Weird Symptoms That Won't Go Away!!

[graciegraciegracie]

This is under the category of Herpes, because I can't help but feel like they're related.

I am not sure when I contracted herpes, but my first outbreak was last August. I tried taking medicine just before and during the outbreaks to lessen the symptoms, but they would drag on, and I would have about three or four free days before another outbreak occurred. I spoke to my doctor in December and got on suppressive therapy.

Once my last overt outbreak cleared up I was fine for a week, and then I began to notice an itching near my clitoris and around the sides of my vagina. By the evening I noticed small bumps that progressed in a long line from the bottom of my vagina about halfway up the sides that bled the moment my fingernail touched them. The next morning they had turned into a long, paper-cut like fissure that took a day or two to heal. I thought it was a yeast infection and went to go get tested for it - my doctor took a sample of the discharge I was getting (white, fairly thin, something I've had ever since going on oral contraceptives) and sent it to the lab - it was not a yeast infection. I've gotten the same test twice since, and it's always returned negative.

The symptoms are always the same, the only difference is the position the bumps are in when they come back and the degree of soreness - it feels like it's getting worse. I usually suffer with them for about a week and a half before they go away for one to two days, and then return again. Occasionally I'll get swelling or rash-like symptoms (inflammation etc). My doctor has proscribed cortizone, vaseline, and polysporin, but it's hard to say whether or not they help, seeing as i'll be fine one moment and then in unbearable pain the next. I even went off oral contraceptives because she mentioned that the hormones can cause "dryness" in the vaginal area, although I've been on them for almost five years with almost no problem UNTIL I started taking suppressive medicine - plus, it feels like much more than just dryness, and has not been solved by the vaseline.

My question is this - is it possible I'm still having outbreaks despite the suppressive medicine? If so, is there anything else I can do in order to combat them and still have a normal sex life?

Or is it possible that the suppressive medicine has this side effect on me? I've heard of topical creams causing rashes, but not the oral pills that I've been taking (acyclovir, if it makes a difference.)

I can deal with the symptoms and rash myself, I'm just terrified that I'll unknowingly pass it on to someone else. I feel like I've been dealing with this forever.

Thank you so much!

[gracefromHHP]

Also if you have vaginal dryness ( which is a side effect of birth control use for some women  from being on them longer term ) you might need topical estrogen to restore the skin to its normal elasticity too.  It can takes months for your body to start producing estrogen normally in the skin after stopping bc pills. the creams are probably the best choice initially because you can use them externally.

Also what dose of acyclovir are you taking for suppressive therapy?

grace

[graciegraciegracie]

Brilliant, thanks so much!

[auntiejessi]

This isn't sounding like herpes though.  The next time you get it, ask your doctor to do a PCR swab on it and find out if its herpes.  They can also do a wound culture and see what is causing it.

Aj

[graciegraciegracie]

Yup, tested positive for herpes in September after my first outbreak - they cultured the sores.

I should have been more specific above - the swab my doctor took was tested for all infections, and she told me that I didn't have any form of vaginal infection, including vaginitis. What's more, I've tested positive for HPV, but I sincerely doubt this is warts as I've had them before and they do not disappear on their own.

I haven't checked for group b strep or staph but the symptoms don't really match up. I've never heard of either of these causing itchy bumps or fissures or being particularly prone to infect the genitals and genitals only; I've never had the same sort of infection anywhere else on my body.

[auntiejessi]

Have you actually tested positive for herpes?

What other testing have you had done besides yeast?  You need to test for bacterial vaginitis, group b strep, etc.  Have you had this cultured to make sure its not staph?

Aj