Itchy Painful Bumps on Vaginal Lips

[Amy011]

Hi.  I have been very nervous for the past few weeks and think that I may have herpes or HPV (genital warts).  I had skin-to-skin genital contact (no sex, but everything but that -- including him giving me oral) with a guy on Aug. 13th.  On Aug. 22nd, I first started feeling extremely itchy on my vaginal lips and around the entrance to my anus.  This itchiness increased to the point that it was unbearable.  During that time, I tried taking yeast infection meds, but that didn't work.  On Aug. 29th, I noticed 2 large bumps under the skin near my anus.  They were not itching, but were painful only when I pressed on them.  On Aug. 31st, I saw a doctor.  She wasn't sure what it was, but she took a culture for yeast and did a test for STDs.  Both came back negative, BUT the STD test would have been done too soon to detect herpes -- it takes 2-3 months for antibodies to appear in a blood test.  Over the next few days, the itchiness has gotten worse on both my vaginal lips, near my clitoris, and around the entrance to my anus. On September 5th, I noticed several large lumps on my vaginal lips that looked like they were under the skin.  Also, the lips in general looked lumpy and droopy.  Finally, there were also smaller red dots (almost like pimples) that hurt if I pressed down on them.  Also, I noticed 3 or 4 smaller bumps around my anus that could either be hemorrhoids or something else.  I went back to the doctor on September 7th, and she did a culture and found bacterial vaginosis.  She also took a biopsy of one of the bumps to test it for herpes.  Today, September 9th, I noticed that the bumps on my vaginal lips look larger and are now hurting without even pressing on them.  The itching has actually decreased, but now my lips are painful.

I know that I will probably find out in a few days what this is, but I am FREAKING out.  I haven't been able to sleep at all, and I am just so nervous that this is herpes (which I am pretty convinced that it is).  I'm also so upset, because I have never had sex with someone whom I haven't first asked to be tested, and I am generally so careful.  I didn't even have sex this time, we just fooled around.  I mistakenly thought that that was safer than just having sex with a condom.  Now I know that I was wrong.

I really just want a professional medical opinion of what you think this is.  I'm driving myself crazy with constantly Googling pictures of herpes to try to figure out if that is what I have, and I'm getting nowhere (except going nuts).  Thank you very much in advance for your help.

[smoogirl1]

I have almost the exact same thing as Amy011 has, symptom wise.. this post has given me confidence. I'm praying I havent got herpes. There are things telling me I do have it and things that are telling me I don't.

I literally CANNOT think HOW I would have caught it. My boyfriend was tested for everything when he broke up with his ex girlfriend (a good 8 months ago) and it all came back negative, I trust his word. I've been in sexual contact with him for the past two-three months and these symptoms have only now appeared. He's the only guy I slept with and the only other guys I just "fooled" around with (can't believe I never thought that rubbing and humping could still pass on the STD) were over a year ago. I don't even know anyone who has HSV1 (cold sores). I thought I had a cold sore about a year ago, but I was never sure if it was a cold sore or a pimple. It never came back though. All these things tell me it CAN'T be herpes.

BUT I have all the visible symptoms AND my boyfriend contacted me yesterday saying he had found two small red bumps on his genitals,then to wake up this morning to find a third and he says they hurt a little when touched. I'm really worried about this. Two days ago a top red patch appeared half on and half off my top lip but it hasn't changed in size or shape at all.

I'm praying that it's just a really bad case of BV. I don't know much about herpes and how you can catch it (I know through oral and sex thats about it) so any help/advice would be appreciated as i am FREAKING out :(

[blah623]

I am going through the exact same thing! I went to the Dr yesterday and got a prescription for BV after the swab test came back negative for yeast. She said it would clear up in a couple of days and not to worry no STD or anything serious. Just seriously horrible symptoms. She also told me to start using Rephresh which is over the counter to help prevent this from happening in the future.

[Brandimoo]

Im Actually going through this right now, I don't know what to do either.. Like it seems every night or something its always itchy , plus , when I use then washroom it burns really bad! im scared and plus don't want to go to hospital....  Last night I thought id just check it out and soo I did, and everything you just said I had !! but like it was weird though , cause it felt raw and it hurt bad really bad. !! Im completely terrified ..
I don't normally wear underwear , And I do wash my gentials area all the time with soap, but its really perfuming ... soo I was maybe thinking maybe this could cause this!! - but im not sure, I do shave quite frequent down there ... , But also when I checked the spot white stuff came out of it quickly and it was like almost a burning sensation when I would walk ...
and also this has been going on for like 3 years now and I have been checked for STD's year and half ago back ..and nothing has came back !! ..


I honestly Just want to crawl up in blanket and yell for dear life..
Ive been with my boyfriend now for 2 And a half years .. and I have not notice anything on his Penis or near his ball's ... I have not notice anything different on his penis neither ... HELP PLZZ !

[Pearls90]

You guys ever find out what it was?! I'm going exactly through that sane thing ;(

[Pearls90]

Did you guys ever find out what it was!? :/

[Amy011]

Sorry for such a delay, I haven't signed in for forever.  I just did now because I was thinking of you and wondering how you were doing.  Thank goodness I'm doing soooo much better.  Still battling recurring yeast infections, but nothing is seriously wrong.  Thank you so much for asking :).  How are you doing?!??

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

How are you feeling?

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

HEY! well my period has been irregular, 10 days late, but it finally came! im not too itchy anymore i think the yeast and bv is finally gone!!! but im still irritated on one side, its like one side of my clitoris hurts, but nothing is there!!!! oh but i did find like white bumps a while back i freaked out ran to urgent care that dr said it was folliclitis, but i declined antiboitics because i didnt want the yeast to come back, but well its been a while that those bumps are still there, im wondering if thats why im irritated or if its something else, because it doesnt really hurt there, it like hurts and is irritated all over inbetween cliotis and outer vagina lips. im so fed up with all these problems! im visiting my bf in jan and i would like to be 100% by then!!!!!!! ive been using witch hazel on the area, it seems to help, but it also feels like pressure right there, like i have a lump but there is no lump or anything, everything looks relatively normal! ugh

[Amy011]

Hey...just wanted to check in with you.  How are you feeling with everything???  i hope you've been better!!!

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

Yes I'm happy about it too! Today I notice a little itch here and a like pinprick there but it's nothing compared to what I've been through! I'm still a little red and swollen! I'm wondering if I may have a little eczema on the outside of my vagina! Cuz I've been looking into that and the symptoms sound similar! But I would have to get a biopsy in order to be diagnosed right, I'm not sure if im up for a biopsy!! Altho if I start feeling bad again I'll b up for anything!!
Well I tried diflucan and it never worked! I was still itchy and my face got an itchy rash. So I'm hoping to stay away from diflucan!

Oh I know!!!! It's scarry!!!! Im happy that right now I'm in a good relationship!! I'm hoping that in couple of years it will be taken to the next step :) and he was so sweet about everything!!!! He never once accused me of cheating or anything!!!
Oh I know I'll never mess around with a guy unless I see his test results!!!! I've done that before and never will after having this scare!
Hahahaha, were you neg for hsv1? That's cold sores!

Humm I'll look into it! OH my pap smear was normal!!!! Yey!!!! No HPV!!! Yey!!!!

OMG OUCH! That sounds scarry!! Good luck!!    

[Amy011]

Oh good, I'm glad that you are feeling somewhat better.  The OTC yeast infection treatment always makes my skin burn -- I'm sure if your skin is as raw as it is, it will be even more irritating.  Diflucan usually works for me.  Sometimes my dr gives me 3 pills, and I take one every other day.  By the end of the week, I'm usually fine.  If you want, you can ask your obgyn about that.

Good to know about clindamycin -- I'll look into it!

I also have been cautious in the past, but I also never knew that someone could have something with no visible symptoms!  I have never had sex with anyone sooner than 4 - 5 months, and I've also asked someone to get tested first, but at the same time, I never knew that the test needed at least 3 months to be accurate.  And I've also fooled around (but not sex) without getting tested.  Well, I will NEVER do that again!!!  Now I'm going to be the most paranoid person EVER!!!  I wish I could get someone to get tested before even kissing him!!  That might be a little weird to ask, though, on like a second date or something, lol.

Yeah, the HPV vaccine is covered for girls younger than 26.  At least in NY.  I'm not sure if it's different in every state, or if that's how it is everywhere.

Grace just told me to that people with MRSA infections should take a bath with bleach in it!  I am willing to try anything at this point.  So I'm off to take a bleach bath now :-/...

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

yeah i know i just want to feel normal again!! i washed with baking soda and water, that seemed to help alot, i feel better than i did yesterday but im afraid of it getting worse! i stopped using the OTC yeast infection treatment because i think thats why i started swelling and burning, i think im allergic to it or something, or my skin is just so sensitive from all the infections that it cant handle anything too strong!

the antibiotics im on is called clindamycin, i dont feel sick with it, and best of all i dont have that gross metallic taste in my mouth!!!

oh i know!!!!! im so happy that we both are now well informed about herpes before it was too late!!!!! im never going to sleep with just anyone either!!! like before i was pretty cautious but i never really thought that people can have NO symptoms and have herpes!! now for sure if things dont work out with my bf (which i hope and wish things do work out) then  im doing to do the same thing! im going to make them get a blood test and then again in 6 months as well!! besides people probably should start having sex right away anyway! me and my bf waited 4 months before having sex.

oh i didnt know it was overed for people under 26!

[Amy011]

Oh no, I can't believe you're still dealing with this!  I'm so sorry that it's hurting and is red/swollen again.  Do you think it would be worth it to get a second opinion and see another OBGYN?  Or maybe a dermatologist?

I know what you mean about some days being better than others...I'm trying to force myself not to stress so much too.

YES, the MRSA came back.  I couldn't believe it either.  The dr said that it probably never fully went away because I stopped the antibiotics prematurely.  These antibiotics are supposed to be taken on a completely empty stomach for the best absorption, but the dr said I could take it with a bit of food in order to keep it down.  I did that last night and this morning, and I was nauseous, but I kept it down!!!  No throwing up!!  Yayyy!!!  I've never been so happy not to throw up in my life!

Which antibiotic did you switch from the flagyl to?  The flagyl also gave me stomachaches, but I just forced myself to deal with it.  But if there's an alternative, I'd rather take that next time.

I know, I agree that people really need to be made more informed about herpes.  I'm just thankful that you and I became educated about it before it was too late for us!  I also am petrified of sleeping with anyone now!  Even if someone gets tested, I'd want to wait 6 months before anyone doing anything, and then get tested again before doing anything.  And even then I'd be scared!  I'm so paranoid now, I'll never have a relationship!

I called my OBGYN's office -- the HPV vaccine is usually covered for people under 26 years old.  After that it is $200 for each vaccine, and there are 3 in the series.

  

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

Well I'm not doing so well, I've been using this over the counter anti yeast stuff and I think that it is making things worst because the front part of my small vaginal lips where it meets the clitoris is all red irritated and hurts quite a bit!! I dont see a cut but it's kind of swollen! So I'm going to stop using it!! Ugh I keel thinking that I'm feeling better then the next day I feel worse!!! And tomorrow is my last day of antibiotics!!
Well there are days when I dont stress about my problems but then when I feel it coming back I start to stress out and think the worse! But I've been getting better about not stressing so much.

Oh no!! The MRSA came back?!?! Oh that's horrible! Yeah eat a little bit of food, it always helps with nausea with me! I'm taking some diff antibiotics it's not flaqyl, the flaqyl gave me stomache aches! But these antibiotics I'm taking is not too bad.
I know how you feel! I want to get better too!! I want to feel 100% better and stay that way!!
Yeah people should be more informed about herpes!!! Honestly they need to make it a part of the STD testing!!! People need to know if they have it or not so that the cycle of passing herpes on accident will end, or atleast be less!!
Yeah i never even thought about hsv1 being passed genitally! I didn't know it was possible until I started researching!! It freaked me out!

But now we are both informed of the risks! And we can make smart decisions to lower our risk of contracting herpes! I'm almost to the point where I just want to marry my bf and never sleep with another man in my life, I know he's clean and I'm clean and I want it to stay that way! I would be afraid of sleeping with anyone if we broke up.
Yeah I heard about the vaccine! It's suppose to help with the HPV that causes cancer. From what I saw though it's like a couple hundred to get the vaccine.

[Amy011]

Btw, do you know anything about the HPV vaccine?  After the herpes scare, I'm totally freaked out about STDs.  After I'm better from this MRSA infection, I think I'm going to look into it...

[Amy011]

Hi!  How are you?  How is the yeast?  And BV?  Hopefully they are both doing better, and that you are feeling less stressed about it all.

Unfortunately, my weekend was not great.  I noticed on Saturday that the infection looked like it had returned.  I was SO upset.  This thing is never ending!!  The doctor put me back on a different antibiotic, but then I had a reaction to that one also -- extreme nausea -- and threw it up.  So she tried to switch me to a different antibiotic, but my insurance doesn't cover that one, and it was over $2,000!!!  So now I have to try to force down the antibiotic that made me nauseous, and just pray that I don't throw it up again.  I'm going to take the dose in an hour, and I'm scared!  The medication is most effective on an empty stomach, but I'm going to try to take it with a little food because it may help with the nausea.  I hope it works!!!  I need to take some antibiotic for at least 10 days to get rid of this infection once and for all.  I hate that my body keeps getting allergic reactions to all of them!!!!  I am SO frustrated and upset with all of this.  I just want to be healthy and move past this already :(((.

YES, it is very prevalent in gyms!!!  The doctor I saw today said that she has been seeing a LOT of MRSA lately.  It is easy to get in gyms, but also even just out and about -- like on public transportation, from a chair in a restaurant, from sitting somewhere in the mall.  Just anywhere where there are a lot of people touching the same thing.  She said that it is a very good idea to use Clorox or Lysol wipes to wipe down every machine in the gym, etc before using it.  And to carry the wipes around with you to other places as well.  Also, try to use those antibacterial gels (like Purell) after touching things like door knobs that other people have touched, and especially before touching your mouth, eyes, nose, etc.  It is very scary how easy it is to get it!  I am going to be SO anal from now on!!!

I know, you're so right how crazy it is that people are just not informed about herpes until it's too late.  It's horrible.  Honestly, I really didn't know much about it before I thought I had it.  And it could have very easily been too late for me too!  I had NO idea that you could get HSV1 through oral sex -- you are so right that no one ever talks about that!  And I didn't even know that you could get it from someone who isn't having an outbreak, and even if you haven't actually had sex with the person!  Now I feel so dumb for not knowing, but I'm realizing that many, many people are just not informed!  It's also horrible that herpes is not a part of regular STD testing.  I wish we could do something about this to inform people!!!

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

i know!!!! we both have been through physical and emotional stress!!! its just such a relief that its not herpes!!!

wow thats crazy!!! i didnt know that you can get it from the gym!! now im bringing clorox wipes with me when i go to the gym!!

yup the yeast came back! since im on antibiotics for BV!! ugh, it feels like its never ending!!!!! but the dilfucan didnt work for me either!! it looked like i was working but after the 7th day it got worse! i dont like that pill!!! its better just to use the vagina inserts!! right now im using some tea tree oil suppositories i found at a health food store. it helps.

wow!! see its crazy how many people have herpes!! people just dont talk about it!!! i swear herpes testing should really be apart of the regular STD testing!!!!!! and you never hear about the risk of HSV1 being transmitted though oral sex!!!! people should really be informed about these things! before its too late you know?

[Amy011]

Btw, I told one of my friends that I had originally thought that the MRSA was herpes, and that I was so scared for weeks that that was what it was.  And then she confessed to me that she has HSV2!  I couldn't believe it, I think she's only slept with 2 people in her life.  Apparently, her ex-boyfriend got tested before they had sex, but the typical STD panel test doesn't include herpes (and my friend wasn't aware of that).  So, about 2 weeks after they had sex for the first time, my friend suddenly saw small bumps appear.  She went to the OBGYN and found out that she had herpes.  She asked her ex-boyfriend if he ever had an outbreak, and he denied ever having one.  She still doesn't know if that's true, but either way, she said that she would give anything if she could have known that HSV isn't included in STD tests unless you ask for it.  I feel so bad for her, she tried to be careful -- asking him to get tested before and even looking at the test results printout herself -- but she didn't know that it doesn't test for HSV.  And now she's stuck with it for life.

[Amy011]

That's what it sounds like -- your skin there has probably just been through a lot!  I'm so happy that that is all that it is!!!

Thank you, I'm happy that I'm okay too!  And that neither of us has herpes!!!  You're the only person who really knows how scary that was to go through!!!

They have no idea how I got MRSA!  So weird.  And ironic because I'm pretty anal about always using antibacterial hand gel and stuff.  The dr said that it probably had nothing to do with the guy.  His best guess was from the gym, if you could believe it!  Apparently it is not that uncommon to pick up from using a machine at the gym, and the most common areas to get it are the groin, armpits, and nose.  Now I'm scared to ever to go the gym again!

I know how annoying it is to have recurring BV and yeast infections -- I've been there!  But at least you can breathe a little easier now that you know it's not anything more serious.  I also have a yeast infection now, and the Diflucan doesn't seem to be working.  I think I'm going to have to go back to the OBGYN to make sure that it isn't BV.  But I don't even care; at least it's not herpes!!!

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

Me too!! Yes my OBGYN thinks that it's just from all my vaginal problems, my skin is so frail.
Well I'm just happy that you are ok! And I'm happy that it turned out NOT to be herpes!!!!
So how in the world did you get MRSA?? Was it from your encounter with that guy? Or did they tell you how you can get it?

Yeah yeast infections sux but they are just annoying more than anything!
I'm still on antibiotics for BV, the discharge is alot better now and it's only day 3 on the pills! But this itchiness on my skin is still there, and I'm all red!! Ugh... It's an on going thing for me, i can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet...

[Amy011]

Yaaayyyy!!!!  So happy that it came out negative!!!  I'm really so happy for you :))).  Maybe it's just irritated as a result of all of the other probs (bv, yeast, etc)?

I'm so sorry I worried you by not posting -- I was so out of it for days, and didn't have a computer or anything with me, and didn't even have my charger for my phone.  I just went to the ER in a hurry and didn't bring anything with me.  I am just so happy to hear that you are okay too!!  YAY that neither of us has herpes!!!!  Yay yay YAYYYYY!!!!

Btw, I also got a yeast infection in the midst of all of this too.  I'm on Diflucan right now, so hopefully that will help.  But if that's the worst thing to happen from all of this, I'd be thrilled!!

[TiredOfGirlyProblems]

I commented on your herpes forum post lol!!
But I am soooo happy that you found out it was not herpes!!!! Atleast now you are recovering and will be well soon!!!
Yes I got my results back it was negative!!! Yey!!!!
Altho it's still there, it doesn't Hurt or anything!!

I'm still having girly problems! I'm on more antibiotics, hopefully this time I will be normal!! My skin on the outside of the vagina is still all red itchy and irritated and so far baking soda is the only thing that is really soothing! My OBGYN said that the itching is from the BV leaking out on to my skin, so hopefully when I'm done with the antibiotics I will be normal again!!
I was pretty worried about you when I hadn't heard anything, I'm so happy that you found out what it is and are recovering!!!!

[Amy011]

Hi!!  I'm so so sorry for such a delayed response!  I wound up getting extremely sick on the night of the 15th and went to the ER.  Apparently it was MRSA!  You turned out to be right -- they were blisters and abscesses (filled with MRSA).  It turned out to be a very bad infection because it had been growing for so long, and I was kept in the hospital for 8 days and hooked up to a million IVs.  I have never been as sick as I was then.  It was actually very scary at times.  After finally getting out, after a couple of days, I then got a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics, which landed me back in the hospital.  I'm finally out, and staying at my parents' house until I'm more fully recovered (I'm still somewhat nauseous, and I still have an itchy/painful rash all over my body from the antibiotics reaction.  And I'm still healing from where they had to lance the blisters and abscess off).  I am just so thankful, though, to finally know what it was and to be on the road to recovery.  Although I'm very weak and just overall still not feeling like myself, I am much, MUCH better than I was.

Anyway, this is the first chance I've had to get to a computer, and my first thing to do was to post here!  I have been thinking of you.  Did you find out what it was?  I really hope that you found out that it was nothing, and that you are doing okay.  Please let me know!!

Hope you're well!!

[Amy011]

Hi!!  I'm so so sorry for such a delayed response!  I wound up getting extremely sick on the night of the 15th and went to the ER.  Apparently it was MRSA!  You turned out to be right -- they were blisters and abscesses (filled with MRSA).  It turned out to be a very bad infection because it had been growing for so long, and I was kept in the hospital for 8 days and hooked up to a million IVs.  I have never been as sick as I was then.  It was actually very scary at times.  After finally getting out, after a couple of days, I then got a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics, which landed me back in the hospital.  I'm finally out, and staying at my parents' house until I'm more fully recovered (I'm still somewhat nauseous, and I still have an itchy/painful rash all over my body from the antibiotics reaction.  And I'm still healing from where they had to lance the blisters and abscess off).  I am just so thankful, though, to finally know what it was and to be on the road to recovery.  Although I'm very weak and just overall still not feeling like myself, I am much, MUCH better than I was.

Anyway, this is the first chance I've had to get to a computer, and my first thing to do was to post here!  I have been thinking of you.  Did you find out what it was?  I really hope that you found out that it was nothing, and that you are doing okay.  Please let me know!!

Hope you're well!!