Confused by my symptoms

[confusedbysymptoms]

Hi Terri,

We talked on the phone a few days ago. I wanted to follow up here with additional questions – I’m at my wits end! I’ve been dealing with symptoms for a month, been taking Valtrex since the onset & things seem to be getting worse. I’m traveling in a week and am just trying to understand what is happening before I leave. Details:

10/11, 10/17 & 11/4-11/7: Unprotected sex with my partner. Partner has never been tested for HSV and has never had any known symptoms. I am positive for HSV 1 and get cold sores once a year at most.
*Also, started a new birth control 10/1 that I since changed as I never felt well while on it.
10/24: Had symptoms a cold sore coming. Over next week had swollen gums and sores in my mouth. Not sure if an outbreak or irritation from salty foods. No history of outbreaks IN mouth.
11/7: Last day I saw my partner, developed two cold sores on right side of lip (the opp. side as normal). Also a saucer sized area of rashing on my left buttcheek and red irritation on left side vagina/leg crease. Over that week was seen by a provider who did not think the rash looked herpetic. Including a painful red bump an inch under bellybutton.
11/22: Noticed a large amount of discharge. No concern color, just amount.
11/23-25: Two bright red “bumps” appeared on my left upper inner thigh. Don’t itch/burn. Irritated if I pushed them. Never opened, scabbed, just a dry skin look over them. 11/24 bump above clitoris. Popped it, small amount of pus came out. Seemed to dry up and go away. Next day, two more bumps left bikini line. No fever, swollen lymphs, headache, etc. but have felt intermittent achiness in buttcheek, left leg nerve pain, lower back pain and pelvis pain.

1. Just now the rash has moved to R. buttcheek and spot of blood in underwear. Should this be getting better? I’ve been taking Valtrex since 11/07.
2. I have small red bumps around belly button (next, above & below) and thighs. Concern these are HSV2?
3. If HSV2, does this sound severe?

[confusedbysymptoms]

My partner has just gotten tested for HSV 1&2 (IGG) but won’t know for 7-10 days.

I just feel like this thing is all over me and happening in ways that sound very not “typical”. I have also had sever itching around my nose (and skin above upper lip) and have a big red bump on my chest. I’m really trying to stay calm, live life and take care of myself…but my patience with all of this is now quickly diminishing and I just want to understand what is happening and feel better.

Thank you Terri for your input on this. I’m really hoping just to get a better handle on what may be happening.

[Terri Warren]

I do recall us talking, for sure.
I think you need to go and see a dermatologist – now. This does NOT sound like HSV 2 to me, but as we discussed, you cannot rule that out until your partner gets his results. Seven to 10 days is ridiculous – it should not take that long. Where was it done, anyway? We get results back from the usual labs in 2-3 days.

Terri

[confusedbysymptoms]

He had it done at the Planned Parenthood in Beaverton. I’ll report back once I hear the results of that test.

[Terri Warren]

OK, but it shouldn’t take that long. Have him check back sooner and let me know what more I can do for you. Are you in Portland??

Terri

[confusedbysymptoms]

As you have pointed out, his results are really the missing key at this point. He plans to check again today. I live in Seattle but come to Portland pretty often (that’s also where my partner lives). In fact, I may be there the begging of this next week.

I do have some new symptoms. I have been extremely tired with lower abdominal cramping and tender groin lymph nodes over the last day and a half. This am I noticed a pimple looking bump, just to the top right of my clitoris. It doesn’t look like a blister like I would get on my lip, it looks more like a pimple with pus as its more white than clear. However, I can’t get that close a look at it. It doesn’t hurt or itch…it looked like it started forming yesterday and then appeared with the head today. With my other symptoms its making a little suspicious. I am seeing a derm. next week, the earliest I could get in.

I do have a few other questions:
1. I have felt like I’m fighting off cold sores around my mouth ever since the initial ones went away around the Nov. 15/16. Could there be a correlation with that and this never ending rash on my butt/red bumps on my abs?

2. I’ve been on Valtrex since 11/7. Stronger dose at first… now 1000mg/day. Could it be that this is deterring a more pronounced/classic genital outbreak and instead drawing it out with “milder” symptoms. It’s been four weeks since the butt rash appeared and a little less than that for bumps on abs. Also, since I have HSV 1, that could be a factor in the severity (or lack of) for a primary HSV 2 outbreak, correct?

3. Is it true a primary outbreak should appear at the site of infection? The things popping up on me seem to be more disseminated in nature. The red bumps on my abs are fairly small but tender (some more than others) & mostly around/next to/below belly button. The rash on my butt has a mix of red marks, some darker/more red than others but they appear dry and aren’t clustered tightly. Have more of an appearance of being spaced out.

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

1. I have felt like I’m fighting off cold sores around my mouth ever since the initial ones went away around the Nov. 15/16. Could there be a correlation with that and this never ending rash on my butt/red bumps on my abs?

I doubt there is a connection but if the rash is herpetic, there might be. I really think you should see a dermatologist

2. I’ve been on Valtrex since 11/7. Stronger dose at first… now 1000mg/day. Could it be that this is deterring a more pronounced/classic genital outbreak and instead drawing it out with “milder” symptoms. It’s been four weeks since the butt rash appeared and a little less than that for bumps on abs. Also, since I have HSV 1, that could be a factor in the severity (or lack of) for a primary HSV 2 outbreak, correct?

Yes, previous standing HSV 1 modifies new HSV 2. I honestly don’t see herpes lasting 4 weeks, though

3. Is it true a primary outbreak should appear at the site of infection? The things popping up on me seem to be more disseminated in nature. The red bumps on my abs are fairly small but tender (some more than others) & mostly around/next to/below belly button. The rash on my butt has a mix of red marks, some darker/more red than others but they appear dry and aren’t clustered tightly. Have more of an appearance of being spaced out.

Yes normally we see new infection symptoms showing up at the site of infection, not all over the place as you describe. This just doesn’t sound herpetic to me.

Terri

[confusedbysymptoms]

Hi Terri,

Good news! My partner received his IGG test results. He is negative for HSV 2 (YAY!) and positive for HSV 1. He has never had any signs or symptoms so I guess it is unclear where he has HSV 1. As I’ve mentioned I am HSV 1 positive (oral). What kind of precautions should we be taking while intimate? Any concern for reinfecting eachother in the places we don’t have it? Any concern then that what’s been going on with me is attributed to getting HSV 1 genitally from him (via oral or genital contact)?

I did see a dermatologist and she couldn’t connect/make sense of or diagnose the various bumps and rashes I’m having. Frustrating, but at least I know they aren’t HSV 2. Since they aren’t in “full bloom” as she stated, it was hard to tell. She did think I had some yeast which she gave me a prescription for and advised to come back at fist site of anything really rearing back up.

Any advice on next steps for me?

I am so relieved!

[Terri Warren]

That is great news. If you both have HSV 1, then you don’t have to take any precautions – once you have the virus in one location on your body it is extremely unlikely you will get it in a new location. And no, as I’ve said all along, I don’t think this rash is related to HSV.

The next steps are up to you and your dermatologist, I feel. The herpes question is resolved and that’s really my area of expertise. I’m happy for you!

Terri

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