for the last 5 years i've had a tingling feeling in my testicles. Everytime I ask for help on the internet people think I'm kidding.

I had shingles, was treated and he asked if i was gay and i was like no, so that was the end of that. I go to the doc and he thinks it's all in my head, but i know it's not, i have pains in the crotch, itching too, and i think i'm starting to get some outbreaks on parts of my body....

the worst part is, the tingling... i have also felt this on my nose, and i got tested for AIDS and it was negative, tested for everything he says...

I'm going insane, like I might kill myself if I dont get some treatment.

Hi Lobo,

Welcome to the board. I'm sorry you're so stressed out and frustrated about this, and I can't say I blame you. We get a lot of people here who have been given the runaround by doctors for HSV for a long time and we know how frustrating doctors can be about this stuff.

Just so you know: This board tends to be more focused on Herpes Simplex (HSV) than Herpes Zoster (shingles) and I personally don't know a whole lot about shingles. But the symptoms can be similar for both. I and hopefully others will help if I/we can. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

The tingling sounds very similar to symptoms for HSV when it is active in the system (which may or may not produce a visible outbreak). HSV is chronic -- one treatment will take care of the current outbreak (OB) but there are almost always other OBs later. The one treatment won't affect those. I think the same is true for shingles.

Why did your doc ask if you were gay because you are having these symptoms?? That makes no sense to me. What do you think the doc was getting at by asking?

Have you ever had a blood test done for HSV? If tingling like that is not a typical symptom for shingles, you might try the blood test to see if you might have HSV as well, since that can be a symptom of that.

You might get some relief by going on antivirals again (I'm assuming that's what you were treated with before). Have you asked your doctor about trying antivirals again? If s/he isn't willing to at least give it a try to see if it helps, I think you need to find another doctor. Have you seen a dermatologist yet? Or a neurologist?

Sorry for firing all these questions at you but I'm trying to find a possible avenue you might not have tried yet, or which could be tried in a different way. I'll help if I can. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

TheOneInFour

Hi,

Doc's who tell you that it's in your head do more harm than good.

I understand that it makes you feel like you are going insane when you are looking for answers. I am currently going through something similar with an itching problem in a very uncomfortable area.

Keep searching for the right doctor and get tested for herpes. Maybe you are having an allergic reaction to something. It may sound nuts but maybe an allergist can help. You never know. You have to try every venue to find answers. I assume it is not the shingles again...herpes is in the same class of virus'

Good luck and don't give up hope.

Susie

Lobo

It's easy to start thinking every single tingle or itch means something bad is happening. I've had the tingly nose, tingly fingers. etc etc. In my case, I've always been a slightly itchy person anyway, with a bit of eczema now and again. So i usually put it down to that.

When you say this doc tested you for 'everything', did he mean just STDs, or other things like, say, vitamin/mineral levels, and other possibilities?

I had a pile of odd symptoms last year, which *could* have indicated something scary,and I got tested for the full monty - diabetes, iron levels, other changes that might indicate something more serious. Not to freak you out, but it is always good to eliminate those. Eg: Diabetes can sometimes cause itching genitals; lack of vitamin B can cause tingly fingers. Some of this can be put down to lifestyle, eg alcohol, drugs, or prescribed medication.

I am of course *not* a doctor, but I am surprised you haven't (or perhaps you have?) been given a full testicle examination, given the heightened awareness of men's illnesses.

But - please *don't* go insane! This sounds like a case of FAD - 'Find Another Doctor!' And the more you worry, the more you'll think every litte twinge is a harbinger of something terrible. And maybe it is an allergy(?).

You are entitled to another medical opinion, because the current guy, with his odd questions, just isn't doing it for you. And the moment you make that call to the new clinic, you'll most likely feel a bit better.

Good luck!

Garnet

PS I don't mean to sound blase by saying "maybe it's this, maybe it's that" but I have been round the block on the clinic front...!

thanks for the feedback.

When I had shingles, he asked me if I was gay cause it could be HIV. I told him God no, but I didn't tell him that the first girl i slept with was later rumored to be HIV +, Finally, 2 years later I had the guts to spill my guts. I told the doc everything and insisted I had AIDS. So he tested me for a bunch of STD's and they all came back negative.

He instead put me on anti-depresants, which maybe helped i suppose. But I got off them because I didn't like the spacey feeling and I had my first panic attack on them.

right now, I just get red spots like little red bumpsaround my body. I did have an outbreak of these around 6 years ago.

The tingling began about 5 years ago and just got worse. I'll explain more in a bit.

diabetes runs in the family, however I never eat sweets, assuming sugar is what causes this condition?

The Doc told me my white blood cell count was a little low, nothing to be alarmed about.

I have a doc's appointment on tomorrow to discuss some x rays we took, I had a summer of Bronchidus that would not go away.

I'm basicly going to tell him to refer me to a uruologist.

Hi Lobo,

You sound a little better. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif If you're going to your doc tomorrow, find out specifically what tests were done for herpes and whether the testing was type-specific (meaning the test could distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2). Herpes blood testing is not always part of a standard STD workup, and when it is it is not always using a type-specific test, which can make a big difference in what information you can get from it.

If you felt better on antidepressants but were getting side effects, then maybe you should talk to your doc about trying a different one for a while until you're over this hump. Different antidepressants even within the same drug family can be better or worse for side effects, and certainly in different drug families. If you haven't already, you might check out the Health Boards forum on depression for more info about drugs, trestments and common side effects.

When you talk about your physical symptoms it makes me wonder if there isn't something systemic going on that's immune related. That doesn't mean HIV but could be all kinds of other things. Keep at your doc to check you out. You might ask for a referal to an Internist, who could do a workup for various systemic conditions. An allergist, which someone mentioned, sounds like a good idea too. For example, perfumes, dyes and residue in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, etc. can do strange things to sensitive skin.

FYI: Diabetes is often genetically based and is essentially the body's inability to maintain its blood sugar level within a certain range (not too high or too low). Carbohydrates (including sugar) raise blood sugar levels (this is normal; everyone needs carbs for energy) which are kept in a healthy range by insulin. But with diabetes the body doesn't produce enough insulin or is resistant to the insulin, so blood sugars rise out of control and cause long-term problems. So carbs/sugars don't cause diabetes per se, but are part of the symptoms and problem syndrome that happen with diabetes. If you eat a lot of carbs (grains, starch, fruits, sugars, etc.) it can have the same effect as eating high sugar foods...if you are diabetic. (I'm diabetic so I've had to learn about this too. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif )

You might get your doc to order testing for diabetes if he hasn't already. One thing that can be common in diabetics is yeast infections, which can be very persistent in the presence of high sugar levels. Alternatively, you might try learning about Candida (usually taken more seriously by alternative health practitioners) to see if you might have a systemic yeast infection (which might cause persistent yeast-related itching in warm, damp areas like the groin). I'm speculating here based on very little knowledge about it, but it might be worth looking into. Just an idea off the wall.

Let us know how you make out tomorrow. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

TheOneInFour

thanks guys, oh he's gonna think i'm just crazy but i dont care, i dont want to live like this and I'll fight to find out what I got.

again, thanks for believing me!

Well the doc gave me some nasal stuff for my Bronchidus drip or whatever, he also refered me to a Allergist doc, and to a Uruologist.

He reconfirmed all my other tests saying i was hiv- and had no herpes and whatever, but I am glad I will be getting a second opinion.

Good Lobo; one step down and a few to go. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Did the doc say if the HSV test was type-specific? Did he elaborate at all about that? I'm just curious. It does sound like he did include an HSV blood test among the other tests? Keep us posted about the other docs. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

TheOneInFour

he didn't specify anything like that, but he is going to send the files to this uruologist. They are pretty confident they are gonna find what wrong with me.

I'm actualy nervous to know, but I need to do this so i can get on with my life.

I'll keep you all posted!