Does this sound like herpes?

[Onlyforonequestion]

I'm a 21 male. I had protected sex (condom) with a prostitute, exactly a week ago. Since then, I've been freaking out. I haven't been sleeping and my anxiety is killing me. This is the only sexual partner I've ever had, but it's a high risk partner for sure.

I think I may have herpes. I have no sores, no flu like symptoms, no itching, no pain during urination. The only symptom I'm having right now is my scrotum, it's hotter than usual, but not in a painful or it's very mildly noticeable. The reason I'm terrified, is because I've heard that this can be my body trying to build the antibodies?  I know that there's a chance it might be psychological, but the timing is too coincidental.

I don't know what to do. I have to wait 4 months until I can get tested. If I have herpes, I would probably kill myself.

Is what I'm experiencing the first stage of herpes? Can someone tell me what the first stage herpes is like? Can anyone tell me what the "burning and the tingling", that is considered a symptom, feels like? I heard that sometimes they are barely noticeable. Do you experience prodrome symptoms before your first outbreak? What can I do during the 4 months that I'm waiting, to help my situation?

Thanks, and I'm sorry that I had to do this. I feel like I'm loosing my mind.

[auntiejessi]

Antibodies are in your blood, not your scrotum, so you wouldn't feel this process in your scrotum. You wouldn't feel it at all.

You had a protected, one-time encounter. The chances of you getting herpes from this are quite, quite low. I wouldn't even worry about it, especially since you've had no symptoms. (Prodrome symptoms last a day or two, at most, and vary from person to person. Yes, some are mild and others are more noticeable, but if this has gone on longer than a couple of days, it's not prodrome.)

I suspect what is happening is a heightened awareness of your body since you are feeling VERY anxious, and are looking for things that may be herpes. I know that sounds dismissive, and I don't mean it to, but it's actually quite common.

Please know that none of this is worth killing yourself over. Even if you have herpes (and I really don't think you do), that isn't worth suicide. Millions and millions of people with herpes live totally fulfilling lives. Don't let your anxiety take over here and make it into something it isn't.

Since I suspect that anxiety isn't new for you, and since you used the phrases, "I would probably kill myself" and "I feel like I'm losing my mind", please get some help. I say this with compassion, not criticism. Anxiety is a very real thing, but there is help available. Here are some resources for you - https://www.medhelp.org/general-health/articles/MedHelp-Crisis-Resources/1037