I have never been tested but know I have herpes. I've had it for 7 months now. Had oral contact with a girl who had what I presume was a sore on her upper lip. I was a little worried about it at the time so after the "oral" contact I washed my penis with soap and water almost immediately. Exactly 1 day later I started feeling a pinch inside my urine hole (urethra). It hurt for a few days and kept getting worse and worse. It hurt so bad I would buckled over in pain at times. I knew I had something but was afraid to go to the doctor so I didn't go. I also read that if it was herpes it would go away soon anyways. Well, it didn't go away. I don't know how long the initial episode lasted because I would constantly feel symptoms. Stinging inside urethra, some slight burning during urination, pounding headaches, severe testicle pain, lower back pain, tingling in scrotum, and stabbing pain in hips / pelvic region. In fact, I have had simptoms non stop for the past 7 months. I did end up going to the doctor 3 times. The first time at about 3 months after the contact. I explained to him what happened and he was convinced I didn't have herpes because there were no lesions on the outside. He said I would for sure have lesions on the outside if I had herpes and that it would be very difficult for me to get herpes inside the penis. He put me on Ciphro for 10 days. It seemed to help a little bit with the sore testicles but not with the other symptoms. The testicle pain did come back and I went in for a second time. He put me on another antibiotic, Keflex, which didn't seem to help much at all. I never really demanded a herpes test because I'm afraid of being diagnosed with it. I guess I've been waiting it out and hoping it will just calm down and go away. From what I've researched, there is a very high probability that if I do have it, I have HSV1 which occurs much less frequently (oral contact). Could genital HSV1 really cause non-stop symptoms for this long?

At about the 4.5 month mark, I broke down and order Valtrex over the internet. It seemed to help with the simptoms but did not suppress anything. I was taking 500mg 2x a day and still had non-stop symptoms. I've also tried taking 500mg 3x a day (even though I know it's not FDA approved) and it seemed to work better but still no suppression. In addition, I've tried Acyclovir and Famvir. Acyclovir didn't work well at all unless I took 400mg 4x a day. Famvir worked a little better at 250mg 2x a day than Valtrex 500mg 2x a day but still no suppression. How long does it take for suppression to start working with these meds? I've tried each one for around a month at a time and no luck.

If suppression at regular FDA approved doses does not work, do any doctors prescribe higher doses? Is there anything else that can be done if suppressive medication doesn't suppress?

I've also tried Olive Leaf Extract, 20% 2 500mg pills 3x a day.....Vitamin C 1000mg 3x a day.....Lysine 1000mg 3x a day....Red Marine Alge......no luck.

Vitamin C and Lysine seemed to help a little when I wasn't taking any prescription medications at all. I've take these vitamins at the same time as the medication. Could this be why the medication is not working well?

Not sure what else to do. I have a feeling if I go to the doctor and he officially diagnoses me with herpes he'll just tell me to start taking these medications I've already tried. Obviously these don't work well. If there's nothing else they can do, I don't really see the point in going back in?

I forgot to mention, I had a urine test for Gonorrea and Chlymidia which turned up negative. That's why I'm certain it's herpes.

How long does it take for this thing to go away? Has anyone else experienced these symptoms or beem diagnosed with herpes inside the penis?

Also, I more question...is it possible I could have a secondar infection....like a prostrate infection that's causing the herpes symtpoms to not settle down?

I think your idea of the prostate infection sounds more likely than an internal herpes infection...this is why. Symptoms of herpes are most usually symptomatic, they come and go. Many times w/ a cold, flu, wearing the body down etc. an outbreak will occur. Ive never heard of an outbreak lasting 7 months...you would have to have an auto immune defiency....not to mention, other outbreaks show up in other places in the pubic area. Im assuming initial contact from her lip was on the shaft so most likely this is where the outbreak would show up. You would see it. The symptoms you described does sound more like prostate or even kidney stones.

There are so many things that can go wrong with that area down there. Also, something that looks like a sore on a lip can be a burn, a bad pimple that was popped and left to heal, an abrasion...doesn't have to be a cold sore. You would be wise to check out other possibilities. Many diseases, unlike herpes, can cause damage to your body if left alone to go their own way. It's be a shame to have your body ravaged by one of them because you assumed wrongly that this was herpes.

Can herpes cause continuous outbreaks like this? Is it possible to have outbreaks once or twice a week? Also, if I did have herpes internally like this...it is possible it could spread to my testicles or other internal organs? I would wondering if maybe this could be the cause of the testicle pain I've been having. When I went to the doctor, he also had me get an ultrasound of my testicles.....no abnormalities....but I still get the pain at least 2 days per week.

I'm wondering if I just got so much of the virus inside my body from my initial exposure....I can't fight it off. Maybe that's why the higher doses of Valtrex seem to work better. Has anyone been prescribed Valtrex or Famvir at higher than normal doses? Is there anything else a doctor can do? From what I've read, there really isn't....you just have to wait until your body's immune system catches up with the virus.

Backpacker....so in other words.....herpes will not cause additional damage to your body if you leave it alone. Has anyone experienced back to back to back outbreaks lasting this long?

Duke, Im actually in the same boat as you, and still some what concerned as to what the cause could be. Ive seen several doctor's, including 3 specialist's and been told NO to herpe's over and over even with a very small reccurent cut near the urethra (which i was told was caused from sex/masturbation and not to dwell on it.) My porblem is that i already had HSV1 when this started (after sex) and im clear for HSV2. So according to the doctor's i either have it.. or i may just never know.

My symptoms are similar - Back pain, Itching genitals, Redness near urethra, Mild burning during urination, testicle pain etc etc. Almost word for word, and lasting or showing up in one way or another month after month. I ordered Anti Virals off of the internet and have tried them..with little or no relief (even with large doses.)

Im assuming it may be prostatitis, and ive been told and read numerous places that HSV1 should be much more mellow, and ive never heard of another case similar to myne described on the website's.

Confusing to say the least.

I've never taken any kind of meds for herpes in almost 16 years of having it, and I did nothing special (herbs, diet, exercise different from my normal routine) until recently. My symptoms seem to be milder than most.

How long have you had these symptoms similar to mine? Mine have literally been going on for almost 7 months. The symptoms are pretty much constant. I get bad migrane headaches at the same time I get testicle pain. I didn't think HSV 1 was supposed to be this bad. Has anyone else had HSV 1 in the urethra like this?

Since last December.. under a year i suppose. I have to stress i was told that this was not herpes by over 7 doctor's, a couple of who'm were specialist's - however, i was given no indication as to what this could be.

Are your symptoms constant? Also, what did the doctors tell you about herpes in this location? I was told it was almost impossible to get herpes inside the urethra like this and that the only way I would have continuous symptoms is if my immune system was compromised. I was also told if I did have a compromised immune system, it would be much worse and would spread to the outside of my penis as well as other areas.

I was told that it was not herpes by every doctor ive seen, because despite itching/burning etc etc. i would have had sores on the outside of my penis/ genital area. Now, i have had two small cuts near my urethra (so small that it really just looked like skin irritation) which were both looked at by a specialist who said they were from friction (these were noticed after masturbation.)It should be noted i had NO itching/pain/burning/urinary track issues when these two cuts were there.

Im at my witt's end because, just like you ive tried anti virals to no avail, and the circumstances by which all of this happened seem really strange (i had a what MAY have been a coldsore, i had sex, and then got sick.. i dont remember using spit as lubrication..so..) it should also be mentioned that my girlfriend has had no symptoms what so ever.

Im really confused tho, because ive been to so many doctors, and read online so many different things.. and now im assuming this is either herpes 1 genitally (which, from everything i read either shouldnt be possible or shouldnt be this frequent) which is causing constant or frequent urethritis or its prostatits causing it.. ive got another appt. on monday, so ill see how that go's.

Let me know how your appt goes.

Is there anything that can be done if suppressive medication is not suppressing? I feel like I'm getting outbreaks one right after another....at least once a week....but symptoms are every day. Please respond.

Is not knowing easier than simply getting a blood test and then knowing? There is no way i'd be ordering medications over the net and self medicating for something i might not even have. You never know what taking these drugs could be doing to your body if you are taking them for something you dont have or if you are exceeding the amount which is supposed to be taken.

The first time i went to a doctor i was told it wasn't herpes and to basically go away and not worry about it. Most doctors are stupid when it comes to herpes. They think b/c what you have doesn't resemble a typical internet picture of herpes then you dont have it.

Personally, if i were you i would have a 100% std check up and make certain they do one for herpes as it's a seperate blood test to the actual test they do for std's. I would also get a full blood test and health check up to rule out any other illnesses.