What is going on with my symptoms

[Knightfall]

For some back ground information, my ex girlfriend gave me HPV about 2 years ago, which I had treated with liquid nitrogen and it cleared up in one month.  I had full blood tests ( I am unsure as to which ones specifically) for the broad range of STD's and they came back negative on everything.  A year and a half later I started getting tingling around my groin.  It was very intense and regular.  I immediately started to inspect the area, and found nothing.  2 months later the tingling was still there, and I had a reoccuring case of HPV (I had not been with anyone else since my ex.  I suspected herpes and went to the doctor.  He tested, and came back negative, and he looked at everything and gave me some cream for the HPV.

Another 2 months later I went to the doctors again, as the tingling was not going away, and I wanted them to look at the warts which were not going away even with topical cream.  I had a blood test (no culture as I had no symptoms visually or otherwise apart from the tingling.  It came back as negative for everything.  

A few weeks later I saw my first classic herpes signs (even though all tests and doctors said it was negative).  I have herpes lesions on the base of my penis, and bumps on the seam of my testicles.  

3 MONTHS LATER I still have the tingling in the groin (even though they are subsiding.

I read in another thread that the prodome period is a sign of re-occurance ( I have been thoroughly tested through my life, and have never had any symptoms apart from the HPV as mentioned above).  

How can I have tingling for 7 MONTHS total, and how on earth can I have herpes lesions for 2-3 months.  My diet is excellent, my stress levels are normal, I don't smoke, don't drink excessively.  What is going on?   How can I have 3-4 months of tingling with no symptoms (I didn't have a cold or flu or anything like that).

Even with treatment I still have the warts as well.

I know I have herpes, and HPV and am lucky that I have met a wonderful woman who has accepted me, but why wont this go away?????????  Everything that I have read about herpes has not made any sence to me with regards to my case.

I thankyou for having this forum open, it helped me a lot with my major questions.  I just wish I found the forum before I had the blood tests etc, so I know what to ask.

[Knightfall]

Thank you for your time.  

To anyone else who reads this thread, herpes is not the end of your life, chin up.  There are still amazing men and women who will love you for who you are, and make sure you read this site thoroughly before going into the doctors office to understand the differences in testing, and symptoms as there are obviously docotors out there that lack the knowledge that MD HHH has, and are giving out information that is not entirely accurate.

Cheers all.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The only reasons to have a culture are to confirm the diagnosis if there is any doubt (there seems not to be); and to learn the virus type if that is uncertain (probably HSV-2, no need to retest if that's already known).

To clarify the tingling issue, there are no data to show that the symptoms you and your partner experience are due to herpes.  Nobody can say with certainty it never occurs, however.  The way to know is to take suppressive antiviral therapy for a few weeks, e.g. Valtrex.  If the tingling goes away then returns when you stop treatment, it's a fair bet the herpes is responsible.  If treatment has no effect (which is what I predict), it will indicate herpes isn't the cause.

As to what IS the cause, I cannot speculate.  Despite your conviction it isn't anxiety, it still seems possible.

Thanks for the thanks.  Best wishes--

HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I think you are confusing prodrome of herpes with HPV/warts.  There is no prodrome with HPV infection or genital warts. Your tingling is not related to your HPV infection(s), except perhaps as a manifestation of anxiety.  You say you have herpes, but don't say how it was diagnosed.  But even herpes generally does not cause tingling; the herpes prodrome lasts only 2-3 days before a herpes outbreak begins, and continuing symptoms for 2-3 months isn't due to HSV.  Most important, that symptom doesn't suggest anything serious, and it probably will fade away over time. Try not to worry about it--and if you can't do that, discuss it with your health care provider.  Treatment for anxiety might help.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Knightfall]

My herpes is diagnosed as unfortunately I passed a classic case of it to my new girlfriend.  I have the sores.  My girlfriend is a nurse and has had nurse/patient experience in this area, and her sores were definately herpes (a doctor in her hospital checked them for her).  

Do you recommend getting some of my sores cultured even though they look like typical sores?

We both still have tingles even though her sores are gone.  

Part of my confusion is that there is a lot of conflicting information given by STD doctors (that I have seen) and on the web etc.  If tingles are not possible how come we both are?  We have been checked for all other STD's since this, and I don't think it is anxiety.

I thank you for your reply and for you service on the web.

If tingles are not hand in glove with herpes, what else could possibly cause these tingles for this long, and with both of us?

thankyou again.