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Herpes?
About 2 years ago, I developed some tingling on my face, buttocks and legs. This was followed by the appearance of some small red bumps on my legs and itching in my private area as well as my chest and legs. I developed a flat rash on my chest. Then my mouth became sore and hurt. I didn’t have any blisters or what I would call sores…more like pimples…but also with the tingling.
I went to my gynecologist who examined me and said I looked normal. She thought it could be foliculitis. About 6 months later, it happened again, but not as bad this time. About 1 year later, I met someone and was worried that it could be herpes even though I had asked the gynecologist and she said no. She said I would have known since the pain would be severe. I had no pain at all…only itching. I asked for STD testing and she did all the tests but herpes. I didn’t want to put my boyfriend at risk, so I went back and asked her to do the test for herpes. She tried to talk me out of it but I told her I wouldn’t want to put him at any risk since I continued to wonder what I had had. The test came back that I carry the HSV-1.
After agonizing about how my boyfriend would react, I finally told him that I carried the virus and that I had had oral sex with someone before I met him and it was possible that I might have it genitally. He said he would take that chance and for over a year we have had both genital and oral sex many times with no issues.
I have, however, been bothered by the fact that I carry the virus and continue to have strange symptoms.. From time to time, the bumps and itching have occurred on my legs, arms, torso, ankles and between my legs. This has not been in any clusters…just one or two here and there. I asked my GP and he said it was molluscum. Finally, I was so scared that my boyfriend would get something that I went to a dermatologist. She looked at the bumps and said it was not a pox rash like shingles, wasn't molluscum and looked more like bug bites. She biopsied one and it did come back as “probable insect bite.” That’s when I quit worrying that it might be herpes. Recently, however, it occurred again. Three red spots on my lower left leg that began itching intensely. At the same time, my vaginal area started itching. So…I went back to the dermatologist who did another biopsy that again showed a bug bite. I asked her why I would 1. Start itching and tingling and then the bumps appear and 2. Why some older ones seem to flair and get red at the same time. She said she felt I had a hypersensitive allergic reaction and the histamine in my body traveled to all the old spots when this happens. I also did ask her to examine my genitals which she did and saw nothing there. I also have examined myself there many times and have seen nothing.
I am having such a hard time with all this. Because of what the doctors have told me along with my boyfriend’s willingness, I am continuing to be sexually active with my boyfriend. I am still worried though. This week, I had some bumps in my mouth and then my lip turned black in two different spots. What could this be?
I went to my gynecologist who examined me and said I looked normal. She thought it could be foliculitis. About 6 months later, it happened again, but not as bad this time. About 1 year later, I met someone and was worried that it could be herpes even though I had asked the gynecologist and she said no. She said I would have known since the pain would be severe. I had no pain at all…only itching. I asked for STD testing and she did all the tests but herpes. I didn’t want to put my boyfriend at risk, so I went back and asked her to do the test for herpes. She tried to talk me out of it but I told her I wouldn’t want to put him at any risk since I continued to wonder what I had had. The test came back that I carry the HSV-1.
After agonizing about how my boyfriend would react, I finally told him that I carried the virus and that I had had oral sex with someone before I met him and it was possible that I might have it genitally. He said he would take that chance and for over a year we have had both genital and oral sex many times with no issues.
I have, however, been bothered by the fact that I carry the virus and continue to have strange symptoms.. From time to time, the bumps and itching have occurred on my legs, arms, torso, ankles and between my legs. This has not been in any clusters…just one or two here and there. I asked my GP and he said it was molluscum. Finally, I was so scared that my boyfriend would get something that I went to a dermatologist. She looked at the bumps and said it was not a pox rash like shingles, wasn't molluscum and looked more like bug bites. She biopsied one and it did come back as “probable insect bite.” That’s when I quit worrying that it might be herpes. Recently, however, it occurred again. Three red spots on my lower left leg that began itching intensely. At the same time, my vaginal area started itching. So…I went back to the dermatologist who did another biopsy that again showed a bug bite. I asked her why I would 1. Start itching and tingling and then the bumps appear and 2. Why some older ones seem to flair and get red at the same time. She said she felt I had a hypersensitive allergic reaction and the histamine in my body traveled to all the old spots when this happens. I also did ask her to examine my genitals which she did and saw nothing there. I also have examined myself there many times and have seen nothing.
I am having such a hard time with all this. Because of what the doctors have told me along with my boyfriend’s willingness, I am continuing to be sexually active with my boyfriend. I am still worried though. This week, I had some bumps in my mouth and then my lip turned black in two different spots. What could this be?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
You have most probably had an oral HSV1 infection since your youth. For most people, this will only cause cold sores now and again. For some people it will cause nothing.
Your boyfriend may also carry the virus as 60% of people do. This would give him near immunity to further infection.
Bumps appearing over your body could be a number of things unrelated to herpes. I'd pursue the histamine idea further. If you take antihistamines do the bumps clear up in hours? Are they raised little bumps that disappear over a day or two without scabbing?