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HERPES LIMBO... need advise because I cant stop worrying!
ust over three years ago, I had a genital lump that was visually diagnosed as Herpes. I had gotten sick beforehand with what I presumed was tonsillitis ( I used to get it regularly). Around a week after the infection, the lump appeared. I was given anti virals, but did not get swabbed. It was one large red lump ( I think it was slightly ulcerated but I cant remember).
After this primary outbreak it never came back and I became more and more frustrated that it hadn't been 'confirmed' by testing. After struggling for months to find a doctor who would do a blood test, I managed to find a place that tested for HSV2 only. That blood test came back negative - I was told it could have been HSV1 or herpes Zoster (??) or absolutely nothing at all. There seems to be no one that will give me a HSV1 test to check.
In term of recurrences. I once got a tiny red dot that was confirmed as nothing by doctors. Another time, I got a pang on a patch of skin when I was in shower. It vanished by the next day so I couldn't even get any sort of confirmation as to what it was. I sometimes get sharp pains and zingy/pins and needles feelings on my lower back, legs, groin area, feet and even hands. I am not sure if that could be anything related to it. ( but I have been told by a doctor that it wasn't).
I am now in a sort of limbo where I do not know what measures to take in the future. Should I disclose this information to future partners? what 'risks' do I pose in terms of transmission? ( I was comforted by the figures on transmission for HSV1 but still confused). Internet research is a minefield! I read articles and journals telling me I don;t need to do a thing ( 90 percent of people have it etc..), then other forums that say disclosure is fundamental and 'I got hsv1 from genital transmission' stories that make me anxious all over again. Finally, I still don't have that 100% guarantee I have anything at all.
That is about all the information I have. I don't know if you have come across anything like this before - but I would appreciate any sort of medical/personal opinion or advise on the subject. I understand that no one can make any sort of diagnosis online, but at this juncture, anything would be of great service.
After this primary outbreak it never came back and I became more and more frustrated that it hadn't been 'confirmed' by testing. After struggling for months to find a doctor who would do a blood test, I managed to find a place that tested for HSV2 only. That blood test came back negative - I was told it could have been HSV1 or herpes Zoster (??) or absolutely nothing at all. There seems to be no one that will give me a HSV1 test to check.
In term of recurrences. I once got a tiny red dot that was confirmed as nothing by doctors. Another time, I got a pang on a patch of skin when I was in shower. It vanished by the next day so I couldn't even get any sort of confirmation as to what it was. I sometimes get sharp pains and zingy/pins and needles feelings on my lower back, legs, groin area, feet and even hands. I am not sure if that could be anything related to it. ( but I have been told by a doctor that it wasn't).
I am now in a sort of limbo where I do not know what measures to take in the future. Should I disclose this information to future partners? what 'risks' do I pose in terms of transmission? ( I was comforted by the figures on transmission for HSV1 but still confused). Internet research is a minefield! I read articles and journals telling me I don;t need to do a thing ( 90 percent of people have it etc..), then other forums that say disclosure is fundamental and 'I got hsv1 from genital transmission' stories that make me anxious all over again. Finally, I still don't have that 100% guarantee I have anything at all.
That is about all the information I have. I don't know if you have come across anything like this before - but I would appreciate any sort of medical/personal opinion or advise on the subject. I understand that no one can make any sort of diagnosis online, but at this juncture, anything would be of great service.
Almost certainly you do not have herpes. Your symptoms are not typical, neither the initial ones or the symptoms you have had since then. Believe your doctors and the lab tests. You have nothing to disclose to partners and really needn't be worried about it.
And you can disregard the comments Unlucky1234. It is not at all "shady" that symptoms began after a "suspicious sexual encounter". Look at it this way: every week in the US, undoubtedly thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of persons develop new genital or neurological symptoms of the kind that can accompany herpes (but by themselves are not typical for herpes); and every week there are thousdand or tens of thousands of new or "suspicious" sexual encounters. It stands to reason that many of these events will occur in the same persons solely by chance. I'm sure that the number of such cases by chance is far higher than the number due to herpes.
Obviously it's a different story in those who develop typical herpes, and in some of those who develop positive lab tests for HSV. But with neither of these, neither you nor Unluckly should assume you have herpes. The scientific evidence here is very strong that you do not.
And you can disregard the comments Unlucky1234. It is not at all "shady" that symptoms began after a "suspicious sexual encounter". Look at it this way: every week in the US, undoubtedly thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of persons develop new genital or neurological symptoms of the kind that can accompany herpes (but by themselves are not typical for herpes); and every week there are thousdand or tens of thousands of new or "suspicious" sexual encounters. It stands to reason that many of these events will occur in the same persons solely by chance. I'm sure that the number of such cases by chance is far higher than the number due to herpes.
Obviously it's a different story in those who develop typical herpes, and in some of those who develop positive lab tests for HSV. But with neither of these, neither you nor Unluckly should assume you have herpes. The scientific evidence here is very strong that you do not.
I also have numerous doctors tell me it wasn't herpes just like you and many other posters on this board. Isn't is shady that it all starts after a suspicious sexual encounter? I tested positive for hsv1. I get muscle cramps leg pains burning thighs feet legs groin stinging and pain. It's herpes man.
But I have had numerous doctors say that wasn't a symptom! and there were no sores afterwards. At one point the pains were for over a week! Is that a common symptom for HSV1?
Yup, definetely herpes. I had same symptoms crawly punching stabbing sensations in legs but groin. Headaches runny noses, butt cramps bee sting sensation on penis head. It doesn't always show in blood testing. Take done valtrex. And look around and see how many others have the same symptoms on this board and never get a diagnosis. Look up users cbenj and
larry123456
larry123456
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You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs 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.
