positive or negative

[confused_03]

Hi,

I'm not sure if anyone has a similar experience...but here is mine.  

Last March 2009 I had sexual relations and 2 weeks later I developed a tingling and then burning on the head of my penis.  No visible anything at that time, went to my doc who empirically treated me for gonorrhea and chlamydia (cultures later  were negative), I thought I was home free.  Then about 4-5 days later a red rash occurred on the head of my penis. It felt like ants in my pants.  I was pretty scared.  I saw my doc again and she didn't think it was herpes but did a culture from my urethra and gave me valtrex.  The herpes culture was negative and she told me to stop the valtrex.  Since that day I still complained of burning in my urethra and penis head so she sent me to a urologist who was clueless, he said everything seemed normal.  A week or 2 later I saw a dermatologist who gave me a prescription for valtrex and did the herpes blood test.  The test was negative, it had only been 4 weeks after initial symptoms.  I finished a 30 day valtrex prescription and the tingling/burning continued intermittently.  I decided I wanted another hepres blood test, which I had at 12 weeks at my derm's office that came back negative.  The pain and tingling seemed to quiet down over the summer.  Then in sept 2009 and nov 2009 I have had the increased sensitivity, redness, pain, and occsional tingling on my penis head and L groin.  The penis head skin just looks different, area of redness, tiny bumps, but never vesicles, ulcers or discharge.

I mean am I crazy or is this not herpes?  I think I want a valtrex prescription...The blood tests at 4 weeks and 12 weeks were both IGG herpes-select.

Any thoughts?

Thank you =)

[confused_03]

just wondering....the pain on penis head is decreasing after the last 3 weeks.  I noticed today after masturbating that a little bit later in the day the head was shiny and looks like the penis head skin is like peeling?  Is this peeling chracteristic of healing following an outbreak?

Thanks.  Still waiting to get a repeat IGg test, I went to planned parenthood today, but they didn't have it available.

[confused_03]

Any other thoughts on the above?  Going on week three and the head of my penis is pretty much burning intermittently throughout the whole day today.  It was pretty red too.  No ulcers or anything.  Just red and burning,  Going to get another std screening this weekend...and if negative plan to see derm again....otherwise just trying to ignore it.


thanks

[confused_03]

grace,

thanks for your response.  I understand it may not be herpetic, but I definitely feel it was sexually transmitted.  I have never had any skin issues and 2 weeks after sexual relations I get tingling and burning in my penis, and then a bright red rash develops on the head, which made me feel as if ants were stinging me.  And now i have these residual symptoms that flair.

Have you ever heard of this?  Any thoughts what bug could have caused the inital rash?  The docs seem to have their usual look of we have no idea.  I will get retested for herpes only b/c of the residual symptoms that effect me day to day.  I don't know what it was, but something caused this...thankfully it is better today after the last 2 weeks of hypersensitivity down there...  

Thanks again. Have a good day.

[gracefromHHP]

this could be many things but doesn't sound std related.  At this point continuing to follow up with a dermatologist is probably the best course of action. this sounds far more like a dermatological issue than anything else.

grace

[tek09]

U can get final result after 13 weeks ...

[confused_03]

Hi,

I have been tested for a UTI x2 last spring.  Once by my doc and then the urologist, both negative.  I was negative for prostatitis as well.  I had GC cultures neg last spring and neg HIV.  I think if it were yeast or scabies more than 7 months later I would have had more widespread symptoms.

Not sure what else is causing the sensations down there.  Unless from oral sex some type of atypical bug caused a rash and left me with neuropathic pain and now I have dysesthesias from that initial "event."  And this nerve pain just flares up sporadically. Just a thought.  My derm had mentioned puting me on neurontin or a low dose of amytriptyline to help with any possible nerve pain, but I declined since tolerable symptoms.  He felt valtrex would not be advisable after 2 negative blood tests.  It's like you just want a darn diagnosis so you can move on!!

Thanks for hearing me out.

[petal130]

Outbreaks come, peak and heal. Recuccurent ones tend to do so over a few days with less severity. When taking an anitviral, it can mean only a couple days of symptoms - I say this from my own experience.

You stated that at one point pain lingered off/on intermittently - it sounds like this waffling on again off again of symptoms - just not typical of herpes.

Eucerin cream will not clear herpes.

What other testing have you had for your symptoms? A blood test for herpes is only one thing - what about urine tests to check for a UTI, or test for bacterial/fungal infection?

Why try to convince yourself you have it? Technically you don't, based on your testing. Just go sooner than later and get the test as you're past the 16 week mark so you can put this to bed if you're negative.

[confused_03]

Thanks again for your response petal.  It has been almost 20 plus weeks since initial symptoms so I'll get retested soon.

My question is if the rawness on the head of the penis, slight burn after ejeculation, and then the occasional episodes of pains that last about 2 weeks (penis head, groin) isn't typical of herpes, what is typical for herpes?  I've read about HSV and these symptoms sound somewhat similar to people with hsv.  Just curious to what your thoughts were.

Have a great day.

[petal130]

Get tested at 16 weeks. If negative, move on from herpes and work with your doctor to find out the cause of your symptoms. Actually, I'd start doing that part now - your symptoms don't sound like herpes.

[confused_03]

Thanks a lot for the response petal.  It is all just so weird.  The first thing I noticed this morning was the strange incresed sensitivity on the penis head.  A little eucerin cream seems to help. Anyway, I will make another appointment at my derms office to get one more test...I feel like the docs act like I am stalking them, but this phantom pain is real!

good luck to all those out there living with this type of discomfort...we are all strong enough to rise above it, and stay positive.

Thanks.

[petal130]

The proper time frame for testing would be 16 weeks.

That being said, this doesn't sound like herpes. Tingling/burning/redness etc. that lasts for that long and is intermittent (all the while taking Valtrex) is not indicative of herpes.

If you are at the 16 week mark, get a final test and then put herpes behind you if it's negative. Follow-up with your doctor if symptoms persist.

Lastly, even if you DID have herpes, the proper dose for Valtrex for a recurrent outbreak is 500mg twice a day for three days - not 30!