Weird Rash and Swollen Glands

[blimeyzawn1.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I'm having some really bizarre symptoms, and I can't get to my gyno till Friday, so I thought I'd see if any of you have any idea what this is. About a week ago I got this REALLY painful rash on my thigh right where it connects to my crotch. I figured it was just razor burn or heat rash or something and ignored it. But yesterday I woke up and the same rash is ALL over the top of my vulva and now on the other side of my leg. And the lymph nodes around my crotch are really, painfully swollen.

I'm certain that it's not poison ivy, and I haven't been bitten by anything recently that I know of. I also just got std-tested, so I'm fairly certain that's not it as well, though I know that's always a possibility. Also, I'm having some bladder issues. I don't know if they're related or not, but thought I'd post about them just incase they might be. It doesn't really feel like I have a bladder infection (I've had PLENTY before, so I know what they feel like), but when I need to pee, it's hard to do. Like, when I squeeze my bladder muscles I then have to unsqueeze them and sort of wait a few seconds for the pee to come out. Graphic and weird, I know, but I'm desperate here. I've convinced myself that I'm going to drop dead of some horrible disease before my doctor's appointment so I need whatever info you guys have. Anyone ever have anything like this happen?

Comments

[mmmmhmmm.livejournal.com]

First off, are you sure you can't get to see your gyno earlier? Or even go to urgent care or something? It sounds really painful!

Second, I'm sure you're well aware of the danger of diagnosing yourself on the internet (or having others diagnose you), but with the caveat of "I'm not a doctor", I'd say it does sound like POSSIBLY an initial HSV (herpes) outbreak, which I know can cause urinary difficulties, sores/rash and swollen glands. The intial HSV outbreak usually occurs about 2-20 days after exposure according to Planned Parenthood:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/herpes.htm

Could that coincide with an exposure you might have had? I think symptoms can also appear for the first time YEARS after exposure, though that's not as common. They almost certainly wouldn't have tested you for HSV if you got STD testing, they pretty much never do unless you specifically ask. Plus, if this IS an initial outbreak, the antibodies might not show in your blood yet, though they would show on a swab test.

But you know it could also be heat rash, or an allergy to something, or some other skin condition that I don't know anything about. So I will reiterate my "get thee to a doctor" comment!

[blimeyzawn1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm definitely not planning on diagnosing myself over the internet :-) Just looking to see if maybe anyone else has had this happen before so I can have some idea of what my doc might say, just to ease my mind. Unfortunately, I can't go to see her till Friday. The docs around here are extremely busy, and I'm lucky I didn't have to wait two months. Way to go for prompt medical care, I know.

I definitely wouldn't have had exposure to HSV in that time period, but now you have me wondering if, through some freak of nature, my partner got it years ago, never had an outbreak and then passed it on to me. I'll def. bring it up with my doc. Thanks!

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

Were you tested for HSV?

[blimeyzawn1.livejournal.com]

Nope, but my partner and I have been monogamous for five years. He HAS been tested for it because he was with other people prior to that. I've never been with anyone else, so I think it's pretty unlikely. Still a possibility to bring up with my doctor, though, I guess.

[hardtogetover.livejournal.com]

It can lie dormant for years, and you can get it from someone who you've never seen have an outbreak. Its kinda scary how many people have it and are passing it around unknowingly.

[laurenoid.livejournal.com]

This is just a guess, but does your rash mostly consist of small, purple dots? I had a lot of strange symptoms, including a huge scary rash like that, when I had a particularly awful case of mono. The rash I had was actually tiny burst capillaries called petechiae.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petechiae/HQ01208

I don't remember it being painful, so it's a long shot. You should get to your doctor this week for sure, but don't worry too much. It sounds kinda nasty though and if your pain is really bad, go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic. You shouldn't have to wait in pain, even if it's nothing big, you know?

[diedtrying.livejournal.com]

ugh, if that wasn't the most horrible rash/illness I ever had. I looked at myself in the mirror and puked because I was so afraid of myself. haha. That sounded ridiculous, but I puke when im scared

[laurenoid.livejournal.com]

Did you get the petechiae from mono, too? I haven't met anyone else that had my weird symptoms yet, but I was out of commission for almost a whole semester, so I guess it was a pretty bad case. I also had a weird hive outbreak before I figured out I had mono---huge, scary hives all over my body, that worsened by the hour! Crazy.

[diedtrying.livejournal.com]

I did get the petechiae from mono. My doctors thought I had strep and said I should be healed in a week, so after a week I went back to school and was feeling better, but the minute I started back up dancing my glands swelled so much I could barley breath and I started getting these really gross oatmeal looking hives all over my body. When I went back to the doctor he said it was still strep. I finally went to a different doctor after I got the purple spots, and he said it was mono, tested and had a positive result. I was out of school for a really long time.

[ms-douchebag.livejournal.com]

I used to get rashes from laundry detergent, particularly scented ones. It sounds like it's a lot more serious than an allergic reaction, but it could be a possibility. Or not, since I don't know much about these things. I hope they can take care of you quickly, it sounds like a bitch. Good luck!