As a follow up, I'd like to say today I checked the anus again and that red....thing has returned as well as a purplish rash around the anus. Now, as my post said, I was examined by a proctologist (fingers and all) who didn't notice anything last week. That it's returned now (and I did have a bowel movement previous to checking---but hey maybe thats coincidence) would likely lend credibility to "it's not herpes" direction of thought since I didn't think symptoms come and go so quickly and if there WERE a herpes blister there, it would have been seen by the proctologist, no?
However, the rash remains...
at this point I recommend seeing a dermatologist for the rash. too late for cultures if they suspect herpes but odds are it's something else going on from your description of things.
probably a fungal infection going on too but certainly ruling out a bacterial skin infection and herpes is a good idea.
best of luck and stop back to let us know how your appointment went :)
grace
This does not sound like Herpes. You would be getting some blisters or lesions and it would be painful.
In regards to mycoplasma infections, it could be possible. 50% of sexually active people are found to have ureaplasma in the genital tract and some strains of ureaplasma is bad while others may cause no known health issues at all. Without further DNA testing, I doubt you will know what type of ureaplasma was detected. The drug of choice for ureaplasma infections is a macrolide antibiotic. The best choice being azithromycin. Doxycycline is less effective, but if it's helping, that's good news. If you continue to have problems, ask your doctor about treatment with a macrolide such as azithromycine or erythromycin.
Thank you both for your comments.
I went to a dermatologist today and in my best Chinese, gave the medical history to the doctor and let him examine the anal region as well. He also said he didn't see anything. Just in case, I showed him the photographs I took and he said he saw what I was talking about, but it isn't herpes. I also asked him about the rash and I didn't quite catch the Chinese name of it, but I know he said it's non-STD and he said it was 炎 which means some sort of inflammation. Either way, I'm greatly relieved.
As for Azithromycine, I asked the first doctor about that when I discovered I had mycoplasma and he said they prescribe Doxycycline because in China it's relatively easy to get your hands on Azithromycine and as a result, mycoplasma strains have become more resistant to it, so at this point Doxycycline would be more effective.
glad you are getting better answers at least. continue to follow up with the dermatologist as needed.
best of luck finding out what he really thinks it is too :) Perhaps ask him to write it down and find someone to translate for you?
we have a language line where I work and it's helpful when there is a language issue. perhaps call the clinic to see if they offer anything like that or even an interpreter. beats guessing every time :)
did they prescribe a topical steroid or anything if they think it's mostly inflammation?
if this doesn't clear up, a bacterial swab is also a good idea to rule out things like MRSA.
Wow, mycoplasma strains with that much resistance to Macrolides??? That's unfortunate. Well, keep us posted on your progress.
I will see the doctor next week as I've finished my doxycycline. Out of curiosity, I've had a constant (very) minor throat irritation since around the same time I began the medicine. Not enough to cause me a lot of discomfort but enough to notice it. Is that a side effect of the medicine? I haven't really seen anywhere where it said Doxy can do that, but I'm not really sure what else it would be.