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Herpes Paranoia or Legitimate concern?
I'm a a 29 year old male. Two and a half weeks ago, I had protected vagina intercourse for the first time with a girlfriend who is HSV-2 positive for the past 8 years, and has outbreaks between one and four times per year - usually closer to one or two. She does not currently take anti-virals, and has had both protected and unprotected partners (even a one-year relationship) and has never (knowingly) passed it to anyone. She knows her body well and can feel outbreak symptoms in advance.
The next day I felt tiny pains in my genital area - mainly on my penis - but this was only hours after exposure and it was the first time I had sex in a year, so I said it's either all in my head, physical sensation from a rather long sex session, or from another condition. It's widely understood herpes does not happen that fast.
Thee to four days later I developed a minor sore throat, but it was typical of my body fighting off an infection. One night I got weak for a half hour - again, this happens to me sometimes.
What has concerned me is the nerve pain that started 4 1/2 to 5 days after the first encounter, and only hours after our second/third encounters. At the time I described them as "minor piercing pains in my groin, pelvic, and upper leg area".
These are annoying "pains" I speak of - they are more sensations, not painful. They moved eventually as far away as my fingertips, shoulder blades, jaw, knuckles - but the majority (2/3 or so) were in my hips/pelvis, legs, and lower back. Around a week after these nerve "pains" started - so a few days ago - I began to get sensations in my foot - heel, toes.
Then last night I got my first legitimate pain, stabbing into the center of he bottom of my right foot. My ankle legitimately hurt. The day before yesterday I had no pains at all. Today they are there - but very minor again - mainly in my outside hips, lower and upper back, and inside and front of my upper legs - on both sides of my body. Most sensations are coming from the left and right sides of my lower back.Very minimal action around my groin and genitals, if any. My lower back feels somewhat weak/uncomfortable sitting upright in a seat so I stretch and lean forward to provide resistance.
I have had no skin symptoms whatsoever, aside from a tiny bump on the head of my penis just 12+ hours after the first encounter. It is such a small bump, maybe the size of a period in this paragraph. It vanished in no time and I do suffer from skin issues - some acne. Even the hypochondriac in me dismisses this tiny bump. My skin is just as it was before, everywhere - trust me, I check diligently.
A little background: About a month before our first encounter, I was sick in bed. My back hurt from this sickness, so I laid in a different position. After recovering, I still had minor lower back issues - very minor. I sleep on my stomach and always have with no problem - but I following this cold I once or twice changed my position to avoid my back feeling too arched. The arched back feeling has grown worse recently as these piercing sensations have begun.
I only feel the nerve sensations when I'm up - sitting, standing. They are almost non-existent when I lay down and begin when I am sitting on the train going to work. When I'm in the bed to sleep they subside again.
So this looks like textbook sciatica from a lower back issue to me (which perhaps began with my mild back discomfort weeks before), aside from that the pains also affect my upper body to some extent. I just wonder if this seems like the sciatica that could be linked to herpes.
We've had sex six times in the past 2.5 weeks, but since these started around the second encounter, only the first encounter is really in question.
The chances she was shedding during that first encounter are slim, and yet slimmer are the chances that I'd catch it. But it's still possible, and I really question this being all coincidence.
The next day I felt tiny pains in my genital area - mainly on my penis - but this was only hours after exposure and it was the first time I had sex in a year, so I said it's either all in my head, physical sensation from a rather long sex session, or from another condition. It's widely understood herpes does not happen that fast.
Thee to four days later I developed a minor sore throat, but it was typical of my body fighting off an infection. One night I got weak for a half hour - again, this happens to me sometimes.
What has concerned me is the nerve pain that started 4 1/2 to 5 days after the first encounter, and only hours after our second/third encounters. At the time I described them as "minor piercing pains in my groin, pelvic, and upper leg area".
These are annoying "pains" I speak of - they are more sensations, not painful. They moved eventually as far away as my fingertips, shoulder blades, jaw, knuckles - but the majority (2/3 or so) were in my hips/pelvis, legs, and lower back. Around a week after these nerve "pains" started - so a few days ago - I began to get sensations in my foot - heel, toes.
Then last night I got my first legitimate pain, stabbing into the center of he bottom of my right foot. My ankle legitimately hurt. The day before yesterday I had no pains at all. Today they are there - but very minor again - mainly in my outside hips, lower and upper back, and inside and front of my upper legs - on both sides of my body. Most sensations are coming from the left and right sides of my lower back.Very minimal action around my groin and genitals, if any. My lower back feels somewhat weak/uncomfortable sitting upright in a seat so I stretch and lean forward to provide resistance.
I have had no skin symptoms whatsoever, aside from a tiny bump on the head of my penis just 12+ hours after the first encounter. It is such a small bump, maybe the size of a period in this paragraph. It vanished in no time and I do suffer from skin issues - some acne. Even the hypochondriac in me dismisses this tiny bump. My skin is just as it was before, everywhere - trust me, I check diligently.
A little background: About a month before our first encounter, I was sick in bed. My back hurt from this sickness, so I laid in a different position. After recovering, I still had minor lower back issues - very minor. I sleep on my stomach and always have with no problem - but I following this cold I once or twice changed my position to avoid my back feeling too arched. The arched back feeling has grown worse recently as these piercing sensations have begun.
I only feel the nerve sensations when I'm up - sitting, standing. They are almost non-existent when I lay down and begin when I am sitting on the train going to work. When I'm in the bed to sleep they subside again.
So this looks like textbook sciatica from a lower back issue to me (which perhaps began with my mild back discomfort weeks before), aside from that the pains also affect my upper body to some extent. I just wonder if this seems like the sciatica that could be linked to herpes.
We've had sex six times in the past 2.5 weeks, but since these started around the second encounter, only the first encounter is really in question.
The chances she was shedding during that first encounter are slim, and yet slimmer are the chances that I'd catch it. But it's still possible, and I really question this being all coincidence.
Oh your a vegan? I can no longer help you.lol just kidding
I don't doubt that your pain is real at all. I just believe without other symptoms herpes is a long shot. I wish you the best at getting this straightened out and please keep me posted.
Don
I don't doubt that your pain is real at all. I just believe without other symptoms herpes is a long shot. I wish you the best at getting this straightened out and please keep me posted.
Don
It's not a question of if, but what. B12 or herpes. Just hoping its not the latter. If it's neither I'll move to other possibilities but these are the two greatest risks right now.
As sad as it is to say it, doctors know very little about these sorts of issues. You have to do some of the work yourself. My neurologist didn't even think to test a vegan for b12 deficiency lol.
As sad as it is to say it, doctors know very little about these sorts of issues. You have to do some of the work yourself. My neurologist didn't even think to test a vegan for b12 deficiency lol.
Well, the pains are very real in my legs and feet. At times walking is slightly painful and my ankles are sore to the point I can't run. The hip pains were very real too. And all these significant pains started beginning four days after that one exposure.
Heart papiltations - again, before and after exposure - were shocking, I'd never felt them before.
As for eye twitches, they are minor, but again - I noticed them distinctly before I had anxiety about herpes - before I even met this woman, in fact.
I'll concede that something like a swollen left groin lymph node is something I may not have noticed without anxiety, and the flat red marks. But that's it.
Thank you for your opinion on the 8.5 week results. I am at 12 weeks so I'll get tested within the next month. Might wait until 16.
Heart papiltations - again, before and after exposure - were shocking, I'd never felt them before.
As for eye twitches, they are minor, but again - I noticed them distinctly before I had anxiety about herpes - before I even met this woman, in fact.
I'll concede that something like a swollen left groin lymph node is something I may not have noticed without anxiety, and the flat red marks. But that's it.
Thank you for your opinion on the 8.5 week results. I am at 12 weeks so I'll get tested within the next month. Might wait until 16.
Your test at 8.5 weeks is a very good indicator you do not have have. Almost 90% would be positive by then. I really think stress and anxiety are causing you to be very aware of every sensation. Like the eyelid twitching. Try and forget about this for awhile and retest at twelve weeks. When that negative roles in please believe it.
Oh, the three red marks happened to be near an actual, raised bump, but that raised bump seemed to be acne... to me at least.
So to recap (I wrote too much in the original post):
- Seven condom-protected HSV II exposures from March 21 until 4 weeks later
- Partner had HSV for 8 years and was not having an outbreak. She'd never knowingly spread virus to protected or unprotected partners.
- Nerve sensations in pelvis started four days after first exposure
- A few days later, I had sensations in my legs and pain in my feet, which have been the most prevalent symptom over these 2.5 months
- Around then I also got serious lower back pain, which has improved
- I developed SERIOUS hip soreness - it hurt to massage the muscle/flesh right below my pelvis (that's gotten a lot better as I'll explain)
- Eventually the nerve pain affects hands and wrists - and sometimes elbows and shoulders - but is mainly in my lower body and mainly on the right now
- I've had several episodes skin sensitivity on my arms and legs, but it goes away in under an hour
- I got one colorful migraine aura in May with no headache
- On May 23, I got three red, flat marks on my upper groin/pelvic area. Virtually flat and totally painless, just a cluster. I do suffer from acne but acne is (almost) always raised. I have a picture. They faded away in under 48 hours.
- I had a swollen left groin lymph node this past (June 10-11), and 2 weeks before that (same exact node). Only stayed tender for a day or so and was not very enlarged.
- I got tinnitus (ringing of the ears) several times in May.
- Starting mid-April I've gotten muscle twitches.
Other things to consider:
- I had sporadic eyelid twitches for a few days, weeks pre-exposure and post exposure
- I had sporadic heart palpitations for a few days pre-exposure, and another stretch post exposure
- I've long known I've had B12 deficiency, as a vegan, but hadn't taken take my levels recently
* all that being said, these much more severe symptoms started within a few days of exposure*
So I went to the urologist in early May. As expected he told me that my nerve symptoms were probably not related to herpes (they always say this), but gave me a prescription for a HSV I and HSV II blood test - HIV, too.
I went to a neurologist as well, who wants to do an MRI and gave me a bunch of prescriptions for tests as well. One of which was B12 (only because I asked for it).
I did my blood test on May 20, 8.5 weeks after the first exposure (which is the one followed by symptoms).
Negative HSV I and HSV II ... <0.90
My B12 levels were extremely high but that is because I started heavy supplementation (not dangerous with B12) on April 29th. These tests read your blood, and you have to stop supplementing for at least a month to get your "real" levels - I only stopped for three days prior to the test.
Either way, a few days after starting supplements, my hip soreness (which got really bad around a week before supplementation) improved greatly - and during the three days where I did not supplement prior to my blood tests, hip soreness clearly worsened. (Keep in mind that any pain fluctuates and most severe nerve pain will improve at some point.)
Over the past month I'd say my symptoms have stayed around the same - days with only minor sensations and other days where I feel pains in my ankles and feet when I walk. I usually take 2 doses of 5000IU of b12 daily. I think I felt big relief when switching my liquid B12 brand yesterday (to a cheaper brand, oddly) but this is not scientific by any means.
Many of these neurological symptoms can be associated to both herpes and B12 deficiency. Some (tender lymph nodes, three flat red spots, maybe even foot pain) suggest HSV II and others (migraine aura, ear ringing, heart palpitations and eye twitch even pre-exposure) suggest B12. I could, of course, have both, I suppose...
But the timing is so indicative of herpes to me. Four days after first exposure would be such a coincidence to get so many symptoms so many sufferers say they have. Severe foot pain was only 9 days after the exposure. Then again, I did have minor, painless nerve-related symptoms before having sex.
So how accurate is my 8.5 week negative igg result? What do you think?
- Seven condom-protected HSV II exposures from March 21 until 4 weeks later
- Partner had HSV for 8 years and was not having an outbreak. She'd never knowingly spread virus to protected or unprotected partners.
- Nerve sensations in pelvis started four days after first exposure
- A few days later, I had sensations in my legs and pain in my feet, which have been the most prevalent symptom over these 2.5 months
- Around then I also got serious lower back pain, which has improved
- I developed SERIOUS hip soreness - it hurt to massage the muscle/flesh right below my pelvis (that's gotten a lot better as I'll explain)
- Eventually the nerve pain affects hands and wrists - and sometimes elbows and shoulders - but is mainly in my lower body and mainly on the right now
- I've had several episodes skin sensitivity on my arms and legs, but it goes away in under an hour
- I got one colorful migraine aura in May with no headache
- On May 23, I got three red, flat marks on my upper groin/pelvic area. Virtually flat and totally painless, just a cluster. I do suffer from acne but acne is (almost) always raised. I have a picture. They faded away in under 48 hours.
- I had a swollen left groin lymph node this past (June 10-11), and 2 weeks before that (same exact node). Only stayed tender for a day or so and was not very enlarged.
- I got tinnitus (ringing of the ears) several times in May.
- Starting mid-April I've gotten muscle twitches.
Other things to consider:
- I had sporadic eyelid twitches for a few days, weeks pre-exposure and post exposure
- I had sporadic heart palpitations for a few days pre-exposure, and another stretch post exposure
- I've long known I've had B12 deficiency, as a vegan, but hadn't taken take my levels recently
* all that being said, these much more severe symptoms started within a few days of exposure*
So I went to the urologist in early May. As expected he told me that my nerve symptoms were probably not related to herpes (they always say this), but gave me a prescription for a HSV I and HSV II blood test - HIV, too.
I went to a neurologist as well, who wants to do an MRI and gave me a bunch of prescriptions for tests as well. One of which was B12 (only because I asked for it).
I did my blood test on May 20, 8.5 weeks after the first exposure (which is the one followed by symptoms).
Negative HSV I and HSV II ... <0.90
My B12 levels were extremely high but that is because I started heavy supplementation (not dangerous with B12) on April 29th. These tests read your blood, and you have to stop supplementing for at least a month to get your "real" levels - I only stopped for three days prior to the test.
Either way, a few days after starting supplements, my hip soreness (which got really bad around a week before supplementation) improved greatly - and during the three days where I did not supplement prior to my blood tests, hip soreness clearly worsened. (Keep in mind that any pain fluctuates and most severe nerve pain will improve at some point.)
Over the past month I'd say my symptoms have stayed around the same - days with only minor sensations and other days where I feel pains in my ankles and feet when I walk. I usually take 2 doses of 5000IU of b12 daily. I think I felt big relief when switching my liquid B12 brand yesterday (to a cheaper brand, oddly) but this is not scientific by any means.
Many of these neurological symptoms can be associated to both herpes and B12 deficiency. Some (tender lymph nodes, three flat red spots, maybe even foot pain) suggest HSV II and others (migraine aura, ear ringing, heart palpitations and eye twitch even pre-exposure) suggest B12. I could, of course, have both, I suppose...
But the timing is so indicative of herpes to me. Four days after first exposure would be such a coincidence to get so many symptoms so many sufferers say they have. Severe foot pain was only 9 days after the exposure. Then again, I did have minor, painless nerve-related symptoms before having sex.
So how accurate is my 8.5 week negative igg result? What do you think?
Thanks. It's so weird how tenderness on both sides of hips, nerve pains all over body (mainly lower and hip area), and (albeit low risk/no sores) herpes exposure are textbook reasons to believe it's herpes - except for the lack of sores. I hope you all are right but I'm so worried. I hope it's b12. Going to the urologist tomorrow.
The last was just under three weeks ago. The first - after which symptoms started - was 6.5 weeks ago. Still recent for testing to be conclusive :-/
The last was just under three weeks ago. The first - after which symptoms started - was 6.5 weeks ago. Still recent for testing to be conclusive :-/
Oh, and two weeks ago I had a colorful migraine aura with no subsequent headache, another neurological symptom.
Over a month after exposure, I am still having nerve pain symptoms in my legs, lower back, feet, and sometimes elbows, hands, face, etc. This happens on both sides but mainly my right.
I also have what seems to be lymph node pain in my groin lymph nodes that seem to be furthemest from my genitals, on both sides, The nodes are so far from my genitals that it took me a while to realize they were lymph nodes as they are at the very top of my legs, near the hip joint, at the front. I think I only realized they were likely lymph nodes the tenderness was symmetrical.
No sores though. And since nerve pain in my upper groin started four days after the first time we had sex, this would have been passed during my first exposure, protected, to a woman that has had herpes for over eight years and knows her symptoms very well. I fear that's the care regardless :(
I have also been exploring B12 deficiency in the last few days, since I am a vegan with a history of lower B12 levels and I had heart palpitations, in highsight, for a few days not long before I was exposed. I also had an eye twitch before and then after exposure. I had been taking a B12 supplement daily earlier this year but perhaps not enough to curve a deficiency. I am now taking 5000 mcg several times per day.
The lymph nodes though, with the nerve pain, that suggests herpes.
What do you think? I am going to the doctor ASAP, btw! Don't worry.
I also have what seems to be lymph node pain in my groin lymph nodes that seem to be furthemest from my genitals, on both sides, The nodes are so far from my genitals that it took me a while to realize they were lymph nodes as they are at the very top of my legs, near the hip joint, at the front. I think I only realized they were likely lymph nodes the tenderness was symmetrical.
No sores though. And since nerve pain in my upper groin started four days after the first time we had sex, this would have been passed during my first exposure, protected, to a woman that has had herpes for over eight years and knows her symptoms very well. I fear that's the care regardless :(
I have also been exploring B12 deficiency in the last few days, since I am a vegan with a history of lower B12 levels and I had heart palpitations, in highsight, for a few days not long before I was exposed. I also had an eye twitch before and then after exposure. I had been taking a B12 supplement daily earlier this year but perhaps not enough to curve a deficiency. I am now taking 5000 mcg several times per day.
The lymph nodes though, with the nerve pain, that suggests herpes.
What do you think? I am going to the doctor ASAP, btw! Don't worry.
Thanks Dave
Any other opinions?
It's so weird to have mainly lower body nerve pain out of no where that coincides with my first protected exposure or two. I understand that I may be actually paying attention to this nerve pain more than usual (focused anxiety), but the stabbing pain in my foot seems like something out of the ordinary. Only when I'm active, not when im in bed, etc.
Anyway...
I know my original post was long winded but if anyone has any opinion...
Any other opinions?
It's so weird to have mainly lower body nerve pain out of no where that coincides with my first protected exposure or two. I understand that I may be actually paying attention to this nerve pain more than usual (focused anxiety), but the stabbing pain in my foot seems like something out of the ordinary. Only when I'm active, not when im in bed, etc.
Anyway...
I know my original post was long winded but if anyone has any opinion...
Hi, none of what you mention suggest you just contracted herpes. Nerve pain associated with herpes types would be Shingles not HSV.
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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.
