Now 2.5 months of uncertainty

[helpmepleasedoc]

Doctor, thanks again for helping me nearly 2 wks ago. Since then, my ID specialist did a HerpeSelect test: HSV2 negative (great news), but confirmed HSV1 positive. Clear for other STDs.

Visited a dermatologist today to discuss the small, pin head size bumps on my fingers and palms (slightly raised, flesh colored or white, sometimes painful or itchy). She scraped a couple of these bumps and there was no fluid so she did not take a biopsy.  She said to not worry, they'll probably go away in time. She also examined my penis, which still has the small, pin head size bumps at the tip of the penis & inside the urethra (last posting stated these bumps covered the penis head two months ago and improved with oral and topical antifungal meds). She said the penis looked relatively normal and to "see how it goes" as it seems to be improving.

I mentioned to the derm that I had shingles 3-4 yrs ago, and told her the blisters were only on my pinky finger below my second knuckle (not near the finger nail). She immediately said that sounds more like "Herpes", not shingles. I agree that is an unusual location for shingles. The blisters I had closely resembled the herpes blisters I have seen on the back of people's hands and arms in the pictures on-line. Do you think it was herpes?

My concerns:
I thought HSV2 negative results would have alleviated my concerns. I'm still just as worried about having/spreading HSV1 to wife/kids.

Have seen pictures of Whitlow. I noticed tonight many small pin head size bumps are developing on my fingers just above the fingernail. These are more "rash-like", more raised (rough), and in higher numbers. They are on the same fingers that I used to pleasure my wife 2 & 4 nights ago (fingers in vagina).
-- Could she or I have genital HSV1? If so, could it spread from her/my genitals to her/my fingers/hands?
-- I am assuming I have had HSV1 for at least 3-4 yrs, probably passing it back and forth with my wife. If so, why the more acute symptoms for each of us now?

Recently, sex with my wife has been limited to a couple of times in mid July and a couple of times recently. Shortly after having sex (vaginal) with her in both timeframes, she has been exhausted, headache, body ache, and nausious in days following. She is usually up late at night (11 or 12) but has been going to bed at 8 or 9 recently. I have similar symptoms so I have done the same. Are we reinfecting each other? ID said I have no STD so have lots of sex with my wife. Is this smart?

-- We both have had sore throat with heavy mucous, itchy ears, itchy/irritated nose. Many raised dots in back of my throat for 3 wks now. ~2 yrs ago I was diagnosed with epiglotitus - looks the same as that. HSV1 related? Should I get it cultured?
-- Experiencing armpit pain (lymph nodes?), burning lips and eyes, and headache along with my other symptoms -- Is this an HSV1 outbreak? Continual outbreak since early June? Recurring?

Your thoughts?
Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My thoughts?  That you have seen a dermatologist who doesn't think you have HSV-2 (dermatologits by and large are excellent herpes experts); neither your nor your wife's symptoms sound at all like herpes of either type, or any other STD; and your blood test is negative for HSV-2.  Conclusion?  You don't have HSV-2, and there is nothing to suggest any other STD.  Your symptoms also are not those of HSV-1; the only thing it causes are recurrent blister-like sores around the mouth and lips.

I hope this helps.  Good luck--  HHH, MD

[helpmepleasedoc]

Dr. HHH, thanks for the reassuring comments that I have no STD. I suppose that I am obsessing because although I don't appear to have an STD, I HAVE SOMETHING.  The small raised dots on my penis have been there for 2.5 months, the small raised dots on my hands/fingers have been there for months.  Improvement of my condition has slowed significantly in the past few weeks, and I am not on any medications now.

From further reading on-line, I found a condition called Prostatitus.  I have similar symptoms, such as pain in my perineum, sweats, some burning on tip of penis AFTER ejaculation or AFTER urinating (not during), rash (on abdomen, neck/under chin, and legs/feet).  Could this all be due to a bacterial infection in my prostate?  Could the spots on my fingers come from direct contact with my semen?  Could my semen be infected with some bacteria?  I ask because shortly before my symptoms 2 months ago, there were two events:
1) I had periodic (~5 times in 5-6 months) unprotected anal intercourse with my wife; and
2) I was in a very warm swimming pool and hot tub the weekend prior.

Could all of this be a systemic bacterial infection?  Would that be contagious -- do I need to worry about transmitting it to my wife or kids?

Sorry about my previous dumb questions about Herpes. Leading up to the more reliable professional advice of my ID specialist and dermatologist, I think I got some bad advice from my general practitioner. The GP clearly stated that I had herpes when my HSV2 test result was equivocal.  Obviously this put me in "extreme freak-out mode".  My most important question has been answered, but now I'm still trying to figure out what is wrong with me.

Can you please reply to me questions about prostatitus???  Thanks for your frank feedback and compassion.

[helpmepleasedoc]

I forgot to mention, other symptoms I have (in reference to possible prastatitus) are abdominal pain, lower back pain, groin/hip pain, armpit pain (lymph nodes?).