Could this be herpes?

[sps5383]

I had unprotected sex with a friend 2 months ago.  5 weeks later my wife began complaining of vaginal itching and my anxiety kicked into high gear.  I immediately began feeling irritation in my urethra and had frequent urination urges.  I went to a urologist who diagnosed me with prostatitis and prescribed Cipro, 500 mg twice daily.  I tested negative for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.  I took the Cipro for a few days, and was feeling better after my negative STD test and stopped taking the Cipro.  A day or two later, after a 12 mile run, I went to the bathroom and noticed 3-4 red/pink areas on the shaft of my penis with some dry skin.  This is 7 weeks post exposure.  The areas were not raised, itchy, or painful in any way.  They were smooth and shiny and the skin was a little flaky.  48 hours after noticing the irritation I went to a walk in clinic where they did a viral culture that was negative.  I went online and started researching herpes and began freaking out.  A couple days later I started feeling a burning sensation in my crotch, scrotum, thighs and back of my legs down to my knees.  I also felt general itching in my genital area.  None of these feelings were on my penis.  Then I began feeling back pain, lower abdominal pain, groin pain, and leg pain.  I may have a slightly inflamed lymph gland in my leg.  My wife went to her ob/gyn and was diagnosed with a yeast infection which quickly cleared up after taking diflucan.  About 12 days after first appearing the patches have pretty much cleared up after a little bit of dryness and flaking skin.  They just look like areas of thin skin now, a little shiny but mostly unnoticeable.  My scrotum is red and I'm still feeling pain in my lower back, abdomen, groin, and leg, and a burning sensation (like a sunburn) on the back of my legs, inner thighs, and genital area with occasional itchiness.  I am experiencing significant anxiety over this.  Could that be the cause of my symptoms, or do you think I have herpes?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm sorry, this sort of neuropathic pain is beyond my area of specialty.  My suggestion would be to seek the evaluation of a neurologist.  EWH

[sps5383]

Thank you for your prompt response Dr. Hook.  Though not suggestive of herpes infection, could herpes cause these pain symptoms?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

These pains and discomfort are not suggestive of herpes infection.  You should look for another cause.  EWH

[sps5383]

Hi Dr. Hook,

Well, it has been 7 weeks since I noticed the red patches on my penis and 5 weeks since they disappeared.  I am still experiencing pelvic, groin, and leg pain.  The pain is intermittent but daily and presents in different places from the left side of my pelvis, through the left side of my groin, and down my medial thigh to the knee.  Sometimes I have pain in my left anterior thigh.  The pain occasionally presents on my right thigh and inner thigh as well.  Today, my left lower back is aching as well.  Are these sings of a herpes infection?  I've read on many internet sites that they are.  Your expert opinion would be GREATLY appreciated.  Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As I said earlier, I would try to put this behind you.  I see no reason for testing.  EWH

[sps5383]

Thanks Dr. Hook. You're right about guilt and anxiety, I'm experiencing both like you wouldn't believe. I'm concerned my wife's yeast infection was a misdiagnosis. If I gave her herpes my life is over. Do you think I should get a blood test or try and move on and put this behind me?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. My sense is that there is a certain amount of guilt/anxiety related to your exposure to your friend and this has lead your mind to work overtime. Sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turn leads to noticing what turn out to be normal sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  I suspect this is a contributor to your situation.  They symptoms you have had each have good alternate explanations (your wife's yeast infection, your long run, etc) and there really is nothing in what you have said to suggest HSV or, for that matter any other STD. Furthermore, you have been examined by a physician who say nothing to suggest and STD.  I would try not to worry.

Also, FYI, in case you saw it, I just deleted a comment made to your questions from clearmysix as it was incorrect in the advice it gave you regarding how to approach your concerns.

Hope this is helpful to you. EWH