Question:
Ok. I'm 30 years old, male, and in pretty good shape. I slept with a stripper about 4 weeks ago and used condoms the whole time. A day or two later I got a rash on both of my thighs. No bumps or lesions occurred, just the rash. Accompanied with this rash has been extreme skin sensitivity. Half the time my legs, buttocks, and even knees feel like they are on fire. Sometimes the pain lessens and I think whatever this is is going away, but then it comes back. Advil does nothing. Sometimes I take xanax and that helps. The rash has lessened some, but the pain is still present in a big way. I know I've got herpes. I won't try to pretend I don't. At this point I really just want the pain to go away. I'm seeing a doctor next week to confirm everything.

My questions for you are:
1) For those who have this affliction, how long does did it take for your pain to go away?!

2) The rash is still there! Does this ever go away?

3) Tell me this gets better! Please!

4) Could this be anything else with these symptoms? After all my research on the internet it doesn't seem like it. Hard not to cling onto hope.


This has been a very bad year for me. I've lost my mother, sister, and grandmother. I'm trying to stay positive, but at this point I feel like I lost a bet with God. I want a family. I want normality again, but it seems like something in this world is trying to make sure that doesn't happen. Oh yeah, I'm also seeing a therapist next week.

Thanks for answering this.

Answer:
the first few weeks are the toughest.

You will reach a point where you'll only know you have it just because you think about it, not because the symptoms are there. And that's IF it is herpes.

Please - do yourself a favor and get checked. No need in causing yourself undo stress if not needed.

I'm sorry you've gone through so much trauma, but just know that a herpes diagnosis is not that big of a deal when you consider all the other things in life there is to worry about.

I've been living with it for almost 10 years now and I am just as happy as I have ever been. It's just a little inconvenience from time to time is all.

Hang in there and please let us or me know if you have any questions or if you need someone to talk to.

Gayla

Answer:
i've known ive had it for almost 10 yrs. my wife who was my girlfriend at the time got diagnosed and was devastated. we didnt know if i had given it to her or if an ex had. i know i used to develop pimple like sores on my belly or would itch occasionally but nothing to worry about so i thought.well 2 weeks ago i felt a tingling and its been downhill every since. im in EXTREME pain day in and day out. i went to the doctor last week to confirm what i have is herpes and she said it was. ive been taking valtrex but it has absolutely no effect on me. if i cant get help or relief from this soon i am on the verge of suicide. its THAT painful. a constant burn or itch and my penis and balls are almost raw from oozing fluid. i have no idea how much longer i can take this..i cant even sleep!!!

Answer:
Hardhead.... go back to the doctor.... the valtrex should be working by now... maybe you need to try something else.... just know you will get through this...

Answer:
i've known ive had it for almost 10 yrs. my wife who was my girlfriend at the time got diagnosed and was devastated. we didnt know if i had given it to her or if an ex had. i know i used to develop pimple like sores on my belly or would itch occasionally but nothing to worry about so i thought.well 2 weeks ago i felt a tingling and its been downhill every since. im in EXTREME pain day in and day out. i went to the doctor last week to confirm what i have is herpes and she said it was. ive been taking valtrex but it has absolutely no effect on me. if i cant get help or relief from this soon i am on the verge of suicide. its THAT painful. a constant burn or itch and my penis and balls are almost raw from oozing fluid. i have no idea how much longer i can take this..i cant even sleep!!! My symptoms are similar to yours except I've got red spots on my hands too which I think are herpes from fingering my gf who had it and didnt know. This virus is eating me alive.

It didnt burn or itch at all at first. The blisters have gone down around my groin after 2 weeks...but today I fell itchy like hell around my groin.

Answer:
Both of you need to check with your doctors about the dosage of Valtrex you are taking right now. When you are prescribed Valtrex suppressively, it's not nearly enough to treat you when you are in outbreak mode. Once you treat the outbreak, then you drop back to suppressive dosing. I found that out the hard way with back to back outbreaks and only using 400 mg. Acyclovir 2x day. Not enough muscle for an outbreak! Also, you can spray the itching or painful areas with Solarcaine - same thing you use for sunburn. This should help a lot.

Answer:
I hate taking drugs if I dont have to. Anti-virals for herpes have only been around for how many years??? How do I know what the long term effects are...would I be worse off in the future (like say they destroy my liver/heart/etc) from taking them???

Its been about a week now where I've felt normal again. The bumps have all gone down everywhere...

[venting rant]herpes sucks ass. my stupid dumb bitch ass gf should have figured out she had herpes instead of thinking she had strep throat. after getting strep throat a couple times you'd think she would have figured out something else was going on. stupid bitch. either that or she lied to me about it. i think she is too stupid to lie though. now I have herpes everywhere. lower stomach/pelvic area/penis/hands. i'm just glad its not on my face too.[/end venting rant]