Symptoms of STD's/Vaginal infection

[paranoidspouse]

Has any female who has had an STD or vaginal infection experienced the following symptoms: Thick white discharge, thin yellow/green discharge, pain while urinating.   How long has it lasted for before being treated?

[auntiejessi]

I've had similar symptoms with bv, and it lasted until I got it treated.  When do you get your results back?

I know you have another thread going, but it is helpful for us to have everything in one place.

And I know you are worried, but we can speculate until next year, and the only definitive answers you can get are from the test results.  :(

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

yeah, I'm sorry about the multiple threads. I'm really paranoid.

[auntiejessi]

LOL i can see that.

When do you get your results back?

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

hopefully tomorrow. had the tests on wednesday, so i guess within a week?

[gracefromHHP]

Oh definitely call today and ask for your test results. It shouldn't take a full week to get them back!! Usually everything is there in the clinic and just no one has gotten around to calling you. Take the initiative and call them :)

grace

[paranoidspouse]

got my results today. all negative...yaay!!! =)
however, i didn't do a blood test, so it's still possible i could have the other std's that you can only check through blood tests since I don't have any of the symptoms to tell. guess we'll find out when hubby goes for his check up tomorrow. hope it's all negative, too.
thank you for your support and advice.

[auntiejessi]

Congrats!!

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

a little too early on the celebrations...
my husband went for a check up today, they made him do a whole STD blood test...he won't get his results for another couple weeks. BUT he did have blood in his urine just like I did when I went for a check-up. the doc couldn't give him a definite answer as to what his bumps on his penis could be. he had one pimple which burst and turned into a scab, which came off after a week or so and looks like an open wound. and he had a small cut from dry skin which he used Neosporin on, and started developing small bmps, which could be caused by the neosporin. but the doc couldn't say what the pimple/open wound was. (it didn't look like a herpes bump). the doc said the blood in urine could be that he has kidney stones. what's the odds that both os us have kidney stones? I'm back to being worried and paranoid, moreso thna before. I really need advice  (not suggesting to go get my blood test o just wait for results). I know everyone is just trying to be helpful, but this is really hard. I need to hear some suggestions as to what this could be. What STD causes blood in urine, if any???
HELP!!! =(

[paranoidspouse]

dunno if this helps, but let me add that we can't actually see the blood ourselves. Neither of us knew there was blood in the urine until the doctrs told us that there is. I guess it's microscopic.
Just thought I'd add that to help with a possible diagnosis.

[auntiejessi]

All kinds of things cause blood in the urine, but stds aren't one of them.

I'm sorry this is so confusing.  If his tests come back negative, perhaps posting in the urology forum would help.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

Thank you so much for all your help. It really is confusing to me as well, because just when I think it's one thing, my husband shows symptoms unrelated to that, and then I get worried again. I was so relieved when I heard my chlam/gono tests were negative because I was so certain I had either of them, but then he goes to the doc and the doc gets him all paranoid that it could be something the worse. And now it has me thinking it could be something uncurable because of the hematuria. Arghhh!!! Just seems odd that we'd both have it.
Oh well, unfortunately I can't turn back time. =(

[auntiejessi]

I don't know of any std that causes hematuria, so keep thinking positively.  :)

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

I'm starting to think this is all karma for my bad behavior...
Went back to gyno today. Did another urine test...NO blood.  Drew some blood to do other std tests, so just gonna have to wait for those results. Hopefully it is just karma messing with me...

[auntiejessi]

Aww I hope you get this cleared up soon.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

When my husband's scabs heal, what should I look for if it is herpes? Would his skin look normal or would there be a mark?  Also, would the area be itchy or anything?

[auntiejessi]

If its herpes, it shouldn't scar, but it might leave a mark for a little while, especially if he has sensitive skin.

It shouldn't itch if its healed.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

I know I need to just put this to rest and just wait for results...but knowing what the outcome will be if we are infected is hard to cope with, and I' just trying to find answers and make sense of this if it is herpes. Anyways, hopefully this is my last question and I hope you could help.
I'm confused about the initial outbreaks. Everyone says the first is the worst it'll ever be. Assuming my husband is experiencing his initial outbreak, shouldn't the blisters/sores be painful/itchy or ANYTHING??? Unless he doesn't look at it, he probably wouldn't know they are there. In the beginning it was a slight discomfort from his underwear rubbing againts it, but nthing necessarily to complain about. No pain there or anywhere else, soreness, swelling, itching, burning...nada.
Obviously, I'm looking to hear that he doesn't have herpes, but I know nothing is definite until we get the results. But it would help to at least understand the symptoms some more. Everything I read about is so vague!!

[auntiejessi]

Unfortunately, things are vague with herpes, as there can be differences from person to person.

If someone has a brand new herpes infection, and hasn't had either type 1 or type 2 before, their first outbreaks are called a primary.  These are typically moderate to severe, and can involve a lot of pain.

If someone has a previous hsv1 infection, and get a new hsv2 infection, the antibodies from type 1 can help keep the initial hsv2 outbreak mild.

I'm sorry its so vague, but you just need to wait.  The results will give you more info than any speculation will.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

Thanks for everything Aj.  It's been helpful to have someone to talk to and can offer some insight.
Will get back next week with results.

[paranoidspouse]

Ok, it's not next week yet, and I said no more questions, But just want to try and understand the whole symptom thing a little more. I know the signs and symptoms are vague and vary from person to person. But when they say other symptoms that MAY accompany outbreaks, i.e fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands, etc...is there an approximate time when this can happen (before outbreak, during, or when they are healing?) Or does this vary as well?  Before an outbreak or few days after make sense, but is it possible still when they are healing?

[paranoidspouse]

primary outbreak in particular

[auntiejessi]

Those other symptoms would typically happen either just prior to the primary, and probably during it.

It wouldn't happen after.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

Just when I'm ready to put this to rest, my husband brings up another symptom..ugh!! LOL
I just want to forget about it for the next few days. But I guess we're both extra aware of our bodies right now, that ANY little change seems like a bigger deal than it probably is.


hope you had/having a nice day, Aj!

[auntiejessi]

Aww I'm sorry.

Maybe you all can decide to take the weekend off from worrying about it all and go do something FUN.  Resolve to do no genital checks, etc.

Hang in there,
Aj

[paranoidspouse]

Ha!  I'm trying so hard to do that, but my anxiety kicks in every now and then. I'm lucky it's not affecting my sleep, but as soon as I wake up, it's the first thing on my mind.

If a blister started crusting over and was like that for a few days but came off...should the lesion be dry or wet looking like a new lesion?   Everything I read talks about blisters bursting, crusting over and healing within 2 weeks, but obviously scabs can come off. So then what?

[auntiejessi]

You know - I don't know the answer to that one.  I don't pay that much attention to my herpes outbreaks.

Good question, though.

Sorry I can't answer it for you.

And you really are thinking too much about this.  I know its hard, but you really need to take some time and do something fun.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

positive for HSV2
sigh...

[auntiejessi]

You or your husband?

And I'm sorry.

Make sure you read the herpes handbook - www.westoverheights.com

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

I was tested positive. I'm sure he will be too (did't get his results yet)

Thanks for all your help, concern, advice, time, AJ!

[auntiejessi]

You're welcome, and keep in touch.  :)

[paranoidspouse]

What do igg levels indicate? eg. what's the difference if someone tests positive at 2.2 as opposed to 3.2  (or 1.2 for that matter)?

[auntiejessi]

It doesn't mean much, really.

The higher the number, the more you know for sure its hsv2.  What were the results?

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

mine was 2.2 for HSV2   and less than 1  (can't remember exact number..maybe 0.4) for HSV1.
after reading more about HSV, it seems pretty pointless for me to have tested now since it was only about 3-4 weeks after exposure.
a) would the number get higher over time?

I've come to accept that I'm probably infected and am okay with it, but it tears me apart knowing I may have passed it to hubby too. We're still waiting for his results, but that would probably be useless too since his test was 2-3 weeks after exposure. b1) But if his igg shows over 1.1, then it's certain we're both infected, right? b2) And I shouldn't have any hope of both our tests being false positives?

What I'm still so confused about are his signs/symptoms!! That "papercut" on his foreskin near tip and "pimple" on shaft showed up 3-4 days after exposure. After using Neosporin on it, then only did he start getting small blisters (about 2 showed up next to eachother, and 1 was a little furthur away..and i think over the next 2 days 1 more showed up each day around the others). This was maybe a week after "papercut" and "pimple" showed up. And once he stopped the Neosporin, no new blisters appeared. Collectively, they look like a picture of herpes blisters I've seen online. But what's to say right now they weren't from the Neosporin.  Other "symptoms" he may have had (ache in right leg just above knee and in lower thigh and mild back ache) both lasted about a day and happened about 2 weeks after the "papercut" and "pimple". It's been 2-3 weeks since his penis showed any signs, and they're still there. They're healing, but definitely still there.  Who knows what they are and what caused them. And now I just feel like we won't REALLYY know for another 3 months until we retest and show positive again.

There's a few questions I lettered/numbered above...would appreciate if you can answer those. And the other stuff, I would also appreciate if you have any feedback/comments.

Thanks, AJ  (or anyone else commenting)!

[auntiejessi]

I'd say its likely to have come from the neosporin, and you both should test again in a few months.

A 2.2 is fairly likely to be a false positive, so don't start worrying too much now, ok?  I know its hard, though.

If you are positive, the number will probably get higher over time.  It might be low now since its a new infection, and higher later, but you have no way of knowing if it is a new infection, or just a false positive right now.

A 1.1 is the lowest a person can have and be positive, and always warrants a retest.

There is always hope, but since you both have symptoms, its about 50/50 right now.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

So now that I know we're both positive for HSV2 , what's the deal with oral sex? Can it be transmitted from genitals to the mouth?

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

Oral hsv2 is RARE, and given that you both have antibodies to it, as long as you avoid oral sex when one of you has an outbreak, you should be fine.  :)

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

but what about the whole shedding without an outbreak? isn't it essentially the same if u do have an outbreak?

[auntiejessi]

It might be, but we haven't ever really quantified how much shedding is needed to transmit to the genitals, much less the mouth.

All I can tell you is that of the gazillions of people with oral herpes (well over 60% in the US), about 3% of those are from hsv2.  Those who do get oral hsv2 almost never get recurrences, and it would only shed from your mouth about 1% of the time.

I was with the guy I got herpes from for 3 1/2 years before I got it genitally, and gave him oral that whole time.  I never got it orally, even before I had my own antibodies to protect me.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

thanks, Aj

[paranoidspouse]

how accurate are the blood tests that just tell you if you're positive or negative and don't tell u which simplex?

I guess it's stupid, but part of me still has some hope (or wants to have some hope) that we're not infected even though blood tests suggest otherwise.  

I'd appreciate if you can help me understand the viral transmission process a bit more. If someone has blisters/sores, and this comes in contact with another person, the virus is passed on correct? And if someone (a male) is shedding but with no blisters, etc, the virus can then be passed on through mucous membranes (eg through intercourse if he ejaculates inside or has precum)?? What if he isn't shedding, will it still be passed on?  

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

The transmission stuff is all explained, and explained far better than I could in a few sentences here, in the herpes handbook.  Its free at www.westoverheights.com

The ones that tell you if you are just positive or negative are fairly decent, but if you have type 1, and a low type 2 result, it might be a false positive, and the "positive" won't tell you that.

The ones that don't tell you what type are absolutely totally worthless.  You could have type 1, and had it since you were a kid, and that will make the combination test show positive.  You would have no way of knowing if its type 1, type 2 or both.  

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

"Overall, the risk is about 10% per year that an infected male would transmit HSV 2 to an uninfected female.  That is, if 100 infected men were having one-on-one sex with 100 uninfected women, about 10 women would get infected per year. If the situation were reversed, about 4 uninfected men would get herpes in a year from infected women."

wow..I guess I'm part of the 10 women..and my husband part of the 4 men. how lucky are we!

[auntiejessi]

Yeah I know - I felt the same way when I got it.

But make sure your test is correct, too.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

yeah, I definitely intend on retesting in a couple months.

got some more questions, if u don't mind..

1) How soon after someone becoming infected can the virus be transmitted?

2)  People usually get outbreaks around the site of infection, right? So if my infection site was inside my vagina, does this mean I won't ever really "see" an outbreak if it occurs? And if it isn't painful, I probably wouldn't know it's there?

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

Good question.  I would say within a few days you can be infectious.

And yes, obs are typical at the site of infection, but I get mine on my labia.  You might not get any inside, but from what I understand, the internal obs do bring pain and possibly discharge.  I don't know anyone that has missed it.

Aj

[paranoidspouse]

another question to the list:

3) The "symptoms" that I experienced: discharge and pain/burning while urinating (approx 1 week after potential exposure), could this mean i was having an outbreak inside my vagina? Or could they have just been the other symptoms without outbreak?
I saw the gyno within a week after I first noticed a change with my body, and did a pap test that came back negative. Are pap tests able to detect that something's up if you're having an outbreak in there?

[auntiejessi]

If the ob wasn't on your cervix, they probably wouldn't have found it on a pap.

It might have been that you had one inside, but you might not ever know.  Its something to pay attention to if it happens again, though.

Aj