confusing symptoms

[dazed and confused]

January 8, 2014 I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex with my boyfriend. He is the only one that I’ve been with in past 3 years. On February 6th, I started having a nagging itch on outside (non mucosal area)of lower labia. A few days later, I developed a bump slightly smaller than a pencil eraser with a very tiny one sort of connected to it. Both were white-ish/yellow but I could see a hair/s at the base. No pain. I picked at it and tried to pull the hair out. After 3 or 4 days of picking, it got sore and the entire area became swollen and painful. The bump never ruptured that I know of. Finally went away after a few weeks. I chalked it up to an ingrown hair. During that year, I started to get ulcers on my cheeks and inner lip like I used to when I was a kid. Haven’t had one in years, but I have had 3 or 4 since that time. In December, I shaved my genital area. Started to feel burning a day later. That lasted 3 days. On 3rd day I found two large oval blister/ulcers on one side of labia minora. Large as in one over an inch in length and the other close to that. They were yellowish. I popped them and a small amount of dark yellow bloody looking fluid came out. Small amount compared to size for sure. That side of labia became slightly swollen. Very little pain, unless I touched and applied pressure to the area. The ulcers (after popping, not sure that’s the correct way to describe) had thin red line around each and were slightly cratered. The smaller healed in two weeks and the larger in a little over 3.(completely healed by January 4th, 2015). Both left visible pinkish “scars” you can see today. Both times the bumps/blisters/ulcers appeared on same side. Some photos I’ve seen resemble the ulcers, except the size and shape. My boyfriend has had coldsores before. I never have. I will get a swab test if I get another ulcer, but I’m confused as to what to do until then. This doesn’t fit any of the herpes accounts that I’ve read about, but with his known coldsores and the recurrence of my mouth ulcers, I’m concerned.

[Terri Warren]

So do you get cold sores or canker sores inside the mouth? Is he the giver of oral sex to you with the cold sores?
I am concerned about the presentation that you describe; it could be genital herpes and you think so too since you posted here. Have you considered having a type specific IgG antibody test done to see what that shows? I think that would be good and also certainly have this area swab tested if you get another one. Has you boyfriend had a herpes antibody test?

Terri

[dazed and confused]

I have had recurring canker sores in my mouth. Always on inside of lip or cheeks. I’ve never had a coldsore. I take injections for a vitamin deficiency (b12). Usually of I miss a few weeks, my tongue will get extremely sore (which is how I can tell my levels are low). I hadn’t been keeping up with the injections like prescribed at the time the canker sores started happening again. Had my levels checked at the end of December(2014) and they are back in line. Surprise. Haven’t had a canker sore since the end of October. Are the canker sore and the genital ulcers tied together?
The oral sex was reciprocal between us. He has a history of coldsores but didn’t have any symptoms at that time.
I’ve considered having the test done, but I’ve heard there is a high rate of false positives. Do you find this to be the case? What tests are most accurate yet cost effective?
Yes. My boyfriend tested positive for HSV 1.
I never got flu symptoms with what I assumed was an ingrown hair. There was also no pain when I urinated and no other visible bumps my vulva. If it weren’t for the look of the two ulcers on the edge down the length of my inner labia, I wouldn’t be alarmed. Is it normal for herpes ulcers to be that large? Judging by some of questions posted here, I wonder if there are any “typical” outbreaks.
If I schedule the IgG test, how accurate are the results?

[Terri Warren]

Only about 5.5% of people who do the IgG antibody test have values in the low positive range that could be false positives. I personally wouldn’t let that stop me from testing. If you get a low positive IgG value, we can order a western blot for clarification.

If you have genital HSV , it could certainly be HSV 1, and that’s best detected by western blot, better than the IgG.

The canker sores in your mouth and genital symptoms are likely NOT connected.

Terri

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