Painful genital bumps

[Can_U_Help]

I have had painful bumps around my vagina and thighs for several years. About 4 years ago I went to the local Health Department for my annual check up and I talked to the nurse practitioner about it. She said that they were probably hair follicles and that I should leave them alone. The only problem is they are very painful. They do not rupture. I have to squeeze them to release the puss, which is usually white or just blood. If I don’t squeeze them they are excruciatingly painful so much so that I can barely walk. I asked the nurse if she thought they looked like herpes and she said no. There is no rash or blisters like the pictures I have seen online of herpes. Where are lymph nods in your legs? I also get hard knots in the tops of my legs at my inner thigh, which is very painful. Is that lymph nods? I noticed some comments online that the lymph nods in the top of your legs get swollen. The nurse did not culture the bump. Is a culture of an outbreak the only way to test for the herpes virus or is there a blood test for if you don’t have an outbreak at the time of your appointment? I have read a few articles online that genital ulcers are commonly misdiagnosed. I am calling the health department tomorrow and scheduling an appointment. It is time for my annual check up anyway and I will talk to the nurse about it but any thoughts would be greatly appreciated and I would kind of like to know if I should be adamant about testing for the herpes virus if they try to blow me off again. This is about to worry me to death. I am not a promiscuous person. I have been married for 20 years and have only had 4 partners. My husband was my first and only for 10 years then I found out he was cheating and I left. We were separated for about 3 years and got back together. I was only sexually active with 3 partners while we were separated and 2 were one-night stands. My husband and I have been back together for 6 years now and I have been with no one but him. If I had been infected with an STD during our separation wouldn’t I have had symptoms within 2 to 3 years?

[Naveed777]

I believe, hair follicles are not puss or blood filled... (HSV1 & 2 type specific Ab IgG) test can actually tell if these are herpes... If these turn to be herpes, there are many suppressive treatments available those can relieve the pain and reduce the recurrences... Usually, it takes not more than 3 months to show up any STD including the deadliest one HIV... But there are many STDs those are asymptomatic (with no symptoms)... The surest way to confirm is going for all the STD tests...

[Can_U_Help]

Thanks for the response Naveed. One other question...Can you be tested for ALL STDs by a blood test or are there STDs which must be tested by a culture of a sore or ulcer? I would like to know before I go for my annual just so I am in the know. Thanks again for the help.

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

I'm sorry your nurse didn't culture these years ago.  You can get a culture done, and ask them to do a typed herpes culture and a bacterial culture.  

You can also get the blood test done to help confirm or rule out herpes.

This wouldn't be gonorrhea or chlamydia, but if you've been sexually active, or haven't been tested since you found out about your husband, it never hurts to test.  Those should be done with a urine test or a swab of the vagina.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Thanks for the response Aj. I think I am going to request testing for all STDs at my appointment which is on the 19th. These bumps will probably be gone by then but they should still be able to do the blood and urine tests, right? I know I am full of questions, but can you still have an STD if the blood and urine tests show up negative? I know I have read or heard somewhere that the tests can sometimes be inaccurate. I am pretty sure that I was tested for all STD's and HIV/Aids at my first annual check-up after my husband and I got back together and they all showed up negative. That would have been about 6 or 7 years ago. I would have been tested at the health dept because that's were I get all my annuals so I will ask them if it is in my chart. I got tested because I had been sexually active with 3 men during the 3 years we were seperated and that is when the bumps started appearing.

[auntiejessi]

The tests can sometimes be negative, but most of it depends on timing from your last possible exposure.  

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Do you think that it is very unlikely (although not impossible) that these bumps are STD related if I have been with no other partners since my husband and I got back together in 2001 and he has been with no one else either? I have talked to a couple of freinds and although they aren't 100% sure, they said that there would most likely be an outbreak from an STD within 7 years

[Can_U_Help]

Another thing which might be relevent is that my husband doesn't have any outbreaks of these bumps either and we have been together over 20 years.

[auntiejessi]

I can go as far as to say unlikely to be an std, but not impossible.

However, you do need to get them checked.  Painful sores are being caused by SOMETHING, and you should be able to get some answers.  (Sorry, I'm still a bit ticked off by the "just leave them alone" comment years ago lol)

You don't need to suffer this way.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

I do try to leave them alone the best I can but that doesn't seem to help the problem or the pain. It seems if I don't release the infection they don't go away and neither does the discomfort. It's a very personal thing to discuss and back then I was a lot shier than I am now. I guess age does that to you : ) but someone will without a doubt discuss this with me at my appointment if I have to ask the nurse to get me someone else to talk to if she doesn't have time or doesn't want to. I finally talked to my husband about this last night, he has always known that I get the painful bumps but I never really discussed my fears of STD's with him. He seemed to feel the same way everyone else does, that we should have both had symptoms by now if we had contracted something 7 years ago and he has never had any problems. He assured me he has been faithful for 7 years and I know I have but I am still going to request the testing because something must be going on. These are regular occurances sometimes 2 or 3 times a month and they seem to be occurring more often as time goes by. I do appreciate all your time and help. Have a great day!

[auntiejessi]

If its not age, I bet its PAIN doing this to you lol.

It sounds way too frequent to be herpes, but you do deserve some answers after all this time.

Keep me posted.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Well I have another symptom. I really don't believe this is herpes but who knows. About  six months ago I got this really pesky bump on my leg. Oh it hurt something awful. I went to my family md and she said it could be staph but it resembled a spider bite also. Well I don't have insurance and I couldn't afford a culture at the time. So we treated it like staph I took the antibiotics and kept it clean and it finally healed but it left behind a very very ugly dark scare. This wasn't the first one either I have a total of 4 scars on the calf of my right leg from these painful bumps. But the one about six months ago was the worst. Now I have another one. I get razor bumps a lot because I have very sensitive skin. Most people have problems with dull razors but when I change blades is when I have the worst problem. I guess I'm a little backward. : ) But anyway I have another one on the same leg. Right calf (between my ankle and knee very close to my knee). Is it normal for a herpes outbreak to be on the calf of your leg? Also, I've had a few people tell me that if we have both been monogamous for over 7 years and one of us had an STD from sexual encounters while we were separated 7 years ago we would have become very ill if they went untreated for 7 years. Does that sound accurate? I guess I am going to worry myself sick and drive you nuts before my appointment on the 19th. I called and was told that a culture is $45 and I think I am going to call my md and see if she will give me an order for a culture on this new bump on my leg. I guess peace of mind that it isn't staph is worth $45. And you know how people are, oh that's staph, that's not staph it's a spider bite and on and on. So maybe they all need peace of mind too about what’s on my leg. I think its in-grown hairs because they tend to come up after I shave. Got any thoughts?

[auntiejessi]

I think it could be staph causing all of it, and a culture is worth it at this point.

You should also call your local health dept and ask what programs they have for people with no insurance.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Well I went to my md today and I got the culture done. I don't have a clue what is going on. The doc said pretty much the same thing this time "do you want to just treat it as staph without a culture since you have no insurance". I've had enough of this and I want to know what this is and that's pretty much what I told her. She said she didn't blame me she would feel the same way but we could just treat it for staph and it wouldn't cost me so much. I insisted though and I when I got to the hospital to do the labs because they were fresh out of swabs at the docs office they offered for me to speak to someone with med assist which will help pay for part if not all of my culture which will help financially so it's a little better. But I am to the point that I need answers it is the most desperate feeling not knowing what is going on with you when you have these extensively painful bumps. I mean I can't even put weight down on my foot to walk sometimes it hurts so bad. I don't like pain but I can tolerate it pretty well. I had 4 children all natural births except my last one. The only thing I had during natural childbirth with my first three children was a local so I can tolerate pain and this is terrible. At 8:30pm I feel so physically drained that I ache all over. This is horrible and I got to figure this out. I sure appreciate all your help. You are very kind to take time to sit and talk to people giving them your opinion and I just wanted you to know I genuinely appreciate it. The doc said the results of my culture will take 48 hours and to call her on Saturday to check in and see if she has them. I will let you know how it turns out. Have a good evening!

[auntiejessi]

Oh I'm glad you are getting some answers FINALLY, and got some info about med assts.  

Please let me know what you find out.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

I will keep you posted. Who knows maybe if I find out something this thread might help someone else out there going through something similar. Although a visit to the doc is the best solutions. We could talk about it for hours and it wouldn't give the answers you really need when something is recurring like this. It's hard with no insurance with the ghastly medical cost in this day and age but you have to do what you have to do. I'll let you know what I find out.

One quick question...when the lab tech did the culture she didn't get much at all because there is no drainage. Do you know if a tiny bit will work on the culture? She seemed to think it might but didn't really say that it would. Here exact words were "we'll see". That's just what I need if it wasn't enough. She did get some fluid but it was extremely little. She was super nice too. I almost felt sorrier for her then I did myself. LOL She kept asking if I was ok cause I had to sit there a minute and get it together. It was very painful. Poor girl. She talked to me for a little bit too. Said you could never be sure without a culture (which makes sense) but if the spot had been there for 3 or 4 days it shouldn't be that dry. I guess we'll see though.

[auntiejessi]

Ahhh I hate "we'll see", but she's right - it might work, it might not.  :(

Let me know.

AJ

[Can_U_Help]

Well the spot on my leg tested positive for MRSA. So I have staph, no insurance and I am allergic to sulphar drugs. The sensativity test showed the bacteria was sensitive to Tetracycline. She put me on that since there is no sulpha and it is a lot more affordable. She said to be extremely clean and cautious with it. Keep it covered up, don't let anyone wear my clothes or use wash clothes or towels after me without washing them. So I went out and got me some Lysol disinfectant spray with bleach, clorox whips and germ-x. Hopefully I wont transmit this to anyone else. I will just keep it covered up and clean it frequently and hopefully I will get rid of this pesky SUPER painful sore on my leg. I don't know if the bumps around my inner thighs and pubic area are the same thing because they aren't similar to this at all. But I will talk to the nurse about it at my annual check-up. I tend to think they are irritated hair follicles but don't know why they didn't develope staph as well if I am a carrier of MRSA. I think I will still request the STD testing at my annual because these bumps do not resemble one another at all in looks or pain so I still want to be cautious. I don't know this is all very confusing. I have a sister-in-law who is an LPN and a sister who is a RN. I have bugged the fire out of them today bombarding them with questions. They say this stuff is super duper contagious. But the doc and my sister/sister-in-law all say that as long as I am clean about it that I shouldn't pass it around to anyone and I have every intention of doing just that. They say that everyone has a better chance of catching it from someone who isn't diagnosed with it than me because I know what it is and am being very cautious about it. Well, I do appreciate all of your help and time talking with me. You have been very helpful and I hope to return the favor someday if not for you then maybe someone else. I hope you have a great weekend!

[auntiejessi]

Ohh you know, I had wondered about MRSA, but thought that surely someone along the way had tested you for that.

Good lord.

I am SO glad you found out, and I don't know if you qualify, but you should call your state assistance program first thing Monday morning and see if you qualify for any assistance programs.  They also can hook you up with prescription assistance.  Even if you make too much money, sometimes they have assistance programs when you get a significant diagnosis.

Good luck!!

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Well I paid for my office visit and the medassist program will pay for my culture and sensitivity test. My script this time was only 12.99. So I am only out about 78 bucks over this right now. I have had a couple people tell me that the only way to treat MRSA is through IV antibiotics. If it comes to that I will have to try to find assistance. But for now if this is all I have to pay then I'm ok. I am so confused, I have had people tell me that once you have the MRSA bacteria then you are always a carrier it just lays dorment. Are there any posts on this website on MRSA? I looked in the forums for staph and MRSA but there aren't any forum topics. I've been trying to educate myself a little bit on this but there are SO MANY sites out there and of course with that much literature they are going to be contradictorial. Just thought I could look through some experiences others have shared if there is topics on here on MRSA and staph bacteria.

[Can_U_Help]

I did a search for MRSA in the search medholp search box at the top of the page and I got a result of 506 posts so no need to answer that question. : )
Thanks
Talk to you soon

[auntiejessi]

LOL if the 506 responses don't help, let me know.

Aj

[Can_U_Help]

Well I got a little bit of info out of the 506 results of my search. But it took so long to try to shuffle through them that I eventually ended up posting my own question in the Dermatology forum and I did get a response from a doctor. You know how you are looking for a certain topic and you end up reading threads that aren't even relevant to what you were looking for. Curiosity got the cat I guess. : )

I love this website. It's so helpful when trying to understand all this confusing medical stuff. The people on here are very helpful, courteous and understanding. I'm really glad I found this site.
Talk to you soon

[Can_U_Help]

This is crazy and stressing me really bad. When I orginaly started this post back on 8-1 I had a bump right in the crease of my leg and vagina and a bump that was totaly different from that one at the top of my leg next to my pelvic bone (not in the crease of my leg but very close). The one in close to my vagina is not gone but it is smaller and less painful. It never ruptured, drained or anything. I tried to sqeeze it for relief whe it came up and got such a small amount of bloody fluid out if it that it was almost like nothing. The one on the top of my leg next to my pelvic bone is still there and just as painful as it was 10 days ago. This morning there is one at the top of my leg on the other side (my left leg) next to my pelvic bone almost perfectly horizontal with the one on the right side. They are both very painful too. I feel completely drained and starting to get a head cold. I sure hope I can hold off until next Tuesday (8-19) for my appointment at the health dept. These things are painful. Nothing is draining at all except the one on my right calf that was cultured and diagnosed as MRSA. I've read about swollen lymph nodes in the top of your legs. Does the location of the ones I have described close to my pelvic bone sound like swollen lymph nodes? What causes swollen lymph nodes in the lower extremities?

[auntiejessi]

Infection can cause that, and most certainly could be caused by the MRSA.  

If you are feeling so badly, you need to go to the health dept before the 19th.  Since MRSA can infect your bloodstream, you need to make sure you don't have it internally now.  

MRSA can also infect your lungs and cause pneumonia, so its extremely important that you get this cold checked out.  Please don't wait.

Aj