Question: Hello!
This goes back to a previous question that I have already asked, but I am still worried. I recently had a rash on my gums that turned into ulcers. It wasn't very painful, except for when I brushed and flossed. It didn't really keep me from eating. I woke up with it on a Sunday (May 17th) and went to the dentist on a Monday. She said that it looked like herpes but she wasn't sure. But whatever it was, it didn't look serious. I freaked out. Mainly because I have only had one sexual partner, and it was just oral sex in mid January of this year. And that was the only person I have kissed this year. Other than the oral outbreak, I have had no cold sores or weird rashes and have been fine. Last year I kissed only two other gentleman. Other than that, I do not know where this rash would come from. Two days later after visiting the dentist on May 19th, I went to the doctor and she took one look and said that it did not look like herpes and no further testing would be needed. She said I probably caught some weird virus. And also herpes test were not very reliable at all. The only other cause I could think of was 12 days prior to May 16th I took a sip of my friend's drink. And 8 days prior to May 16th, another friend took a sip of my drink from my straw. I know that sharing food is a no no, but none of these people had visible cold sores. My doctors don't seem to be worried, but I am very worried. I am so careful and don't have much experience sexually. And the one person I had oral sex with, seemed trustworthy and clean. The dentist did say that I could have picked it up from a restaurant or the subway. This really sucks. I read online that if herpes is not diagnosed visibly early enough, people mistake it for something else. I also read that intra-oral herpes is very painful, and usually the first sign of a primary herpes outbreak. I do not want to be sentenced to a life of recurrent cold sores. Have I been reading too much online. Anyhow, my intra-oral rash cleared up in 5-6days. Is it possible that I am having a late outbreak, even though I had oral sex in January? Also wouldn't it be much more severe, preventing me from eating or drinking? I am so confused. My lymph nodes were swollen a tad, but that went away in a day or two. I also did have a touch of diarrhea.

Hi,

So I had one on my upper right gum, and one on my lower left gum. It's already gone. I wish I would have taken photos, but I didn't. I did take an Advil Saturday night for a sinus headache, cause I hadn't been keeping up with my allergy medication. But other than that no history of fever. No sore throat, but one of lymph nodes was a little tender but it wasn't too bad. Let's see, the first day I noticed it was Sunday morning. It looked like a patchy rash, but it didn't hurt at all. It had like a white film over it. The dentist even ran his finger over it. No pain or fluid leaking. He sent me to an oral surgeon on Monday afternoon, and that's when she said that it looked like herpes but she wasn't sure. Also because I didn't really have outbreaks anywhere else. She also said it didn't look serious and just wait to see if it goes away. And then I think by Monday night it looked more like an ulcer, I would say smaller than a millimeter or way less, but longish along the gum line. There were some tiny tiny pin and needle sized ulcers at the end of it. Tuesday night, I had a touch of the diarrhea, took Pepto right away. So Wednesday I went to the a regular doctor and she said that it did not look like herpes but some inflammation with gingivitis. And due to the queasy stomach I could have some other virus. She sent me away with antibiotics. My gums bleed a tiny bit to the touch at the end, but once again wasn't really painful. By Friday it was pretty much gone I would say. So like 5-6 days. Itched a bit on day three and four, but not really much at all, but it might have been due to what I had just eaten. I had some liquor and other flavorful foods. Didn't have any problems really eating other than than. It only hurt when I brushed or flossed. I have been tired, but I have also been packing to move from my apartment, so I'm not sure what's going on. But I am freaked out. During those several days, I also gargled with salt water frequently.
One more thing, this also took place during May 17-22