I've been experiencing symptoms of HSV1 and 2 for the past week, PLEASE help?

[katie002020]

I just want to note that I am in a foreign country until June and to get tested for STDs is extremely expensive, so I figured I would post the question on this forum first to try to figure out what I have.

I have been in a monogamous relationship for 6 months, and did not think I showed any signs of having an STD prior to this past week.

I have noticed small wart-like bumps on the inside of my leg close to my vulva (always just one at a time) but I thought they were from shaving, as I have very sensitive skin. Last week, I noticed the side of my lip cracking and didn't think much of it. Soon, it filled with pus, and would not respond to a lip exfoliator and chapstick application. Then, I noticed a painful hard bump on the right side of my labia. It got bigger and bigger and then it started to go down. I applied some topical tretinoin/Retin A to this lump on my labia, which made it go down considerably.

I decided to take a hand mirror and do a self examination; on the entrance to my vagina, I found some growths that looked like genital warts and/or herpes with white discharge. I shined a light onto them and it looked very bad. I was very very upset to see this. I diluted some apple cider vinegar and applied it topically to the sores, but it just made them start to sting and now they've been subtly stinging for a few days.  I started taking vitamin C supplements in addition to continuing to take vitamin D3 and fish oil supplements, hoping that it would boost my immune system and make whatever this is perhaps go away on its own. Also, I bought some over-the-counter Zovirax topical cream that I've been applying around my mouth and put topically on the genital sores. It made the crack in the side of my mouth go down a little bit. However, in the past day, around my mouth, a tiny pimple has popped up on the other side of my lip and a tiny pimple has popped up above my lip. I shone my flashlight onto my lips and saw very tiny white dots surrounding them. Also, my genitals have been burning subtly and I've had to use the bathroom more than usual, but the pain is not as intense as UTI pain. Also, I walked around a lot yesterday, and felt some joint pain in my legs and one of my feet, which I know can be an HSV symptom.

This is the first time I have experienced all of these symptoms, besides having some canker sores as a child. But I have never had a sore on my vulva like this. It seems like this is textbook herpes (not sure if it is HSV1 or 2), or perhaps syphilis or another viral/bacterial infection. I am stuck because it is so expensive to get tested and get antibiotics/antivirals. I am devastated to tell my significant other who I am in love with because I know they will not react well and suspect that I cheated, which I never had. I am very depressed about this whole situation in general and have been crying several times a day since noticing it– and, I am aware that whether this is HSV or an infection, the stress and sadness will only make it worse! I don't know if this has gotten worse because I'm so sad that it's manifesting itself into physical pain.

I am hoping that a few questions can be answered:

Does this sound exactly like HSV1/2 to you?

What are some topical or oral medications that I can take before I go to a gynecologist? I was hoping to not have to, but these symptoms are not improving very much, especially after I wake up and get started with my day.

Is it possible that I got herpes a long time ago and it is just showing itself now? Is it possible my significant other got it a while ago and gave it to me and it is just outbreaking now (but they have not knowingly had an outbreak to the best of my knowledge)?

Lastly, I know that HSV1 is typically oral and HSV2 is typically genital. However, I have sores on my genitals and around my mouth at the same time (the ones around my mouth are actually very subtle). Could I have both HSV1 and HSV2?

Any advice or input or answers to these questions are greatly appreciated, thank you so much. I am having a very hard time with this and am so sad.

[sorelegs]

Yes. Even if he was never had   symptoms he will still have antibodies. Honestly, what you have going on doesn't sound herpes related. Hsv isn't warts. It's superficial waster blisters like burns that pop and form ulcers.

[sorelegs]

If the sore around your genitals are herpes then they can be type 1. You get it from oral sex.

Could you have been infected long ago and it's just been dormant until now? Yes.

Could your partner have had it for a while and just transmitted it to you recently? Yes.

The only way to tell if its a recent infection is to have a baseline blood test done. If this is a recent infection and your initial outbreak your body will not have had time to form antibodies.

If you take a blood test now and see antibodies you know it's an old infection.

I suspect if you sleep with someone who is shedding HSV virus and perform oral sex on them and then have unprotected sex with them you could get it in both places at the same time since your body hasn't had time to form antibodies and protect you from being infected from the same type again.

Lastly, their are lots of thing it could be that aren't herpes.

[katie002020]

Hi, Thank you for this information and taking the time to answer.
I told my partner what was going on and he is getting tested. If he passed HSV 1 or 2 to me but did not express symptoms of it, will a blood test still find antibodies for it?

Update: some of the skin around my vulva and anus is purple, and sore are the tops of bottoms of my gums. There are skin tags under my tongue as well. Not sure what is going on, but I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday in case it's something serious...

[katie002020]

so are the tops and bottoms of my gums**