Doc,
Thanks. I will seek another Doctor's advice before proceeding with having it removed.
Cripes
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