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Genital HSV-1 Questions - Need Opinion!
Hello, I am in need of some opinions, aside from my doctor's, regarding a possible genital HSV-1 infection.
I am a 22 year old woman who has never had any GYN issues until this past year. Before I get into my main issue, I just want to mention first that around Feb/March of 2007 I received oral sex from my ex, while I had a cut on the left side (due to shaving). I do not recall him having a cold sore.. anyways, this information will be important later.
Now, beginning in 2008 (Feb) I began getting non-stop yeast infections. These lasted me until the Fall of '08. During this time (in June) I started getting fissures - those annoying and sometimes painful papercut like cracks in the skin, ALWAYS on the left side (so, the info above comes into play). At first I was told they were nothing to worry about, because of all the yeast infections I was having & because they did not look or act like herpes. However, they began to become a major issue. I was getting 1-2 almost every week in the same basic area. My doctor decided it would be smart, even though I was still having yeast at this time, to test for herpes. A viral culture was done, and it came back negative. This was over summer.
Fast forward to today. I'm told I no longer have yeast, since about Oct (though I occassionally have thick, clumpy, and thus, abnormal discharge, wtf?) and I am STILL getting fissures. They appear now, not only in the 'same basic area', but have also begun appearing elsewhere, but always on the left side (and always on the genitals, never near my thigh, etc). I also, most recently, had a couple of pimple like bumps appear and two scabs form (separate from the pimples and not caused by fissures, as I didn't have any before the scabs appeared - that I know of). The fissures have never scabbed when healing, and I have not had these pimples or scabs appear since. I also almost always feel itchy, burning, and just uncomfortable down there, regardless of whether I have a fissure or not. This is almost constant. Also, I find that it hurts to enter things (such as tampons) into my vagina, hurts or burns when I pee (not a UTI), burns after I rub (ie. wiping after going to the bathroom), and sometimes feels painful when pressure is applied for long periods of time. I have also experienced flakey, dry skin around the area I get fissures, but no where else. So basically, I always have these painful sensations, it's not "outbreak" like in the sense that I feel burning and itching, get a fissure, and it all goes away. I always feel itching, etc, and sometimes get fissures.
Since my first herpes test, I have been tested via a culture twice more, once in the Fall and once over the past few weeks. Both have come back negative HOWEVER I got a blood test done within the past few weeks as well, which came back positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2.
The reason I am writing my (lengthy, sorry!) story on this board is because, I have never had a cold sore, yet my parents get cold sores, and so it seems to me that I would have already been infected with HSV-1 in childhood, BUT if I'm going to have genital herpes it IS more likely it would be caused by HSV-1 rather than 2, so my question is - what are your thoughts? Am I in denial given the information I have mentioned? Or could it be something else? And if so, any suggestions as to what it could be? Thank you in advanced to any repliers, and once again, I apologize for the length of this post.
I am a 22 year old woman who has never had any GYN issues until this past year. Before I get into my main issue, I just want to mention first that around Feb/March of 2007 I received oral sex from my ex, while I had a cut on the left side (due to shaving). I do not recall him having a cold sore.. anyways, this information will be important later.
Now, beginning in 2008 (Feb) I began getting non-stop yeast infections. These lasted me until the Fall of '08. During this time (in June) I started getting fissures - those annoying and sometimes painful papercut like cracks in the skin, ALWAYS on the left side (so, the info above comes into play). At first I was told they were nothing to worry about, because of all the yeast infections I was having & because they did not look or act like herpes. However, they began to become a major issue. I was getting 1-2 almost every week in the same basic area. My doctor decided it would be smart, even though I was still having yeast at this time, to test for herpes. A viral culture was done, and it came back negative. This was over summer.
Fast forward to today. I'm told I no longer have yeast, since about Oct (though I occassionally have thick, clumpy, and thus, abnormal discharge, wtf?) and I am STILL getting fissures. They appear now, not only in the 'same basic area', but have also begun appearing elsewhere, but always on the left side (and always on the genitals, never near my thigh, etc). I also, most recently, had a couple of pimple like bumps appear and two scabs form (separate from the pimples and not caused by fissures, as I didn't have any before the scabs appeared - that I know of). The fissures have never scabbed when healing, and I have not had these pimples or scabs appear since. I also almost always feel itchy, burning, and just uncomfortable down there, regardless of whether I have a fissure or not. This is almost constant. Also, I find that it hurts to enter things (such as tampons) into my vagina, hurts or burns when I pee (not a UTI), burns after I rub (ie. wiping after going to the bathroom), and sometimes feels painful when pressure is applied for long periods of time. I have also experienced flakey, dry skin around the area I get fissures, but no where else. So basically, I always have these painful sensations, it's not "outbreak" like in the sense that I feel burning and itching, get a fissure, and it all goes away. I always feel itching, etc, and sometimes get fissures.
Since my first herpes test, I have been tested via a culture twice more, once in the Fall and once over the past few weeks. Both have come back negative HOWEVER I got a blood test done within the past few weeks as well, which came back positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2.
The reason I am writing my (lengthy, sorry!) story on this board is because, I have never had a cold sore, yet my parents get cold sores, and so it seems to me that I would have already been infected with HSV-1 in childhood, BUT if I'm going to have genital herpes it IS more likely it would be caused by HSV-1 rather than 2, so my question is - what are your thoughts? Am I in denial given the information I have mentioned? Or could it be something else? And if so, any suggestions as to what it could be? Thank you in advanced to any repliers, and once again, I apologize for the length of this post.
Wow!!!! I have the same issue!!!!!!! Almost exactly the same!!!
MK_2, did you ever find out what it was!!!!!!!!!
Also what did your fissuer look like??? Was it paper cut or erosion? Or both?
I hope that you look at this... I know that this was posted on 2009
MK_2, did you ever find out what it was!!!!!!!!!
Also what did your fissuer look like??? Was it paper cut or erosion? Or both?
I hope that you look at this... I know that this was posted on 2009
They do totally suck - been there, done that! Give me herpes anyday - I can control that with a pill or two a day - couldn't even begin to control my other genital issues that easy :(
grace
grace
Thank you both for your responses. It gives me some peace of mind to blurt my issues out and receive some other opinions on it.
gracefromHHP, I am actually going to be seeing a new GYN in a couple of weeks, and hopefully that doctor can help me out (it's almost been a full year since having vaginal troubles.. I'm over it!).
Thanks again!
gracefromHHP, I am actually going to be seeing a new GYN in a couple of weeks, and hopefully that doctor can help me out (it's almost been a full year since having vaginal troubles.. I'm over it!).
Thanks again!
At this point it sounds like it's time for a 2nd opinion. either a different gyn or if you can find a dermatologist who has an interest in vulvar issues that would be the best choice for follow up.
Hsv1 genitally tends not to reoccur very often. It' s not likely it's the cause of the fissures/erosions you are getting so frequently. You might also want to ask about topical estrogen to strengthen the skin in your genital area too so that it's less prone to tearing due to repeated infections and such.
grace
Hsv1 genitally tends not to reoccur very often. It' s not likely it's the cause of the fissures/erosions you are getting so frequently. You might also want to ask about topical estrogen to strengthen the skin in your genital area too so that it's less prone to tearing due to repeated infections and such.
grace
I have been tested for yeast and bacterial infections only. After yeast was crossed of the list, and after my first two negative herpes cultures, my doctor told me I probably have dermatitis. She told me not to worry, and the fissures were nothing, so I began using a soap she mentioned to try and fix the problem, however, that is all I changed. My panties are not 100% cotton (most are between ~80 & 90% cotton and the rest of the % is spandex - is that bad?).
My doctor has been treating me for dermatitis since my yeast infections ended, but nothing seems to be making me feel better, which is why a third herpes culture was done (and upon my request, a blood test). I did not remember what I have described above, in which I had a cut and was given oral until this past weekend, but I feel that is important information, and I will be informing my doctor of it asap.
My doctor has been treating me for dermatitis since my yeast infections ended, but nothing seems to be making me feel better, which is why a third herpes culture was done (and upon my request, a blood test). I did not remember what I have described above, in which I had a cut and was given oral until this past weekend, but I feel that is important information, and I will be informing my doctor of it asap.
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I'm not going to be able to shed a lot of light on this, but will try.
Your symptoms could be herpes, but herpes isn't constant like what you are experiencing. I wonder, if it is ghsv1, if you have something else going on that is contributing. Have you been tested for bacterial vaginitis, cytolitic vaginitis, trich, other stds, group b strep, etc?
I'd also wonder if you are having an allergic reaction to something - toilet paper, feminine or baby wipes, soap or shower gel, etc. Is your underwear 100% cotton? Maybe trying all white cotton panties for awhile might help (and yes, you can get cute all white panties lol).
What does your doctor think is causing all this?
Aj
Your symptoms could be herpes, but herpes isn't constant like what you are experiencing. I wonder, if it is ghsv1, if you have something else going on that is contributing. Have you been tested for bacterial vaginitis, cytolitic vaginitis, trich, other stds, group b strep, etc?
I'd also wonder if you are having an allergic reaction to something - toilet paper, feminine or baby wipes, soap or shower gel, etc. Is your underwear 100% cotton? Maybe trying all white cotton panties for awhile might help (and yes, you can get cute all white panties lol).
What does your doctor think is causing all this?
Aj
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
