Aa
do i have herpes?
I had unprotected oral sex about 8 days ago. I have some spots of discoloration around the head of my penis. It does not hurt or burn. The girl who gave me oral sex did not look like had any visible sores or any signs of outbreak. I kissed her before the oral sex too. Would that mean I have oral and genital herpes then? Also, I had a blood test doen last week it was all negative but I think it was too soon to tell.
is it possible to have prodrome symtoms for like 3+ weeks before a primary outbreak i mean does that sound possible? I've had some itching, tingling, and little fatigue thinking maybe its an initial outbreak but nothing has ever come to be.(i mean like blister/lesion things forming, filling up, then opening to scab over, etc.) Same thing happen to anyone?
I'm not sure of anything I could say at this point that would help you. Your anxiety about this all seems to be doing a number on you.
grace
grace
hey grace quick thought, if like i mentioned b4 i had made out with this woman before she performed oral sex on me wouldn't if i was getting possible symptoms of herpes downtown (not certain if i have herpes or not) wouldn't i start seeing or feeling something resembling an initial outbreak in my mouth if she did have viral shedding from her mouth (had no visible sores). the only thing thats happened in my oral region is a little jaw soreness but i also have wisdom teeth coming in that r coming out next month. (if i am having a outbreak i pray its over by the time i get them out.) i am just so confused b/c my last blood test 2 weeks ago said im negative for both herpes types but i am somewhat sure i've had a cold sore b4 in my life so my mind is totally all over the place. but i feel like something is not right idk if its my mind playing tricks on me or something is really wrong. dr.'s all say i look fine but i still am hessitant. any advice to help shine some clarity on this situation?
going on 15 days post exposure and rash, redness, and bumps on hand have gone down like 90% after a couple rounds of hydrocortisone. have some itching and tingling in genital area that still comes and goes once in a while. how long u think before i could consider myself more in the clear of not having anything. i mean dr.'s say i have nothing so far that looks like herpes (been 3 times) or anything that can be cultured. i'm still thinking i could have an asymmtimatic outbreak or a real mild one in which i can't tell. the not knowing is literally killing me and making me mildly depressed. I guess i will have to wait til 3-4 month mark to take blood tests barring something big happening soon. any advice on what to do to help unnerve myself or what i should do at this point. anything would help immensley.
washing your hands frequently is probably the cause of the redness on your hands. No need for hot water -just plain ole lukewarm or even cool water and soap is all you need.
grace
grace
the only reason i still think i might have something still is i got some redness on two knuckles on each hand thinking its maybe herpes whitlow but from what i read is supposed to hurt like hell. mine is jus a little irritaion and kinda burns when i stretch skin and put it under somewhat hot water. its wierd cause i wash my hands like a mad man and do after every inspection of my "goods."
You are putting way too much thought into this right now. None of the providers you've seen so far really thinks this is genital herpes.
not all people with herpes get recurrences from UV light.
grace
not all people with herpes get recurrences from UV light.
grace
hey i know they say getting too much sunlight causes reoccurences but would it spark an outbreak if one hasn't started yet or will an OB come no matter what?
if I keep going in and doctors have nothing good enough(looking like herpes blister, lesion, etc.) for doctors to take a culture from to test is that a good sign i didn't get hsv-1. Cause from what i hear, have been reading, and what dr.'s say the culture test is the most accurate test. Cause the girl that performed oral sex on me also kissed me before the oral sex so wouldn't i have seen something on my mouth by now going on two weeks post possible exposure. Cause i tested negative for both on my last blood test(even though i have gotten cold sores/fever blisters since i was young) i would assume i would have seen something resembling an OB by now on either mouth or genitals considering i don't have any antibodies to it apparently. Also, besides some slight itching ans tingling that comes and goes i haven't felt feverish or really fatigued, idk if this is from the acyclovir i've been taking b/c my dosage is low(200 mg 2x a day). I'm jus so confused and still a little paranoid and new to the whole std world.
No need for any specialist.
At this point just repeat your blood test in 4 months if you need the peace of mind.
grace
At this point just repeat your blood test in 4 months if you need the peace of mind.
grace
After 12 days post exposure went to urgent care for third time (they're probably sick of me over there). Saw same dr. as first time i went there, i started to get somewhat of what i thought was a blister but dr. said its not hereps he said hes totally convinced i don't have herpes saying hes seen so many cases and is certain that what i have is not herpes. the other dr. i saw there that perscribed me acyclovir to see what happens also said she didn't think it was herpes. going on 13 th day post exposure and nothing of an OB like ppl talk about on this forum say has happened to me. Finally starting to become lessed stressed and paranoid. Should i go see a infectious disease specialist in the intermittent time before i can take another blood test for hopefully further proof i don't have herpes.
coming from a different angle (i should have included this in my last post) if i made out with the girl before the oral sex in theory wouldn't i get hsv-1 in mouth as well as my genitals if she was asymptomatically shedding. But, if i do have hsv-1 anitbodies would i not see anything happening in my mouth or genitals or see it just see it on my genitals only assuming i got hsv-1?
hey grace what is average/usual time after exposure i would see an OB if i got hsv-1 genitally? The dosage im taking of acyclovir would only make an OB mild at best im assuming if that. Im going on almost two weeks now post exposure and have not have blisters or lesions or anything except that thing under my urethra(dr. said looked lesion like hence the acyclovir) and it hasn't developed, changed, gotten bigger. I've had a little sensitivity in my penis head that has come and gone, no bad cases of itching, nothing like what ppl on these boards talk about with primary OB. I'm am truly confused about whats going on. Thanks for all the replies and info. Grace.
the dose of acyclovir for an ob should be either 400mg 3x/day for 10 days or 200mg 5x/day for 10 days. please check your dose on your prescription to see if you were prescribed the proper dose.
As I said, I think the provider you saw guessed and guessed wrongly.
You have a history of hsv1 orally already so even if a blood test is + for hsv1 the next time you get one, it's not going to accurately reflect a genital hsv1 infection. the only way to confirm hsv1 genitally in your case is thru a lesion culture of active symptoms.
grace
As I said, I think the provider you saw guessed and guessed wrongly.
You have a history of hsv1 orally already so even if a blood test is + for hsv1 the next time you get one, it's not going to accurately reflect a genital hsv1 infection. the only way to confirm hsv1 genitally in your case is thru a lesion culture of active symptoms.
grace
correction for above : "IDK if the spot around my urethra was there before or after the encounter..."
hey grace the spot i mentioned above thats jus around my urethra is kind of a depression and is small and hasn't changed(in almost a week). I have no other blisters, ulcers or anything like that anywhere else except for that singular spot of discoloration i mentioned previously which is where my head and shaft of my penis meet. Idk if the spot around my urethra was there before the encounter cause i jus started checkin my stuff out 3-4 days after encounter as i started to worry. the dr at urgent care said it looked lesion-like and gave me a 10 day supply of acyclovir I take 200 mg 2 twice a day that couldn't totally suppress an outbreak right? She gave me this and wanted to see what happens and if my conditions worsen. Conditions haven't worsened but im wondering if acyclovir(only been taken it for 4 days now) is reason why cause I in fact have somehting or nothings happening and im just freakin out thinkin in my mind something is happening. I think if anything i contracted hsv-1 genitally. Wouldn't i get a noticeable OB with this by now even with the antiviral b/c that dosage isn't that much. BTW the female who gave me unprotected oral sex has said she is std free after i have asked her three times but shes probably gonna deny til she dies. What should i do in intermitten time between now and dr. visit then the time need to get accurate results from blood tests in few months.
If you have a history of fever blisters then you do have hsv1 orally. Even the best blood tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections so even though you tested negative on the blood test, a history of fever blisters/cold sores is a reason to assume thatyou do actually have hsv1 orally.
Having hsv1 orally gives you significant protection against contracting hsv1 genitally. I really think the provider you saw just guessed and by not doing a lesion culture of active symptoms they did you a disservice. Also you mention your penis symptoms don't hurt or anything which means it's likely a misdiagnosis.
grace
Having hsv1 orally gives you significant protection against contracting hsv1 genitally. I really think the provider you saw just guessed and by not doing a lesion culture of active symptoms they did you a disservice. Also you mention your penis symptoms don't hurt or anything which means it's likely a misdiagnosis.
grace
well i have gotten fever blisters and things like that. does that classify as hsv-1?
canker sores are not herpes . they don't offer any protection against oral herpes.
The only easy way to know if you also contracted hsv1 orally would be if you got obvious cold sores.
grace
The only easy way to know if you also contracted hsv1 orally would be if you got obvious cold sores.
grace
hey grace one last thing, if had mad out with this girl before the brief unprotected sex does that mean if i got something on my genitals i will get something in my mouth? if so isn't the incubation period of cold sores like 10-14 days? I have had nothing resembling cold sores like pain, discomfort or anything and im comin up on 10 days post exposure. could this be because I'm immune since i have gotten canker sores since i was early teenager. again thanks for all the input, i think im looking for things that aren't there i'm kind of a paranoid person in general.
Next month is too early for additional testing to be done. You need to wait 4 months after the last time you had sex prior to these symptoms to get the blood test again.
should you get a return of genital symptoms after your 10 days of acyclovir are up, see your provider and insist on a lesion culture. don't accept a it could be or a visual diagnosis - you need lesion cultures done on active symptoms.
Not being hungry has nothing to do with genital herpes.
grace
should you get a return of genital symptoms after your 10 days of acyclovir are up, see your provider and insist on a lesion culture. don't accept a it could be or a visual diagnosis - you need lesion cultures done on active symptoms.
Not being hungry has nothing to do with genital herpes.
grace
thanks for the reply grace. i went to urgent care and had doctor look at some spots around my urethra and she said they were lesion like and possibly herpes so she gave me a 10 day supply of acyclovir. these lesion like thinks have not developed, changed, or grown in almost a week. the only thing that makes me wonder still is that my digestive system is working as fast as it usually does and i don't feel hungry quite as much, although i still do eat alot because im kind of a big guy. im wondering if this is stress induced or what. unless something major happens im gonna wait til next month for my yearly physical to get tested for everything.
discoloration isn't due to herpes.
should you get any obvious lesions see your provider but the risk from a one time encounter is pretty low in general.
The blood test you had done was only accurate for your status prior to the encounter, way too soon to test otherwise.
grace
should you get any obvious lesions see your provider but the risk from a one time encounter is pretty low in general.
The blood test you had done was only accurate for your status prior to the encounter, way too soon to test otherwise.
grace
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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.
