[Question #13609] Herpes

5 days ago

I had unprotected sex about 5mo ago

The next day I had what looked like a friction burn

The following day I had bumps and what looked like tiny blisters on my penis (6).

It hung around for about 2 weeks but my penis felt sunburnt for about 2mo

The only prodome I experienced was the feeling of being sunburnt on my penis and the backs of my legs, no other symptoms

Last week, 5mo later, had a very small red spot on my penis which resulted in what looked like little craters on my penis, yellowish scab

Ive been tested through labcorp 4 times for various STD's and for both hsv1 and hsv2, most recently at the 4mo mark since I had unprotected sex, all have been non reactive

I also have an autoimmune disease, ulcerative colitis which I've read can also cause an issue like this

I did have a big flare up 2 days prior to the most recent event

I cannot remember if I had a flare up prior to having the unprotected sex

What do you think?

It's confusing to me

Thank you

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

4 days ago

I can understand why this is confusing to you, it's confusing to me as well. The "tiny blisters" part is what makes me a bit concerned. So do the little craters. Did any professional take a look at the symptoms, swab test them either time? Its great that your HSV 2 at labCorp is negative at 4 months out, that test does miss 15% of HSV 1 infections, so not great. At this point, I think the only thing to do is see if you have any more symptoms like this and if you do, be sure to have them swab tested right away. I wish I could give you more certainty with your questions but at least, I don't believe you have HSV 2.

Terri

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3 days ago

Hello

Thank you for your response

It is really weird and I'm not a doctor so I'm clueless!

Question

I've read several articles about the length of time it takes for the body to build the IGG antibodies, up to 6mo in one article

What is your take on that?

I read a post on a different forum, Westover I believe where a response to someone was, taking the test at 16 weeks is no different than at 10 weeks.

I assume that meant that the IGG antibodies will be present earlier than at 16 weeks?

Somethings I forgot to include in my first message

My guy gets really shiny, the skin almost looks like it healed from a burn, lines, almost like wrinkles if that makes sense

After I wrote the first question I noticed a red bump on my guy, maybe 1/4" in diameter, it has gotten a little larger and is a bump now, it was close to whatever was going on last Sunday

The issue I had last Sunday is now healed, still a bit red and shiny.

Probably more but I cant think of it now!

I will get swabbed if it happens again

Seems to heal really fast so by the time I see it, it has a scab on it

Thank you!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

3 days ago

The University of Washington that does the western blot, the gold standard, says 12 weeks is good. It used to be 16 but they found no difference between 12 weeks and 16.

Yes,l get any bumps swab tested as soon as you notice them, please. is this one ready to be swabbed now?

Terri

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3 days ago

No, it has scabbed

It was so small, I actually used a magnifying glass to see this one in particular

The other were very small also but there were more of them

I haven't looked at it today

It took 5mo for it to reappear so it may be awhile before I see it again unless this continues somewhere else

Can you actually get hsv1 on your gential

Wouldn't that be considered gential herpes

I thought hsv1 was around the mouth area

From reading, I was under the impression that hsv2 had more outbreaks than hsv1

I'll keep you posted if this episode continues and if not, I'll get it swabbed if it comes back

What is your take on shingles, the autoimmune thing or another skin issue possibly being my problem

Thank you

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

2 days ago

Yes, you can get HSV 1 genitally most often from receiving oral sex

And yes, that would be genital herpes if it is on the genitals

HSV 1 can be oral or genital

HSV 2 has more outbreaks genitally than HSV 1

I doubt that it is shingles but it could be some other skin issues, sure

Terri

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