Questions for Terry concerning geintal herpes

[jts40]

Hi Terry. I was going to call you next week but my conflicted schedule is going to get in the way of that. My reason for such is that on September 24, 2011 I made the biggest mistake of my life. I am a happily married man who went out with a female coworker and somehow ended up at her place after 12 hours of drinking. I guess one thing led to another and we had unprotected sex. So approximately 2-3 days later I started feeling sick with a sore throat and fever of 101. My tonsils were covered with white patches so I went to the Dr. and he did a throat culture which grew out Strep C. I was placed on Amoxicillin 500mg and Prednisone for inflammation. Two days later my sore throat and fever had subsided but I continued to have the white patches on my throat for another 10 days or so as well as the back of the throat being somewhat red. By this time the guilt had taken full control over me and I could not eat, drink, sleep, etc. Eight days after the encounter I had  a day or two of more frequent urination but never any burning. I talked the coworker into taking an STD test for Gon. Syphilis, HIV, HSV2, Chlaymidia. They were all negative and her last previous encounter prior to me was 3-4 weeks. This entire time up until this past Sunday, I have had the mysterious pains that come and go, such as pain inside my penis, testicles, and pelvic area. I took an HSV2 test at 4 weeks post encounter and it was negative. I also went to the Dr. and he checked my prostate and said it was fine and a urine culture was negative. I have communicated several times with both Grace and Dr. Handsfield about my concern for Genital Herpes and they have both agreed that these pains are not associated to genital herpes and more than likely due to anxiety. I have taken 7 days of Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily, 1 Gram of Azithromycin, 2 grams of Metronidazole throughout this ordeal as well.
(cont.)

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

My opinions about the herpes remains the same.

Terri

[jts40]

Thanks Terry. I went back to the dermatologist today and they believe it was a tiny wart. So either way, I'm still lost on what to do:(

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

My suggestion is to follow the opinion of your local caregivers, and believe this isn't herpes.  You've got to somehow stop looking for anything that might be tiny on your penis, because those things have probably always been there but you didn't notice before.  

You could do well to see a counselor for some help with this now.

Terri

[jts40]

If you have the time Terri index your help. So her test was negative and I had a urologist appointment this past Tuesday. I woke up Tuesday morning with a small red bump of some sort on the shaft of my penis. I was terrified. I called my dermatologist and she was able to fit me in that morning prior to my urologist appointment. She checked the bump and said she was confident that it wasn't herpes.this would be the first sign of any bump since the exposure from over 8 weeks ago. I felt good that she was confident that it wasn't a herpes lesion. It didnt hurt, itch, etc. My urologist thought i was just having the pains from anxiety. So I wake up yesterday to another very, very, tiny bump on the side of my shaft bout an inch above the the base. Doesn't hurt, itch, etc. And it seems to be underneath the skin. It is in the same area that the fordyce spots are. Should I be worried or could it just be possible plugged sebaceous glands? Isn't 8 weeks too long for herpes to show up? I'm so afraid I'm about to lose my family that I'm going insane! Please, any suggestions?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I'm thinking that you don't need to retest if the test tomorrow is negative.  Follow through with your urology appointment, I think it will help to reassure you.

Terri

[jts40]

One more quick qustion. I noticed that you stated that if my test was negative at 11 weeks I should move on but what if her test is negative tomorrow, which will be 11 weeks for her. Should I still retest in 4-5 weeks based on all the information that we have discussed? Or should I just try my best to forget about this. I have an appointment with a urologist on Tuesday. Sorry to keep bothering you! Thanks again.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Yes, I think you should move on if you test at 11 weeks is negative.  And yes, males with urethral herpes do complain of pain on urination.

Terri

[jts40]

I received my results for the 7 week test and it was negative. I should find out the results of her test tomorrow at 11 weeks for her. If that is negative should I move on from this. Did the males that you seen with urethral herpes say it hurt to urinate? Thanks Terri.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I have had males with urethral herpes, but almost always they have had external lesions as well.  

You know, it is so hard to nail down the timing of testing and sex, hard to know what to believe exactly.  

For now, I would believe that you are not infected.

Terri

[jts40]

She had an ex that she had slept with about a month before her test. She talked to him and he said he had tested negative for everything about 5 moth prior but he was somewhat of a ladies man I think. That is what I'm afraid of. I don't know. Everything just doesn't seem right down there. For instance, I masturbated today and afterwards my penis hurt for an hour. I urinated afterwards and still had some sticky material coming out, like leftover semen or something. Have you ever dealt with a man with urethral herpes and if so what symptoms did he/they have? Thats what I'm mainly worried about I think since I haven't had any visible lesions. Hanks Terri!

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

If she is negative and hasn't had any other recent partners, then neither of you need to get tested again.  And yes, I do think your symptoms are inconsistent with herpes.

Terri

[jts40]

*Edit*

Thanks for your advice. What I fear the most is that I'm either asymptomatic or that these pains that come and go are either urethral herpes or PHN. She did get tested at the 4 week mark and was negative. She has agreed to take the test next week at the 11 week mark. Should I have her do it again? She says she hasn't shown any symptoms. I also should mention that I have noticed that the glans seems redder more on one side than compared to the other but it doesn't hurt or itch. It may even be my normal pigment that I've never noticed. It seems as though everything is extra sensitive down there right now too. Could I be creating this all in my head or could the stress  and anxiety be causing tension down there? So in your experience these symptoms don't add up to G. Herpes? Haven't had any lesions whatsoever and the pains come and go anywhere from mins. to hours? Would the pains always be there if this was truly herpes? The opening of the urethra is more red around the tip and possibly inflamed as well but again still no sores or blisters. It just seems at times more tender to the touch as well. Psychosomatic?

I should also mention that I had some bloodwork done today (11-14-11) and decided to run another HSV-2 test while there. This would put me 7 weeks past exposure. If this is negative should I still repeat it the 12 week mark? I plan on having the woman test at the end of this week which will be 11 weeks for her. In your expert advice, do you really feel that what all I have described is completely inconsistent with Genital Herpes? Thanks so much for your time!

[jts40]

I should have stated that more clearly. Typing from my phone. It's more red around the tip. Still sound non-herpatic related to you. I'm so lost on what I should do!

[jts40]

And the opening of the urethra is redder and possibly inflamed as well but again still no sores or blisters. It just seems at times more tender to the touch as well. thanks Terri.

[jts40]

Thanks for your advice. What I fear the most is that I'm either asymptomatic or that these pains that come and go are either urethral herpes or PHN. She did get tested at the 4 week mark and was negative. She has agreed to take the test next week at the 11 week mark. Should I have her do it again? She says she hasn't shown any symptoms. I also should mention that I have noticed that the glans seems redder more on one side than compared to the other but it doesn't hurt or itch. It may even be my normal pigment that I've never noticed. It seems as though everything is extra sensitive down there right now too. Could I be creating this all in my head or could the stress  and anxiety be causing tension down there? So in your experience these symptoms don't add up to G. Herpes? Haven't had any lesions whatsoever and te pains come and go anywhere from mins. to hours? Would the pains always be there if this was truly herpes? Thanks so much for your time!

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I would have to agree with Hunter and Grace that these symptoms do not sound at all herpetic to me, but rather incredible anxiety over an error that you made.  You've certainly taken enough antibiotics to cover any bacterial infection that you might have acquired.

The likelihood that you have acquired genital herpes without any symptoms of sore and that you test negative for HSV 2 at this time is so very small.  

I know you are scared, I can totally understand how awful that feels to you.

One thing you might consider is asking the woman to get tested for herpes if you are just in a total panic.  she might be offended (you should certainly offer to pay for it), but if it was negative you could relax more.  What do you think?

Terri

[jts40]

I know you haven't even replied but I should also mention another of my concerns. This past few weeks it seems that everytime I urinate that it seems to be a dribble upon finishing and when I ejaculate it is not much force behind it if that makes since. Urethral stricture possibly due to herpes? That's what is scaring me to death. I should also mention that the ache started again today around 1 pm. Sorry for the lengthy posts. Thanks in advance for you time.

[jts40]

My main concern throughout this whole ordeal is that I may have contracted urethral herpes that can be attributed to the pain within my penis. So does any of my symptoms sound like herpes to you or do you believe this is all anxiety-driven guilt. The bad part about it is that these past few days I haven't really had these pains and now I'm panicking that it is just the initial primary infection disappearing. Also, What exactly are the symptoms of urethral herpes in men? I should also mention that by no means have I not taken the advice of Grace and Dr. Handsfield, it is just the more reassurance that I get the more I can try to move on from this. I'm just trying to cover all my grounds in order to protect the people I love. Thanks for your time Terry>