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Herpes Community
This forum is an un-mediated, patient-to-patient forum for questions and support regarding herpes issues such as: Herpes symptoms and treatments, causes, diagnosis, and herpes in men, tests, telling your spouse or partner.
Herpes, Strep and Uncertainty
by relativelysecular, Mar 03, 2008 09:42PM
I am an 18 year-old male who, 2 weeks ago, had an unprotected sexual encounter with someone whom I've never known nor will likely ever see again.
The next morning, I noticed some redness, and immediately thought chafing, but was guardedly skeptical and concerned.
I went in for a doctor's opinion on the 3rd day after the encounter, and at this stage I was seeing more of a cluster of tiny bumps across the penile shaft. They did not look superficial (they were reddened follicles), but the doctor wisely asserted that herpes cannot be ruled out.
Over the next week, a few of the bumps disappeared, and two of them enlarged to about 3-5 mm. They would consistently go through a cycle of scab, swell, burst (revealing puss-like contents) and sit open (and very painful). I had to make several bandages, and each removal was similarly very painful. I would ritualistically clean the area in the shower with antibacterial soap, doing the same with my hands. I would pat the area dry and rebandage, though just recently I'm trying to wear loose fitting clothes only and see what transpires.
During this time (3rd day-8th day), too, I was on a cycle of acyclovir. I took three pills a day as directed for five days. No noticeable suppression of the lesions (ulcers, perhaps) occurred.
I visited a new doctor on the 10th day with open sores present. She was puzzled by the lack of suppression in the lesions, and noted that herpes may not be the culprit (though she did not explicitly diagnose "no herpes," just so I don't misrepresent her) if no healing had occurred. She took a bacterial culture of the area. On Friday I was called and told it came back negative, but just today (Monday), I was called and told that strep had grown. I received a prescription for penicillin (2 tablets 2 times a day for 10 days), and have just now taken the first day's dose.
After the 10th day visit, by the way, my gland swelling and groin pain had more or less subsided, but the cycle of the ulcers "opening" and "closing" continues on a 12-hour basis. Here I am on Monday (the 15th day, I believe), and am still in significant pain, with the ulcers showing no decrease in redness or irritation (I'm trying to detect the itch/burn characteristic of herpes, as I've experienced outbreaks of HSV-1 on my face, but rarely feel anything but a sting from chafing/soaping/etc., or an itch from bandaging).
Sorry for the gratuitous parentheses. More to the point: I'm posting this information to get a second opinion, though I know no diagnosis can be made via text/internet. I'm wondering if strep could have infected an incubating herpes, but I still think back to when I first saw the symptoms appear non-superficially. Conversely, I also know that the first herpes infection can be very steadfast and very intense compared to later infections. Could strep be capable of such ulcers if left untreated (at least until now)? My intuition says no, but I'm not as medically literate as, say, a doctor.
Oh, and I have had one prior sexual partner, which was over two years ago with no symptomatic sexual health problems. This new instance was a frivolous, intoxicated "one night stand." I'm shamed, but just generally concerned about my health.
Thank you for your extensive efforts on this website and these forums. I would really appreciate some words.
Would be glad to provide any additional information, but that's quite the helping right there.
Cheers
The next morning, I noticed some redness, and immediately thought chafing, but was guardedly skeptical and concerned.
I went in for a doctor's opinion on the 3rd day after the encounter, and at this stage I was seeing more of a cluster of tiny bumps across the penile shaft. They did not look superficial (they were reddened follicles), but the doctor wisely asserted that herpes cannot be ruled out.
Over the next week, a few of the bumps disappeared, and two of them enlarged to about 3-5 mm. They would consistently go through a cycle of scab, swell, burst (revealing puss-like contents) and sit open (and very painful). I had to make several bandages, and each removal was similarly very painful. I would ritualistically clean the area in the shower with antibacterial soap, doing the same with my hands. I would pat the area dry and rebandage, though just recently I'm trying to wear loose fitting clothes only and see what transpires.
During this time (3rd day-8th day), too, I was on a cycle of acyclovir. I took three pills a day as directed for five days. No noticeable suppression of the lesions (ulcers, perhaps) occurred.
I visited a new doctor on the 10th day with open sores present. She was puzzled by the lack of suppression in the lesions, and noted that herpes may not be the culprit (though she did not explicitly diagnose "no herpes," just so I don't misrepresent her) if no healing had occurred. She took a bacterial culture of the area. On Friday I was called and told it came back negative, but just today (Monday), I was called and told that strep had grown. I received a prescription for penicillin (2 tablets 2 times a day for 10 days), and have just now taken the first day's dose.
After the 10th day visit, by the way, my gland swelling and groin pain had more or less subsided, but the cycle of the ulcers "opening" and "closing" continues on a 12-hour basis. Here I am on Monday (the 15th day, I believe), and am still in significant pain, with the ulcers showing no decrease in redness or irritation (I'm trying to detect the itch/burn characteristic of herpes, as I've experienced outbreaks of HSV-1 on my face, but rarely feel anything but a sting from chafing/soaping/etc., or an itch from bandaging).
Sorry for the gratuitous parentheses. More to the point: I'm posting this information to get a second opinion, though I know no diagnosis can be made via text/internet. I'm wondering if strep could have infected an incubating herpes, but I still think back to when I first saw the symptoms appear non-superficially. Conversely, I also know that the first herpes infection can be very steadfast and very intense compared to later infections. Could strep be capable of such ulcers if left untreated (at least until now)? My intuition says no, but I'm not as medically literate as, say, a doctor.
Oh, and I have had one prior sexual partner, which was over two years ago with no symptomatic sexual health problems. This new instance was a frivolous, intoxicated "one night stand." I'm shamed, but just generally concerned about my health.
Thank you for your extensive efforts on this website and these forums. I would really appreciate some words.
Would be glad to provide any additional information, but that's quite the helping right there.
Cheers
Meanwhile - yes strep can cause issues in the genital area. You can also develop fungal infections too from the treatment. Continue to follow up with the dermatologist as needed if this doesn't clear up with your current treatment.
I agree that skipping the bandages is the best idea. Change your underwear several times a day if needed instead ( if that's a feasible option of course ).
grace
Very interested to see how this turns out, please keep us posted.
I went to the doctor today, and she noted that the sores had not quite begun to heal, even after early antibiotic treatment. She gave me an antibiotic ointment to be applied three times a day, so I'm going to continue with bandaging as long as I have this ointment.
In conjunction with the penicillin, the doctor is pretty confident in the sores completely healing, at which point I'd seek out some STD tests. The herpes blood test, by the way, is apparently not very effective until 3 or 4 months, so I wouldn't seek one out just yet. Same goes for an HIV test. I could have gotten a viral culture, but that would have cost $150, and I'm a college student.
I'll be in touch, and will likely post on the doctor forum, though I originally thought that's what I was doing.
The reason I suggested a herpes test now is so that you have a baseline. Useful for determining if this is just your first obvious reactivation of a prior herpes infection or not. Just because it's the first time you've been noticing symptoms down yonder doesn't mean it's a brand spankin' new infection for you. Also since a viral culture wasn't done from the sounds of things - getting a baseline might help you if this actually is hsv1 genitally though even if your blood test comes back as hsv1 negative now and hsv1+ in a few months that doesn't tell you if it's an oral or genital infection ( or both ).
When you are at home and can do so - skip any bandaging and go bottomless when you can. Cool, dry air is best to retard the growth of bacterial/fungal/viral infections in the genital area. I can't understand trying to keep ointment from going thru your clothing and showing up during the day though certainly.
grace
grace
I'm only less concerned about syphilis because I couldn't really compare my two sores to the ulcer/chancre characteristic of early syphilis. While I could have an asymptomatic infection (hence future plans for testing), the chancre is typically described as larger and (somehow) relatively painless.
I'll likely be back in the doctor's office for a "where to go from here" discussion once this infection