[Question #7379] Does this sound like herpes?
 |
57 months ago
|
36 M. Had unprotected sex. 2 days later felt burning only in my bladder area but felt like it was on the skin. Fairly large area. Absolutely no other symptoms other than perhaps mild urinary frequency. No burning during urination. Burning lasted for 2 weeks. I saw my doctor about a week in and was tested for normal STD’s. Negative. They treated me with bacitracin, zpack, and an antibiotic shot of some kind. Urine culture was positive for trace amounts of blood, leukocytes, and protein. I take pre-workout supplements with high l-arginine concentrations which I hear will trigger HSV. But, still no lesions and I'm 5 weeks out. Still worried it could be herpes. I can’t find any other explanation for the burning unless it was an infection of some kind that the antibiotics remediated. Doctor doesn’t advise HSV testing without visible symptoms. I do not want to pass to anyone. I have also started taking lysine. I occasionally think my testicle are tingling but that may be normal. I have never paid this much attention to my genitals. I have never been tested for HSV1, nor have I ever shown symptoms. Two of my previous girlfriends did have it however. Thinking I may just be asymptomatic.
|
57 months ago
|
Really counting on the 48 hours to question response. I'm sorry to put pressure on you. The uncertainty is killing me! I did find out that I have a couple of genital warts. Per my dermotologist.
 |
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
|
Sorry, somehow I missed this post.
Your symptoms are not consistent with herpes - at all. I surely understand that you are concerned about the sensations that you are having - anyone would be! But the treatment that you had would cover most sexually transmitted infections that are caused by bacteria.
I am assuming you've had unprotected intercourse in the past and we don't know anything about your herpes status prior to this encounter.
Having said all of that, if you continue to have concerns about herpes, you could take an antibody test when 12 weeks have passed since this particular encounter. And if you want the very best antibody test, that would be the herpes western blot done only at the University of Washington. You can order the kit from UW that you need for the test - their number is 206-685-6066. they will send you the kit and then you can either work with your own doctor to get this test done or you can work with me at westoverheights.com.
It may be that you are able to put this concern behind you with verbal reassurance but if you can't, consider the gold standard antibody test for herpes, the western blot. Taking Lysine is fine but I would encourage you NOT to take antiviral medicine as this could confuse any future antibody test.
Terri
--- |
57 months ago
|
Thank you so much for the response. It has provided me a great deal of reassurance. As a follow up question, do you have any other ideas what could have caused that burning sensation in my bladder/pelvic area? I did try to do a thorough washing after the encounter and did get some water and soap into my urethra I'm sure. Is it really common to contract herpes and be totally asymptomatic? Or are people just attributing the signs and symptoms to something other than herpes? Since I've been watching my genitals like a hawk, that would make me even more comfortable in the knowledge that I likely didn't contract HSV. Thank you again for your advice. Great forum.
|
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
|
I"m so sorry, I don't know what that burning might be about.
I think that often when people acquire a new infection, they do have symptoms but attribute them to something else, correct.
Terri
---