[could this be herpes?]

10 hours ago, blurneworder said:

Do you blood test positive for HSV, too?

I've had no luck with blood test or swabs, but I often worry my swabs were done on symptoms that weren't able to be swabbed in the first place. I hope i'm not in the minority of people who only test positive through swab.

My timeline of symptoms is odd. 

I had sex with a girl in May and a few days later she told me she was not sure if she had HSV or not due to the odd number of whiteheads that show up on her vagina. That same week I started getting itchy red bumps and rashes around my groin, and my scrotum turned red and itchy. That girl told me about 2 weeks later that she tested negative through blood work. I thought that meant I was in the clear. 

All summer I still had the itching. By this time I was seeing another person, and she complained that her vagina was itchy only after her and I had sex. This was someone I had dated before, and we never had this problem. 

We both went on a cruise in September and both of us came down with the flu when we came back. Both of us developed tingling on our lips, and we both developed small white bumps under the our top lip. The bumps have never gone away, and I still get tingling and burning sensations. The girl (now my ex) said her tingling went away. She also said the itching in her vagina went away after being treated for a yeast infection. 

Since coming down with that flu, I've had constant rectal itching (no doctor can explain why); constant itching and redness in my groin and scrotum with red bumps that show up for a few hours or a couple days; white heads that show up one at a time in the same place; burning and itchy eyes (eye doctor suspects herpes, but I need to get my eye swabbed still); tiny cuts on top lip that burn when salty or acidic foods touch it (I moisturize every day and nothing helps); I've had three paper cut-like tears on my penis shaft; fever blister in mouth; fungal infection on tongue; brain fog; dizziness and confusion; increased brain fog when sugar is consumed; fatigue; pain in my lower throat/upper chest when taking deep breaths; nerve pain on left hand and foot, occasional dull feeling in my urethra which causes me the urge to go pee frequently; red, blotchy skin on the head of my penis when I masturbate. 

All prescription meds I've taken have not worked. My primary care doctor thinks I've somehow done this to my own nerves by worrying so much. I've had two doctors tell me symptoms sound herpetic, but there is nothing for them to swab and the blood comes back negative. 

I will be seeing more specialists in the new year. My last blood test was in October. I've not taken the Western Blot nor taken anti virals. 

I'm afraid to date again for fear of someone else having HSV or me infecting someone with whatever I have. My doctor said I should live my life like I don't have HSV, but I'm just not confident I won't infect others.

I should have got the cuts on my penis swabbed, but the doctor talked me out of it.

I didn't know HSV is not typically screened for, so who knows if I've had it for a while. I doubt it, though.

It seems like blood work no matter what is hard for this virus. My Doctor even after a positive swab talked me out of getting it done since it's not very accurate and the swab should be good enough for a diagnosis. Before hand I had noticed that I was never tested for it and they all repeatedly acted like "it's probably better if you don't know" which I think is bullshit but I won't get into my opinions on doctors. A lot of what you describe is similar to my symptoms below the belt but as I stated before I don't have it orally, which I find it extremely odd that your symptoms you are describing are affecting both areas. I do truly believe the mind has a way of making you sick and bringing about symptoms when worrying. I once convinced myself I had a brain tumor and all the symptoms that came with it vanished after finding out I didn't have one. Made me realize how insane that was afterwords and I feel pretty stupid but it seemed so real at the time. 

I get what you mean by worrying you'll infect others... I think that's the worst part of all this. But I've kinda just learned to deal with it. In my case I've had it all of my life so after figuring that out it was a lot more comforting that not a lot is going to change. IMO I would only go get swabs and more tests done if it's physically affecting your daily life so you can get on medication to help with it. In my case, the valc works good, no symptoms when I take it however I do get really tired and major brain fog from the meds themselves. So I just stay off of them unless I'm dating someone that really pushes it. 

[Cold sore or pimple?]

Looks like a pimple to me. That line where your lips meet the rest of your skin is prone to acne. If it was on your lip itself where there isn't sweat glands then I would be more concerned.

[could this be herpes?]

14 minutes ago, blurneworder said:

What’s your story?

Got HSV2 from what I believe was my mother during birth. Had very mild symptoms as a child and teen. Occasional nerve pain and those red spots you're talking about. Then the occasional blister maybe once every 2/3 years that I've noticed anyways. Itching and tingling was the worst part. My parents didn't think anything of it and pretty much said it was all "dry skin" or gave me other reasons why my symptoms were the way they were. Finally got a swab done on an open sore that was inside my urethra, essentially my first major outbreak, flu like symptoms, very painful and very hard to urinate (this happened at 22) So I thought my gf at the time gave it to me, and her doctor said she must have misdiagnosed her with hemorrhoids instead of the herpes virus. Later had the talk with my mom, found out she's the one that had it and now everything makes more sense. Now I'm 25 and have been having consistent outbreaks the past 6 months... 

[could this be herpes?]

On 11/14/2018 at 2:48 AM, blurneworder said:

Some of the swabs were just a hope and a prayer from me that they were spots to yield results. The only spot I’ve had with fluid was the one I didn’t get swabbed bc the doctor talked me out of it.

The pimples are white heads. Again, never had them until May, and now I have them. All creams given to me by doctors have not helped with the red itchy bumps on inner thigh and above my penis. If I masterbate, the nerve endings on my inner thigh became extremely red and I can see clusters of red bumps just below my skin.

I also have tingling in my urethrea that brings about the constant need to pee. That is also a symptom some people on herpes message boards have.

This all can’t be a big coincidence.

Literally have all the symptoms you describe my dude. Down to the last details. Although I don't have it or anything orally. Crazy to me how doctors keep blowing me off on this. 

[Anyone else diagnosed late in life?]

Diagnosed at 23, had it since birth (got from mother)

[Nursing school]

Yes you can for sure be a nurse, that's not something that they would even look into... I have a few friends who have it that are nurses. 

[Herpes Since Birth???]

So I am very new here. My current state has brought me here for conversation over herpes. Wondering if there's anyone like my story here...

So about one year ago I had my first major outbreak of HSV-2 genitally. Originally I thought my ex had given it to me but as time went on certain symptoms caused by the virus like itching, nerve pains/burning in legs have triggered some past memories of them happening when I was younger. Yet my ex's doctor said that her "hemorrhoid" issue must have been mis-diagnosed after she showed me an actual breakout she was having, and so her doctor claimed I must have gotten it from her. While my doctor tells me she thinks I've had it since I was a kid and that I gave it to my ex. When I was around 15 - 16 I remember having what I believe was a very small breakout (similar to what I have now, 1-2 blisters lasting a few hours, popping on their own and then scabbing for a few days) and thinking "Well I'm a virgin so this can't possibly be anything std related" and just left it at that. And when I was really young, I am talking like 6,7,8, I had those symptoms I mentioned above.  My mom says she doesn't have it. So how the heck do I get hsv2 as a child I am wondering?... Is it possibly to pass on herpes from bathing your child I wonder?

 I am 24, lost virginity at 18, haven't had issues with any of my other partners and they have tested clean. It just baffles me how I could have contacted it as a child which that seems to be the case here.

I started taking valacyclovir after my "first" major outbreak that involved an outbreak in my urethra last year. Afterwards I have not had an outbreak like that, but I get at least two now per month or sometimes even more if I stop taking the medicine. So two months ago I started taking it daily, and, no breakouts at all. Then the medicine started making me extremely tired, dizzy and disorientated which Is a big no no for my job. Every-time I stop the medicine I feel normal and brain fog free again, but two days later without the meds I have another outbreak. Very frustrating... Anyone ever have tiredness/symptoms from vala as well? 

[GUYS IN HERE: Do ANY of you have this?]

For me it was a prostate infection. Had a doctor do a DRE and I screamed like a mad man when he hit my prostate. Gave me some antibiotics and it cleared up in a week. 

Now I have had herpes outbreaks in my urethra before and it pretty much feels like pissing glass. I guess the difference would be, herpes only really hurt every now and then or when I was dehydrated and urinating. The prostate issue was continuous like you've described.