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Very distraught and confused about Herpes diagnosis
I apologize for the length of this but I feel the detail is necessary.
On 1/18/08 I had a brief unprotected sexual encounter with a female who I am convinced has genital herpes, because I know her 'swinging' boyfriend does and her behavior that night makes me suspect it even more. I was very very drunk and made a huge mistake. It started in a hot tub and continued there for maybe 30 seconds. I came to my senses and realized what I was doing and stopped and went to a couch to pass out. Somehow the next thing I remember she was on the couch with me and had gotten a bottle of some lubricant "from Germany" and was applying it to my penis. We started to have sex again but I quickly stopped her and told her I could not continue. After the encounter I attempted to wash myself off but it was difficult to remove the lubricant fully.
On 1/30/08 I noticed a small pinkish pimple (no pus) on the right side shaft of my penis, near where the scrotal skin starts. I was very concerned about this and left it for a day, with no real change. The next night I used a wart freezing device to freeze the pimple thoroughly. Leaving it red and scabby.
On 2/1/08 I thought I might have a low grade fever and was feeling a gastric reflux type feeling, so I went to the ER. I related the story to the doctor and told him I was concerned I might have caught herpes. I used the word tingle as a buzzword although at that time I was not really sure what it meant. My goal was to get acyclovir to have a small chance at lessening recurrences, even though is no real evidence to support this. He diagnosed me with genital herpes and gave me 2 10-day 2x800mg/day prescriptions for acyclovir. They also took a swab of the now red and scabby remnants of the pimple (no pain ever from it) which unsurprisingly came back negative for herpes.
I took them but they didn't seem to do much. Along this same time I noticed a generalized pain in my groin and maybe some minor itching. The minor but persistent groin pain has persisted basically unabated except at night to this day. Around the beginning of February I also came down with flu-like symptoms that persisted for a number of days.
On 2/21/08 I went to a doctor for a blood test after fasting. This was the final day of the acyclovir. It was negative for IgM and IgG readings were: HSV-1 0.04 HSV-2 0.22.
On 3/31/08 I had another IgG and IgM test after fasting: HSV-1 0.11 HSV-2 0.18; IgM negative.
On 4/14/08 another IgG: HSV-1 0.14 HSV-2 0.30.
My main symptoms, which have persisted for quite some time, is randomly located, sporadic minor nerve pain in both of my legs and glute area. I also have noticed an infrequent pain behind my right ear. Also, the general groin pain, in the shaft at times but mainly focused in the perineal area. I haven't had any other bumps and no other pains in the area of the original pimple. This last week I also had more flu-like symptoms which persisted for a week or so.
I plan to get another blood test near the end of May. Basically I am confused because although I was diagnosed with herpes and some of my symptoms definitely point in that direction, so far my blood tests are all negative, although the last reading for HSV-2 has moved up a bit.
Could this be a different STD? My pain symptoms seem pretty real to me and I do not think I am just imagining them. Does this sound like herpes? What is the effect of antivirals on IgG levels? I read some 80s research saying it depressed levels by 10%; some other sources on the web say there can be a larger effect. I'm not sure if I have read anywhere what the effect is on primary infections and near term convalescent IgG levels? My last test was basically at 12 1/2 weeks after the incident, but only about 7 1/2 weeks after stopping the antivirals. Is a test near the end of May definitive or should I wait longer?
I apologize for the length of this but I am just at my wit's end.
On 1/18/08 I had a brief unprotected sexual encounter with a female who I am convinced has genital herpes, because I know her 'swinging' boyfriend does and her behavior that night makes me suspect it even more. I was very very drunk and made a huge mistake. It started in a hot tub and continued there for maybe 30 seconds. I came to my senses and realized what I was doing and stopped and went to a couch to pass out. Somehow the next thing I remember she was on the couch with me and had gotten a bottle of some lubricant "from Germany" and was applying it to my penis. We started to have sex again but I quickly stopped her and told her I could not continue. After the encounter I attempted to wash myself off but it was difficult to remove the lubricant fully.
On 1/30/08 I noticed a small pinkish pimple (no pus) on the right side shaft of my penis, near where the scrotal skin starts. I was very concerned about this and left it for a day, with no real change. The next night I used a wart freezing device to freeze the pimple thoroughly. Leaving it red and scabby.
On 2/1/08 I thought I might have a low grade fever and was feeling a gastric reflux type feeling, so I went to the ER. I related the story to the doctor and told him I was concerned I might have caught herpes. I used the word tingle as a buzzword although at that time I was not really sure what it meant. My goal was to get acyclovir to have a small chance at lessening recurrences, even though is no real evidence to support this. He diagnosed me with genital herpes and gave me 2 10-day 2x800mg/day prescriptions for acyclovir. They also took a swab of the now red and scabby remnants of the pimple (no pain ever from it) which unsurprisingly came back negative for herpes.
I took them but they didn't seem to do much. Along this same time I noticed a generalized pain in my groin and maybe some minor itching. The minor but persistent groin pain has persisted basically unabated except at night to this day. Around the beginning of February I also came down with flu-like symptoms that persisted for a number of days.
On 2/21/08 I went to a doctor for a blood test after fasting. This was the final day of the acyclovir. It was negative for IgM and IgG readings were: HSV-1 0.04 HSV-2 0.22.
On 3/31/08 I had another IgG and IgM test after fasting: HSV-1 0.11 HSV-2 0.18; IgM negative.
On 4/14/08 another IgG: HSV-1 0.14 HSV-2 0.30.
My main symptoms, which have persisted for quite some time, is randomly located, sporadic minor nerve pain in both of my legs and glute area. I also have noticed an infrequent pain behind my right ear. Also, the general groin pain, in the shaft at times but mainly focused in the perineal area. I haven't had any other bumps and no other pains in the area of the original pimple. This last week I also had more flu-like symptoms which persisted for a week or so.
I plan to get another blood test near the end of May. Basically I am confused because although I was diagnosed with herpes and some of my symptoms definitely point in that direction, so far my blood tests are all negative, although the last reading for HSV-2 has moved up a bit.
Could this be a different STD? My pain symptoms seem pretty real to me and I do not think I am just imagining them. Does this sound like herpes? What is the effect of antivirals on IgG levels? I read some 80s research saying it depressed levels by 10%; some other sources on the web say there can be a larger effect. I'm not sure if I have read anywhere what the effect is on primary infections and near term convalescent IgG levels? My last test was basically at 12 1/2 weeks after the incident, but only about 7 1/2 weeks after stopping the antivirals. Is a test near the end of May definitive or should I wait longer?
I apologize for the length of this but I am just at my wit's end.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Actually, Waring didn't say anything different than sSlacker did, yet you reacted very strongly to her, and not Slacker.
The ER doc diagnosed you with herpes because you said the buzzword tingle. My guess is that if you hadn't said that, he wouldn't have thought herpes. You also have said you got no response from the acyclovir. If this was herpes, then you would have had a response.
The blood test is not 100% accurate - no test is. However, since you have neither type 1 or 2, my guess is that your result is accurate right now. Most people develop antibodies far sooner than 4 months. There is some debate about antivirals and testing, but we don't have any good answers. I can tell you that I started antivirals the first day I had symptoms, and tested positive on a blood test for type 2 at 3 weeks post infection. If there is a delay, its certainly not significant.
Your symptoms have also gone on too long for it to be herpes.
It doesn't sound like any std. I believe you have symptoms, but I wonder if at least some of it is psychological. Even if this girl has herpes, your chance of getting this from a one time encounter are next to nothing.
Have you done any other std testing? If you haven't, you should. Oh and you don't need to be fasting for an hsv test.
AJ
The ER doc diagnosed you with herpes because you said the buzzword tingle. My guess is that if you hadn't said that, he wouldn't have thought herpes. You also have said you got no response from the acyclovir. If this was herpes, then you would have had a response.
The blood test is not 100% accurate - no test is. However, since you have neither type 1 or 2, my guess is that your result is accurate right now. Most people develop antibodies far sooner than 4 months. There is some debate about antivirals and testing, but we don't have any good answers. I can tell you that I started antivirals the first day I had symptoms, and tested positive on a blood test for type 2 at 3 weeks post infection. If there is a delay, its certainly not significant.
Your symptoms have also gone on too long for it to be herpes.
It doesn't sound like any std. I believe you have symptoms, but I wonder if at least some of it is psychological. Even if this girl has herpes, your chance of getting this from a one time encounter are next to nothing.
Have you done any other std testing? If you haven't, you should. Oh and you don't need to be fasting for an hsv test.
AJ
Haha. Ok, thanks slacker, really. I guess I need to hear that. I haven't really had a laugh in awhile. You are right, I really have been driving myself crazy over this. I guess the initial diagnosis at the ER has locked my mind into a reality of having herpes and now I am just worried after all I have read about atypical symptoms and length of time for antibodies to show up that I am one of those people. I have considered seeing a psychiatrist because this has really thrown me for a loop. I do appreciate the feedback. Any thoughts about any other possibilities or do you think it is definitely all in my head? The symptoms sure seem real to me but I admit the possibility of psychosomatic origin.
Nothing you have said suggests herpes at all!!!!!! You're pain is psychologically based. You are focusing way to much time on this. You need to get over the fact you do NOT have herpes and if you can not, you need to go see a psychiatrist for sure. Move on guy and forget this!!! You freezing some pink spot off with liquid nitrogen is stupid and you could do more nerve damage with spraying that **** on your penis... You probably did some damage with that spray as you sprayed it in a very sensitive area.
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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.
