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Herpes Swollen Anus
Ugh. I got herpes first time and the outbreak was fairly mild I guess. HSV-1 I think from the boyfriends fever blister. I started taking Valtrex at night took 2 (1 mg) tablets then the next morning took one. Went for a jog, bathed and then my anus started to swell. A hemarrhoid protusion occurred then the entire area swelled! The sides of the anus are swollen. It is huge: at least 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch Painful. I went to the gyno and she was shocked. Said she didn't see herpes there and gave me cortisone cream. (the WRONG thing for herpes) I used it a couple times thought maybe the Valtrex made me swell so stopped taking it but then decided it HAD to be herpes too (an anal fissure) and started up pills again. Geez. The genital herpes is doing fine but the anus is swollen big after a week still. I think it may be receding a bit ever so slowly. Is this normal????? What can I do? Still can't sit. This cannot happen again. Does Valtrex do this? or the herpes?
No getting a blood test 1 month into things isn't long enough to know for sure if you are + or negative. Repeat it in 3 months to see what it shows then.
You aren't going to like this but you should go back and be re-examined again. Same wtih your bf - he needs to go and be seen too. perhaps you two are passing bacteria back and forth now?
grace
You aren't going to like this but you should go back and be re-examined again. Same wtih your bf - he needs to go and be seen too. perhaps you two are passing bacteria back and forth now?
grace
I'm baaacccccckkkkkk.. Does this primary process ever end??!!!
I went back to the doc - Aug 30. She said oh yes, BV. Ok, paid FIFTY dollars w/ ins for a one night cream. 2 1/2 weeks later: Had sex Sat night and I was very sore inside.. I imagine it isn't gone away.? Did it come back? AND I have/had uti. took Bactrim for 4 days - HATED it, it made me feel horrible.. so stopped and am on cranberry juice and cranberry pills (not sure that will really work although it does make is seem better) and yogurt.. Oddly now, boyfriend says he thinks he has some sores around his anus which he NEVER had for 20 years.. is that odd? I just looked at my hand Sat and there was a sore. and one on my shoulder? I know you can't see it and I hate when people ask you but I will "Do you think it is herpes?" :) or Bactrim caused rash? or just a random unnoticed round sore.
By the way, my doc office called me back a month ago and said my culture test for herpes was negative. I laughed. Helloo? they saw it, why call and tell me neg? so I did get a blood test and I sure enough have HSV1. as we knew... My bf d/n know if he has 1 or 2. I am pretty sure I got 1 from his fever blister BUT I got tested within the month I got herpes. Is that long enough to know for sure that the negative hsv2 is correct? Thanks.
I went back to the doc - Aug 30. She said oh yes, BV. Ok, paid FIFTY dollars w/ ins for a one night cream. 2 1/2 weeks later: Had sex Sat night and I was very sore inside.. I imagine it isn't gone away.? Did it come back? AND I have/had uti. took Bactrim for 4 days - HATED it, it made me feel horrible.. so stopped and am on cranberry juice and cranberry pills (not sure that will really work although it does make is seem better) and yogurt.. Oddly now, boyfriend says he thinks he has some sores around his anus which he NEVER had for 20 years.. is that odd? I just looked at my hand Sat and there was a sore. and one on my shoulder? I know you can't see it and I hate when people ask you but I will "Do you think it is herpes?" :) or Bactrim caused rash? or just a random unnoticed round sore.
By the way, my doc office called me back a month ago and said my culture test for herpes was negative. I laughed. Helloo? they saw it, why call and tell me neg? so I did get a blood test and I sure enough have HSV1. as we knew... My bf d/n know if he has 1 or 2. I am pretty sure I got 1 from his fever blister BUT I got tested within the month I got herpes. Is that long enough to know for sure that the negative hsv2 is correct? Thanks.
Don't self diagnose - go and be seen and get properly tested. Women only accurately diagnose vaginal yeast infections 1/3 of the time so proper testing is the best course of action. It's just as likely to be bv instead of yeast and otc yeast medications don't help for that.
grace
grace
My swelling is almost gone - taking forever. I think I see a healed blister on the inside of remaining swollen part. So I had rectal herpes. No anal oddly. I read the doctor website - it was probably herpetic proctitis - causes inflamation. I think just for primary ob? I hope!! But NOW, I am wondering if I am getting a yeast infection. Does that happen often after herpes ob? but it doesn't itch, I just see discharge, feels a bit odd in there. 11th day of Valtrex (last i think) UGH.
Yep, it is better and still improving. THANKFULLY! It must be just bad timing /combination of a cleanse/herpes/Valtrex/coffee. Some people say Valtrex causes them intestinal pain and diarrhea so - I think I will NOT take a cleanse again. Esp since the other two may not be optional :)
zovirax ointment isn't going to do much of anything.
Bowel cleanses can cause the bowel to irritate the skin too. At this point I don't think you'll figure it out completely - just concentrate on getting better and then go from there :)
grace
Bowel cleanses can cause the bowel to irritate the skin too. At this point I don't think you'll figure it out completely - just concentrate on getting better and then go from there :)
grace
Not tested. So not for sure hsv-1 i guess. .just from mouth fever blister. Either way, it's herpes.
Valtrex: 2 1/2 days then stop for 1 1/2 (thought Valtrex could be irritating - I am sensitve to meds) Then start again now for 5 days w/ today being day 6.
I usually not constipated. Bowel moves regular. except when cleangsing probably too loose. No more! Haven't been eating normally since don't feel so great.
Used some prep H today. But the swollen sides I tell you aren't hems - they seem to be ?? just the sides swelled up. The top one is definitely a hem. Ointments bother the sides so I don't put there. I have prep H and I have Zovirax ointment. I will not use the cortisone b/c do not want ANYthing to interfere w/ the Herpes getting better.
It looked like a fissure w/ crust. Dunno.
Valtrex: 2 1/2 days then stop for 1 1/2 (thought Valtrex could be irritating - I am sensitve to meds) Then start again now for 5 days w/ today being day 6.
I usually not constipated. Bowel moves regular. except when cleangsing probably too loose. No more! Haven't been eating normally since don't feel so great.
Used some prep H today. But the swollen sides I tell you aren't hems - they seem to be ?? just the sides swelled up. The top one is definitely a hem. Ointments bother the sides so I don't put there. I have prep H and I have Zovirax ointment. I will not use the cortisone b/c do not want ANYthing to interfere w/ the Herpes getting better.
It looked like a fissure w/ crust. Dunno.
So your bf has hsv1 and hsv2 both?
What testing have they done on you so far?
How many days did you take the valtrex for?
Herpes lesions don't really "crust" when they are on the genital mucosal skin. If you are expecting it to look like when you skin your knee and it heals you aren't going to see that in that area.
The loose stools from the cascara perhaps irritated the skin. In between using the hemorrhoid suppositories perhaps a barrier cream would be a good idea to help soothe and protect the skin ( desitin, a&d etc ). Have you been having regular bowel movements during the last week?
grace
What testing have they done on you so far?
How many days did you take the valtrex for?
Herpes lesions don't really "crust" when they are on the genital mucosal skin. If you are expecting it to look like when you skin your knee and it heals you aren't going to see that in that area.
The loose stools from the cascara perhaps irritated the skin. In between using the hemorrhoid suppositories perhaps a barrier cream would be a good idea to help soothe and protect the skin ( desitin, a&d etc ). Have you been having regular bowel movements during the last week?
grace
Ok. Thanks to all. I woke up and it is HALF as swollen. YEAH!! getting better after a miserable week.
BF was diagnosed w/ HSV2 years ago. He had a fever blister in mouth. Oral sex, used finger. Couple days later I have obvious herpes on genitals. Then the swelling the following day. It all happened at the same time. I did take 1 gram 2x a day. Anyway, maybe it is a combination of both. The one def looks like a hem on top sticking out but the sides swollen are unusual. My gyno said she couldn't see herpes but also said too swollen to tell and was even going to send me over next door to the colon surgeon for him to look.(he was gone) Did not give me confidence in what I had. Gyno's see herpes /hems all the time too and she had never seen like mine. Anyway, on line it said this:
Herpes can also leave bright red blood on the toilet paper or on the stool.When herpes manifests around the anus, it often forms a small crack or fissure instead of the more typical blisters, ulcers or rash. In a sense, it really is an anal fissure, just one with a viral cause instead of from overstraining.
So, who knows. I had a crack on the hem and i think it did crust. I just hope this is not recurrent. I was prior taking an internal cleanse - cascara sagrada - makes stool too soft. Maybe the combo was bad and it irritated my colon on top of the herpes. I've taken it before and not had this happen.
Thanks.
BF was diagnosed w/ HSV2 years ago. He had a fever blister in mouth. Oral sex, used finger. Couple days later I have obvious herpes on genitals. Then the swelling the following day. It all happened at the same time. I did take 1 gram 2x a day. Anyway, maybe it is a combination of both. The one def looks like a hem on top sticking out but the sides swollen are unusual. My gyno said she couldn't see herpes but also said too swollen to tell and was even going to send me over next door to the colon surgeon for him to look.(he was gone) Did not give me confidence in what I had. Gyno's see herpes /hems all the time too and she had never seen like mine. Anyway, on line it said this:
Herpes can also leave bright red blood on the toilet paper or on the stool.When herpes manifests around the anus, it often forms a small crack or fissure instead of the more typical blisters, ulcers or rash. In a sense, it really is an anal fissure, just one with a viral cause instead of from overstraining.
So, who knows. I had a crack on the hem and i think it did crust. I just hope this is not recurrent. I was prior taking an internal cleanse - cascara sagrada - makes stool too soft. Maybe the combo was bad and it irritated my colon on top of the herpes. I've taken it before and not had this happen.
Thanks.
First off you were given the wrong dose of valtrex if this was your very first genital herpes ob. It should've been 1gm 2x/day for 7-10 days and not the one day dose. How did they diagnose you as having genital herpes? Did they do testing to determine if indeed it was hsv1 or was it just assumed hsv1 due to your bf having a cold sore? How long ago did all this start - the herpes part of it? Have you and your bf both had herpes blood tests?
Your provider didn't seem to think it was due to herpes and they actually saw it and examined you. It sounds more like a classic hemorrhoid than anything related to herpes but certainly you could have both going on. At this point I recommend since you've already treated for herpes that you approach it from treating as a hemorrhoid. I'm not sure how often you were using the preparation H but use it at least 2 if not 3x/day and expect to have to use it for several more days yet. If you aren't already taking a fiber supplement, start. If you aren't stooling at least once a day and it's a very soft stool then start taking a stool softener 2x/day and consider mirlax., sennacot or something daily if you aren't stooling daily to make sure you aren't further irritating this more. If you are sitting a lot during the day try to change positions often so you are taking pressure off your butt. An anal fissure tends to be more so pain and bleeding, especially with stooling and not as much swelling as you've described because they tend to be more internal whereas a hemorrhoid tends to protrude and cause swelling as you've described.
If it's been a full week of hemorrhoid treatment already and it's not better then by all means return to your provider for further evaluation. It's been over a week at least so the herpes part has pretty much run its course if it even had anything to do with the anal issues but a hemorrhoid can stick around for a very, very long time and be quite painful if not properly treated.
grace
Your provider didn't seem to think it was due to herpes and they actually saw it and examined you. It sounds more like a classic hemorrhoid than anything related to herpes but certainly you could have both going on. At this point I recommend since you've already treated for herpes that you approach it from treating as a hemorrhoid. I'm not sure how often you were using the preparation H but use it at least 2 if not 3x/day and expect to have to use it for several more days yet. If you aren't already taking a fiber supplement, start. If you aren't stooling at least once a day and it's a very soft stool then start taking a stool softener 2x/day and consider mirlax., sennacot or something daily if you aren't stooling daily to make sure you aren't further irritating this more. If you are sitting a lot during the day try to change positions often so you are taking pressure off your butt. An anal fissure tends to be more so pain and bleeding, especially with stooling and not as much swelling as you've described because they tend to be more internal whereas a hemorrhoid tends to protrude and cause swelling as you've described.
If it's been a full week of hemorrhoid treatment already and it's not better then by all means return to your provider for further evaluation. It's been over a week at least so the herpes part has pretty much run its course if it even had anything to do with the anal issues but a hemorrhoid can stick around for a very, very long time and be quite painful if not properly treated.
grace
A dermatologist would be able to look at these and tell you ASAP what they are!! They are experts on what herpes looks like! Herpes comes in all sorts of varieties and even they can be wrong sometimes but they are better at guessing at them then anyone!! From what you have said, it seems unrealistic to be herpes!! And yes, in affect we are ALL guessing here since we are not Doctors and don't know the specifics other than you telling us and trying to relate what you have to the internet which is your first mistake!! FORGET THE INTERNET with diagnosing herpes!!! The internet gives you very general information about the disease and when people read them, it fits them and MOST of the time, it isn't so!! Read some of these postings about people talking about how their whole genital area itches and it has to be herpes because herpes causes itches. In some cases it sure does but LOCALIZED itching where the outbreak will occur, not all over the body as people believe because the internet just says itching.. I don't know what is going on with your A$$ but from what you said, it doesn't sound like herpes...
ALL I just want to know if this has happened to anyone and what they did. That is why I post. Not for guesses.This is not on the skin- a derm would not have a clue what to do. I went to the doctor. I used prep H. I had corticosteroid cream. I understand if it doesn't go away I go back to the doctor. I wasn't insulting, I was correcting you. Anal fissures can be from herpes. Then they too crust.
COMMUNITY LEADER
A derm is a good suggestion. You can try a protologist, you don't need a surgeon. A gastroenterologist might help, but they probably aren't all that terribly familiar with herpes. A derm is.
You can choose to disagree with a suggestion, but no call to get insulting.
You can choose to disagree with a suggestion, but no call to get insulting.
Great - a dermatologist? not a proctologist or a colon surgeon even? And, yes, anal herpes does cause fissures instead of blisters. I have read it online at many websites. Great advice so far. Next?
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree. This isn't likely to be herpes at all, and herpes doesn't cause fissures.
You can try tucks pads or preparation H for hemorrhoids, and those won't aggravate your herpes. If that doesn't work in a day or 2, you need to follow up with your doctor again.
Aj
You can try tucks pads or preparation H for hemorrhoids, and those won't aggravate your herpes. If that doesn't work in a day or 2, you need to follow up with your doctor again.
Aj
Never heard of herpes doing this before!! I am not sure what you got going on there but you need to go see a dermatologist!!
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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.
