Could I have herpes

[hobson]

Hi all 

i have been to a doctor on 4 seperate occasions since I had unprotected sex with a woman who I later found out has herpes . They have said “it doesn’t look” like herpes . My penis always is red , inflamed anabolic has little red pimples on it. 

I am constant uncomfort and pain in my gential areas, tingling , fatigue . None of the drs have done a blood test. I have researched DNA testing as they appear more accurate.

I saw a dr this week and he took a swab. It’s always on my mind now because I have just started a relationship and don’t know if I should tell her. I’m scared she will run a mile . I haven’t told her because the dr said I was fine . I don’t know what do to do . 

Any advice would be appreciated . I have a history with depression and this is adding to it 

[blurneworder]

20 minutes ago, hobson said:

Hi all 

i have been to a doctor on 4 seperate occasions since I had unprotected sex with a woman who I later found out has herpes . They have said “it doesn’t look” like herpes . My penis always is red , inflamed anabolic has little red pimples on it. 

I am constant uncomfort and pain in my gential areas, tingling , fatigue . None of the drs have done a blood test. I have researched DNA testing as they appear more accurate.

I saw a dr this week and he took a swab. It’s always on my mind now because I have just started a relationship and don’t know if I should tell her. I’m scared she will run a mile . I haven’t told her because the dr said I was fine . I don’t know what do to do . 

Any advice would be appreciated . I have a history with depression and this is adding to it 

How long has this happened to you?

What was swabbed? Results yet?

[nakedandafraid]

On ‎8‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 10:38 PM, hobson said:

Hi all 

i have been to a doctor on 4 seperate occasions since I had unprotected sex with a woman who I later found out has herpes . They have said “it doesn’t look” like herpes . My penis always is red , inflamed anabolic has little red pimples on it. 

I am constant uncomfort and pain in my gential areas, tingling , fatigue . None of the drs have done a blood test. I have researched DNA testing as they appear more accurate.

I saw a dr this week and he took a swab. It’s always on my mind now because I have just started a relationship and don’t know if I should tell her. I’m scared she will run a mile . I haven’t told her because the dr said I was fine . I don’t know what do to do . 

Any advice would be appreciated . I have a history with depression and this is adding to it 

I can relate to a lot of what you're going through. I've had some tender bumps on my penis. Head looks a bit irritated, and a feeling of jock itch (heat/burning) on my scrotum - which I'm familiar with, but it doesn't LOOK like jock itch (scrotum inflamed, etc)  

I've been examined by four doctors - all said "it doesn't LOOK like herpes", but they don't seem to give me specifics regarding what it IS. 

I can also relate to dealing with depression in general, and going through this - which adds to it significantly. 

I temporarily went an anti-virals as a precaution, so I have to wait to be retested. In the meantime, the symptoms that I've experienced certainly fall under the herpes category, but they can all be explained in other ways as well. It's extremely difficult to stay calm, and separate the reality of symptoms I'm experiencing vs. imagined symptoms that I experience as a result of depression/fear over the possibility of having herpes. 

It seems that - no matter how many doctors tell me I don't have it, it's not enough for me. If the SYMPTOMS go away, and do not return, I'll feel a lot better. There is a psychological aspect that I deal with. As a person who can be a bit of a fatalist, it's tough, because every time I sneeze a voice in me head says "there goes that herpes again". 

I've gotten some great advice on this board. All you can really do at this point is wait for your results, try to deal with your thoughts/feelings as realistically as you can, and do your best to separate the true FACTS of what your dealing with vs those "symptoms" that - in my case, often manifest from fear. Simple - but not easy. 

I've been meditating and trying to manage the stress of it. Neither one of us have been diagnosed yet. Wait for the results, try to make logical decisions, take it one step at a time is all we can do. 

And I'm trying to accept the fact that - IF I have it, then I'm just going to go all in regarding how to attack it as best I can. It's tough. I don't want to have it, but if I do, all I can do is deal with it as best I can. I understand it won't be easy - particularly at first, but I've spoken to a few people who HAVE had it for a while, and tell me that it really doesn't factor into their lives very much - if at all. 

Keep me posted as to your results. Hope you're ok. IF you ended up having it - you'd be ok too. 

Did you HEAR that the woman who you had sex with has herpes, or you can confirm it? Just wondering if she told you herself.... 

[blurneworder]

46 minutes ago, nakedandafraid said:

I can relate to a lot of what you're going through. I've had some tender bumps on my penis. Head looks a bit irritated, and a feeling of jock itch (heat/burning) on my scrotum - which I'm familiar with, but it doesn't LOOK like jock itch (scrotum inflamed, etc)  

I've been examined by four doctors - all said "it doesn't LOOK like herpes", but they don't seem to give me specifics regarding what it IS. 

 

I'm experiencing the same thing! PM me if you want to talk.

[iFdUp]

Have you had any cold sweats?

[blurneworder]

31 minutes ago, iFdUp said:

Have you had any cold sweats?

I have not 

[nakedandafraid]

3 hours ago, iFdUp said:

Have you had any cold sweats?

I went through a night or two where I woke up sweating profusely, which could definitely be interpreted as a "symptom". 

On the other hand, it was one of the first nights that I was dealing with this, and for the first hour - I couldn't even lay down to go to sleep, I was basically pacing in my apartment, having a full-on nervous breakdown. On at least one of the occasions that I woke up sweating, I specifically had a dream where I looked down at my nob (which I've done about 42 million times since I've been dealing with this) and it looked like something straight out of a horror movie. 

So I have to be careful, because the night sweats I experienced certainly could be interpreted as a symptom of hsv. 

They can also be interpreted as a symptom of severe over the top anxiety. I've had them before. 

That's what has been so difficult about my experience. 

I've had the flu symptoms, but so have many of my co-workers. 

I've had the lower back pain I've heard many refer to, but, I'm no stranger to backpain, combined with the fact that, I've been sleeping very restlessly, in awkward positions because of the stress levels. 

HSV - to me - seems a golden opportunity for psychosomatic symptoms. A condition where there is no cure and a broad range of symptoms that are open to interpretation, varying greatly  from one person to another (or so it seems). 

My timeline also seems to be backwards from the "typical". From what I understand, many of the secondary symptoms come first, BEFORE any sores/lesions. Tingling/burning in genitals where sores eventually WILL appear/flu like symptoms and THEN sores... 

My bumps came first, and THEN the other symptoms kicked in. A few weeks later, and a chance to calm down a bit (still dealing with anxiety - still no diagnosis regarding what I DO have), and my energy levels are fine, all in all, I feel pretty good, just a jock itch feeling off and on, and what appear to be three very small bumps on my nob. 

Just try to maintain until you can test, IFdUp. Trying to navigate through the list of potential symptoms and separate them from assumption has been real tough for me. Type of guy I am, I can concentrate on a particular feeling in my right elbow, concentrate, and begin to think I feel it, and I"m not implying that your symptoms are in your mind, only that - my experience has been, that it's tough for me to separate my symptoms vs what I THINK I MIGHT feel. 

[nakedandafraid]

update -

saw an Infectious Disease doctor today, who dismissed herpes as a possibility after a visual examination. Sounds good to me, but I wish I could find an answer for this feeling of jock itch which is not responding over the counter anti fungal meds, and shows no visible symptoms. 

So I have two General Practicioners, a Urologist, a nurse from an STD Clinic, an Infectious Disease doc, and a negative IgG/IgM, which is great..... 

but no one can tell me why my berries are generating enough heat to thaw a wooly mammoth. 

hobson, how'd it go? 

[hobson]

Hi all 

thanks for getting back to me. I had a swab and it came back negative . But I’m still not convinced. I’m gonna see a specialist I think . I’ve taken photos and to me there look like scabs healing. 

 

I am now freaking out more because I have started a new relationship and the other day she broke out in 3 cold sores. She said this is the first time this has happened. I feel ashamed I may have given this to her . I have spoken to her and told her my fears and this may have now ruined my relationship. 

I don’t know if it’s ok to share pictures on here but if it’s ok I would like to do this and get peoples thoughts 

[nakedandafraid]

3 hours ago, hobson said:

Hi all 

thanks for getting back to me. I had a swab and it came back negative . But I’m still not convinced. I’m gonna see a specialist I think . I’ve taken photos and to me there look like scabs healing. 

 

I am now freaking out more because I have started a new relationship and the other day she broke out in 3 cold sores. She said this is the first time this has happened. I feel ashamed I may have given this to her . I have spoken to her and told her my fears and this may have now ruined my relationship. 

I don’t know if it’s ok to share pictures on here but if it’s ok I would like to do this and get peoples thoughts 

Im no admin, but ive seen many folks share photos looking for info. I think its ok. 

If I may ask, how long after having sex with this woman did the symptoms appear? 

Ive heard that pc swabs are pretty accurate.. Did this woman tell you she has herpes, or did you hear it through a third party? 

I dont see why they wouldnt give you the iGg / iGm blood test. If im not mistaken, you can order one yourself and go to a local Quest/Labcorp (depending on where you live) 

i assume the cold sores are on her mouth? Did you see them, or did she tell you about them? 

 

[hobson]

Hi

she got the cold sore a couple days ago after oral . Always use a condom. She isn’t got herpes as far as I’m aware but she got a cold after she performed oral on me . She sent me a pic of the cold sores. 

I don’t know why they didn’t do blood tests. I have read a PCR test is accurate. I don’t know how to get closure from this. 

[nakedandafraid]

How long after you had sex with this woman did you exhibit symptoms? What makes you think she has herpes?

[hobson]

Hi 

another update . She has had a second outbreak this time on the other side of her mouth . I am freaking out because we do a lot of oral and I think I’ve given it to her 

[WilsoInAus]

@hobson have either of you actually tested.

Based on your experiences, it is most likely you do not have genital herpes and she had an oral HSV-1 infection from childhood.