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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Herpes/cold sores/paranoia PLEASE HELP
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Herpes/cold sores/paranoia PLEASE HELP
by WORRIEDASHECK, Feb 13, 2006 12:00AM
The following were the results of a herpes specific test I took last month.
hsv igg type 1 h> 5.00 hsv igg type 2 < .90
< .90 negative no hsv-1 or hsv 2 igg antibody detected
.90- 1.10 equivocal > 1.10 positive hsv-1 or hsv 2 igg antibody detected
at the bottom it also said: herpes igm antibody not detected.
I was told that the positive simplex 1 test only meant that at some point in time I have been exposed to the strain that causes cold sores. Not that I have genital herpes. The reason I got this test done is because I had what appeared to be a cold sore. I have never had one before, and for the past 3 yrs I have only kissed my girlfriend in the mouth. Here is what Im afraid of, the cold sore or whatever it was healed weeks ago. Like before the last week of Jan. There is still a small scar there but only if I told you would u even see or notice it. I know it has healed because new skin has grown over it. Now it just kind of resembles a small patch of skin i may have peeled off my lip.
Now I admit ever since then I may have looked at my face and lips about 50 or more times a day, because I am so paranoid. Im also at work and at home in the bathroom looking at my penis to see if i have an herpectic looking sores. I know that symptoms are tingling in the genital area, and sometimes it seems like something is tingling. I dont have any sores, just normal anatomical variants.
I have done so much research on this. I was told that once the cold sore is healed it is no longer contagious. What im worried about is passing this along to my girlfriend via oral sex. I have performed it on her maybe three times.
Once on Feb. 3 and maybe sometime last week. We have had sex of course as well. Now my question is, the cold sore was healed just like it is now, but could it still be in my saliva??? My doctor told me that i have had those antibodies for at least 6 months to yrs. My girlfriend has never had problems before, and she is the only person Im with like that. I havent cheated or strayed, and I have tested negative for every other std.
Im just so scared she may have herpes now. and if she does maybe she passed it to me from me?? Im not sure how to talk to her about it. Also when women get yearly exams, papsmears, do they test for everything? Because she and I have NEVER had any problems before. I mean she may have had a yeast infection or bacterial infection, but thats common with women.
Also I have facial hair and in the corners of my mouth are small bumps which have probably been there since I have had facial hair, now Im scared those are cold sores. I put abreva on them and it started to burn slightly does that mean its a cold sore?? Also I saw that symptoms are your mouth tingling, and sometimes that happens, but maybe its me thinking too hard? I remember last week sometime my girlfriend kissed me, and my mouth started to tingle immediately afterward. I dont know what to do. Please answer my questions, thank
hsv igg type 1 h> 5.00 hsv igg type 2 < .90
< .90 negative no hsv-1 or hsv 2 igg antibody detected
.90- 1.10 equivocal > 1.10 positive hsv-1 or hsv 2 igg antibody detected
at the bottom it also said: herpes igm antibody not detected.
I was told that the positive simplex 1 test only meant that at some point in time I have been exposed to the strain that causes cold sores. Not that I have genital herpes. The reason I got this test done is because I had what appeared to be a cold sore. I have never had one before, and for the past 3 yrs I have only kissed my girlfriend in the mouth. Here is what Im afraid of, the cold sore or whatever it was healed weeks ago. Like before the last week of Jan. There is still a small scar there but only if I told you would u even see or notice it. I know it has healed because new skin has grown over it. Now it just kind of resembles a small patch of skin i may have peeled off my lip.
Now I admit ever since then I may have looked at my face and lips about 50 or more times a day, because I am so paranoid. Im also at work and at home in the bathroom looking at my penis to see if i have an herpectic looking sores. I know that symptoms are tingling in the genital area, and sometimes it seems like something is tingling. I dont have any sores, just normal anatomical variants.
I have done so much research on this. I was told that once the cold sore is healed it is no longer contagious. What im worried about is passing this along to my girlfriend via oral sex. I have performed it on her maybe three times.
Once on Feb. 3 and maybe sometime last week. We have had sex of course as well. Now my question is, the cold sore was healed just like it is now, but could it still be in my saliva??? My doctor told me that i have had those antibodies for at least 6 months to yrs. My girlfriend has never had problems before, and she is the only person Im with like that. I havent cheated or strayed, and I have tested negative for every other std.
Im just so scared she may have herpes now. and if she does maybe she passed it to me from me?? Im not sure how to talk to her about it. Also when women get yearly exams, papsmears, do they test for everything? Because she and I have NEVER had any problems before. I mean she may have had a yeast infection or bacterial infection, but thats common with women.
Also I have facial hair and in the corners of my mouth are small bumps which have probably been there since I have had facial hair, now Im scared those are cold sores. I put abreva on them and it started to burn slightly does that mean its a cold sore?? Also I saw that symptoms are your mouth tingling, and sometimes that happens, but maybe its me thinking too hard? I remember last week sometime my girlfriend kissed me, and my mouth started to tingle immediately afterward. I dont know what to do. Please answer my questions, thank
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 14, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 14, 2006 12:00AM
You are worrying yourself in an unnecessary tizzy. Even if you had a cold sore, once it's healed it's very difficult to pass the virus on via kissing or oral sex. Not impossible (maybe) but very very difficult. Look at it this way: tens of millions of people have cold sores, most of them a few times a year. They avoid direct contact while the sore is fresh, and then get on with their lives the rest of the time. That is what you should do.
If you're staring at your mouth that often, leave the face alone so as not to confuse the issue and show a doctor so you can get the reassurance you need.
Tell your girlfriend that you might have had a cold sore--it's not clear at this point that you did--and that you have been advised that the risk of transmission is tiny as long as there's no sore visible. Show her this answer if you think it will help.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
If you're staring at your mouth that often, leave the face alone so as not to confuse the issue and show a doctor so you can get the reassurance you need.
Tell your girlfriend that you might have had a cold sore--it's not clear at this point that you did--and that you have been advised that the risk of transmission is tiny as long as there's no sore visible. Show her this answer if you think it will help.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
please let me know if you can copy and paste this link, it is a pic of my lip.
thank you
http://us.f812.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/?box=Inbox&MsgId=9869_32957728_180216_1629_20714_0_18151_27795_421702470&bodyPart=1&filename=&tnef=&download=1&YY=49128&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b&Idx=0
copy and paste link.