Herpes, or another genital "rash"? - Herpes Message Board

Peach27 · 04-04-2007, 03:51 AM

OK, this is a bit of a doozey. Some of this info may not be related, but just in case, I want to give all possible information.

My boyfriend had something resembling a cold sore on the corner of his mouth that started about two weeks ago or so. I suppose I should have known better, and come to think of it I have no idea why I didn't take precaution, but we continued with our normal sexual activity - oral sex, and generally protected sex, although there were moments unprotected. Well, that last part isn't always so "normal". To our previous knowledge, we were both "clean" before.

Around the same time, I had a cold. This info may be of use later.

Three or four days ago, on the same day, I noticed that I had a temperature, a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and some interesting bumps in my genital region. After searching on the internet, it seemed most things related to herpes symptoms, and sure enough, my boyfriend had some bumps in his genital region as well (although never on the shaft, only underneath pubic hair). Luckily, I started my period on the same day! And finals start next week! Needless to say, I'm really enjoying my last few weeks in France!

His remained simple small red bumps that itched, while mine started to look infected, and never itched, but were always sore. (And right now, QUITE painful!)

We visited a doctor (and here it is important to note that I'm an American, he's an Italian, and we're both studying in France. So medically and linguistically, we're both out of our element here). She noticed right away that his were NOT herpes, but some sort of other parasite, and that my "herpes symptoms" were tonsillitis. Yet she had shock and doubt when she saw my infected bumps. She had never heard, and thought it impossible, that HSV-1 could spread to the genital region. Maybe she thought I meant that HSV-1 could BECOME HSV-2, and I know that I must have just appeared as a little-knowing, imperfect-French-speaking American that trusts the net over this trained doctor, but I did see MULTIPLE websites that affirmed that oral herpes CAN be spread to the genital region.

I also read about herpetic tonsillitis, that the first outbreak can be presented as tonsillitis. Otherwise, referring to the cold, would the drainage from that have infected my tonsils? It's just odd how it all happens around the same time.

Also, if my tonsillitis is not herpetic, is it possible that the same bacteria there is what has infected my genital sores? Or could it be bacteria from my period? I'm washing with an antisceptic wash that the doctor prescribed, as well as taking antibiotics, but the fever and sore throat, while more manageable, are not ameliorating as quickly as I remember from strep throat and tonsillitis during my childhood. Despite the wash, the sores are becoming more painful, and starting to open, as any herpes explanation has predicted.

We had blood tests for HIV and Herpes, and for me a culture on the infected area. My results are not yet ready, but my boyfriend's already came back -- negative for both (CORRECTION -- he just let me know the results he saw were only for HIV. Still don't know about herpes). His sores are "opening", but mainly as a result of when he can't resist scratching them. They aren't infected like mine. Is it at all possible for me to have HSV-2 but not him? Would a herpes blood test show results for 1 and 2, or just the one that they specifically look for?

So I imagine three things:

1) All of this is HSV-1, resulting from the cold sore;
2) Through some other means, we've contracted HSV-2 between us, unless one was an unknowing carrier beforehand; or,
3) It's some third infection/parasite/rash/thing, and the tonsillitis is completely unrelated.

So, while there's much more I'd like to know, I'm sure this is quite enough...I do apologize for such a long entry, but I'd be so comforted by some thorough explanations, and these doctors here just aren't cutting it for me!

Thank you so very much!!