Aa
Whitlow.
About a month and a half i was getting ready to go to bed when i accidentally caught my middle finger under my blanket, pulling it very badly. I initially believed i had simply pulled a blood vessel and only payed attention to the pain but did not worry. The next day i woke up with a little bump on the middle finger, i bandaged it, since it looked like a cold soar to me and went about my day. It hurt horribly so i finally decided to go to the school clinic. As soon as i showed the doctor my finger, he told me it was herpes. I was in shock, because i have never had a genital outbreak, and because i have been in a long term relationship with my boyfriend. I have only had him as a sexual partner, and he has only been with his ex and myself, through out our relationship i have not noticed any genital sours on him. Well after the doctor dumped the herpes diagnoses without testing me i began to research Finger Herpes and that when i came upon the term Whitlow.
My question;
Is is possible to have Whitlow and showed no signs for years. I also live in my schools dorms, is is possible i caught it from sharing the bathroom, showers, and cafeteria. My boyfriend is going to get tested soon, but what should i do if he does not have herpes, how could that be possible. I have now noticed a little painful bump near my anus, which surprises me since i have avoided using the hand i had the blister on since my initial doctors visit when using the bathroom or showering. Finally, if it's not herpes what else could it be?
My question;
Is is possible to have Whitlow and showed no signs for years. I also live in my schools dorms, is is possible i caught it from sharing the bathroom, showers, and cafeteria. My boyfriend is going to get tested soon, but what should i do if he does not have herpes, how could that be possible. I have now noticed a little painful bump near my anus, which surprises me since i have avoided using the hand i had the blister on since my initial doctors visit when using the bathroom or showering. Finally, if it's not herpes what else could it be?
Did they do any testing of your vaginal secretions? Looking for yeast and bacteria?
grace
grace
i have gone to see two doctors.
One told me that the fact that i had gotten herpes in my finger was not such a big deal because a majority of the worlds population carry one type of herpes. I explained to him my vaginal and leg worries and he opted for giving me a "blind" vaginal swab. I am still waiting on the result for that. Then this week i went to my schools clinic and i spoke to the gyno, and she checked for any blister of anything that would resemble a blister but saw nothing out of the normal. I am not too sure how well she was informed about herpes because when i explained to her my symptoms (irritation in the back of my leg, small little red area near entrance of my vagina, every two weeks) she told me i did not need to worry because herpes only causes blisters once or twice a year. The red bumps i had in the entrance, she saw as simple irritation. She did state that I COULD have given myself Herpes, i asked for a blood test but have to wait for the lab tech to return from vacation. i dont know if i should get another opinion. My fear is not having herpes in my finger but the possibility of reinfection to my genitals.
both doctors told me that the irritation could be from something other than herpes, but during the leg irritation episode i feel as though my vaginal wall is developing a blister. I don't even know how to explain that.
thanks for answering my question!
<3 malo
One told me that the fact that i had gotten herpes in my finger was not such a big deal because a majority of the worlds population carry one type of herpes. I explained to him my vaginal and leg worries and he opted for giving me a "blind" vaginal swab. I am still waiting on the result for that. Then this week i went to my schools clinic and i spoke to the gyno, and she checked for any blister of anything that would resemble a blister but saw nothing out of the normal. I am not too sure how well she was informed about herpes because when i explained to her my symptoms (irritation in the back of my leg, small little red area near entrance of my vagina, every two weeks) she told me i did not need to worry because herpes only causes blisters once or twice a year. The red bumps i had in the entrance, she saw as simple irritation. She did state that I COULD have given myself Herpes, i asked for a blood test but have to wait for the lab tech to return from vacation. i dont know if i should get another opinion. My fear is not having herpes in my finger but the possibility of reinfection to my genitals.
both doctors told me that the irritation could be from something other than herpes, but during the leg irritation episode i feel as though my vaginal wall is developing a blister. I don't even know how to explain that.
thanks for answering my question!
<3 malo
irritation could be many things. Have you followed up on it?
grace
ps THANK YOU for keeping to your thread - it's so helpful to be able to glance back over things quickly and go - oh yeah I remember this :)
grace
ps THANK YOU for keeping to your thread - it's so helpful to be able to glance back over things quickly and go - oh yeah I remember this :)
what is the likelihood of passing Herpes to your genitals from having Whitlow? I have had no outbreaks but for the last 3 months have had irritation on my left leg. Would i have had to had a recent oral outbreaks to reinfect myself again, or could i have infected myself a while ago and had no outbreaks?
This isn't really a planned parenthood issue since it doesn't involve your reproductive organs. I'd follow up on it with your regular doctor or a dermatologist if it reoccurs.
grace
grace
Well it cleared 3 weeks ago.
Despite not having a culture sample the doctor decided to prescribe Valtrex and another medication ( i cant recall its name). After 2 weeks it dried and the scab fell off. I look at my finger now and i can still see the little markings from were the fluid came from. The skin is still very pink but looks better than it did before. Either way i feel comfortable just keeping a bandage over my finger, and showering with a glove on.
You did make sense.
So who would you recomend i go see, i mean if all i need is to be tested can i go do that at my local clinic or Planned Parenthood.
By the way you have been great help.
^__^
Despite not having a culture sample the doctor decided to prescribe Valtrex and another medication ( i cant recall its name). After 2 weeks it dried and the scab fell off. I look at my finger now and i can still see the little markings from were the fluid came from. The skin is still very pink but looks better than it did before. Either way i feel comfortable just keeping a bandage over my finger, and showering with a glove on.
You did make sense.
So who would you recomend i go see, i mean if all i need is to be tested can i go do that at my local clinic or Planned Parenthood.
By the way you have been great help.
^__^
A blood test only tells you what you have, not where you have it. At this point it's too late to get a lesion culture done but if it's not clearing up in 3 weeks then it's definitely time to go be seen again and have it looked at.
yes indeed you'd have protection against contracting herpes on other body parts but an open lesion from tearing the skin on something would allow for easier access for the virus - either from the oral area or the genital area. Hope that makes sense.
grace
yes indeed you'd have protection against contracting herpes on other body parts but an open lesion from tearing the skin on something would allow for easier access for the virus - either from the oral area or the genital area. Hope that makes sense.
grace
Oh i made a typo, it has not been for 3 years but 3 weeks. The reason i still wear the bandage is to protect my family and baby niece.
I have read that after a persons first outbreak the chances if transferring it over to other areas of the body becomes less likely, is this true? If so, are the chances of contracting HSV 2 greater if i do have whitlow? I mean I have had cold sores ever since i was 14, wouldn't i have antibodies protecting me from whitlow? Another of my concern is that my blister did not develop as most outbreaks do, mine developed after i painfully pulled my finger. Would the blood test tell me if i have genital herpes of just HSV 2 in my body?
Oh and would you recommend i go see a clinic doctor, go to a dermatologist, or go to Planned Parent hood?
Thank you!
I have read that after a persons first outbreak the chances if transferring it over to other areas of the body becomes less likely, is this true? If so, are the chances of contracting HSV 2 greater if i do have whitlow? I mean I have had cold sores ever since i was 14, wouldn't i have antibodies protecting me from whitlow? Another of my concern is that my blister did not develop as most outbreaks do, mine developed after i painfully pulled my finger. Would the blood test tell me if i have genital herpes of just HSV 2 in my body?
Oh and would you recommend i go see a clinic doctor, go to a dermatologist, or go to Planned Parent hood?
Thank you!
It is overdoing it to be wearing a bandage on that area for 3 years.
Whitlow only sheds when there are active lesions present. The skin on the hands is too thick for shedding to reach the surface of the skin without them. there is absolutely no reason to be covering the area at this point.
If you already know you have hsv1 orally then a blood test would only be helpful to see what your hsv2 status is. You'd need a culture of active symptoms to know if 1 it is whitlow and 2 if it's hsv1 or not.
grace
Whitlow only sheds when there are active lesions present. The skin on the hands is too thick for shedding to reach the surface of the skin without them. there is absolutely no reason to be covering the area at this point.
If you already know you have hsv1 orally then a blood test would only be helpful to see what your hsv2 status is. You'd need a culture of active symptoms to know if 1 it is whitlow and 2 if it's hsv1 or not.
grace
Thanks,
I have had no whitlow outbreaks but still fear passing it on to my family so even after 3 years of it healing i wear a bandage. I will get tested soon and hopefully everything will be cleared up. I have had cold sores since a young teen, do you believe this will affect my test results?
I have had no whitlow outbreaks but still fear passing it on to my family so even after 3 years of it healing i wear a bandage. I will get tested soon and hopefully everything will be cleared up. I have had cold sores since a young teen, do you believe this will affect my test results?
Without a lesion culture to confirm it - it would be guessing as to what it would be. At this point you and your bf getting type specific herpes igg blood tests will help you figure out who has what at least. It won't help you figure out if this is whitlow or not. Should it ever occur - see your provider and insist on a lesion culture and typing to confirm that it's whitlow on the finger.
grace
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.
