Atypical Herpes Outbreak?

[BothFrustratedAndStupid]

Dr. HHH,

Thanks so much for the work you do on this forum.
To be brief, my situation is nearly identical to Veryworried81 from a few days ago. There is one differance between our situations however. In your response to veryworried, you said only look for blisters, sores in the area above the condom. About 5 and 1/2 weeks after my exposure, I had what may or may not have been a pimple there.

It was on the underside of my penis, near where the hair follicles stop appearing (that is, near the base), near where the condom would stop (meaning if the condom didn

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Few people get herpes when wearing condoms, anywhere on the penis.  What you describe indeed sounds more like pimples, not herpes. But I cannot tell and will not try to be any more specific.  You're really going to need to see provider.  You can either do that now, if you can get in to see someone within a day or 2, when the lesion is fresh; or if/when you have a recurrence; or go in any time and have an HSV blood test.  If positive for either virus type, it won't tell whether that explains the lesions; but if negative, it will rule our herpes with great reliability.

Another clue I have stated several times:  Herpes lesions tend to be superficial; think of them as being 'on' the skin.  Most other lesions, like pimples, usually are deeper, with a firm bump under the superficial lesion--that is, 'in' the skin.  This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's a start.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[BothFrustratedAndStupid]

Sorry Doc, I meant reallyworried81, not very-worried, though I'm sure you would have figured that out anyways.

[BothFrustratedAndStupid]

Doc,

Thanks for the prompt response. I'm going to add some details just to see if it makes any differance, since I couldn't fit them in with the initial question.
I have very good reason to beleive I was HSV I and II negative prior to this, due to a negative Herpes Select Blood test result a few months prior and a minimum of sexual activity in the interim time (only with my G/F who also tested negative. Having said that, this would be an inital rather than a recurring outbreak. It's clearly not typical for that, being so mild and short-lived, and given the absence of other symptoms, but is it truly impossible or merely unlikely?

Also, I couldn't see a provider because this appeared on a friday and lasted just through the weekend, by monday there was hardly anything left for a provider to see. This incident was also 2 weeks ago, so there's no way I have a fresh leision. If I have a recurrance I will go see a provider, and I have already planned to take a blood test in a month from now (reaching the 3 month reliability mark), but I'm going crazy wondering about symptoms in the meantime. I was especially concerned about this "pimple" only because of how you responded to reallyworried 81, his situation being otherwise identical. Before your response to him I was worried about tingling and leg sensations as well, but they are quite obviously not related and probably not the result of Herpes (they didn't coincide with the pimple very well) and some urethral irritation (but since I wore a condom that did not break, and since urination was not painful, I highly doubt that is herpes either) Still, if this pattern sounds suspicious to you, perhaps I'll get checked out sooner rather than later. Since the even was so low risk in your estimation, however, I'm really trying to find alternate explanations for the "symptoms" and make it a month untill my scheduled blood test. Thanks again.

[gracefromHHP]

If you and your gf both tested negative for herpes and you haven't been with anyone else - then this isn't likely to be a new herpes infection.  Really most times a pimple really is just a pimple.

grace

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional information seems to maake it less likely that you have herpes; in other words, I agree with grace.  But see a provider if you remain concerned or want additional reassurance.

[BothFrustratedAndStupid]

Doc,

Thanks for replying to the follow-up just as quickly as to the inital post. I don't need any further reassurance for now, I'll just take what you said to heart and try to clear my mind untill my scheduled blood test, which should be definitive. I'm only so worried because I've met someone new that I'm getting serious with, and I need to know my status before we begin having sex. You know quite well how a worried mind can see symptoms everywhere. Thanks again.