Very worried by symptoms.

Question

After October 2013 I engaged in three unprotected sexual encounters over the space of three months. After the last one (late December) I noticed STI symptoms and got checked. The test came back positive for Chlamydia. I took a dose of zithromax and after a week I felt fine and was convinced it was gone. However over the last 4/5 days I've felt a slight itch in my pubic hair and scrotum. I can feel itching but it's not so much I feel the need to scratch. The itch seems a lot worse when I'm walking around for long periods. (No itchy feeling when sitting to lying in bed). I've felt itches down there plenty as I trim my pubic hair regularly however never this persistent. Last night I noticed a red spot on my thigh about 5 inches from my penis. The spot looked like a normal pimple but maybe a little more red/purple. The spot had one white head which had a hair growing right out the centre of it. Curiosity led me to put pressure on the spot and it burst, oozing a tiny amount of quite thick pus. It immediately settled to skin level and by this morning it appeared to be healing. The itch it still active and I'm terrified I had herpes. Does it sound that way? If not what could it be? I have been back into the clinic and was told they only test for herpes by swabbing a sore. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Raddly · Answer

For sure man.  Good stuff!!!  : ) ) )

concernedguy1993 · Answer

Just been to the clinic and the nurse was 100% certain my lump was not herpes and was folliculitis. She's recommended a soap substitute for the shower to help the itch. So this is a ray of hope and fingers crossed will be my last post in this thread. 

I would to thank everyone who took time to read my post and offered advice or reassurance. This community is invaluable to people worrying and alone in something like this. Keep doing what you're doing and thanks again.

Raddly · Answer

Let us know what they say.  It is alright to cry, let out your emotions.  That is cool you are dating a new girl.  If anything does happen just tell her you just found out, and if you guys have a strong enough bond and she really likes you then she'll stay by your side though this.  Try not to worry to much, go to the docs and see what they say.  If it doesn't look like herpes then : )  keep on truckin through till final test day.  Do the best you can to get through the day and sooner then later test day will come.  Hope this helps.  Best of luck tomorrow!!! : ) ) )

concernedguy1993 · Answer

thanks for the words of comfort. I just feel like I've admitted defeat now with this new "sore". It's been the longest few weeks of my life. I've cried and felt unbearable depression worrying about this. I've started seeing a girl and if I'm honest I've never been happier and the thought of having to tell her I have this is destroying me.
This community has been such a great help. I'm going to go back to the clinic tomorrow and see what a doctor makes of this lump and I guess he'll be able to tell or take a swab. It's a horrible feeling having this virus pending awaiting confirmation.

Raddly · Answer

Sorry concerned.  It is always a sort of confusing time.  As much as you hear it, try and relax and stop looking for things until you really notice them.  Since you are at 7 weeks you can test now with the igG and see where you are at.  If negative take it as a good sign.  If low positive then we can go from there.  Hope this helps.  You will be okay.

concernedguy1993 · Answer

Update: I've noticed something else. On my groin/thigh there's a red patch almost like a rash. It's tiny but I feel like this maybe fits the description for something which is herpes related. I guess symptoms can be usual as it's now been 7 weeks since unprotected sex and a week of prodrome like symptoms.  
This really sucks.

concernedguy1993 · Answer

It's been almost 6 days now with a slight itch on my scrotum and groin. I've noticed dry skin on my scrotum at the sides (adjacent to thighs) however that part of my scrotum hasn't been very itchy. It's all just very confusing. I'm considering buying a hydrocortisone cream and trying that. 
I read online that prodrome only lasts a few hours to a few days max. Is that accurate?

concernedguy1993 · Answer

It's been almost 6 days now with a slight itch on my scrotum and groin. I've noticed dry skin on my scrotum at the sides (adjacent to thighs) however that part of my scrotum hasn't been very itchy. It's all just very confusing. I'm considering buying a hydrocortisone cream and trying that. 
I read online that prodrome only lasts a few hours to a few days max. Is that accurate?

catinbarefeet · Answer

Your bump isn't herpes.

Your itch could be any of dozens of things - allergy, bug bites, stress hives, fungus, dry skin, and on and on. I'm afraid there isn't enough evidence that it's at all related to HSV.

Fleetwood20 · Answer

I've never really understood why itchiness is associated with male herpes outbreaks as it confuses the issue a lot. Sometimes you feel a tingling or crawling sensation where I know a cold sore will appear within half a day although sometimes it goes away. A healing sore can be itchy. 

An itch that is general in a large area, on the testicles etc. doesn't seem related to herpes from my perspective.

concernedguy1993 · Answer

I know that there's no set time, but how long is the regular "itchiness" period before an outbreak? Is it likely I've exceeded that time, making it less likely to be herpes?

Thanks again for these responses. If this turns out to be nothing you've played a massive part in helping me not lose my mind.

Fleetwood20 · Answer

I believe the more common classic appearance (and they are not always classic) is for multiple fingertip size reddish patches to appear having a number of bumps and blisters within. Some people, especially if this is their first exposure to HSV, will experience the emergence of these over few days before a halt. The patches can heal without a scab but I believe most do and they can be in line with the skin or a little concave into the skin, but not too much.

Everyone is different and I'm trying not to show bias toward my own experience and what I read most of.

kmit2013 · Answer

can you describe that appearance of a first outbreak? I have heard them described as 'ulcers' how deep are the sores / scabs?

Fleetwood20 · Answer

A herpes lesion is more of a slightly raised red patch inside which are little bumps and blisters. On a first infection, you're likely to have a few of them.

What you have sounds like an infected hair follicle or a cyst, boil. Most people will have these appear anywhere on their body and the genital area is no exception at all.

concernedguy1993 · Answer

Okay this is reassuring. Just to be sure I'll describe the bump in greater detail. It began lookin like a spot you might find on your face, red with a white head and the head like I said had a hair growing from it. A fee hours later is seemed to be more red and this is when I panicked and popped it and a small amount of what I thought was pus came out which I cleaned. The spot was never itchy or painful at all and since then I've seen no others. 

Aside from the spot, could it be herpes with the spot being just a coincidence?

concernedguy1993 · Answer

Thanks for the prompt reply. Is there anything else that this could be? I've noticed my skin on my penis is quite dry, it began peeling slightly after masturbation a few nights ago. 
Also the itchiness doesn't seem to want to go away and I am still very apprehensive about herpes. I'm also noticing a dull pain in my testicles however I thought this was maybe from constantly examining them.

Fleetwood20 · Answer

This lesion is almost certainly not herpes at all. They do not produce pus.

These sound like phone app induced encounters. Some of my buddies let me in on their escapades and most have a fender bender, chlamydia being the usual infection. When I have a chat to them about genital herpes they get a bit freaked out and test after 12 weeks. It is only a few guys but they weren't infected.

Many guys in this period of waiting get itchy, spots emerge, lots of burning and stinging. Most likely stress related or natural occurrences they didn't notice before. 

Follow up with your testing in 12 weeks, you have no indication of herpes so it is highly likely to be negative.

Life360_Dave · Answer

Hi, first of all, first time outbreaks if they occur would be 3 to 13 days or so post exposure. They are not puss filled and the area is not correct as would be at point of contact, which would be your genital area with a first time outbreak.
Considering all of this you can pretty much rule out herpes but of course only testing would confirm.