herpes? blood test correct?

[sparky22289]

5 months ago I had an encounter where the condom broke. I stopped immediately. After that I continued to worry. I have taken multiple tests at 4,6,8,17 weeks an all negative. Doctor thought he saw blister type bumps at around 8 weeks, after 2 days they went away. He put me on valtrex. After the 17 week results I decided to go off the meds. 10 days later I got uncomfortable burning on the top of the shaft area around the area where the bumps were. I haven’t gotten any sores but I started to get really uncomfortable burning on the shaft and the tip seems to get puffy and red. I was having the burning on and off since back when I had the encounter. I seem to have gotten all symptoms including pain the pelvis, swollen glands, and pain in buttock. Also tingling but I have been getting that all over the body so not sure what that is all about. I seemed to have a rash completely covering the testicles 2 weeks or so after the encounter that was really tender and sore. I have had one doctor who told me I have it cause he saw the blister bumps. I have been to many other doctors but they did not see the bumps. The skin where the bumps were seems to be glossy and maybe some redness. I don’t know what to do at this point. I am thinking of going off the valtrex again and seeing if I get the burning. I am guessing I will. My main question is:

Are these blood tests really accurate. I have read they are not.
What makes them not accurate? Because there are no antibiodies or because test cannot accurately detect them.
I don’t know what to do from here.

Dr HHH thinks I don’t have anything. If I don’t then what is it? And why do I get that burning when I stop taking the valtrex.

Thanks

[waringblender]

I can't believe you think a bunch of non-professional Internet bozos like us could possibly give you more accurate information than Dr. Handsfield.

Jesus, just take his word for it and let this thing go. You are clearly overanxious. Maybe psychotherapy would help at this point. You've been out doctor shopping (". . .[m]any other doctors. . .") and getting on-line opinions, and you still aren't happy with what you are hearing. You're really off the deep end here.

[sparky22289]

I know what your saying. Trust me if I didnt have those bumps and wasnt still feeling anything I would let it go. The doctor I saw said was herpes and he didnt care what blood tests would say, he claims he saw a cluster of blisters. I dont know if they were that. But I dont nkow what else it could be. I did get most of the other symptoms......The doctor said he was experienced with it and knew what it looked like. I trust Dr. HHH.....I have no doubt in is reasoning but the problem is he didnt see the bumps. I want to let it go but what is going on if it isnt that and why did my doctor say it is. I was just looking for some other feedback. So what if I go off the valtrex and i get that really uncomfortable burning on the shaft again. After I got the results it was negative i stopped thinking about it and got off the medicine. Then one day while laying in bed i started getting that burning and took a valtrex and I think it went away. So I am currently on it again. Sorry I dont mean any disrespect to Dr. HHH.

[waringblender]

Why would any of us know what you have?  You just said Handsfield can't see the "bumps," but neither can we! So what is it you are looking for in posting here? A real-life doc is the only one who can help you. I suggest one who specializes in psychiatry.

[sparky22289]

Yeah I know.........you are right. Like I said the real doctor says I have it but i keep getting negative results........so just dont know what to do anymore. So I guess I am just trying to get as much feed back as i can.....sorry.

Nick

[jane253]

wow, waringblender seems a little harsh there, but i know what your going through im just waiting on my results.  from what i have read it does not seem like herpes from all the research i have done but im no expert at all just me doing research.  

[wtfneveragain]

Hey, I hear you on this... I was originally diagnosed than undiagnosed by the same doctor; and blood tests were negative at 5 months, but I still have some symptoms down there.

First, you need to accept..."The doctor thought he saw blisters"; NO the doctor saw blisters and so did you, but he doesn't know exactly what they were... They may have been type 1, or maybe it was a pimple... who really knows.

I would say your symptoms are most likely mental.  Genital angst can cause body tingling and burning in the area.  I thought of something that might help you figure out if this is in your head of pysical though; not sure the doct could set it up for you.

Go to a doctor that specialises in mental therapy.  Have him prescribe you two sets of pills one that's a placebo and one that's valtrex.  Take the pills without knowing which you are taking (be honest with yourself don't look at the pills and take with oj to cover the taste); determine if one set of pills reduces the issues and the other doesn't and see if the Valtrex is helping or not.

Really the only way I think you can figure if this is in your head or not.

[sparky22289]

Thanks for the feed back. It is nice to hear someone else dealing with it. To address your comments.

Yes there was something down there...I know I saw something but I dont know if it was herpe blisters or what. What could have caused it. I did not have any outbreak like that since the sexual encounter. The situation is at 8.5 weeks I went to the doctor still complaining of burning and discomfort. He said that all my tests were negative and i suggested doing another one. The next day I went and had an ultra sound done. They basically took the ultrasound unit with the jelly and rubbed it against the skin to get the image. When I came home that day about a few hours later the 3 bumps/blisters or whatever were there. I immediately went to the doctor and he took a look. He said they were herpes and showed me pictures. He put me on valtrex. I started it the next day. A day or so I think they disappeared. There seems to be glossy, or shiny skin right where those bumps were and also cover some of the other area on the shaft close to the tip of the penis.

I went and got blood test done at about 126 days and it was negative. So I stopped taking the valtrex. After about 10 days I started to get a burning type sensation on what i am thinking was the shaft of the penis. I took a valtrex and it seemed to go away. I havent really had any burning since I have been on the valtrex again. I take one every other day.

The tip of the penis seems to be swollen once in a while and there appears to be really small blood spots or what looks like little bites on the inner skin of the opening.

So you say you still have symptoms? Are you taking Valtrex? What is your approach to it?

I believe Dr. HHH knows what he is talking about but he hasnt seen the blister/bumps. I just get fustrated because he doesnt seem to answer my questions about some of the stuff and just says I dont have it. Anway thanks for your comments. It was good to hear. Good luck with your situation. I guess I just assume i have it??

[sparky22289]

thanks for you comments. Yeah I thought waringblender  was a little harsh to but wasnt sure. So it was nice to hear that from you. Good luck with your test results.

[waringblender]

Sorry, but no mental health professional is going to put a patient on a "placebo" course of medication(s) just to see what the outcome is. That would be bordering on malpractice, if not outright malpractice. And it is not within the standard of care for any community with which I'm familiar.

Maybe it's not that I'm "harsh." Maybe it's just that the OP needs a bit of tough love, because he doesn't seem to be getting the message. First he doctor shops (in real life), then he comes on the tubes and gets on-line opinions, and doesn't believe any of the professionals giving him advice. Then he comes to a forum of non-professionals (this one) expecting ... what? That somehow we are going to solve his problems?

The guy needs therapy at this point if he can't let his issues around this go. End of story.  Sorry if that's "harsh."

[sparky22289]

well at first I thought you were right and maybe I shouldnt have come on here. but WTF is having the same problem I am having. So if I wouldnt have come on here I wouldnt have found someone in the same situation. I dont think I was doctor shopping. If you go to a doctor and he doesnt know whats wrong with you then you have to go to another one. You just cant sit there and hope you get better.

So far I had one doctor finally say I had herpes from what he saw. All my tests have come back negative. So I tell Dr. HHH my story and really I was just asking why my tests would be negative. Instead of giving me any answers on that he just tells me I dont have it.......no way and tells me to forget about it and that my real doctor is wrong.
I know I should believe my real doctor, but what the heck is Dr. HHH giving me what i believe to be really confident advice. He is telling me I wont affect any sex partners.

So if I dont have it then why do I get the burning still? And dont call it mental issues because after I got my test results back at 17.5 weeks I figured I didnt have it. So I went off the valtrex. 10 days later I started getting a really uncomfortable burning and took the valtrex and it seemed to go away. Since then I have not really had much burning. Also I noticed "cracking" on the skin in that area which I read is a symptom.

So said to say is I probably have it. I was really hoping I didnt and it was all in my head. I notice that Dr. HHH sometimes gives conflicting advice with different patients so I dont think I should listen to his advice for my diagnosis but I wanted his advice on the blood testing and the reason why they are negative but I still have it.