could this be herpes?

[helpem?]

hello everyone, first timer here and pretty scared. oral herpes is very common i know, but im not sure if i have it. for months i’ve been having this stinging feeling on my lips, like there are tiny cuts since i have dry lips, but nothing ever comes up. its always continously tingling off and on, most of the time in the same spot but sometimes in another, it usually happens during the evening and when i go to sleep and wake up it stops. 

only two times i’ve gotten like these individual tiny tiny red dots on my lip that didnt hurt nor did they have fluid filled heads, i only noticed bc i looked in the mirror and if i put apple cider vinegar or peroxide on them they start to go away and are basically gone the next day. usually cold sores are painful right? even when they are small?

im just very confused bc of the tingling/stinging sensation, i bought lysine (both pills and cream) to see if it would help but im not sure if it does. i went to get tested but they said that they dont test unless i have a cold sore, so im not sure whats going on. any thoughts?

[Uklad]

Hi, I might just be chapped lips it might be herpes the key thing I would say is if you ever get a cold sore just go and get a swab test. I know here in UK they don’t do blood tests not something I agree with personally. I would say live your life as normal if it appears then it’s a condition that can be managed it’s only the media that make it a big deal. 

[blurneworder]

17 hours ago, helpem? said:

hello everyone, first timer here and pretty scared. oral herpes is very common i know, but im not sure if i have it. for months i’ve been having this stinging feeling on my lips, like there are tiny cuts since i have dry lips, but nothing ever comes up. its always continously tingling off and on, most of the time in the same spot but sometimes in another, it usually happens during the evening and when i go to sleep and wake up it stops. 

only two times i’ve gotten like these individual tiny tiny red dots on my lip that didnt hurt nor did they have fluid filled heads, i only noticed bc i looked in the mirror and if i put apple cider vinegar or peroxide on them they start to go away and are basically gone the next day. usually cold sores are painful right? even when they are small?

im just very confused bc of the tingling/stinging sensation, i bought lysine (both pills and cream) to see if it would help but im not sure if it does. i went to get tested but they said that they dont test unless i have a cold sore, so im not sure whats going on. any thoughts?

I am having the exact same issue. Chap stick does nothing for me. Eating salty food or citrus makes the sides of my mouth turn red and burn. I also developed tiny white bumps under the skin of my lips after having the flu.

Why do you think you have HSV?

[helpem?]

1 hour ago, blurneworder said:

I am having the exact same issue. Chap stick does nothing for me. Eating salty food or citrus makes the sides of my mouth turn red and burn. I also developed tiny white bumps under the skin of my lips after having the flu.

Why do you think you have HSV?

do you ever have burning when you dont eat citris ??? i think i may have contracted it after sharing a pipe (reckless i know) with a friend and thats when the tingling started, its been more than 20 days though and no coldsore has appeared but theres still a localized tingling

[blurneworder]

Yes, burning all day long.

[blurneworder]

I had localized tingling after my flu, but my top lip burns all day. It has small cuts all over it.

My bottom lip is 100% normal.

[helpem?]

11 minutes ago, blurneworder said:

I had localized tingling after my flu, but my top lip burns all day. It has small cuts all over it.

My bottom lip is 100% normal.

omg literally same except its my bottom lip that stings and theres like tiny microcuts while my top is fine ,,, wow . and has a coldsore come up for you or do u just get tiny bumps? and they disappear really quick or do they stay?

[blurneworder]

39 minutes ago, helpem? said:

omg literally same except its my bottom lip that stings and theres like tiny microcuts while my top is fine ,,, wow . and has a coldsore come up for you or do u just get tiny bumps? and they disappear really quick or do they stay?

Never had a cold sore. The white bumps never went away. Dermatologist said it’s Fordyce, but struggled to give me a coherent reason why my lip burns. She also could not explain how my ex-girlfriend  developed the same symptom at the same time as me while also recovering from the flu.

No bumps on my bottom lip and no pain.

Have you tested for HSV? Ask for a typed blood test for HSV 1 and 2. Swabs are more accurate, but sometimes there is nothing for anyone to swab.

[helpem?]

4 minutes ago, blurneworder said:

Never had a cold sore. The white bumps never went away. Dermatologist said it’s Fordyce, but struggled to give me a coherent reason why my lip burns. She also could not explain how my ex-girlfriend  developed the same symptom at the same time as me while also recovering from the flu.

No bumps on my bottom lip and no pain.

Have you tested for HSV? Ask for a typed blood test for HSV 1 and 2. Swabs are more accurate, but sometimes there is nothing for anyone to swab.

thats so weird!! this stuff truly is unexplained! i tried to get tested, told them everything that was going on but they said it could just be lip dryness and didnt test me since i didnt have a sore

[blurneworder]

11 minutes ago, helpem? said:

thats so weird!! this stuff truly is unexplained! i tried to get tested, told them everything that was going on but they said it could just be lip dryness and didnt test me since i didnt have a sore

I found you sometimes have to demand it. Any doctor worth their weight should at least test your blood if you have suspicion of HSV.

Why not ask for an STD panel and ask it to include HSV tests, because they won’t test for it In a normal STD panel

[helpem?]

6 minutes ago, blurneworder said:

I found you sometimes have to demand it. Any doctor worth their weight should at least test your blood if you have suspicion of HSV.

Why not ask for an STD panel and ask it to include HSV tests, because they won’t test for it In a normal STD panel

i definately will, i think im going to wait a week to see if anything is going to happen with this current tingling and then i’ll go again. may i ask if you have been tested? or is it just ambigous tingling and white spots?

[blurneworder]

I’ve been tested at various months since May. All blood work negative. Swabs are negative, but I never know if those spots are actually swabable or if I’ve done it too late. I have way more odd and painful symptoms that have altered my life and introduced problems I’ve never had before.

There are cases of people who never test positive through blood, but do through swab or go months until positive. Despite my negative tests, I have problems that match up with various members of this forum. This all happened after unprotected sex and oral with a girl in May. 

Girl I slept with said she might have HSV, but didn’t want to tell me that for fear I’d leave. She said she gets pimples on her vagina, which is a symptom for some people with HSV. I now get pimples on my inner thigh and I’ve never ever had that before. There are a list of many other things I’ve never had before, but have had since May. All of the things affecting me are symptoms of HSV and nothing else comes close. 

There will be people telling you it’s stress or all in your head - that is easy for someone to tell you who isn’t you. 

[helpem?]

17 minutes ago, blurneworder said:

I’ve been tested at various months since May. All blood work negative. Swabs are negative, but I never know if those spots are actually swabable or if I’ve done it too late. I have way more odd and painful symptoms that have altered my life and introduced problems I’ve never had before.

There are cases of people who never test positive through blood, but do through swab or go months until positive. Despite my negative tests, I have problems that match up with various members of this forum. This all happened after unprotected sex and oral with a girl in May. 

Girl I slept with said she might have HSV, but didn’t want to tell me that for fear I’d leave. She said she gets pimples on her vagina, which is a symptom for some people with HSV. I now get pimples on my inner thigh and I’ve never ever had that before. There are a list of many other things I’ve never had before, but have had since May. All of the things affecting me are symptoms of HSV and nothing else comes close. 

There will be people telling you it’s stress or all in your head - that is easy for someone to tell you who isn’t you. 

thats so strange, and swabs are most accurate right? if the spots were there when you got swabbed and its still negative, espescially since you’ve been testing for months maybe you really dont have it?? but as you said, you know yourself best. do the pimples seem like normal pimples or??? if its not on the genitals it could be a good sign? 

im sorry that the girl did that to you, disclosing anything is hard but if she knew or suspected that she might have hsv she should have told you, thats just sucky. 

for me thats what the doctors said, that it could just be in my head although this tingling started after the possible exposure. im a lowkey hypochondriac and i feel like it could be some psychostomatic symptom my brain is just making up along w the mysterious dots that disappear w/in a day but im just not sure, its just a huge whirlwind 

[blurneworder]

1 minute ago, helpem? said:

thats so strange, and swabs are most accurate right? if the spots were there when you got swabbed and its still negative, espescially since you’ve been testing for months maybe you really dont have it?? but as you said, you know yourself best. do the pimples seem like normal pimples or??? if its not on the genitals it could be a good sign? 

im sorry that the girl did that to you, disclosing anything is hard but if she knew or suspected that she might have hsv she should have told you, thats just sucky. 

for me thats what the doctors said, that it could just be in my head although this tingling started after the possible exposure. im a lowkey hypochondriac and i feel like it could be some psychostomatic symptom my brain is just making up along w the mysterious dots that disappear w/in a day but im just not sure, its just a huge whirlwind 

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.

[helpem?]

52 minutes ago, 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.

wow dude, the thing with the nerve endings is extremely strange, i’ve never heard if that symptom before! the doctors probably gave you antiviral creams or maybe even steroid creams to help it go down? have you been tested only for hsv or any other STI/STDs? 

i think (if ur still on speaking terms with that girl) that you and her should go together and get tested if you havent already, or ask her to get tested or if her symptoms are the exact same as yours. maybe something is up w ur tests but if hers come back with something that would probably bring you one step closer to an answer

[MissGuided]

On 11/14/2018 at 2:42 AM, helpem? said:

thats so strange, and swabs are most accurate right? if the spots were there when you got swabbed and its still negative, espescially since you’ve been testing for months maybe you really dont have it?? but as you said, you know yourself best. do the pimples seem like normal pimples or??? if its not on the genitals it could be a good sign? 

im sorry that the girl did that to you, disclosing anything is hard but if she knew or suspected that she might have hsv she should have told you, thats just sucky. 

for me thats what the doctors said, that it could just be in my head although this tingling started after the possible exposure. im a lowkey hypochondriac and i feel like it could be some psychostomatic symptom my brain is just making up along w the mysterious dots that disappear w/in a day but im just not sure, its just a huge whirlwind 

You and

i are very similar in symptoms, dots disappearing in a day, and tingling that’s constant... may i ask if you’ve tested positive for the virus? Out of curiosity. 

[Derekstriker]

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. 

[blurneworder]

1 minute ago, Derekstriker said:

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. 

What’s your story?

[Derekstriker]

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... 

[blurneworder]

1 hour ago, Derekstriker said:

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... 

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.

[Derekstriker]

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. 

[blurneworder]

1 hour ago, Derekstriker said:

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. 

I had unprotected vaginal and oral with this person, which makes me thing I have HSV in my mouth and genitals.

Have you ever had an external open lesion or blister that was swabbed?

What is similar and dissimilar about my and your symptoms below the belt?

[helpem?]

On 11/25/2018 at 6:18 PM, MissGuided said:

You and

i are very similar in symptoms, dots disappearing in a day, and tingling that’s constant... may i ask if you’ve tested positive for the virus? Out of curiosity. 

hello! i just saw this, its been a few weeks since this post and im still having the burning and tingling but still nothing, i havent been tested actually, i’ve been waiting to see if a cold sore has come but or if it would stop but nothing has come up and it hasnt stopped, there was a few days with no tingling at all but it just started again lollllll

[MissGuided]

47 minutes ago, helpem? said:

hello! i just saw this, its been a few weeks since this post and im still having the burning and tingling but still nothing, i havent been tested actually, i’ve been waiting to see if a cold sore has come but or if it would stop but nothing has come up and it hasnt stopped, there was a few days with no tingling at all but it just started again lollllll

May i ask where your tingles are? All over or in one specific small place? 

[helpem?]

1 hour ago, MissGuided said:

May i ask where your tingles are? All over or in one specific small place? 

they’re only on my lips, usually would be on the bottom lip! it would move sides every few days, no raised skin or redness, but if i ran my tounge over it it would taste/feel like a tiny abrasion like i scratched it? sometimes i thought i did have a tiny scratch but if i put aquaphor on it its been healed the next day. 

sometimes if i get too nervous i would take lyisne pills or put lysine cream on it but im not sure if it works or if by doing this im just stopping any cold sore from coming up?? so i dont know whats going on