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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Herpes / November 2005Could it NOT be herpes? First sores/blisters! sigh... (LONG)
OK, two weeks ago I went to a stripclub with some friends. I got a lapdance, did some kissing with the stripper (she had mentioned something about her lips but she said it was not herpes), and then when I got home I regretted it. At home I read up on herpes a bit, and REALLY regretted kissing her. I felt some tingling, but that might've been a mental thing 'cause of all I read. Nothing happened, and so within a couple of days I had completely forgotten about it. Honestly, I had not thought of it at all for the last 10 or more days. Fast forward to today, almost exactly two weeks later (about 14.5 days after kissing). This morning I woke up and showered. When I stepped out of the tub and looked in the mirror, I saw two pimple-like things on my lip! I'm almost certain this is the very first time I've ever had that. I may have possibly had one pimple like thing on my lip a very long time ago, but it's a very vague memory and I think I popped it. I've spent all day looking up herpes info on the internet, and every waking moment thinking about it and feeling very depressed. While I come to terms with this, I've got a ton of questions. Could it be anything other than herpes? What else manifests itself on the lips like that? Do pimples ever actually appear on the lips? I've had acne, sometimes somewhat severe, since the 10th or so grade 5 or 6 years ago. Is there any hope of it not being herpes? These things came out of nowhere. If it's herpes (cold sores, etc), shouldn't it have been preceded by other symptoms like fever or cold, itching, and fatigue? I just felt a tiny bit of a sore throat, but nothing else. No itching whatsoever. Some fatigue, but I attribute that to a full week of 5 hours of sleep or so a night and starting to do some cardio exercise. I'm guessing the first outbreak doesn't need any stress or the other symptons to form, but I didn't really feel anymore stressed going into this than before. I can think of a few things that may cause stress, but I didn't really feel stress from them. How common is it? I see sites saying that everything from 50% to 95% of adults have it. It seems my parents get cold sores occasionally and with them being such normal people, it takes a bit of the load off my mind. Still, it makes me feel sad to think that perhaps I have this now and all of my friends seem so normal that maybe they don't have it (unrealistic, but this is what's going through my mind). How severe is it? Websites say that sores for HSV1 on lips usually only appear 2,3, or 4 times a year. My mother had them last month, but could honestly not remember when the last time before that was. Is that the general experience for people on this board too? Also, how does it physically manifest? At this point, I seem to have two pimple-like things (possible 3), but some of the pictures I see on the internet have me really scared. Being in college and at a job where I'll be constantly seeing people up close, the prospects of large sores like I see on the net has me shuddering. How contagious is it? I know with the sores it's just about a sure thing, but what about without any symptoms showing? Most of the sources barely talk about sores on lips from HSV1 and spent the majority of the time talking about genital herpes or HSV2. What are my chances of infecting someone when not having sores? I'm guessing the chance is always their. Assuming there is always a small chance of infecting someone even without having sores present, will I have to, forever, warn potential mates before even kissing them?! I mean, if the first date goes great or a few dates down the line kissing on the lips becomes a possibility, do I have to warn them of cold sores/herpes just for a kiss?! This seems very inconvenient and like it'll kill any potential intimate moment. More than that, having to always say a disclaimer makes me depresssed. But if she's also prone to occasional cold sores on lips (50%-95% chance!), that means we'd be clear to make out, no? Are all those drugs discussed strickly for genital herpes or would it be recommended that people with occasional cold sores also use them? Anyway, it's hitting me hard. I guess I have to come to terms with it. Any questions answered would be appreciated. Hi, I'll address your questions one by one below. But first I want to stress that the only way to know if it is herpes is to get to a doctor RIGHT NOW. Have them run a culture if they can. If you wait too long for a culture, then you run the risk of a false negative. Also you can have one of the many herpes blood tests out there. If you test negative, that means you didn't have herpes before. But if you test positive, then you probably did have herpes prior to this. If you test negative, then go back in for another blood test in three weeks. If that test is positive, then that means you got herpes from your recent encounter. The reason is that it takes a few weeks for your body to build up enough antibodies to be measured through a blood test. Of course, the science on the dates is a bit flawed, perhaps, but I have no other advice for you there. >Fast forward to today, almost exactly two weeks later (about 14.5 days >after kissing). This morning I woke up and showered. When I stepped [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >very long time ago, but it's a very vague memory and I think I popped >it. With the fact that both your parents have herpes, you might very well have had it for a long time and never had an outbreak. For some people, it can manifest as pimple looking things. I get pimple looking things along my lip line. But these pimples will be very small and either hurt or itch. They tend to be harder than regular acne. But that's just me. I have no idea if it is oral herpes or not. >I've spent all day looking up herpes info on the internet, and every >waking moment thinking about it and feeling very depressed. While I >come to terms with this, I've got a ton of questions. The internet has a wealth of great information. And a wealth of bad information. >Could it be anything other than herpes? What else manifests itself on >the lips like that? Do pimples ever actually appear on the lips? >I've had acne, sometimes somewhat severe, since the 10th or so grade 5 >or 6 years ago. Is there any hope of it not being herpes? Yes. It could be pimples reacting to your stress. >These things came out of nowhere. If it's herpes (cold sores, etc), >shouldn't it have been preceded by other symptoms like fever or cold, >itching, and fatigue? No. It's different for everyone. >How common is it? Pretty freakin' common. >It seems my parents get cold sores occasionally and >with them being such normal people, it takes a bit of the load off my >mind. NOrmal people? Care to elaborate? We hate stigmas in here. >How severe is it? Depends on you and how healthy you are. The first few outbreaks will be the worse. Then it gets better. >Websites say that sores for HSV1 on lips usually >only appear 2,3, or 4 times a year. My mother had them last month, but [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I'll be constantly seeing people up close, the prospects of large sores >like I see on the net has me shuddering. Those pictures on the internet are worse case scenario. Most people that I know rarely ever have outbreaks. But, there are so many factors in what causes outbreaks that it is difficult to come up with an "always this way or that way" scenario. >How contagious is it? Very. When showing symptoms of any kind (tingling, etc) you are considered contagious. However, you can pass it along through asymptomatic shedding as well. Early on in infection, you will shed more than later on. So the first year or two, you are more contagious than year three, etc. >What are my >chances of infecting someone when not having sores? I'm guessing the >chance is always their. The chance is always there. >Assuming there is always a small chance of infecting someone even >without having sores present, will I have to, forever, warn potential >mates before even kissing them?! We've debated that here. It's a tough call to make. I can tell you now, though, that if you test positive for herpes, then you must always tell your partner before engaging in oral sex because that's how one tends to get type 1 genital herpes. >I mean, if the first date goes great >or a few dates down the line kissing on the lips becomes a possibility, >do I have to warn them of cold sores/herpes just for a kiss?! This >seems very inconvenient and like it'll kill any potential intimate >moment. More than that, having to always say a disclaimer makes me >depresssed. It depresses all of us here, too. But you'll have to make the call on the kiss. >But if she's also prone to occasional cold sores on lips (50%-95% >chance!), that means we'd be clear to make out, no? Yep. Once you have it, you have it. But you still can't keep it a secret. >Are all those drugs discussed strickly for genital herpes or would it >be recommended that people with occasional cold sores also use them? You can definitely use the antivirals. They not only cut down on the length of outbreaks or the occurances of outbreaks, but they also cut down on the amount of time asymptomatically shedding. There is also Abreva which many swear by. And you can try lysine - it works for some, not for others. You can buy that in a cream for your lips as well. But all those other things that claim to treat herpes...most of those are scams. >Anyway, it's hitting me hard. I guess I have to come to terms with it. > Any questions answered would be appreciated. Well, first you need to find out if you have herpes. Work on that prospect then worry about the rest later. ar "NOrmal people? Care to elaborate? We hate stigmas in here. " Sorry, I know it can happen to anyone. It's just that I've always had a stigma against what I considered "herpes" (STD, genital area), not knowing that cold sores are herpes. And now that I most likely have a type of herpes, it's messing with me mentally. I'll try to get to a dermatologist as soon as I can, but it might be 3 or 4 days from when they first appeared. Thanks for the responses. My pleasure to help. :) Yeah, we know how it can mess with your head. Now you see why we hate stigmas. Just get to a doctor as quickly as you can. It's probably too late for a culture but ask about a blood test at least. Just remember that a blood test can tell you if you have herpes but it can't tell you WHERE you have herpes. ar >"NOrmal people? Care to elaborate? We hate stigmas in here. " > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Thanks for the responses. I really hope it's not herpes. They seem to be diminishing already at the end of day 2. Two are dark like they may have dried blood. The other is almost the color of my lip and just a little bump. They're hard to notice unless you look closely. It's likely that it's herpes and that's what I believe. And even though it manifests differently in different people, the fact that they are so few (for a potential first outbreak), that they are dissapearing so quickly, that there was no itching/burning preceding their appearance, and that I very rarely feel like scratching it (I don't), gives me a glimmer of hope that it's something else. They appeared on the left edge of my mouth with two on the edge of lip and skin, but a pimple (or what I believe to be a pimple) appeared directly underneath the middle of my mouth and I popped it. It was big and yellow so I think it's a pimple. I hope these others are that too. Quit poppping them! If it is herpes, you could wind up spreading the infection. It used to be very common for dentists to get what they call herpes whitlow (around the fingernails - broken skin lets the virus invade the body ANYWHERE that it contacts active viral cells. Do as I say, not as I do!!! Just after I posted this I discovered that I had manage to spread my own virus. The term "oh crap" comes to mind. After 11 1/2 years of only getting lesions in a very specific area of my genitals, I know have a big honking patch of vesicles smack dab in the middle of my left butt cheek. Question to you other posters out there - should I anticipate experiencing a prodromal sensation there, when I've never really been able to identify it elsewhere??? <sigh> That really sucks and I'm sorry this is happening to you. Keep in mind that people with genital herpes stand to get outbreaks anywhere below the belt line and more typically anywhere within the boxer shorts area. So it's not that unusual for the virus to travel a different nerve pathway to reach the surface from the ganglia at the base of the spine. It's also important to make sure that the patch you have is not something else ~ perhaps an allergic reaction or some sort of bug bit. It's always good to rule everything out before assuming it's herpes, especially if you are not used to getting outbreaks in that exact spot. Hang in there, Angela  SignatureInstant Message Anyone? Yahoo! Messenger - yoshi2me http://www.yoshi2me.com/ http://www.herpes-help.blogspot.com/ > Do as I say, not as I do!!! Just after I posted this I discovered that > I had manage to spread my own virus. The term "oh crap" comes to mind. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > <sigh> I'm pretty sure that it was a bug bite, which I scratched after masturbating during an outbreak (way too much information, I know!). Instead of one red bump I know have a large patch of blisters. Haven't had a good night's sleep in days, it hurts to sit even more than it did when I just had inflamed labia, and all in all I'm really f'ing miserable!!! The good news is that during a practice counselling session in school yesterday (I'm in first year of the Assaulted Women's & Children's Counsellor Advocate program in Toronto) my classmate who was practicing her counselling skills helped me have a major breakthrough - i.e. it's quite alright to be at a place in my life that I can appreciate my body and enjoy my sexuality, that doesn't mean that I deserved to be raped 33 years ago. Other women using this group who have been victims of sexual violence may understand the extent to which these things can really mess you up for the rest of your life! ((((((((((((((i-need-to-pass-you-a-cyber-hug))))))))))))))))))))))) It sounds like you have been through A LOT. But - it also sounds like you are not allowing it to get you down or to hold you back. That's something to be proud of. Angela ;-) > I'm pretty sure that it was a bug bite, which I scratched after > masturbating during an outbreak (way too much information, I know!). [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > sexual violence may understand the extent to which these things can > really mess you up for the rest of your life! Thanks hon. Whereabouts are all you folks anyway? Funny thing about cyberspace, you could be on the moon for all I know (well, the International space station maybe....lol). That "oh by the way" conversation never gets easy, does it? When I was "trying" to meet Mr. Right (or at least Mr. Not-as-wrong-as-the-last-guy!) there were men who thought I was being presumptuous if I disclosed right away and others who gave me sh.t for waiting "too long". (it's only too late if he catches it, as far as I'm concerned, but that's just me!). What have you people found to be the easiest/best/least confrontational way to disclose? (I'm hijacking the thread again, aren't I....it's an ADD thing - I interrupt my own train of thought so often I'll tell 3 different anecdotes and completely forget where I was going when I first opened my mouth!). Hi Diva ~ By the way, I like your screen name. ;-) > Thanks hon. Whereabouts are all you folks anyway? Funny thing about > cyberspace, you could be on the moon for all I know (well, the > International space station maybe....lol). I'm in Omaha, Nebraska. > That "oh by the way" conversation never gets easy, does it? When I was > "trying" to meet Mr. Right (or at least Mr. > Not-as-wrong-as-the-last-guy!) there were men who thought I was being > presumptuous if I disclosed right away and others who gave me sh.t for > waiting "too long". (it's only too late if he catches it, as far as > I'm concerned, but that's just me!). In my opinion, as long as you are telling the person *before* sex then that is all that matters. > What have you people found to be the easiest/best/least confrontational > way to disclose? (I'm hijacking the thread again, aren't I....it's an > ADD thing - I interrupt my own train of thought so often I'll tell 3 > different anecdotes and completely forget where I was going when I > first opened my mouth!). When I met Don (my husband) I waited three months before I told him that I had herpes. #1 I wanted to get to know him first and #2 I wanted him to get to know me first. Here's our story from my husband's perspective: http://www.yoshi2me.com/herpes-telling.html Angela ;-) Im haveing weird spots on my penis and am freaked. Iv looked online and it looks very much like herpes. But no pain or sensation or any other septoms. They have multiplyed over the last few months. They are very faint most of the time. to the point of not even there. But sometimes they are quite visable. Iv not had sex for like 2yrs and they apeared about 5 months ago outa noware. If there is something other that it could be than herpes id take it. Im terrified to find that it is herpes. Help with info if you can. Hi, The only thing I can tell you is to get to a doctor for a diagnosis. ar >Im haveing weird spots on my penis and am freaked. Iv looked online >and it looks very much like herpes. But no pain or sensation or any [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >that it could be than herpes id take it. Im terrified to find that it >is herpes. Help with info if you can. Since you said that they have been multiplying over the past few months, and no pain was involved, you might want to consider that it could be genital hpv. I have had genital hpv in the form of mole like warts near the groin and also in clusters of tiny bumps on the penis that almost resemble herpes blisters. Mine are painless, and they do tend to come out slowly. I have had hpv treated but it always returns and I have had it about 9 years or so. Herpes usually comes out quickly and is sometimes associated with aching in the surrounding area, itching and pinching or tingling. Still I would talk to a doctor. > Im haveing weird spots on my penis and am freaked. Iv looked online > and it looks very much like herpes. But no pain or sensation or any [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > that it could be than herpes id take it. Im terrified to find that it > is herpes. Help with info if you can. Does the treatment rid you of the warts or marks compleatly? Untill the next break out? ty I believe that all of us will be different. Mine have never come back. ar >Does the treatment rid you of the warts or marks compleatly? Untill the >next break out? ty Well here's what happened to me. I had the fleshy kind for a long time, getting cryogenic treatments every now and then. Finally a doctor did a laser treatment on one of the persistent areas. Its been 6 months and that one hasn't come back, but strangely a couple of months later I developed genital warts in the cluster variety right on the genitals as opposed to the groin area. I haven't had those treated but they've gotten a little smaller, so I'm technically shedding all the time from that now. I'm just going to leave it I think...it's not bothering me really. I'm tired of going to the doctor for this, having it 9 years already. I guess even if you don't have symptoms with hpv, you can still transmit the virus through sexual contact. I imagine some people never get them back and others do. > I believe that all of us will be different. Mine have never come back. > > ar > > >Does the treatment rid you of the warts or marks compleatly? Untill the > >next break out? ty Thanks hon. Whereabouts are all you folks anyway? Funny thing about cyberspace, you could be on the moon for all I know (well, the International space station maybe....lol). That "oh by the way" conversation never gets easy, does it? When I was "trying" to meet Mr. Right (or at least Mr. Not-as-wrong-as-the-last-guy!) there were men who thought I was being presumptuous if I disclosed right away and others who gave me sh.t for waiting "too long". (it's only too late if he catches it, as far as I'm concerned, but that's just me!). What have you people found to be the easiest/best/least confrontational way to disclose? (I'm hijacking the thread again, aren't I....it's an ADD thing - I interrupt my own train of thought so often I'll tell 3 different anecdotes and completely forget where I was going when I first opened my mouth!). Hi Diva, I don't think you spread the virus. The butt cheek area is still serviced by the same nerve bundle as the genital area. I think the virus is just using a different nerve pathway. Spreading it to a new area would cause it to show up on your hands, or eyes, or torso, etc. ar >Do as I say, not as I do!!! Just after I posted this I discovered that >I had manage to spread my own virus. The term "oh crap" comes to mind. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > ><sigh> |
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