what could I have? herpes or not?

[Anthonyak]

30 yr male, never had health problems. Sexual history with one partner until 09/17/10.  This date I had sex with a new partner (female) who I did not know (would consider high risk).  Used condom for intercourse and I gave unprotected oral sex.  2 days later I felt like something was terribly wrong.  Itchy crotch (however also had a shaved pubic area beginning to regrow, which I had a bright idea to purell after sex... that burned). My face tingled a bit (again facial hair regrowing), minor flu like symptoms, and new hemorrhoid. (09/21) I went to 2 doctors fearing hemorrhoid was STD.  Tested negative for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea. Also started getting itchy all over my body (dry skin feeling), armpits had irrigated skin, feet burn and jock itch.  Itching, razor burning feeling, tingling, prickling and soreness developed in legs and crotch.  More STD testing, (10/4) negative for Syphilis, Herpes 1 or 2.  No diagnoses, all claim stress (true, I am freaking out!).  Saw dermatologist (10/15) no diagnosis.  (11/7) tested again negative for Herpes 1 or 2 and HIV. Also an overall blood screening which showed no abnormalities.  Since Sept they have come and gone in waves for about a week or so in intensity.  Had on/off light acne like pimples on the tentacles and above the penis shaft area and rashy skin. No concentrated sores or blisters.  I have also had no discharge, no painful urination, no diarrhea, no noticed swollen lymph nodes.  My tingle and pain in the legs does feel worse, but crotch irrigation just feels like jock itch.  I have been on some Rx creams, also hydroxyz hcl, and terbinafine for a week, with little to know relief except when I’m not focused on it.  All new since sex on 09/17/10.  My symptoms sound almost like herpes.  I know my body, this is not just from stress or dry skin... something is really wrong... what could I have? herpes or not?

[Badmistake211]

I feel what you are going through, 7 months ago I had a one time protected incident with a stripper it only lasted about 5 mins and have had nothing but issues, swelling lymph nodes in my neck, burning, aching, and pain in my penis, fever, headaches, blurred vision, neasua many times, a little bit of redness around the head, but no pimples, outbreaks or lesions. It really sucks having something and not knowing what it is, so far all my test results for everything has been negative except an IgM test which was taken at 5 months came back positive, But I've taken 2 IgG HSV 2 test which have always come back negative. I hope you can resolve your issue, I am so confused on what to do anymore, i've seen tons of doctors and they all think i'm fine, but i know my body and there is def something wrong. Good luck let me know how things go.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

It is a bit soon for completely reliable test results - I like 16 weeks to have passed since any risky exposure for final testing.

Terri

[Anthonyak]

Thanks Terri.  At this point I'm certainly looking for additional professional opinions like yours.  Is it too soo for antibodies to appear in my recent test last week (which was negative) or could they have already shown up if there was an infection?  Oddly I really have not other symptoms except the jock itch, minor rashes, and hermeroird (if a symptom).  But my legs are painful and were tingly, itchy ever since.  I wonder if something bacterial could cause these?  But my body shows no other signs of an infection.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Your symptoms don't sound truly like herpes to me, but you won't know with more certainty until enough time has gone by for accurate testing.  I would recommend that if you can afford it, you test mid-November and if still negative, mid-December.  Normally I would suggest that you just wait until December, but I think you are worried enough that a negative in a few weeks, which would be three months out, would give you additional reassurance that you are not infected, or, if positive, allow you to get started treating sooner.  But please don't treat presumptively for herpes because the treatment could interfere with your antibody test.  I think given the circumstances of the contact, the risk is minimal but not zero.

Terri