg off and on,Excessive discharge-no odor just alot more than usual,Feeling of a yeast infection comes and goes
NO VISIBLE SORES ANY WHERE IN MY GENITAL REGION!
Now, I think that about covers it, but I am not sure what to do or where to go from here?  I will get a Herpeselect blood test done here again. Been tested for all other STDs including HIV- all negative. I knew that I may have been infected and started looking at websites for symptoms and now I seem to have every one there ever was besides the visible lesions and painful urination. I have been told I am fine and not to stress any more about it,but I can not stop thinking about it 24/7, it has consumed my life over the past almost 7 months now. I was prescribed valtrex to see if anything changed or got better and it definatley hasn't gotten better over a months time.What to do

[Englishman]

I agree that anxiety is most likely. What about allergies and diet as other possibilities?

[monkeyflower]

Believe me, the compliment is certainly much appreciated, but in all fairness I picked up that particular verbiage from your posts ;-)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Note Monkeyflower's comment "you may have just become hyperaware of your normal body sensations".  Exactly what I said about anxiety-related symptoms.  I did not see Monkeyflower's comments before I posted mine, in fact didn't even know she had responded before I did.

The intent isn't to praise MF (although it is deserved, and not just for this thread), but to reinforce our joint message about where the real problem lies.  Please do follow up with a mental health professional.

HHH, MD

[monkeyflower]

While you wait for Dr. Handsfield's reply, I think it's a pretty good bet you don't have herpes. First of all, you only started noticing symptoms after hearing your partner had herpes (which he apparently didn't even know but was open to finding out - so whoever told you this clearly had some ulterior motive for doing so), and you've developed more and more herpes symptoms the more you read. I'm not saying it's all in your head, but don't underestimate the power of suggestion. I remember taking a disease in history class years ago that had most of us imagining we had all the symptoms of the most obscure, gruesome (and usually fatal) diseases you can imagine, lol.

Also, you may have just become hyperaware of your normal body sensations. Have you ever really looked at a very common word, like "the", and began to think it looked weird, or wrong? It's kind of like that, lol. You could also be experiencing something else altogether. As another poster noted, google vulvodynia. And some (maybe most) of what you're experiencing sounds like anxiety symptoms/tension as well. Besides, herpes doesn't last every day for months, and your symptoms didn't respond to Valtrex, AND you had all negative tests, so I think you can let that one go.

I would suggest seeing your gyn to find out what might really be going on for you. You might consider seeking out a pelvic pain specialist as well, if your gyn can't find anything. Then, if neither of them find anything physically wrong and you're still feeling as stressed out about this as you sound, I'd suggest seeking counseling.

[Anxiety to say the least]

I have tested negative for herpes three times now, but only one type specific IGG test that I know of for sure of,  at approximately 17 weeks past last sexual encounter.

[Anxiety to say the least]

Good question.  I am assuming genital, but the doctor didn't say and I am having a hard time trying to contact the doctor who tested.   All he said was I tested negative and he tested positive.  At the time I didn't even think to ask, I guess because of the initial shock of the results because I was the one who was "experiencing" symptoms.

[herps2005]

how many times have you tested negative for herpes?  

what about vulvodinia, or vaginitis?  

it doesn't sound like you have herpes, and to get tested again would be wasting a lot of money for another, likely, negative result.  

also - what hsv type did your partner test positive for?

[Anxiety to say the least]

I forgot that we only had sexual intercourse vaginally, no oral or anal at all.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Here is my preliminary answer, before I even read your story and question(s), based just on the title you chose for this thread ("Is it all in my head?"):  Probably yes.  As I have said many, many times on this forum, when a person suggests his or her own problem is due to anxiety, stress, or emotion, I suspect s/he is usually right.

Now I will read the question; we'll see whether it changes my gut reaction.

OK, I read it.  Guess what:  It is absolutely certain you do not have genital herpes.  And indeed, your symptoms are classical for anxiety--and had you come to me as a patient, herpes wouldn't have even entered my mind as a possible explanation.  It isn't so much that anxiety causes physical symptoms out of the blue (my personal opinion, and I'm not a mental health professional); but for sure anxiety can dramatically magnify normal body sensations.

What to do?  Definitely see a mental health professional.  I suggest out of compassion, and in the sincere belief it will help you.  Please do it.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD