Herpes?

[craigpersons59]

Dr H. lost my password; my previous thread: http://bit.ly/go0oiR
HIV and herpes negative at week 9 and 6 respectively.
week 0 - vaginal sex with csw where condom broke.
Week 1 (days 3 - 10) slight burning on urination, really tired, swelling in urethra, itchy inner thighs. no pain in groin. no blisters seen. mild fever, pain in buttocks.  Went to std clinic doc who said he doesn't usually see herpes in this form without the blisters. had a swab/pcr done for the swelling in the urethra, though it had already started to subside. it came back negative for herpes.
Additionally I’ve had the following: 1) three pimple like raised areas on the back of my left thigh during week 3.  they only lasted 1-2 days but REALLY hurt the one night and felt like they were throbbing/burning. 2) around week 3 i noticed blood on my tissue paper after a bowel movement. it looked like a tear in my skin above my anus. i'm not sure if it was a hemorrhoid or something related to this. there was no real pain with it, just some minor discomfort after the movement and my butt felt a little raw when wiping. I’ve had slight blood in the past, but timing seems suspect.  3) During the week 3-5 timeframe, my leg, especially inner thigh, also become sensitive to touch.
Over the past few weeks (weeks 9-12) i've had on and off pain in my buttocks.  I also keep getting a electric shock feeling in my butt, thighs and calves, and right above the boxer line on the front right abdominal area. However, no blisters have come out that i've noticed. There have been a couple of times when it's been cold outside that i've had severe shock like feeling in my upper legs.
Do you think that i may have herpes? When this tingling is going on, would i be infectious?
My HIV doc said that my herpes test was conclusive at 6 weeks - which seems odd given everything I’ve read here. Also, what should i be thinking in terms of Hepatitis testing and timeframe?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, this information doesn't change my opinion that you do not have herpes.  Don't second guess or over-think the situation.  There is simply nothing in your story that makes me suspicious you have herpes.

That will be all for this read.  Take care.

[craigpersons59]

Last question and I'll close the thread.  Could the initial swelling in the uretha in the first week been my primary outbreak and the emergence on the thighs three weeks later a followon outbreak?  Just odd that both times I had butt pain and tingling and then a reddened urethra and a sticky scaly penis head.  Same thing happened this week as well.  Unfortunately, by the time on able to get an appt with the docs the swelling has already started to go down.  Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Herpes can occur within the urethra, but when it does, usually it is excrutiating; I have had patients who told me it was the worst pain they ever had.  The mild sort of changes you describe don't suggest herpes.  In fact, your description doesn't sound abnormal; my guess is you are looking too closely and your anxiety about herpes is making you notice things that are not abnormal or different than before.  Show it to your doctor -- but if he agrees nothing looks abnormal, please accept it.  In any case, whatever is going on, it isn't herpes.

[craigpersons59]

Doctor-

thanks for the information.  The inside of the tip of my penis is red with slight swelling again. Some areas look bloodshot and raised. also, the shaft seems a little red as well.  This is happening about a week after the tingling started. So my questions is whether herpes can appear on the urethra (right inside the penis tip). i looked inside because there was a sharp pain with the tingling.

This is exactly as it was 3 months ago when my interaction first occured and my initial symptoms surfaced. After that time, the redness subsided and had become completely smooth and pinkish in color.  

now once again, the inside is bloodshot, red, and raised. my penis tip is also wrinkly/oily.

I've read that herpes can appear inside the urethra as well, but my PCP only seems to think that the blisters should be on the outside of the skin. can you clarify so that i can have and informed discussion with him.

thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You obviously have some serious misunderstandings about symptoms of herpes and other STDs.  Initial herpes infections don't cause bumps on the thighs and not likely around the anus either, or tingling of the sort you describe.  If your symptoms persist or you have other questions, go back to the STD clinic.  But please stop worrying about herpes.  As for other causes, this forum deals only with STDs.  But my guess is that some (most? all?) your symptoms are the physical manifestations of anxiety, or that your worry and guilt are making you notice skin changes that are not abnormal.

That will have to end this thread.  Take care.

[craigpersons59]

One more quick note. I saw the std clinic at day 5 after my contact. so the only thing that was there was the swelling in the urethra and that's what the std doc had commented on.

i have not gone back regarding the bumps that came on the thighs or the tear around the anus.

I have a wife so i'm trying to do everything at this point to protect her as well. One stupid mistake can impact so much.

Thanks

[craigpersons59]

Thank you.  Do you think i need to continue getting tested for herpes? I have given my 12 week test for both HIV and Herpes.  

Oddly, i didn't go to the doctor in 7 years and considered myself pretty healthy. oddly, these shock/tingling feelings that i'm getting keep persisting.  I thought it was me paying too much attention to them, but even when i'm cmpletely distracted or just walking, they persist.  Is there anything else that could cause such feelings that i may be overlooking?

Thanks you once again.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

Your sympotms don't sound at all like genital herpes, and an experienced STD clinician agreeing that your problem didn't look like herpes.  Therefore, that also is my opinion.  Herpes doesn't cause sensitivity of skin to touch, and anal symptoms like you describe are not likely in heterosexually acquired genital herpes.  The main outbreak of initial herpes is usually at the sites of maximum friction during sex, i.e. if you had herpes the problem would have shown up on your penis.  And herpe sdoesn't cause the sort of "electric shock" feelings you describe.

So you certainly don't have herpes and probably no STD at all; and there is nothing in this story that suggests hepatitis.

If symptoms continue or you otherwise remain concerned, I suggest you return to the STD clinic and then trust their opinion and follow their advice.

Regards--  HHH, MD