Question:
previous sex history: hooked up with a lot of girls, but just mostly just making out and putting hands down eachothers pants and dry humping through underwear and so forth...but then, with this one girl, who i knew was promiscuous, i got to what could be considered unprotected sex, but just for an instant....3-4 months later, this is where my story begins....

so almost 3 years ago, during the summer when i was spending time at the beach a lot, i noticed this spot about the size of an eraser head with a smaller little patch below it on one side of my foreskin (i am circumcised) that was red, and flaked off thin layers of skin. it did this repetitively for i guess close to 2 months, then eventually went away. i have since had protected sex, masturbated, and nothing else has come up other than the spot just showing a little scarred skin. i never thought anything of it.

around 6 months ago, the condition came back in the same spot. it never bothered me physically until i started researching what it could be and tried self-treatment for herpes (topical remedies)...i don't know if it was my treatments, my researching, or the flaking skin that made the skin thin to the point that i felt tingling and crawling sensations around my groin...i understand that there are thousands of nerve endings in this area, so as far as i know it could be related to any of those conditions....or herpes. i got a HSV-2 Rapid blood test, and it came back negative (just what the doc said).

now, after putting skin healing lotion on it, it seems a bit better, but it still flakes but only in the same spot (especially after masturbating), and never gets raw enough to the point where i think i could have a culture done on it. after putting lotion on it for a while, i've noticed small, shiny, red, pin-head, dots (about 3-5 or so? and can only see them sometimes) which i think is just clogged pores from the lotion, but i have no idea. i understand that herpes-1 is generally more mild, but have had a cold sore on my lip at some time during my life so testing for that would be pointless....

....sorry for it being so long, but does this sound anything like the Herpes that anyone else has? i have an appointment with a derm, but that's not until like 2 months. PLEASE, any insight or suggestions to help nail this condition would be MUCH APPRECIATED.

Answer:
2 months is a long time to wait for an appointment with a dermatologist, which might not be very conclusive anyway. If I were you I would go to a Planned Parenthood or STD clinic and get a type specific Herpeselect ELISA blood test and urine test for syph/gon/clam. The good news is you don't have to wait for antibodies to develop. Good luck.

Answer:
you only got tested for type 2?
its possible that you transfered it to your genitals, and now you really will never know- as if it is, it will be the same type- which is pointless as it doesnt indicated where its located.

it sounds like it might be. i would go to a std specialist/ doc, as derms will put herpes dead last unless you have a obvious sore.

Answer:
Is Elisa better than the Westen Blot test? as far as other std's go, i've never had any kind of discharge or anything like that so i wouldn't expect another std...it was never a large chancre nor did it ooze or pus, just peeled away, then did it again like a week later or so. my first symptoms (about 3 years ago) were so mild i though it was a rash or some irritation, but i suppose it wouldn't hurt to get tested for everything.

...the HSV-2 Rapid-test i took was about 2.5 years after my first symptoms. i figured that i would have had antibodies built up by then.?

Answer:
you only got tested for type 2?
its possible that you transfered it to your genitals, and now you really will never know- as if it is, it will be the same type- which is pointless as it doesnt indicated where its located.

it sounds like it might be. i would go to a std specialist/ doc, as derms will put herpes dead last unless you have a obvious sore. the std clinics i looked up sounded like they only run tests, and not really observational analyses. for the most part, all i have is my story of symptoms to tell and, well, my penis. if it showed i was positive for hsv-1, it still wouldn't help much cause like you said, it doesn't say where. and since it has never been an open sore like pictures i've seen or other descriptions of symptoms (i know they vary) i don't know think a swab test would do any good.

i really do appreciate yalls input, and thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy descript over...if there are any questions that would help give a better description please ask...thanks again.

Answer:
The Western Blot is the superior test. If you have herpes specific blood work it will only tell you if you have the virus but it will not tell you a location and since you've had coldsores you will probably test positive.

Disregard the information on classic signs of a herpes outbreak they will confuse and mislead you. Very few people actually have classic symptoms and most have symptoms so mild that it takes a long time to diagnose.

The only way to know if you have herpes is to get a blood test or if you have a sore come up again have it swabbed by a dr when it is actively full of fluid or open.

Here is a link that will give you some of the specifics about hsv.



Answer:
Say you have genital herpes and you don't know it.. (no symptoms) and you touch that area and then touch another area.. say, your face or mouth... can it spread there too?
How does everyone make sure they don't spread it??? If you don't have symptoms and you could have that viral shedding (I think that is what it's called.), what if you touch another area.. will it spread??

AGH!!!!!

Answer:
yup its possible to spread herpes while not having a active outbreak. how do you prevent it- you be very carefull, wash your hands, make sure your not touching the site you think you have herpes then touching your face/eyes/genitals etc etc. just basic stuff really.

Answer:
i'm going to the dermatologist because i also have psoriasis or eczema (sp) in different places on my scalp, in my ears, and behind my ears. and i guess i'm just gonna throw this in there too and see what he says.

for those who took the Western Blot test, ive seen that it's $98. have people gotten their insurance to cover this exam?