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Should I be worried?
Dr.,
About 6 weeks ago I noticed a small sore that over the course of a day or two became a small blister on my lower abdomin (not on my genitals). I went to my doctor and he said it looked like an infected or ingrown hair folicle. I think he felt this way becase it was more blood filled rather than puss filled like a typicle herpes blister. He said to keep it and to keep it clean and dry. I did and it cleared up after a few days.
Then yesterday evening I noticed an identicle looking sore beginning to form in EXACTLY the same spot and I'm extremely worried. I think it is extremely unlikely an infected hair folicle would happen twice in EXACTLY the same spot. In addition, a few hours before I saw the sore the back of my knees were itching which I've heard can be a symptom of a herpes outbreak about to start and now that the sore is present I feel a tingling accross my abdomin.
One additional thing about my symptoms is that that both the sore six weeks ago and the one I have now is a single blister - not a small cluster as I have read is typicle of herpes.
I have an appoint for testing this week but I'm very scared. I may have been exposed to herpes about 5 months ago but there were no symptoms at that time that I remember but I know that symptoms could have been so mild I may have missed them.
How worried should I be? Am I scared over nothing or might this be herpes?
Please help.
About 6 weeks ago I noticed a small sore that over the course of a day or two became a small blister on my lower abdomin (not on my genitals). I went to my doctor and he said it looked like an infected or ingrown hair folicle. I think he felt this way becase it was more blood filled rather than puss filled like a typicle herpes blister. He said to keep it and to keep it clean and dry. I did and it cleared up after a few days.
Then yesterday evening I noticed an identicle looking sore beginning to form in EXACTLY the same spot and I'm extremely worried. I think it is extremely unlikely an infected hair folicle would happen twice in EXACTLY the same spot. In addition, a few hours before I saw the sore the back of my knees were itching which I've heard can be a symptom of a herpes outbreak about to start and now that the sore is present I feel a tingling accross my abdomin.
One additional thing about my symptoms is that that both the sore six weeks ago and the one I have now is a single blister - not a small cluster as I have read is typicle of herpes.
I have an appoint for testing this week but I'm very scared. I may have been exposed to herpes about 5 months ago but there were no symptoms at that time that I remember but I know that symptoms could have been so mild I may have missed them.
How worried should I be? Am I scared over nothing or might this be herpes?
Please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes: even if you had genital herpes, I would not consider the tingling a symptom, but due to something else. And yes, most herpes outbreaks -- especially the first -- have multiple lesions. But that doesn't mean much; single lesions also occur.
On top of all this, you describe your recent exposure as oral sex, which carries much lower risk than genital sex. And presumably the oral contact was with your penis, not your lower abdomen.
My advice is that you not have a blood test for HSV. If positive (for either HSV-1 or HSV-2), I would interpret it in the same way as the tingling: it would mean you have asymptomatic herpes plus folliculitis. Further, if you caught herpes from oral sex, it has to be HSV-1, and half the population has positive tests for HSV-1. So the chance is high that the blood test in fact will be positive, and the only effect will be to confuse and upset you, without providing a diagnosis. If you insist on further diagnosis, wait and see if a similar lesion appears again; if it does, see your doct immediately for examination when the lesion is less than a day old, plus viral culture.
Being "sick with worry", despite the strength of the reassurance you already had from your own doctor and now from me, is a major overreaction. Almost certainly you had a zit, for goodness' sake -- nothing more. You need to drop the herpes business and go on with your life,.
That's all for this thread.
On top of all this, you describe your recent exposure as oral sex, which carries much lower risk than genital sex. And presumably the oral contact was with your penis, not your lower abdomen.
My advice is that you not have a blood test for HSV. If positive (for either HSV-1 or HSV-2), I would interpret it in the same way as the tingling: it would mean you have asymptomatic herpes plus folliculitis. Further, if you caught herpes from oral sex, it has to be HSV-1, and half the population has positive tests for HSV-1. So the chance is high that the blood test in fact will be positive, and the only effect will be to confuse and upset you, without providing a diagnosis. If you insist on further diagnosis, wait and see if a similar lesion appears again; if it does, see your doct immediately for examination when the lesion is less than a day old, plus viral culture.
Being "sick with worry", despite the strength of the reassurance you already had from your own doctor and now from me, is a major overreaction. Almost certainly you had a zit, for goodness' sake -- nothing more. You need to drop the herpes business and go on with your life,.
That's all for this thread.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You probably have no worries about herpes. The occurrence in exactly the same spot is against it but in fact favors the sort of thing your doctor diagnosed. Most likely you have a sebaceous cyst or some other predisposing factor and it became inflamed again, either because the previous infection flared up or due to new infection entirely. Recurrent genital herpes lesions typically appear within in inch or so of the same location every time, but not in exactly the same spot. (In fact, recent research has begun to show a specific reason for this: during each recurrence, immune cells are sensitized to HSV and stay localized in the same spot, preventing recurrence in the precise area.)
On top of all that, your doctor is right that a pus-filled lesion with blood is unlikely to be herpes; your description sounds perfect for a localized bacterial infection. And although it is true that recurrent genital herpes can involve the skin anywhere in the "boxer shorts" area, the large majority of cases in men involve the penis itself. Finally, tingling of the sort you describe is not a herpes symptom. The tingling associated with herpes occurs (if it occurs at all) for 2-3 days before a lesion appears, then goes away with appearance of the outbreak itself.
Bottom line: This doesn't seem like herpes. Of course return to your provider if you remain concerned.
Regards-- HHH, MD
On top of all that, your doctor is right that a pus-filled lesion with blood is unlikely to be herpes; your description sounds perfect for a localized bacterial infection. And although it is true that recurrent genital herpes can involve the skin anywhere in the "boxer shorts" area, the large majority of cases in men involve the penis itself. Finally, tingling of the sort you describe is not a herpes symptom. The tingling associated with herpes occurs (if it occurs at all) for 2-3 days before a lesion appears, then goes away with appearance of the outbreak itself.
Bottom line: This doesn't seem like herpes. Of course return to your provider if you remain concerned.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you so much Dr. I must admit you have given me some relief but due to my previous exposure (oral sex) I do plan to follow up with testing. I have an appointment on Wednesday.
Two points of clarafication. So if this were herpes the tingling I feel across my abdomin (more pronounced at the point of the blister) would NOT be a symptom? I wonder if it is just my mind playing tricks on me. I've obviously been much more tuned into every sensation in my groin area since I saw the blister. In fact the tingling didn't start until I saw it.
The second clarafication involves the fact the first time and is again now I have a single blister - not a small cluster nor a general area of redness. Does that rule out herpes or just make it less likely.
I truely appreciate you providing this resource. You have no idea how much anxiety this has been causing me given that it is a Saturday and I have no way of reaching a doctor today. I have been sick with worry. Thank you.
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.
