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HSV, YEAST, OTHER?...confused on what to do
I have been under an extreme amount of stress/anxiety the last few months over the following sequence of events:
Had protected oral and vaginal sex with a "dancer" four months ago...stupid mistake on my part. Three days after the encounter my scrotum began burning, and a couple of days after that I got sick (flu; NOTE: everyone I work with was also sick at this time). I took a Z-PACK and followed it up with a 5 day course of Amoxocillin...got better and burning subsided. Two weeks after the encounter I had a minor/outpatient surgery performed and was pretty much bed-ridden at home for the next week or so. The burning returned approximately 1 month after the sex encounter and a week later I went to PP. Upon examination it was concluded that it "did not look like any sort of STD" (warts, molluscom, herpes, etc.). The next week (5 weeks post encounter) I went and got an 8 PANEL TEST DONE and everything came back negatve including HSV - 1/@ IGG. The irritation remained in my genital/groin area so I went to my GP a couple of weeks later. Upon examination, he noted the irritation and I was given a corticosteroid cream for yeast. Two weeks on the cream and while the burning feeling subsided a little it was not gone completely and I was tested again for HSV 1/@ IGG (10 weeks post encounter)...negative. At this time, I also broke out in a symmetrical itchy rash on my hands, elbows, knees, and feet. Went back to my GP and he concluded that it was contact dermatitis and I was on an oral steroid for 10 days...rash subsided. Symptoms seemed to "come and go" but I have never felt that they fully went away, so I was as patient as possible and got another 8 PANEL STD TEST done at 13.5 weeks post encounter...everything came back negative once again. At this point I was feeling extremely stressed out and anxious, so I went back to my GP the following week and ran down the above story of my above mentioned story. He examined me once again and decided to try and treat me with a course of oral antibiotics for two weeks. This leads me to current day. While my various symptoms seem to "come and go" at times, my body just does not feel right. I know the stress/anxiety that I have put myself through over the last few months aren't doing me any good, I just don't know what direction to go in anymore. I have been more in-tuned to my body during this time, and I have noticed the following from head to toe: itchy scalp, "burning" eyes at night, burning lips, neck pain at spine, stomach pain, lower back pain, burning/irritated genital/groin area, "pimples" on buttocks/back of thighs, muscle spasms, fatigue, and I just don't feel like myself (stressed, anxious, depressed). My main question is does this sound like it still could be HSV or HSV and something else or what?...I feel that until I find out what is wrong that I will not be able to rule out HSV. Should I go get another HSV IGG test at the 18 week mark? Should I go to a dermatologist and if so, what needs to be done to figure this out? I guess I am looking for reassurance as I have seen that many others have had experiences with false negatives for HSV.
Had protected oral and vaginal sex with a "dancer" four months ago...stupid mistake on my part. Three days after the encounter my scrotum began burning, and a couple of days after that I got sick (flu; NOTE: everyone I work with was also sick at this time). I took a Z-PACK and followed it up with a 5 day course of Amoxocillin...got better and burning subsided. Two weeks after the encounter I had a minor/outpatient surgery performed and was pretty much bed-ridden at home for the next week or so. The burning returned approximately 1 month after the sex encounter and a week later I went to PP. Upon examination it was concluded that it "did not look like any sort of STD" (warts, molluscom, herpes, etc.). The next week (5 weeks post encounter) I went and got an 8 PANEL TEST DONE and everything came back negatve including HSV - 1/@ IGG. The irritation remained in my genital/groin area so I went to my GP a couple of weeks later. Upon examination, he noted the irritation and I was given a corticosteroid cream for yeast. Two weeks on the cream and while the burning feeling subsided a little it was not gone completely and I was tested again for HSV 1/@ IGG (10 weeks post encounter)...negative. At this time, I also broke out in a symmetrical itchy rash on my hands, elbows, knees, and feet. Went back to my GP and he concluded that it was contact dermatitis and I was on an oral steroid for 10 days...rash subsided. Symptoms seemed to "come and go" but I have never felt that they fully went away, so I was as patient as possible and got another 8 PANEL STD TEST done at 13.5 weeks post encounter...everything came back negative once again. At this point I was feeling extremely stressed out and anxious, so I went back to my GP the following week and ran down the above story of my above mentioned story. He examined me once again and decided to try and treat me with a course of oral antibiotics for two weeks. This leads me to current day. While my various symptoms seem to "come and go" at times, my body just does not feel right. I know the stress/anxiety that I have put myself through over the last few months aren't doing me any good, I just don't know what direction to go in anymore. I have been more in-tuned to my body during this time, and I have noticed the following from head to toe: itchy scalp, "burning" eyes at night, burning lips, neck pain at spine, stomach pain, lower back pain, burning/irritated genital/groin area, "pimples" on buttocks/back of thighs, muscle spasms, fatigue, and I just don't feel like myself (stressed, anxious, depressed). My main question is does this sound like it still could be HSV or HSV and something else or what?...I feel that until I find out what is wrong that I will not be able to rule out HSV. Should I go get another HSV IGG test at the 18 week mark? Should I go to a dermatologist and if so, what needs to be done to figure this out? I guess I am looking for reassurance as I have seen that many others have had experiences with false negatives for HSV.
I went back to my GP and we re-visited timeline, symptoms, test results, etc. He did another visual inspection and determined that it is most likely an on-going fungal infection and that alot of my other symptoms are more than likely stress/anxiety related. I am back on an anti-fungal cream and also on some anxiety meds...he also told me that it was 100% not herpes...I will more than likely get 5-6 month testing and hopefully by that time whatever is causing the burning in my genital area will go away and I can move on...we'll see I guess. Another option that I might explore is going to see a Dermatologist for some testing to see if they can determine what is causing this...at this time I will try to trust my GP, stay the course of his recommended treatment, and see how it goes.
Any update for you? I'm in misery here. I get "node" pains in my right arm pit, swollen eyes every night, neck node pain general "flushed" feeling in my face. I apply a heating pad to the nodes which seems to help and rest. The morning I feel great (minus swollen eyes) by noon I'm in misery. Its become hard to work at all and I can't seem to "shake" whatever is going on with me. I have a Dr. Appt soon and am hoping they can find something.
no, any saliva that dripped on the thighs isn't an issue.
your symptoms all sound yeast related. if 2 weeks of the cream doesn't make symptoms go away, return to be seen again.
your symptoms all sound yeast related. if 2 weeks of the cream doesn't make symptoms go away, return to be seen again.
I get what you mean, I have been having all over body symptoms as well (Female) I am starting to think this has triggered a thyroid problem for me.
I also experience the "tingling" sensation in my scrotum just before all of my issues seem to really "flare up". This usually leads to the burning on my scrotum and the skin becomes red/irritated and seems to be "cracking".
Also, the "pimple-like" bumps on my buttocks/back of thigh...they appear on both sides. Does herpes usually or always show up on only one side during an OB?
They do hurt a little but do not itch, just a slight burning and it is a little uncomfortable to sit.
Also, the steriod cream did have an anti-fungal agent (clotrimazole).
I should also mention that I did get a small area on the under side of my penis shaft that developed irritation/tiny blisters while I was applying the steroid cream.
I also see that HSV can be responsible for triggering a plethora of autoimmune diseases, which could explain why many people experience "whole-body" symptoms when they are infected...after all it is a virus. It just seems very unlikely that it is a coincidence that all of these issues started after this encounter...I guess it is extremely difficult for me to move past the fact that this is all HSV related.
Also, the "pimple-like" bumps on my buttocks/back of thigh...they appear on both sides. Does herpes usually or always show up on only one side during an OB?
They do hurt a little but do not itch, just a slight burning and it is a little uncomfortable to sit.
Also, the steriod cream did have an anti-fungal agent (clotrimazole).
I should also mention that I did get a small area on the under side of my penis shaft that developed irritation/tiny blisters while I was applying the steroid cream.
I also see that HSV can be responsible for triggering a plethora of autoimmune diseases, which could explain why many people experience "whole-body" symptoms when they are infected...after all it is a virus. It just seems very unlikely that it is a coincidence that all of these issues started after this encounter...I guess it is extremely difficult for me to move past the fact that this is all HSV related.
Thank you for your response...I greatly appreciate your input. In response:
"protected oral sex is no risk for std's."; could you get GHSV1 from saliva/"drool" that gets on to unprotected area (scrotum, thigh, etc.)? The reason I say this is because that is where the initial irritation/burning/redness appeared (scrotum). I should also mention that I groomed/shaved my genital area the day before the encounter...not sure if this would make it easier to catch anything.
"protected oral sex is no risk for std's."; could you get GHSV1 from saliva/"drool" that gets on to unprotected area (scrotum, thigh, etc.)? The reason I say this is because that is where the initial irritation/burning/redness appeared (scrotum). I should also mention that I groomed/shaved my genital area the day before the encounter...not sure if this would make it easier to catch anything.
protected oral sex is no risk for std's.
protected vaginal sex is a risk for hpv, herpes and syphilis. The risk of any of them from a one time protected encounter is incredibly low.
nothing you've mentioned sounds std related at all. You've had antibiotics thrown at you in hopes that something works so the odds that you have a genital yeast infection are pretty high. did the topical steroid cream you were given also have in an antifungal? just treating with a topical steroid won't clear up a yeast issue - it only helps with the redness and rash from the yeast.
you have multiple all over body symptoms now that your provider appears to be guessing as how to treat. I recommend seeing a dermatologist at this point.
no reason to test for std's again either.
grace
protected vaginal sex is a risk for hpv, herpes and syphilis. The risk of any of them from a one time protected encounter is incredibly low.
nothing you've mentioned sounds std related at all. You've had antibiotics thrown at you in hopes that something works so the odds that you have a genital yeast infection are pretty high. did the topical steroid cream you were given also have in an antifungal? just treating with a topical steroid won't clear up a yeast issue - it only helps with the redness and rash from the yeast.
you have multiple all over body symptoms now that your provider appears to be guessing as how to treat. I recommend seeing a dermatologist at this point.
no reason to test for std's again either.
grace
Friend this is identical to my experience the last three months, lots of burning all over groin, genitals, legs, face, arms, mouth, eyes, testing negative for HSV at 11 weeks but no answers so I'm very concerned it is HSV. I would continue to get tested and stay safe in the meantime, best of luck
Warren, same thing with me, except I just had a dance with a Dancer. Not what fully took place as I was inebriated, but no sex that I recall. Anyways, same symptoms, burning thighs, tingling thighs, pimply buttocks for the last six months. STI clinic says "Not Herpes". Did a IGG test for HSV1/2 it came back positive, but does not say if I have herpes north or herpes south. Frustrating. Going on for six months and I have no clear blisters to swab or. I had a rash on thighs and legs. It too was symetrical. I too have been extremely anxious and depressed. There are plenty of us on this forum that have the exact same symptoms (usually under the same circumstances) but no clear answers.
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.
