Is this Herpes?

[Alex33]

Hi Terri,

I’ve gotten into a quite confusing situation. Wish you could kindly give me some advice.

Exposure history:
1.5 months ago casual unprotected sex with a girl hooked up online. I do remember vigorous friction between my penis and her inner thigh before intercourse which led to immediate mild discomfort and the viginal was super dry.

Symptoms:
2 days after, started to experience some acute pain near the friction spot. Dry and tender penis. 10 days later I went to a doc who located 2 bumps over the meatus. The bump there seems not to improve for 5w. Mild fever happened 3 times, acute pain happened twice each for several hours, my penis is slightly swollen(but no lymph node enlargement according to doc) and feels uncomfort when sleeping sideways.

Been to 5 docs so far.
The first 2(GP) were quite sure it was herpes after visual inspections and my symptoms. The last 3(1 sex health doc & 2 dermatologists) docs thought it was not herpes. Both dermatologists thought the bumps are merely caused by friction. One suggested no treatment and it should resolve on its own. The other suspected papilloma suggested cryotherapy and I received 2 cryos there. Days after cryos I didn’t notice much change but the dermatologist said it’s improved.

Examinations:
urine PCR test, swab PCR test(3 weeks after the exposure, the doc said the bump was still wet when the swab was taken), and a blood test(syphilis and herpes) around 3w after the exposure. All negative except HSV1 IGG positive. (HSV1 17.0 HSV2 0.1. Not sure if I had a cold sore before)

Photo: https://imgur.com/a/5h2TIj1

I’ve taken Valtrex 500mg x2/day for more than 2 weeks, antibiotics, and antifungal ointment. The acute pain has eased up mostly, but still, some discomfort down there and the bump hasn’t changed at all.

Symptoms still bothering me:
1. mild to moderate pain around meatus, tender and slightly swollen penis
2. stubborn bump over the meatus
3. dry glands and very sticky white charge on glands.

[Terri Warren]

1. mild to moderate pain around meatus, tender and slightly swollen penis
2. stubborn bump over the meatus
3. dry glands and very sticky white charge on glands

Honestly, none of this sounds really like herpes to me.
is there a reason that after all this confusion you’ve not yet done a herpes western blot?

Terri

[Alex33]

Just received my 6w blood test result: HSV2 IGG 0.08, HSV2 IGM 0.06.
I am living in Asia where I thought western blot is not accessible. If it is possible please let me know.

I also experienced and already resolved these:
1. Very mild fever(felt easy to sweat, not confirmed thermometer) twice and weakness, each lasted for a day or two.
2. Knee soreness.
3. Dull groin pain for a week. Tailbone soreness once for an hour after seating for a few hours( Never had that knee soreness before)

Could you kindly look at this picture to see if it looks like herpes bumps to you?
picture: https://imgur.com/a/5h2TIj1

Thank you for your help.

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by Alex33.

[Terri Warren]

This sounds nothing like herpes to me – not at all.
your IgG blood tests are negative.
If you have concerning skin symptoms that are visible, you should have a professional look at them and swab test is appropriate.
Sorry, we don’t do pictures on this website.

Terri

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