HSV2 or Something else?

[RedBlue92]

Hello,

I wanted to ask whether my symptoms correlate to HSV2 or not. I had unprotected sex with a girl friend (no longer with) between Jan 2016 and June 2016. At the time I believed her to be clean, however, well over a year after our relationship ended I started having itching, burning, and tingling sensations in the genital area most notably on the head of my private part and I also noticed what looked like small pimples on the glans. Prior to the start of the itching, I had not had any symptoms what so ever. I went to my doctor who quickly diagnosed HSV2, but ordered a IGG blood test type specific for both 1 and 2. The results came back negative. At the same time the doctor also diagnosed me with Urethritis as I had an inflamed and raw piece of skin at the tip of my private part and it hurt after peeing. Three months after the initial diagnosis I still have the same pimple like bumps. Being curious I touched them and they feel hard and abrasive like acne or eczema. The bumps don’t resemble that of the usual herpes pictures that can be found if googling. Nor do have they broken open with clear liquid. After getting treatment for the Urethritis the symptoms stopped except for the slight raw sensation so my doctor prescribed me gabapentin to help. I went for a follow up and the doctor said based on the length of time since exposure and the negative igg results that I don’t have HSV2, however, I’m not sure sure.

My question is whether or not 16+ months after exposure would be enough time for my body to have produced anti-bodies enough that an IGG test would have picked them up and can Urethritis or another condition cause similar symptoms to the genital area that might be mistaken for herpes? Also almost two months after the doctor said I don’t have herpes I started having tingling sensations again, but no burning. The red pimple like bumps are still there and have been since January.

[Terri Warren]

That’s plenty of time to make antibody and your symptoms sound nothing like HSV to me. Have you considered a diagnosis of HPV? I would recommend that you see a dermatologist for another opinion of what the bumps are and get appropriate treatment.

Terri

[RedBlue92]

Hi Terri, thank You for the feed back. I have considered hpv, though I don’t recall hpv causing tingling or burning sensation. I would describe it like icy hot almost. This morning I woke up with a sore throat and my urethra still stings and there’s a slight tingling sensation at the tip as it is very sensitive, especially when it rubs against my under wear. If I had to further describe the bumps they are very small a few of them are round and red like a pimple, the others are rectangular and are shiny. They are located on the frenulum. I am a circumcised male. They don’t itch though and I don’t feel tingling in that area specifically mainly just at the tip and it seems to trickle down so to speak.

Even though it has been so long since actual intercourse with the suspected person and the negative igg result well over the standard immune response time I’m curious if an second igg or immunoblot would be appropriate?

[Terri Warren]

You could try retesting and see what you get. I would strongly suggest that you see a clinician and ask what the bumps are – did your doc see them when you were being diagnosed with urethritis? If not, you should point them out or have another clinician review them. I cannot sort out what they might be from your description
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Terri

[RedBlue92]

Hi Terri,

I went back to my primary physician and again they told me it was not herpes, but continue to have symptoms that concern me. I also had a second test done or rather two tests ordered by my primary physician. He ordered IGM and IGG for 1 and 2 just to help me ease my mind. Both came back at less than .91 making the result negative. Given my possible exposure at well over a year and a half before I had my first symptoms, I thought for sure I could trust the second round of tests. I tested exactly 4 weeks after the first round, I’m not sure that makes a difference or not.

My continued symptoms are tingling sensation on the frenulum area of the penis, thought within the last month and just a week before the second test in late April I started feeling random sharp pains on the shaft of my penis, buttocks, and inner thigh. I even had what my primary physician thought was a cyst in my buttocks. The same bumps I spoke about before are still present, they seem to go away or diminish a little, but keep coming back around the time when I feel twinges of pain on my penis, legs or butt. Last night I had the sensation of the glans feeling like someone used 20 grit sandpaper on the head. I’m not sure if this sounds like HSV2 or not.

I’ve had my primary physician, two dermatologists, and a urologist all look at my physical symptoms in the last 40 days and all tell me it doesn’t look like herpes. One dermatologist thought the bumps might be HPV, but correct me if I’m wrong, HPV isn’t generally painful to the touch. Also to note, these bumps or lesions whatever they are, I haven’t had any of them burst or leak fluid that I can tell and they generally don’t hurt except for one that’s been persistent for the last few months. I don’t have any ulcers that I can physically see with a mirror or camera or that my physicians have been able to discern. So swab testing is unlikely at this time.

All of this aside, would you suggest a Western Blot test next and do these additional symptoms sound like my previous tests were false negatives?

thanks,

RedBlue92

[Terri Warren]

I would suggest a western blot only if you cannot be at peace with the IgG results that you have obtained. You seem to continue to be worried about this, even after quite a long time. If you want to know exactly what the bumps are,I would suggest asking the dermatologist for a biopsy of one of them.

Terri

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Terri Warren.

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