TMI alert - anyone had ulcer type things down below?

[ginger2000]

Hi - This is truely TMI but I am struggling a bit!

I am 22wks pg and thought I had thrush as suddenly got v sore on Weds/Thurs although not really more discharge than usual and did wonder if I was reacting to a pantyliner I wore (this has happened before) - went to docs yesterday as I couldn't handle a BH weekend with no treatment - she gave me a Canesten pessary which I did yesterday.

Today however, I have managed to get a good look down there because I applied yogurt for some relief and it hurt! I can see a number of ulcer type blisters on the inside of my 'lips' - they resemble the ones that I am prone to getting in my mouth. I have never had this before and indeed have never heard of it before - anyone else???!!
I feel a bit of a freak and not sure what I can do to take away the irritation they are causing!

Any thoughts/help?

could it be an allergic reaction to something in the canesten??

don't think so as I think they are what was causing the soreness in the first place and that thinking it was thrush was wrong! might be an allergic reaction to something though?

It sounds like it could be genital herpes.

I think you should go back to the doctor. Good luck.

I too think you should go back to doctor, take a wee sample - I once got v.sore from a UTI which I had wrongly assumed was thrush.

I agree that you need to pop and see your GP.

sorry to be naive but can you just suddenly get herpes even if you have only had the same sexual partner for 10 years (and he you!!) Agreed that I probably need go back to docs

puts hands up shamelessly

I have - turns out I had become infected after shaving - the ulcers were on the ladygarden rather than inside-ish

I was bricking it, cos I too thought it was Herpes, but thankfully it wasn't. Herpes can lie dormant for years before coming out. Also if you have had some O Action whilst you or he has had a cold sore, and you have come into contact, H can spread that way.

Get thee to the quack!

Sounds like herpes to me. It can lie dormant and you could have got it from oral sex (does your OH ever get cold sores?)

Herpes isn't a big deal once you get over initial shock though! If you got it from him you can't give it back to him iyswim.

How painful is it? Pop a cold tea bag on your bits. Or a bottle of cold water to cool yourself down on the ulcers. Salt baths can help.
Doc will give you tablets and cream. Cream is best thing ever as it numbs the pain!

However might not be herpes. Go to docs asap since they cant check for herpes if symptoms have gone.

It definitely sounds like Herpes- which is totally consistent with you having had coldsores before. It can be tranferred through contact like oral sex. If you google it should explain. Don't worry- it doesn't point to infidelity!

It does mean that you need to go back to the doctors and get it treated and put in your notes though, because active herpes has implications for a vaginal birth in terms of passing infection to your baby. Your healthcare professionals will be able to help though, don't panic.

does sound like herpes which can break out if you have had mouth ulcers in the past, oral sex with a partner who has had mouth ulcers. There are differengt kinds, from mild to more severe. The first outbreak can be very painful and subsequent outbreaks much milder. Used to be considered really dangerous to the baby if infected when giving birth and they might have suggested Em Cesaerian but the risk is thought to be less severe now. Speak to your doctor who should refer you to a Gynae. it's quite common to have outbreaks during pregnancy - I did and it was quite worrying.

oh my - this is all rather embarrassing then isn't it?! I think you guys might be right and it is herpes but I am so surprised! I haven't ever had cold sores and neither has DH - have had mouth ulcers ever since I was a child but I didn't think they were the same thing?

Anyway - it the BH so can't get to docs until Tues so will have to worry, grin and bear it until then. SkipHopJump - will be using some of your techniques later!

I feel like a teenager not a married women in her mid 30s!

sorry meant cold sores rather than mouth ulcers - different thing. Are you in much pain? My first outbreak was really bad and I endedup being admitted to hospital but a dab of cream worked wonders once I had been daignosed. If it gets bad don't suffer when it can be easily remedied. It still could be something else though.

Herpes can lie dormant for many many years then break out in times of stress - basically the virus lives in your body and tries to break out but then gets zapped by your immune system. When your immune system is a bit down the virus can sneak out and do its thing.

I'm afraid most doctors won't be able to diagnose it and you will have to go to The Clinic while you are having an outbreak.

If you do have them you will need to talk to someone about antivirals - they work really well but I don't know if you can take them while pregnant.

IME thrush-like remedies like yogurt don't help herpes.

second what traumaqueen said. If I had went to 'the clinic' straight away I would have saved myself a lot of pain and time. I was mortified but the staff were great and it was all handled really quickly- had good councelling to explain the ins and outs.

thanks - might look into clinics on Tuesday - am in fair amount of discomfort but easing off a bit.

guess my immune system has been low due to work and pg so could be what triggered it if that's what it is.

Sounds like a classic case of herpes. Do not panic. Incredibly common. Go to the clinic asap.

Hello again,

I just wanted to say a big thanks to all who advised me to go to a clinic - they were so helpful this morning and although doc couldn't say for sure (until tests come back) she was pretty convinced I do have herpes - She thinks i might have had it before but not realised and that the pg has triggered a bad episode and that I may have been carrying it for years without knowing. She has done a blood test to see if this is the case as this will hopefully show that the baby may have some of my antibodies and so the whole sorry business will not affect baby and/or birth.

I left feeling reassured but annoyed that I have somehow picked up this hideous virus that will be with me for the rest of my life

Thanks again

Hello again,

I just wanted to say a big thanks to all who advised me to go to a clinic - they were so helpful this morning and although doc couldn't say for sure (until tests come back) she was pretty convinced I do have herpes - She thinks i might have had it before but not realised and that the pg has triggered a bad episode and that I may have been carrying it for years without knowing. She has done a blood test to see if this is the case as this will hopefully show that the baby may have some of my antibodies and so the whole sorry business will not affect baby and/or birth.

I left feeling reassured but annoyed that I have somehow picked up this hideous virus that will be with me for the rest of my life

Thanks again

Get your partner checked out too

Just wanted to say don't panic about herpes. I've had it very occasionally since I was 19 - in my forties now. If you've not been bothered greatly until now, you probably won't be much in the future.

Didn't stop me having vaginal births either. Hope all goes really well for you x

That's reassuring Nickoka - we did talk about that and will be talking to midwife next week. Have already had one c/s and am keen to avoid another!

www.herpes.org.uk/PR_apr04.htm

Hiya

Just to say to everyone that the The Herpes Viruses Association is great. I really recommend you read their stuff - they have the evidence to show how incredibly common the herpes simplex virus is, and how the media-stoked stigma around simplex is so unhelpful and unnecessary.

The link above is to a press release from 2004 about birth. There is more recent information on their site about the latest thinking on birth in the speech by Dr George Kinghorn (a consultant in sexual health medicine).

You may find you are better informed than your midwife!