Hemorrhoids? (major TMI here!!) (also need answer fast!)

In My Humble Opinion
101

Well, until he got to the whole bloody-brown smearing from the crease of his thigh, this was similar to something I deal with on semi-regular basis.

I do get brown smearing from my actual anus, but I have always figured that was either fecal matter that gets stuck in the hemmorhoid, or whatever else it may be (fistula? would it present like that?).

Mine also doesn’t have a strong aroma, other than a faint… pooeyness. Kinda.

However, next time this happens (itchy butthole, swampass that leaves a skid mark… very embarassing) I may see if I can see my doc for a culture and such. I have discovered that coffee makes this happen almost on command, so I figured it was dietary. Seems I may have been wrong? Dang. :frowning:

On a side note, the one man I know with herpes (oral) I also know has never informed any partner of his, ever, including his wife (now ex). Needless to say, she was very very angry. Not sure if I have an obligation to inform the new woman he’s sleeping with (or her husband). Life is full of difficult decisions.

102

Alright, it’s been a while and I’m back. Thanks for all those who helped me out with info. I admit I did freak out a little bit, but I’ve never had herpes before. But just to fill you all in if there’s anyone still interested, I finally got the doctor to draw some blood and do a urine test this past weekend, he said they’ll call me when the results arrive. So it still might not be herpes, but I’ve kind of already resigned myself to that fact.

I guess I freaked out mostly because of what I saw as contradictory information given to me by everyone. On one hand, people were saying I should throw away the towel/underwear and have to tell potential partners of this before sex and wash my hands all the time. On the other hand, I was told it’s not a big deal, I don’t have to disinfect every surface I touch, and I could still lead a normal life. I just want to know how contagious I am and the websites didn’t help nail the specific questions I have.

For one thing, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are different strains right? One’s mouth and one’s genitals? Can the one on your genitals become mouth herpes? Or will the genital version only affect genitals and the mouth one only affect mouth areas? I’m also still unsure of how contagious I am. The doctor said that only the lesions itself will be contagious, but the virus could get on other areas if I touch a lesion and touch something else. But when there are no lesions, I still might be outbreaking, I just can’t see it. So when I don’t have an outbreak, I should be free to rub my genitals on anything and not infect other surfaces? (not that I want to do that). And none of the websites addressed how long a contaminated surface would stay infected, anyone have an idea?

Anyway, thanks for everything. Apologizes for the TMI

103

Hey YogSoSoth, thanks for the update.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 are different strains, and 1 tends to be in the mouth and 2 tends to be on the genitals but as others have pointed out up above, up to 30% of genital herpes can be caused by HSV-1.

I think you can transmit HSV to another person while asymptomatic. However, I wouldn’t worry about the virus getting on surfaces that are non-human while asymptomatic. I don’t think it can live on bedsheets, for example, and then get transferred to another person.

Here’s hoping it’s not HSV and something easily curable instead.

104

Of possible interest:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/245/is-it-possible-to-contract-herpes-from-a-hot-tub-or-spa

It is hard to give a definitive answer about virus lifespan outside a host because it depends on the the virus and the temperature, humidity, etc. It is going to last longer in a gym locker room than in a bedroom, for example. In any case, that lifespan would be measured in minutes/hours. It can’t survive indefinitely.

105

Here’s a good article on HSV 1 and HSV 2.

106

These things are not contradictory. It is simultaneously no big deal AND you need to take precautions against spreading it around.

Don’t rub your food in your crotch before you eat it. Things like that.

107

That’s just always good advice.

108

Well…what’s the diagnosis?

109

I agree! You can’t leave us hanging!

110

Whether hemorrhoids or something else, this is excellent advice. Not a critique of your personal hygiene. I’m no doctor nor even any relation to the healthcare profession, but the crease area is particularly susceptible to skin secretions (waxy, slippery buildup), along with accumulation of very minor waste matter that can exacerbate any irritations, and is not helped by the continuous irritation of underwear rubbing. It becomes painful and even raw after awhile.

It could be that diet, or some particular environmental condition, is adding to the problem, requiring more than usual hygienic care such as multiple showers or baths to address the affected area. Hemorrhoidal treatment can also help, as an addition, since they’re medicated to inhibit bacterial infection and promote skin healing. A pharmacist can make any additional recommendations for care. Such flare-ups can take about a week of dilligent care to fade away. But if it starts to last two weeks, you may want to see a doctor to find out what else could contribute to the issue.

111

Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure anyone was still interested so I didn’t post.

About a couple weeks ago I got the diagnoses back from the doctor. Turns out I’m positive for HSV-1 but not HSV-2, so I got the less severe one, and that 1 typically manifests in the mouth but for some reason I guess I have been doing a lot of sleep-anus-licking or something. We both couldn’t really figure out why I had it down there

However, upon re-examining the original rash, it was clear that the rash wasn’t really on my genitals. It stayed clear of the bottom of the testicles and didn’t go anywhere near the penis. It was more in the butt crack, in the taint area, though I think I may have felt the bump of a blister or something around the anus when I cleaned it.

It was kind of a relief too, to hear from a doctor (not that I don’t trust all of you), that something like 80-90% of people have HSV-1 and it wasn’t a big deal. He said that I’d be contagious when I have a flare up, and give it a week after it’s gone before I do any kissing. He discouraged me from sharing food, but said it wasn’t cause I have the disease, but he simply discourages that anyway.

So it looks like as far as sexual activity, everything’s a go. I can randomly shoot loads into people’s faces without worrying about herpes. A punch in the mouth maybe, but joke’s on them, they’ll get herpes on their fists if I’m having an outbreak :smiley:

I feel kind of like a superhero, albeit someone like Beast who’s powers can also be a hinderance. If I ever get into a jam, say a mob war or have my cover blown while a sleeper agent embedded with terrorists, I’ll bite my lips and rub some open wounds on my hands and fight crime as Herpes Man. If anything, it should make an interesting movie of my life after my bullet-riddled body is found in the woods

112

Well that sounds a lot less devastating than you were expecting!

Herp herp hooray!

113

I call dibs on playing your sidekick Cold Sore Boy!

114

Wondertwin powers, activate!!!

115

Okay…I’m a little confused. You mention avoiding kissing during an outbreak yet you mention that the rash “down there” was HSV1. Does that mean you have HSV1 in both places (i.e. was the rash definitively identified as HSV1 or did the doc run an Ab test and tell you that, yes, you have been exposed to HSV1). I ask because you mention the strange location of the rash. But, HSV1 can infect skin in places other than your mouth or genitals.

116

I think the HSV-1 was in both places. That somehow the typical mouth version got down there, due to the aforementioned sleep-anus-licking. The facts are that I have HSV-1, and the doctor believed that the rash down there was an outbreak of that. He said that though it’s rare, it’s possible for HSV-1 to express itself down in the genital area so I guess that’s what happened here

117

deep breath

I have herpes, both HSV-1 and -2 as a matter of fact. It is not worth freaking out over. It is worth taking precautions.

If you have HSV-1 originally in or around your mouth, you might have accidentally self-innoculated yourself by picking up virus when touching your mouth and then transferring it to your perineum. The problem problem with both versions of the virus is that you can be completely without symptoms and still shed viral particles.

Your immune system and the antivirals can beat back the infection, but the virus will always reside in your nerve ganglion, where the immune system cannot reach it. In that, it’s very similar to chicken pox. Once you’ve had chicken pox, you carry the virus in your peripheral nervous system ever after. For some unfortunate people, it can reactivate and cause a very painful rash along the nerves it inhabits. That’s shingles, and it sucks.

My advice? Be aware of your body so you can spot symptoms of a breakout before it gets bad. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom with soap and water. While the longer you have the virus, the less likely it is you’ll self-innoculate, make a special effort to keep your hands away from your eyes. Ocular herpes sucks even more than the regular sort, and the ocular nerve gives the virus a direct path to your brain.

Consider eliminating sources of the amino acid arginine (chocolate, nuts, wine, and cheese) and increasing your intake of lysine. There’s some evidence that propolis (a bee product) has antimicrobial properties and taken as a pill or applied topically can help with breakouts (pubmed.gov has several papers addressing this). Docosanol, better known as Abreva, helps but stings. I’ve read recently about, but haven’t tried, aloe vera as a topical treatment.

If you have further outbreaks, and they are painful, ask your doctor for a topical lidocaine prescription. You will kiss his toes in gratitude.

Every health practitioner I’ve talked to no longer refers to “oral” herpes or “genital” herpes. There is so much oral sex going on, both types of virus will set up camp where they find a warm, wet environment.

I’ve had herpes for four years now, and I still have regular outbreaks. My doctor told me I got hit with a very high viral load when I was infected. Yes, it sucks. I wince when people crack jokes or use the diagnosis to judge someone. If a person has ever kissed or had genital contact with another person, they could have herpes. It’s not a death sentence, a scarlet letter, or a romance killer. You just have to make sure you get informed consent and practice safe sex. Valcyclovir has been shown to prevent infection of the partner of an infected person.

Now, go forth and continue living your life.

118

That was brave and chock full of good advice, phouka. Thanks for posting it.

119

Thanks, Opal!

120

Good post overall. Thanks.

Just curious about that part. First, how could he tell that? And does that make some sort of difference thats important somehow?