still burning

[burning117]

19 days ago i had sex, used a condom for oral and vaginal sex but after we finished he told me he started to put condom on upside down and just flipped it over. I performed the oral sex first then vaginal sex. So 2 days after I began to get vaginal burning so went to std clinic the next day (day 3). Got vaginal swab for herpes and blood tests done all cam e back negative. About a week after sex I got a sore throat and felt achy, no temperature. I also had an outbreak of oral herpes around this time, I have had this since I was young but this time the coldsore was on the inside of my lips.About 10 days after the incident went back to clinic ffor  rest of std tests, they also came back normal including thrush and uti. I haven't had any evident blisters or sores but the burning continues, it is not where near as bad as it was but things just don't feel right down there. The std nurse just told me to come back if i get blisters and to stop worrying about it. I have been extremely stressed about this. So my questions are is there any chance it is not genital herpes, what else could cause the burning when clear for other std's, thrush and uti? If the burning is a mild case of herpes when can I expect it to end and can I expect to get blisters some time soon or is this how my outbreaks will present.

[burning117]

I know I know. I just need to know if you think the -ve result after 14.4 weeks can be reliable pls. Thank you so much for all your help:)

[gracefromHHP]

I think you have convinced yourself that you had to have contracted something from this encounter and you've settled on herpes as the likely suspect.

really, not everything that goes on in our genital area is std related.  at this point be seen every time you have symptoms for further evaluation.  

[burning117]

Hi, Grace, I got my test results back and they were -be but it hasn't reassured me because I'm not sure how long it had been there before it was tested. I only knew it was there because I happened to do a visual inspection, it didn't hurt or anything. All I know is that is wasn't there a week before testing. So how much can I trust this result, PCR? I applied zinc oxide cream the night it was tested and it reduced it a lot overnight and was nearly gone another day later, but a slight red mark stayed for s few days after. Can zinc oxide cream help to heal herpes. My concern is that my negative blood test for hsv2 at 14.4 weeks post exposure was too early and  I hadn't seroconverted yet. What are my options from here. I was thinking to get blood tests done again as it has now been 7 months since that encounter and that could rule that out as a possible cause if I'm still negative. I will also keep checking and get tested if any more symptoms occur. Thanks

[burning117]

Today I noticed a red patch of skin on my vaginal area, just a bit above and to the right of my perineum. I thought there may have been some blisters. Not painful, just a bit irritated feelingm if touched.
Went to the Gp he had a look with a special light and said definitely not bacterial. It is superficial but no obvious blisters and there is a chance it is herpes. He took a swab (didn't hurt), said it was a PCR swab
1. If blisters had been present and popped before the visual exam would that have been evident and will it scab?
2. Is the PCR a reliable test with no blisters present?
3. I tested negative at 14.5 weeks post possible exsposure with a one night stand, Is it possible that I just hadn't seroconverted at that point and this is my first obvious outbreak?
4. I have put some zonc oxide on it for now. I f that helps it heal is there a chance it isn't herpes.
I am scared out of my mind right now, I haven't been more convinced than I am right now that i have herpes!!

[burning117]

Thanks grace I read the link. From that and your answer am I right to assume that my partner has minimal chance of catching hsv1 genitally from this episode. The kissing, then the oral then the vaginal sex were all straight after each other.

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.ashastd.org/std-sti-works/Herpes/oral-herpes.html  for more reading if you haven't read it already.

you have significant protection from contracting hsv1 genitally since you have it orally. it's not 100% , but it's up there.  also the virus would  never lay around on your partner's lips to be transmitted to your genital area like that either.

[burning117]

Hi grace, just trying to find out as much as I can about oral hsv 1 transmission. If I had a cold sore but didn't know and kissed my partner and then he performed oral sex on me and then we had vaginal sex could he catch it genitally. I hope this question makes sense:)

[burning117]

Hi grace, just a quick question do only latex condoms help protect against against HPV and hsv or are non latex just as good?

[Rainy12]

Congratulations, 14 weeks should be long enough. Go celebrate!

[burning117]

Hi grace just an update. I got my test results back, so at 14.4 weeks after possible exposure I have tested negative hsv2 and + be for hsv1 as expected. So should I be confident in these results in the absence of any obvious symptoms? Also the small bump that was possibly a wart hasn't appeared to have returned since 2 days after putting one application of vinegar on it, is this a good indication it wasn't a wart? The burnt skin has almost healed. Thankyou again grace.

[Rainy12]

Yes, we all gave regrets. Let us know how you are going. Take care

[burning117]

No I don't having any burning or redness anymore. It's funny that once I had something else to worry about my other symptoms disappeared, the mind can do funny things. I don't think a biopsy is an option for the wart as there is no lump there anymore, so I guess I just wait and see if grows back, more waiting!!  I really regret that night 3 months ago:( Thanks for your support.

[Rainy12]

Yes, I can understand that. If it went was away with vinegar then it doesn't sound like a wart. I hope this turns out to be nothing for you. Do you still have burning and any redness? Maybe a biopsy would be in order?

[burning117]

Hopefully it won't be much longer for you and things will be back to normal. I wish I knew more about the HPV. The bump I had seems to have gone with the vinegar I put on so I don't know if that means it wasn't a wart. On the expert forum they said vinegar will not kill a wart but I don't know if I can conclude from that that it wasn't a wart, I'm sure you can appreciate that I would like to know for sure.

[Rainy12]

It will be 4 weeks this Tuesday that I had the biopsy and I still have a small hole where the incision was. It was sore and tender there for about a week. It still does not feel completely normal down there but that could be from the Lichen Sclerosus. The steroid cream seems to be helping but I still feel uncomfortable in jeans , I try to wear skirts which feel the best . Wish I could help you more with the HPV , I did read up on that but not too much. Wish you luck... Keep us posted

[burning117]

Thankyou, its just really bad timing. I have been talking to this guy in another city and I am going to visit him next weekend. I just wish I hadn't done the stupid vinegar test so I could of got the lump biopsied to know what it was, I was just too impatient. I don't know if I can handle having or not having a condition that can't be tested for. I am stressing about this way more than I was for herpes, at least herpes has a blood test. How long did it take for biopsy site to heal. How is everything going for you, are things on the improve since your diagnosis?

[Rainy12]

Hi, wishing you luck on you 3 month test... Hope your wart turns out to be just an ingrown hair or something simple...

[burning117]

Hi grace, I posted a question on std expert forum, not because I don't trust or value your answers, I certainly do. It was because I had a lot more questions and I appreciate that you are very busy answering a lot of other people's questions as well. You have been a tremendous support to me and I am very grateful. I have decided for now to treat as a wart and not have sex, especially as it seems safe to still do other stuff like touching genitals, oral etc. I thought warts was the same as herpes and the entire genital area was contagious even with only one wart. As this is not the case we can still have some kind of sexual relationship. If the lesion comes back I will get it biopsies. Thankyou again for everything :). I will let you know of my 3 month blood results when I get them back next week

[gracefromHHP]

let the skin heal at this point.

[burning117]

Also would a biopsy still be an option as I have possibly burnt the wart with the vinegar. Thanks.

[burning117]

I agree with you. So when you say I don't know what it going on for now, does that mean I need to get a biopsy or wait like 3 months to see if it grows back? Today again there is no lump so would they have to take some skin with a biopsy?

[gracefromHHP]

I would refrain from sex at this point since you don't know what is going on.

put some desitin or aquaphor ointment on this for now.

[burning117]

Ok. I think the reason I am particularly anxious about this is that I am going to visit my new man in 1.5 weeks so I would like to know if I can have sex or not, protected of course :) so if it is s wart and the vinegar did burn it off should I expect to see it go black or scab or something? At the moment its exactly the same colour but now its just flatter ( surrounded by horrible raw weeping skin, not a good idea).

[gracefromHHP]

you can keep it going here. would've been me answering anyways. the other regular poster there isn't exactly accurate in their replies sometimes and the doc there is from india and works in a nursing home I believe.  

they just take the lump when they biopsy it. it's really not as bad as it sounds and they numb the area before they do it too.