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Could this be Herpetic Whitlow?
I tested positive for HS1 and HS2 a few years ago after a routine std test, however I have never had an outbreak anywhere except for a very occasional lip tingling and subsequent small bump which goes away in a day or less. I had a small one about a month ago. It was so small and went away so quickly that I barely remember even having it. Unfortunately I'm not sexually active these days, and as far as I know, I haven't been in contact with anyone with an active herpes sore lately.
About three weeks ago I began having intermittent burning pain on the tips of my thumb and index finger. It was a very weird sensation, nothing like I have ever felt before. This continued, with out getting better or worse, until about 8 days ago, when the pain became much more intense in a few localized areas around the cuticles and finger pads of the same two fingers. My armpit of the same arm also became very sore, which led me to believe this is an infection of some sort. Whats seems odd to me is that now the pain has completely moved to a different part of my thumb. The pain is still very intense in one small, circumscribed area at my thumb joint, and my wrist and forearm are now quite achy.
I'm very busy at work and haven't had made time to see a doctor-- I basically self-diagnosed as having herpetic whitlow because the descriptions of pain from herpetic whitlow that I've found online sound exactly like what I've experienced. Subsequently I decided there's no point in seeing a dr. until a blister appears, because without a blister, a dr. won't be able to do a culture. Except that it's 3 weeks now, and no blisters have appeared. There is very mild swelling but otherwise my fingers and hand look totally healthy. The pain is way out of proportion to the mild swelling. Can it ever present this way? All of a sudden I'm feeling concerned that this is a bacterial infection and that I should have seen a dr. when the pain started. blarg.
Sorry for the long post... just trying to describe this as best as possible! Any feedback is appreciated!
About three weeks ago I began having intermittent burning pain on the tips of my thumb and index finger. It was a very weird sensation, nothing like I have ever felt before. This continued, with out getting better or worse, until about 8 days ago, when the pain became much more intense in a few localized areas around the cuticles and finger pads of the same two fingers. My armpit of the same arm also became very sore, which led me to believe this is an infection of some sort. Whats seems odd to me is that now the pain has completely moved to a different part of my thumb. The pain is still very intense in one small, circumscribed area at my thumb joint, and my wrist and forearm are now quite achy.
I'm very busy at work and haven't had made time to see a doctor-- I basically self-diagnosed as having herpetic whitlow because the descriptions of pain from herpetic whitlow that I've found online sound exactly like what I've experienced. Subsequently I decided there's no point in seeing a dr. until a blister appears, because without a blister, a dr. won't be able to do a culture. Except that it's 3 weeks now, and no blisters have appeared. There is very mild swelling but otherwise my fingers and hand look totally healthy. The pain is way out of proportion to the mild swelling. Can it ever present this way? All of a sudden I'm feeling concerned that this is a bacterial infection and that I should have seen a dr. when the pain started. blarg.
Sorry for the long post... just trying to describe this as best as possible! Any feedback is appreciated!
yes, if you don't have access to the results at this point, retesting is a good idea since you've not had symptoms.
Thanks for the response.I hope you right and I suspect you are right. I'm having a medical procedure in a week, and I'd rather not have a herpes infection that I'd be concerned about spreading to other parts of my body.
I finally made it to the dr. today-- he suspects it's bacterial and gave me antibiotics. I hope they work.
I have no clue what my actual test results are, since it's been years since I was tested. It would probably be a good idea to be re-tested at some point.
I finally made it to the dr. today-- he suspects it's bacterial and gave me antibiotics. I hope they work.
I have no clue what my actual test results are, since it's been years since I was tested. It would probably be a good idea to be re-tested at some point.
this doesn't sound like whitlow going on. you really should be seen since it's been going on for so long and is so painful. there are just some things you have to make the time to be seen for.
I can best help you with your herpes testing if you post the actual test results here - e.g. hsv1 igg 7.7 and hsv2 igg 4.4 or whatever they are to help you make sure you really do have hsv1 and hsv2.
grace
I can best help you with your herpes testing if you post the actual test results here - e.g. hsv1 igg 7.7 and hsv2 igg 4.4 or whatever they are to help you make sure you really do have hsv1 and hsv2.
grace
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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.
