Aa
scared to death
On July 5th I had unprotected sex with a stranger. Almost 2 days or a little less after I woke up with a sore throat and swollen tonsils. Later the same day I developed the chills and a fever. The fever and chills were gone by the next day. However, the next day the lymph nodes in my neck became pretty swollen and have been since (about 20 days). The sore throat and tonsils subsided about a week after everything started. Also had extreme loss of appetite, and would go an entire day without eating. That lasted about 3 or 4 days.
About 1 or 1 1/2 weeks ago I had some soreness in my genital area, nothing unbearable and only noticeable when trying to locate it. Also there were a couple red spots on the shaft of my penis. They looked alot like a pimple, but when squeezed it looked like the spot just got more red. It didn't hurt at all, but they are still there. Not very noticeable when looking, but can be seen.
I've been to the family dr, and he said he didn't think it was anything to worry about. He prescribed me antibiotics and have since finished that dose. My lymph nodes in my neck are still swollen and the red bumps are still there. I'm worried because I can't get tested for another two months.
Looking for some help...any would be nice. Worried to death about this and feel like my life is over
About 1 or 1 1/2 weeks ago I had some soreness in my genital area, nothing unbearable and only noticeable when trying to locate it. Also there were a couple red spots on the shaft of my penis. They looked alot like a pimple, but when squeezed it looked like the spot just got more red. It didn't hurt at all, but they are still there. Not very noticeable when looking, but can be seen.
I've been to the family dr, and he said he didn't think it was anything to worry about. He prescribed me antibiotics and have since finished that dose. My lymph nodes in my neck are still swollen and the red bumps are still there. I'm worried because I can't get tested for another two months.
Looking for some help...any would be nice. Worried to death about this and feel like my life is over
the AG707 theracine is not a cure for herpes. It's a theraputic vaccine for folks infected with hsv2 to help free them up from having to take oral antivirals regularly. It's also no where near being ready to be marketed, so far isn't even doing all that much in the trials they have done either :(
grace
grace
edit: 10 days after, not then years of course...
Actually, I have a task for you to do. How soon has it been since your encounter? If it has been recent, go ahead and do the HSV1/ 2 IgG immediately. Why? Because this is very valuable information. In my case I did this 10 years after, and both were negative. The reason this will be useful info is because if I do test positive for HSV at my 12-week, then I know will with 100% certainty that my symptoms were caused by HSV.
So if I were you I would go ahead and do this so you know your status prior to this encounter. If you're already IgG positive for HSV2 (a lot of people are and are asymptomatic), then you can be pretty certain these symptoms are something else, because there's no way IgG would turn positive that quickly.
Anyway, that's just my 2 cents, take it or leave it. But when I finally found a good doctor he told me he was very happy that I did the early IgG because my case was atypical so we need to be sure of the cause. More evidence doesn't hurt.
So if I were you I would go ahead and do this so you know your status prior to this encounter. If you're already IgG positive for HSV2 (a lot of people are and are asymptomatic), then you can be pretty certain these symptoms are something else, because there's no way IgG would turn positive that quickly.
Anyway, that's just my 2 cents, take it or leave it. But when I finally found a good doctor he told me he was very happy that I did the early IgG because my case was atypical so we need to be sure of the cause. More evidence doesn't hurt.
I am also experiencing bizarre symptoms, and unfortunately for us "atypicals" or "subclinicals", the only way you're going to be able to know if you have it is through a blood test. Also, it's NOT the end of the world or your life, so try to calm down - but if you're nervous about it, I highly recommend Xanex, I am just on it as of a few days ago and it is helping me immensely through this time. I'm in a similar boat to you (I may/may not have herpes, still waiting), but based on your post, my symptoms are much worse and vastly more painful than anything you've described, I might even have ocular herpes which can cause blindness in the infected eye. So please, try to relax, you will be OK no matter what happens, I actually wish I had your symptoms.
Just so you know, if I have it, my personal plan is to go on STD specific dating websites to find women who have it too, and then this doesn't have to be a worry for my dating life. Anyone who has it is going to be just and nice and kind and successful etc as anyone else because HSV does not discriminate. HSV is also very, very common. But this is just my strategy of course, hopefully you don't have it, but if you do, fire up that brain of yours and realize that there is a way to make a good life for yourself anyway.
One last thing -- the more I read and learn about HSV2, the more I realize it's a bizarre beast that affects people very, very differently. VERY FEW doctors properly understand the virus, so if your doctor won't take you seriously, find another -- I went through 5 before I found a good one that seems to be taking my symptoms seriously and helping figure out the cause. One of the bad doctors told me that if my 10-day IgG was negative and I didn't have blisters on my intensely-burning (like it was on fire) penis, then it wasn't herpes. Any fool knows a 10-day IgG is too soon, and now I know that the vast majority of people who have HSV2 don't get typical blisters. In fact, according to most studies, only 20% of people who get herpes have typical blisters, 20% are completely asymptomatic, and 60% (read: the vast majority) have atypical cases. So atypical is typical.
Also, here's a good video I watched that made me feel much better, although this is a very "classic" case. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJCvY-qDR8
And she's right: the more you learn about this virus, the less worried you will get.
Also, there is a cure on the way too, although it will probably be another decade before it's available, but it's starting to seem very likely that there will be a cure in our lifetime: HerpV, read this thread: http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/messageforum/showthread.php?33604-Antigenics-changes-name-to-Agenus-and-AG707-to-HerpV
Just so you know, if I have it, my personal plan is to go on STD specific dating websites to find women who have it too, and then this doesn't have to be a worry for my dating life. Anyone who has it is going to be just and nice and kind and successful etc as anyone else because HSV does not discriminate. HSV is also very, very common. But this is just my strategy of course, hopefully you don't have it, but if you do, fire up that brain of yours and realize that there is a way to make a good life for yourself anyway.
One last thing -- the more I read and learn about HSV2, the more I realize it's a bizarre beast that affects people very, very differently. VERY FEW doctors properly understand the virus, so if your doctor won't take you seriously, find another -- I went through 5 before I found a good one that seems to be taking my symptoms seriously and helping figure out the cause. One of the bad doctors told me that if my 10-day IgG was negative and I didn't have blisters on my intensely-burning (like it was on fire) penis, then it wasn't herpes. Any fool knows a 10-day IgG is too soon, and now I know that the vast majority of people who have HSV2 don't get typical blisters. In fact, according to most studies, only 20% of people who get herpes have typical blisters, 20% are completely asymptomatic, and 60% (read: the vast majority) have atypical cases. So atypical is typical.
Also, here's a good video I watched that made me feel much better, although this is a very "classic" case. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJCvY-qDR8
And she's right: the more you learn about this virus, the less worried you will get.
Also, there is a cure on the way too, although it will probably be another decade before it's available, but it's starting to seem very likely that there will be a cure in our lifetime: HerpV, read this thread: http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/messageforum/showthread.php?33604-Antigenics-changes-name-to-Agenus-and-AG707-to-HerpV
Dude,
I am in the exact same boat as you are. Even the symptoms are identical. I too am freaking out as the doc upon visual inspection says its not HSV2. Only arguably conclusive tests are done after 12 weeks. I say arguably as other posts indicate that asymptomatic HSV2 could generate false results on IgG type specific tests.
I am in the exact same boat as you are. Even the symptoms are identical. I too am freaking out as the doc upon visual inspection says its not HSV2. Only arguably conclusive tests are done after 12 weeks. I say arguably as other posts indicate that asymptomatic HSV2 could generate false results on IgG type specific tests.
it's not all that unusual.
thanks for all your help! I was tested for mono pretty early on and test was negative. I'm praying you're right.
one last question, to your knowledge is it normal for lymph nodes to be swollen as long as mine have been?
one last question, to your knowledge is it normal for lymph nodes to be swollen as long as mine have been?
once again, no reason to think this is herpes going on and causing these symptoms. continue to follow up with your providers as needed. It's getting late now to test for things like ebv and other common viral infections as a cause and you just need to let it run its course most likely.
I do understand that, and realize I'm not immune to being sick. However, I've been through 2 different antibiotics (which I know would do nothing for a viral infection) and haven't had the swelling subside at all.
It just seems like too much of a coincidence, even if it's not herpes. I've never been able to feel my lymph nodes in the neck and behind the ear like I can ever before. And the swollen nodes in the groin are what really have me bothered now. Why else would they be swollen for such a long time (a month), and in the groin?
I know the "bumps" didn't resemble herpes sores, although I've read some cases can be mild and mistaken for bug bites. Things just don't add up for me.
It's tough to get any relief knowing I've got to wait two more months.
It just seems like too much of a coincidence, even if it's not herpes. I've never been able to feel my lymph nodes in the neck and behind the ear like I can ever before. And the swollen nodes in the groin are what really have me bothered now. Why else would they be swollen for such a long time (a month), and in the groin?
I know the "bumps" didn't resemble herpes sores, although I've read some cases can be mild and mistaken for bug bites. Things just don't add up for me.
It's tough to get any relief knowing I've got to wait two more months.
you kissed someone. that spreads many viral infections that are completely non-std related. Even though it's summer, you can even get influenza! no reason to think this is herpes going on just because you are sick.
A conclusive result will only be done at 12 weeks from the last sexual encounter. People do actually get sick even those that rarely do. Many viruses in the air. At this point wait the 3 months and be tested to know your status.
He looked at it and was pretty confident it wasn't herpes. However, with all these symptoms and such for so long (when I rarely get sick) seem to be too much of a coincidence. I also may have swollen lymph nodes in my groin area. I can't tell for sure but it does feel like there are some lumps around that region.
If I were to get tested before the 3 months what are the chances it would show and be correct?
If I were to get tested before the 3 months what are the chances it would show and be correct?
this doesn't sound like genital herpes going on. you were also seen by your provider who didn't think they looked like herpes either.
sounds more like you have an upper respiratory infection, not anything std related.
since you had unprotected sex, you can follow up with proper std testing if you are concerned. you can get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia anytime after 1 week post encounter. syphilis after 6 weeks. herpes , hepatitis and hiv after 3 months.
grace
sounds more like you have an upper respiratory infection, not anything std related.
since you had unprotected sex, you can follow up with proper std testing if you are concerned. you can get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia anytime after 1 week post encounter. syphilis after 6 weeks. herpes , hepatitis and hiv after 3 months.
grace
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.
