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Swollen Lymph in groin
Hello,
On June 18th or 19th was the last time I had protected sex with a female. I cannot remember exactly but in the preceding weeks I had also had protected sex with a different female partner I am hetrosexual and have only ever had unprotected sex in exclusive long term relationships. On June 22 I became sick with flu like symptoms. On June 23, I went to a doctor (I was on a work trip to California and in my hotel with the flu). I had a small scab on my penis. He said I probably had HSV 1 and gave me valtrax and an antibiotic.
Upon returning home, everything seemed to clear up and I waited to see a doctor. Having recently moved to the DC area, I had to find a new doctor. I had a scab flare up on my genitals and felt a bit of a temperature. I saw the new doctor on July 13th, they took a blood test and tested for all std's. The really scary ones all came back negative, however HSV 1 and 2 were positive. So while I was freaked out about that, I felt relief about the other tests. She gave me an antibiotic for a week (clyndamicin). During this time, I had noticed an inflamed lymph in my left groin.. About 2-3 weeks passed and I noticed the lymph was still swollen, I went back to the doctor again and she sent me for an ultrasound which I had on August 22nd. They ultrasound identified two swollen lymph nodes with 'fatty hilum' whatever that is. She put my back on clyndamicin for a week and the lymph seemed a little smaller but not much. She then told me to find a general surgeon saying the cut off point after which it is wise to remove a lymph for biopsy is about 6 weeks. He wants to do surgery to take it out on Sept 29.
So I guess my questions are, does this make sense? - Can one have swollen lymph nodes after being exposed to HSV for this length of time? - Is it prudent to be having surgery to take this out?. Of course I have the usual worst case fears that many people on this board have regarding HIV etc which seems unlikely but could do with reassurance - Thanks Doc
On June 18th or 19th was the last time I had protected sex with a female. I cannot remember exactly but in the preceding weeks I had also had protected sex with a different female partner I am hetrosexual and have only ever had unprotected sex in exclusive long term relationships. On June 22 I became sick with flu like symptoms. On June 23, I went to a doctor (I was on a work trip to California and in my hotel with the flu). I had a small scab on my penis. He said I probably had HSV 1 and gave me valtrax and an antibiotic.
Upon returning home, everything seemed to clear up and I waited to see a doctor. Having recently moved to the DC area, I had to find a new doctor. I had a scab flare up on my genitals and felt a bit of a temperature. I saw the new doctor on July 13th, they took a blood test and tested for all std's. The really scary ones all came back negative, however HSV 1 and 2 were positive. So while I was freaked out about that, I felt relief about the other tests. She gave me an antibiotic for a week (clyndamicin). During this time, I had noticed an inflamed lymph in my left groin.. About 2-3 weeks passed and I noticed the lymph was still swollen, I went back to the doctor again and she sent me for an ultrasound which I had on August 22nd. They ultrasound identified two swollen lymph nodes with 'fatty hilum' whatever that is. She put my back on clyndamicin for a week and the lymph seemed a little smaller but not much. She then told me to find a general surgeon saying the cut off point after which it is wise to remove a lymph for biopsy is about 6 weeks. He wants to do surgery to take it out on Sept 29.
So I guess my questions are, does this make sense? - Can one have swollen lymph nodes after being exposed to HSV for this length of time? - Is it prudent to be having surgery to take this out?. Of course I have the usual worst case fears that many people on this board have regarding HIV etc which seems unlikely but could do with reassurance - Thanks Doc
Doc,
Thanks. I will seek another Doctor's advice before proceeding with having it removed.
Cripes
Thanks. I will seek another Doctor's advice before proceeding with having it removed.
Cripes
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll try to help provide some direction but, in addition to the information I provide, I would suggest that you get a second opinion from a local internist before going to get the lymph node biopsied. I have not examined you and thus do not know if you have generalized lymph node enlargement or localized lymph node swelling or whether there are other findings of concern.
Other comments:
1. That you have positive blood tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2 does not necessarily mean that your flu-like illness in June was herpes. A "scabbed" lesion could represent the finally stages of a resolving HSV outbreak but it could also represent other things. Further, if it was HSV, without a culture or PCR test of the lesion, it is not possible to say if the lesion was HSV-1 or HSV-2- they are indistinguishable clinically. Finally, since your penile lesions have recurred, this could represent HSV but to really be sure and to help you make decisions about management, should it recur again, I would arrange to have the lesion tested by culture or PCR from the lesion. A blood test is not sufficient to be sure that the lesion is HSV.
Lymph node swelling can occur for a variety of reason, some benign, some more serious and can persist for long periods of time. There may be characteristic of your lymph node swelling or your history which make your doctor want to be more aggressive. I think you need either a fuller explanation from one of the doctors you are already seeing or a second opinion. What is it your doctor is concerned about and why is the question to ask before you go under the knife. EWH
Other comments:
1. That you have positive blood tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2 does not necessarily mean that your flu-like illness in June was herpes. A "scabbed" lesion could represent the finally stages of a resolving HSV outbreak but it could also represent other things. Further, if it was HSV, without a culture or PCR test of the lesion, it is not possible to say if the lesion was HSV-1 or HSV-2- they are indistinguishable clinically. Finally, since your penile lesions have recurred, this could represent HSV but to really be sure and to help you make decisions about management, should it recur again, I would arrange to have the lesion tested by culture or PCR from the lesion. A blood test is not sufficient to be sure that the lesion is HSV.
Lymph node swelling can occur for a variety of reason, some benign, some more serious and can persist for long periods of time. There may be characteristic of your lymph node swelling or your history which make your doctor want to be more aggressive. I think you need either a fuller explanation from one of the doctors you are already seeing or a second opinion. What is it your doctor is concerned about and why is the question to ask before you go under the knife. EWH
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.
