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Atypical genital herpes?
I have had HSV-1 since I was a child, and about 10 years ago developed herpetic whitlow on my hand. Then, about 3 years ago the genital sores started, around the vulvar area and at the top of my buttocks.
Now - 5 months ago (October) I had a sore on my vagina and did not look after it. I was stressed, I had suffered a badly fractured talus (ankle) with two corrective surgeries and was just starting to walk again - I was sad, confused about my life and anxious. One night when the sore was really irritating me I scratched it off - and it was the most stupid thing I have ever done. In the morning, one side of my vulva had swollen and I had a generalised itching sensation. It developed into full-blown, generalised erythema and intense tingling and itching across the entire vulval area... I could not put my feet together when standing, it was so swollen.
It lasted a horrific 1-2 weeks and then crusted over - in total it lasted about 4 weeks. Afterwards I felt fine and the vulval area felt normal again. Then, a few weeks later it began again (November) - generalised erythema, itching, tingling, swelling on the one side, then crusting over. It was less severe than the first, but lasted longer - about 6 weeks.
After this episode, my vulva has not felt the same since. There has been a constant crawling sensation underneath the skin which is very disturbing, and occasional tingles and itches in different places. Now (March) I'm suffering from my third big "outbreak" in 5 months, but it feels as if it's been on the verge of re-surfacing since December. I had a blood test and it came back positive for HSV-1 and HSV-2, but I'm concerned about my 'atypical' symptoms - there are no obvious sores, just intense itching and erythema, which is more pronounced in the region of the first sore back in October.
Is it likely that I made the whole thing a lot worse by scratching the sore in October, and that it's just turned into a massive herpes infection on the vulva? Or might it be a fungal infection, shingles, or even something other than this? I have no strange or funny-smelling discharge. I'm confused by the crawling sensation and the fact that the symptoms have lasted so long.
I'm very disturbed by the whole thing and in constant pain and distress - any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Now - 5 months ago (October) I had a sore on my vagina and did not look after it. I was stressed, I had suffered a badly fractured talus (ankle) with two corrective surgeries and was just starting to walk again - I was sad, confused about my life and anxious. One night when the sore was really irritating me I scratched it off - and it was the most stupid thing I have ever done. In the morning, one side of my vulva had swollen and I had a generalised itching sensation. It developed into full-blown, generalised erythema and intense tingling and itching across the entire vulval area... I could not put my feet together when standing, it was so swollen.
It lasted a horrific 1-2 weeks and then crusted over - in total it lasted about 4 weeks. Afterwards I felt fine and the vulval area felt normal again. Then, a few weeks later it began again (November) - generalised erythema, itching, tingling, swelling on the one side, then crusting over. It was less severe than the first, but lasted longer - about 6 weeks.
After this episode, my vulva has not felt the same since. There has been a constant crawling sensation underneath the skin which is very disturbing, and occasional tingles and itches in different places. Now (March) I'm suffering from my third big "outbreak" in 5 months, but it feels as if it's been on the verge of re-surfacing since December. I had a blood test and it came back positive for HSV-1 and HSV-2, but I'm concerned about my 'atypical' symptoms - there are no obvious sores, just intense itching and erythema, which is more pronounced in the region of the first sore back in October.
Is it likely that I made the whole thing a lot worse by scratching the sore in October, and that it's just turned into a massive herpes infection on the vulva? Or might it be a fungal infection, shingles, or even something other than this? I have no strange or funny-smelling discharge. I'm confused by the crawling sensation and the fact that the symptoms have lasted so long.
I'm very disturbed by the whole thing and in constant pain and distress - any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
I didn't have numbers - I'm in the UK, it just said 'detected' and apparently practically everyone would show up positive for HSV-2 from a blood test, so it doesn't mean anything.
I don't understand what you mean by that, sorry. The dental profession? I'm not talking about my whitlow, I'm talking about the genital herpes.
Are you saying that because I have HSV-1, my blood test for HSV-2 is likely to be a false positive?
Are you saying that because I have HSV-1, my blood test for HSV-2 is likely to be a false positive?
1 Comments
sorry i just noticed you said you were positive for hsv2. Do you know the numbers that came up in the test? Also when i say the dental profession i mean those that mostly contract whitlow work in the dental profession,
It would appear you only have hsv1 oral from childhood but do have a blood test for hsv2 and i did not think you were tested for whitlow as its not common at all. Those most at risk are in the dental profession with hsv1 not 2.
Really? Do you mean it's more likely HSV-2 then?
I wasn't officially diagnosed with whitlow (ie. via swab or blood test) but it's the most likely diagnosis considering the symptoms and many doctors I've seen agree. Why?
I wasn't officially diagnosed with whitlow (ie. via swab or blood test) but it's the most likely diagnosis considering the symptoms and many doctors I've seen agree. Why?
Hi, having hsv1 oral from childhood would make you basicly immune to contracting the same type anywhere else on your body. How were you diagnosed with Whitlow?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
