Does this sound like herpes?

[adam768]

Hi, I've had some troubling symptoms over the past couple weeks.  Let me start by mentioning that I went on a long bike ride (600+ miles over a week).  Towards the middle of it, I started developing a few sores on both sides of my butt right where the bike saddle meets it.  They hurt a little, but they looked a lot like pimples.  A little later, it started to itch/sting down there, but I don't think I saw anything that looked like a blister or open sore (not quite sure though since that area is not too visible to me).  I think I did see a purplish ring or blotch though that itched as well.  Towards the end of the ride, I could tell that the area was getting really dry/itching more.

I chalked this all up to the long bike ride because I have heard of other people getting a rash from the bike seat.  The sores/pimples seem to be healing up right now.  They actually look like healing acne, but the purple blotch kind of just flaked off.

However, I started getting worried again because just a few days ago I started to develop those flu like muscle aches/burning in my legs (1 week after bike ride) and gradually, it led to muscle aches all over and general malaise and this is still going on today.  This is definitely not muscle soreness from the bike ride as I recovered from that very quickly afterwards.

I also have to mention that I did get a negative hsv 1 and 2 igg blood test back about a year ago and haven't had sex since then.

I'm just very worried about the similarities to herpes.  I know that the flu like symptoms should come before sores, but it still seems strange that I have this general flu like thing that came on gradually and started with muscle aches in my upper legs combined with some sort of rash/pimples before that.

Any thoughts?  Thanks so much in advance.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think I would trust the negative antibody tests that you previously had if you waited long enough from your last sexual contact to have the test done (4 months).  Did you wait long enough to test?

I'm not worried about the flu symptoms themselves.  The rash/sores on your buttocks where you rode the bike are very likely due to the bike ride, not herpes.

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

If you get more sores, you should definitely get them evaluated right away, but from what you have said so far, I'm not worried, combined with your negative antibody test.

Terri

[adam768]

Thanks, so you are saying that these symptoms are coincidence right?  It's a little strange though that I'm getting these symptoms right after the rash.  It's like muscle aches, burning/hot spots in my legs/groin. and sometimes a little stinging, again almost like the flu in the lower part of my body.  

And yes, I did test at 4 months out.

If not herpes, then what could this be?  It's annoying because the symptoms seem similar.

[adam768]

anybody??