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I need help understanding what is going on with me...

Posted , 4 users are following.

Teach93
Teach93

Hi everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's kind of a long story but i'll keep it as succinct as possible. I am a 23 year old male, who isn't very sexually active. 6 months ago I had unprotected sex with a girl who I knew and who isnt infected(according to her).

Anyways, about a month later I noticed 3 pimple-like bumps on my glans penis. They didn't hurt, weren't sensitive, were red and then stuck out a little bit from the skin (one is the size of a pencil eraser in diameter, the others are smaller). Those were my only symptoms. Again, no pain when touched, urinating, or ongoing irritation, no itchiness, no fevers, muscle aches, etc. The only thing were these bumps. 

Over the course of 5 months I have been to two sexual health clinic, my GP, my school doctor, and another doctor. All of these have said it is not herpes, and they told me doing a swab would be pointless because the sores are not herpes. I was referred to a dermatologist who I haven't seen yet (won't for a while, appointment is in a few months). Last week, I got fed up and said I'm going to go in and get the swab just to totally ease my mind (I am starting to develop a new relationship with a girl I really like and didn't want to have sex with her, just in case). The doctor there said nope, this isn't herpes based on the symptoms you're experiencing and the bumps themselves look benign and not related to any STI whatsoever but we can do the swab to ease your mind.

Fast forward to yesterday, and I have been diagnosed with HSV-2. I talked to the doctor about it, and she said she was very surprised and not expecting that result at all, and if I have any questions I should go to a sexual health clinic with questions.

SO, I went to one of those clinics today, where they once again went through the process of telling me no, this isn't herpes and it is possible that there was lab error.

For all intents and purposes, she was quite adamant that she believed that this isn't herpes, and for me not to worry - which was comforting but I mean... How is this possible? How could 6 doctors (3 of them being SEXUAL health doctors) all say the same thing, yet the results show up positive? I was told its not common, but not improbable. What is going on with me?

[u]TL:DR[/u]; have had red bumps on my penis head for 5 months. Saw lots of doctors (3 sexual health) in that time and they all told me there is no way it is herpes so not to worry. Got fed up and forced the swab anyways, which is apparently positive - to TWO doctors bewildered surprise. I don't know whats going on. I don't know how to cope with all of this uncertainty, but I should be certain because of the positive result right?

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Teach93
    Teach93

    Posted

    Also, to add on, I know this may sound like denial. And that's fair. I just can't shake the fact that 5 Doctors told me that it isn't. One of them (especially one of 3 sexual health doctors) I have seen would've said something like... "hmmm... maybe it's herpes", but no. Even when I've been positively diagnosed from a swab, the sexual health doctor STILL wasn't convinced - she even told me I didn't have to worry about the meds I was given for the herpes. I'm still going to take them, just in case. 

  • ziena75859
    ziena75859 Teach93

    Posted

    What a staroy. Reminds me of mine. I've been tho several doctors and each and everyone of them took a long and were completely sure it was not herpes. My symptoms started to appear 3 weeks to a month after my sexual encounter with a new partner unprocted sex. I believe I have it bc what else could it be

    • Teach93
      Teach93 ziena75859

      Posted

      What symptoms were you experiencing? Just bumps? They lasted a long time too? Or were you experiencing pain or anything too?
    • ziena75859
      ziena75859 Teach93

      Posted

      First thing I noticed was my inner labia being swollen then getting bigger and bigger, experienced headaches, vaginal discharge, itchy groin, and bumps that come and go on my pube area, no pain or anything just itchy ness
  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus Teach93

    Posted

    Interesting, and honestly, it really doesn't sound like herpes at all. Very weird that the swab said it was. I can't explain what's going on. Maybe after three months from exposure you can do the IgG test for herpes just to see how that turns out

    • Teach93
      Teach93 FelizCastus

      Posted

      Well thanks for the reply. For now, I'm going to move forward believing I have it. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Teach93

      Posted

      If the bumps are still there, you could also do another swab test, maybe a pcr swab test rather than a viral culture. Just to verify the results of the first swab, although a positive swab should be pretty accurate.
    • Teach93
      Teach93 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I went and got another swab at the sexual health clinic from a different doctor. This doctor was the one that was hesitant in telling me to take the meds. Also - idk if anything would change this fast - but I've been on the meds for a day in a half and there are no changes to the bumps that are there

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Teach93

      Posted

      The meds aren't actually that effective unless taken asap upon first symptoms.

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