enjoy_good_health1970 asked:


Hello. I'd like anyone with any input on any of this to please reply. My story is very long. I will condense it considerably.

BACKGROUND:
I am a 38 year old white male with fair skin of mostly Irish and Cherokee decent. Until last year, I'd say my health had been really great, and I have had little need for doctors or medicines over that period. I have gone to more doctors and more frequently in the past 6 months than I have the previous 37 years combined. The greatest health problem I have is genital herpes which I contracted Sep 01, 2002 (a day I'll certainly never forget, and not fond memories). Apart from that my only other complaint is "piles," which I do not see a doctor for.

Prior to August 1997, I'd had 3 sexual partners in my life, and all activities apart from oral were protected, even though all 3 were in committed relationships. From August 1997 to August 2008, that number rose to somewhere around 50. Most with whom I had unprotected sex. All were heterosexual. I count myself very lucky and fortunate to have made it 11 years of living that way without contracting very dangerous and even deadly diseases. August 1997, I decided to give up sex, likely forever. After all, I think I have had enough for several lifetimes.

Since ~Sep 01, 2008 (about the same day of year as my HSV infection but 6 years later), I began itching profusely on my inner thighs very near my crotch. I immediately tried treating it at home as jock itch. When this failed I tried simply Hydrocortisone. I then tried Permethrin (for scabies, crabs, mites). I then tried Neosporin. I then tried Benadryl cream and pills. After all of these failed, I decided to go to the doc. I initially went to the GP that had years earlier diagnosed the HSV. She gave a 14 day course of TRIAMCINOLONE topically with Doxycycline orally for 2 weeks. After this failed, she told me to go see a urologist. I went to a urologist that had diagnosed me with phlebothrombitis of the penile vein a few years earlier from too rough of sex. That resolved about 2 weeks later. He said he had no clue. He told me to see a dermatologist. I went to a dermatologist that I'd seen a year earlier just out of curiosity about a funny little bump that had been in the center of my chest for ~8 years. It was totally painless and was only an object of curiosity. I think she said it was Lipoma and that nothing could be done about it. I was ok with that. By the time I'd gone to see the dermatologist, my entire scrotum, crotch and upper inner thighs were beet red. She took one look and diagnosed it as erythrasma which she treated with Vtyone (Iodoquinol+Hydrocortisone) topically and Azithromycin orally. This improved things considerably. After this 2 week or 10 day treatment, only my scrotum remained red and it merely burned instead of itching. The crotch and thighs looked fine. She didn't schedule a follow-up. At the end of treatment, I called to inform her that my scrotum was still red and was burning. She couldn't see me for ~3 weeks. Since by this time, I'd been wrestling with skin difficulties in this general region for nearly 3 months and since I had "great balls of fire," I went to another (new) GP (I'd never liked this lady who'd diagnosed me with HSV and who treated me with TRIAMCINOLONE+DOXYCYCLINE). She came across rude and apathetic and seemed to enjoy making me wait for no reason at all). I like the new GP, he is friendly and at least projects a caring image. He treated it as a male yeast infection with Diflucan orally and Ketaconazole topically.

Ok. I am getting longer and more detailed than I wished. Anyways, when the yeast infection treatment from the new GP failed, I called the dermatologist again. This time, oddly enough, she could see me the next day. She treated it as chronic jock itch with Oxicanozole (all these "zoles") topically. This failed. Holidays came. She couldn't see me. I went to new GP again, he gave me a cream with betamethasone and clotrimazole. This didn't help. After the holidays, I go see dermatologist again. She gives me PROTOPIC (She didn't say much. She didn't say why. She didn't even inspect things.) I applied it immediately. 2 hours later I was LITERALLY in tears from pain (burning). By this time it was 6PM Friday. I wasn't going to call her. I immediately washed the area. Washing was painful. After a few minutes the pain was still off the charts intense. I took 800 mg of Ibuprofen. A few minutes later, the pain was off the charts. I tried applying some Lidocaine cream. A few minutes later, the pain is still of the charts. It then dawns on me to try an ice pack. Within minutes the ice pack relieves the pain considerably, not completely. However, I find that the entire night until the wee hours of the morning I had to keep an ice pack on it to keep from balling my eyes out from pain. The next few days, the pain was back to manageable, but constant, as it was before
Hi Mags.Thanks for the response.I am thankful for anyone who takes the time to read my concern & attempts to provide insight.I have not checked those symptom checkers yet.I may do that soon.I had tried webmd's version & healthnet's.I even paid a dermatologist on that site to answer my question.As with my real doctors, he was useless.He suggested something like, "it may be a rash in the seborheic dermititis/eczema family" or something & suggested I try steroids.I'd already mentioned I'd tried 3 steroids.With regards to the Valtrex.Ever since my 1st outbreak,I have taken 1g daily for prevention & even 4g daily for one day for outbreaks.About 6 weeks ago, I resolved to take NOTHING at all, not even Valtrex or Tylenol or Clariton or a vitamin.I did so to see if perhaps I am experiencing a side effect that perhaps noone has ever experienced before.I now simply wash only once every 2 days & apply no lotions or powders.The rash has improved modertaely at best,if at all, since this post.

Caffeinated Content

Jade Simpson asked:


HSV2 is the virus which is usually involved in genital herpes. It can lie dormant at the base of the spine for years and then stress, a change of regime, or simply phase of the moon May trigger an outbreak of painful lesions on the genitals. About 12% of people in the Western world have become infected with herpes, but only one in five of these people have been diagnosed. This means that people who are infected May spread the virus to several sexual partners without even realize they are doing.

Protecting Yourself

One thing that many people do not realize is that herpes lesions around the mouth (for example, cold sores) can be spread on the genitals. Although the virus that causes cold sores, HSV1, tends to be less serious and less cause outbreaks in the genital area, it is always contagious. For this reason, a condom is necessary for people who have herpes.

Another mistake many patients is if they can not infect a partner if they have no injuries. Wrong. Even if the person with herpes refrain from any sex, then he or she lesions, there is still a chance of 10% per annum to pass the infection to their partners to sleep during the disease.

Early symptoms

When you are first infected with herpes, you can submit a week or two of symptoms that include May swollen glands, fever and fatigue and urinary symptoms such as inability to urinate and pain while urinating. Most people write these symptoms as being out due to a case of influenza or a urinary tract infection and do not bother to investigate further.

The symptoms later

Most infections genital herpes are limited to genitals. During the active phase of infection, women tend to develop painful lesions on vulva and their lips, and men to develop lesions on the penis and scrotum. Antiviral drugs can help shorten the duration of herpes outbreaks. Continue anti-viral therapy May reduce the number of homes as well.

During dormancy time, no injuries were visible on the genitals and the infected person usually feels no pain or discomfort. However, it is important to remember that even if the injuries are not visible, the infected person May still transmit the disease to his or her sexual partners.

How many times the HSV2 virus returns depends on many things. During the early years, recurrences May arrive as often as five to twelve times a year. As the patient is more used to manage his condition, however, outbreaks become less frequent and more severe.

Common factors that seem to influence outbreaks of stress, poor diet, not having enough rest, and damage to the skin, such as sunburn. Among women, the menstrual cycle May be related to outbreaks.

People on anti-viral therapy tend to have fewer epidemics, so talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking your medicine for herpes. It is important to remember, however, that if you stop taking the drug, herpes lesions likely to recur fairly quickly.

Psychological Aspects

Our society attaches a lot of guilt and shame to sexually transmitted diseases like herpes. Because this behavior, some people believe that herpes patients are at fault and, therefore, deserve no sympathy. It is important to remember, however, there are literally dozens of diseases either caused or aggravated by the behavior of our choice (for example, lung cancer, diabetes, liver disease), and little ' between them share the stigma of sexually transmitted diseases. If your doctor gives you an attitude, or worse, a conference, find another doctor quickly. You need someone who you will treat non-judgmentally and compassion.

If you continue to feel plagued by poor self-esteem, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, sadness, etc, consider a few sessions with a psychologist or a psychiatrist who can help you find ways to improve your mood and self-esteem.

Conclusion

Nobody wants to hear that they have genital herpes, but he did not need to specify the end of your happiness, nor does it mean celibacy for life. Like any other chronic illness, it can be managed by medication, lifestyle changes, and a positive attitude.



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