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2 test or not to test (that is the question)
Before the question, let me thank GracefromHHP and Dr HHH and others for their posts. You are helping alot of people. My question is this: is the DNA/PCR blood test helpful in determining infection with the HSV2 virus? I've read conflicting information on this. There is clinical information posted online about the efficacy of this type of test and various labs offer it. So, a little clarification would be awesome. Oh, btw, I am completely new to this posting thing, so I hope I post correctly. Thanks!
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UPDATE: Hello Grace, et al. I promised to write when I had definitive information, so here it is:
I passed the twelve week mark and had my HSV2 igg blood test done and the results are negative. Since my last posting, I've learned that the intense burning pain in/on the shaft of my penis and my perineum have brought forth HPV warts. Ugg. The dermatologist did some 'freezing' of the growths and gave me a cream Veregen to apply x3 per day. I suppose I will join the HPV forum now to see what wisdom and experience I can glean/share.
I wonder if I should even bother with another HSV test at this point. I suppose I will again in 4-6 weeks.....
I passed the twelve week mark and had my HSV2 igg blood test done and the results are negative. Since my last posting, I've learned that the intense burning pain in/on the shaft of my penis and my perineum have brought forth HPV warts. Ugg. The dermatologist did some 'freezing' of the growths and gave me a cream Veregen to apply x3 per day. I suppose I will join the HPV forum now to see what wisdom and experience I can glean/share.
I wonder if I should even bother with another HSV test at this point. I suppose I will again in 4-6 weeks.....
Hi. Went today and had a dr do an anoscopy. Not much to report. Apparently I have a few small hemorrhoids but not such that should "cause major discomfort." Well, la dee da! Somethingn was causing major pain....
The dr didn't see anything else remarkable. I'm not too surprised. Friday or Saturday would've been better as they were the days when the pain was most pronounced. By now, everthing could have resolved! I didn't go because I'm doctored out. I've been too many times (at the wrong testing times) and I've tried to order tests about which doctors know nothing (pcr). I only have three weeks untl the 12 week mark. If I'm negative at that point, I will be able to assume I've been hyper-vigilant.
The dr didn't see anything else remarkable. I'm not too surprised. Friday or Saturday would've been better as they were the days when the pain was most pronounced. By now, everthing could have resolved! I didn't go because I'm doctored out. I've been too many times (at the wrong testing times) and I've tried to order tests about which doctors know nothing (pcr). I only have three weeks untl the 12 week mark. If I'm negative at that point, I will be able to assume I've been hyper-vigilant.
if you are having symptoms, be seen today and get them looked at. if they suspect herpes, they can do a lesion culture or a pcr swab of symptoms.
Grace. Hi. I need some help. Im concerned that i am having ob IN my anus. Do you know of any good previous posts on this? I've searched this morning and have found a couple that give some information but not a lot. . I dread the idea of going to another doctors office on a wild goose chase. Ive been to several over the past couple of weeks. This episode started Thursday, so if it is an ob, I'm sure it's too late for a culture. Would there be any benefit to going into a walk in doctor's office today?
I am no Dr. but personally I would relay the rectal complaint to your doctor right away and see if you can get in for a visit tomorrow. They will probably check out your prostate, hope you feel better soon and get good news.
I wrote too soon. The doctor's office called today to tell me they took the swab with the wrong equipment and the lab can't do the testing. I am so bummed out. Meanwhile, inside my rectum is on fire. I want off the ride!!! I think I am swearing off doctors. Is there any way to tell if the pain i feel inside my rectum is herpes? I don't want to be too graphic but would i be able to feel lesions?
Hi. Hope you are having a great day!
This is a posting to affirm that persistence can pay off. I awoke this morning to pain in my urethra after what MAY have been prodome last night (major itching thighs, buttocks, and sharp pains going down my legs). I did a 'self-exam' and discovered what felt like two small bumps inside the urethra that hurt like heck when pushed on.... Anyway, I finally found a clinic (took me six tries including my PCP's office) that would order the Labcorp DNA/PCR swab test that is supposed to be superior to cultures. The specimen is off to the lab. You'd be amazed at how many doctor's offices aren't aware of this option and wont even consider ordering it despite the fact that you have the Labcorp and Quest information in hand! Anyway, i've read enough posts to know that these symptoms could very well be something else entirely. Or as you like to remind folks, every symptom isn't herpes related! So, I'm staying open-minded and covering my bases.
Peace!
This is a posting to affirm that persistence can pay off. I awoke this morning to pain in my urethra after what MAY have been prodome last night (major itching thighs, buttocks, and sharp pains going down my legs). I did a 'self-exam' and discovered what felt like two small bumps inside the urethra that hurt like heck when pushed on.... Anyway, I finally found a clinic (took me six tries including my PCP's office) that would order the Labcorp DNA/PCR swab test that is supposed to be superior to cultures. The specimen is off to the lab. You'd be amazed at how many doctor's offices aren't aware of this option and wont even consider ordering it despite the fact that you have the Labcorp and Quest information in hand! Anyway, i've read enough posts to know that these symptoms could very well be something else entirely. Or as you like to remind folks, every symptom isn't herpes related! So, I'm staying open-minded and covering my bases.
Peace!
Hi Grace!
I've been moving forward without too much trouble. Waiting on the 12 week mark so that I can get a test that will actually mean something. Meanwhile, I have a question. How safe is mutual masturbation for two guys (sero-discordant) when there are no visible signs of an outbreak? I've read that it really is pretty safe, but I'd like your opinion on it. I figure that hands are pretty thick skinned, so the virus doesn't have much of a chance. What are the odds/chances that if he handles me and i happen to be viral shedding and then handles himself that he will be infected? In the absence of something definitive on my HSV2 status, I'm trying to be careful w/ my man!!!!
I've been moving forward without too much trouble. Waiting on the 12 week mark so that I can get a test that will actually mean something. Meanwhile, I have a question. How safe is mutual masturbation for two guys (sero-discordant) when there are no visible signs of an outbreak? I've read that it really is pretty safe, but I'd like your opinion on it. I figure that hands are pretty thick skinned, so the virus doesn't have much of a chance. What are the odds/chances that if he handles me and i happen to be viral shedding and then handles himself that he will be infected? In the absence of something definitive on my HSV2 status, I'm trying to be careful w/ my man!!!!
Believe you me, I'm trying to not be hyperfocused and/or unduly anxious. At this point in the process, I am quite ready to be done w/ it all. I have a wonderfully romantic supper planned w/ my man tonight..... If only my body would cooperate. This morning, in the wee hours of the morning, I awoke to pain in my penis. It has been here most of the day. I'm wondering if this is a prodrome. If so, I want to be ready at the first sign of bumps/lesions inflammation to get to the clinic for a viral culture swab. The last time this happened was aproximately 30 days ago and then it hurt like hell. I'm not there just yet. I don't know if you'll see this and have time to respond, but if I do see something and go to the clinic, any advice on what to ask for?????
Hey Grace! How do I find a clinic or facility that offers the PCR testing of affected skin? Most places seem to utilize the viral culture method, which is supposedly unlikely to deliver an accurate result. I'd like to be prepared to go somewhere with the most up-to-date testing methods should I have an ob. Any suggestions? A google search hasn't been particularly helpful.
great - now stop looking at any body part in mirrors and checking out anything and go back to living your life!!!
Hi Grace. Hope you had a great weekend. I have to say that I've learned new and innovative ways to look into my mouth the past 48 hours. I can/could feel two bumps with my tongue and saw them too but they don't look anything like a canker or herpes sore. So, my regular dentist saw me this morning and took a good, close, and long look at my mouth. He didn't see much to begin with and had to ask me to physically point the problem areas. When I did, he examined them and felt them and his opinion is that these are inflamed/swollen lymph glands. He said so because of the bilateral/symetrical presentation and because he could still feel them and move them. He does not believe this to be herpes or canker sores. He has no idea as to the direct cause. This gave me a huge sense of relief....
I went to a walk in drs office and had the dr look at the bumps. She said she doesn't know what they are but that they aren't canker sores. She took a swab but didn't know how to order a PCR DNA and wasn't sure what the test is. Only that it is a viral culture. They will contact me with results in three days. I've had hsv1 for years so if this is hsv, why wouldn't it be on my lips? I thought lesions in the mouth are for primary outbreaks.....
Oh dear. My anxiety is soaring today. I gave my bf oral sex yesterday morning. I had no fever blisters. Last night my bottom row of teeth began to ache and I discovered to bumps under my tongue that are in the soft area but on the edge that meets the gum. I've been putting benzocaine on them and just now had a horrible thought -- could they be herpes in my mouth?????? OMG. the pictures on the Internet of cankers vs herpes offer me no way to distinguish. What have I done? What might I now do???
when I grow weary, I take a break and don't come to the forum :) I'm a firm believer that you need a place to ask these sorts of questions and get an educated response, not some of the awful gloom and doom responses you often see on some message boards. I believe in educating people, not scaring them needlessly :)
no, the round of acyclovir you took at that point wouldn't be an issue.
no, the round of acyclovir you took at that point wouldn't be an issue.
That's good info. Thanks. Do you ever grow weary of having so many ppl asking u questions??? I hope not, cause here's another: I took acyclovir for five days because of a ob on my lips. I had my (all too early) six week igg test about 36 hours after starting that five day intermittent therapy. Do you think it had an impact on the 6 weeks results? Maybe that's a useless question. Will the five days of Rx impact the accuracy of a 12 week type specific igg test?
if you both have hsv1 orally, just err on the side of caution and don't perform oral when you have an obvious cold sore. otherwise not an issue.
Grace, do you know the risks of transmitting genital herpes via oral sex? In other words, if we are both hsv1 positive and i am hsv2 positive genitally, can I safely perform oral sex on him?
since hsv2 increases your risk for hiv, knowing herpes status is very important for gay males. educate your friends so they are as smart as you will be from spending time on this forum :)
yes, cold sores are usually hsv1. Since having hsv1 can make a hsv2 infection less noticeable, your partner will need to seek out the testing too. make sure it's at least 3 months after he last had sex with someone else too.
yes, cold sores are usually hsv1. Since having hsv1 can make a hsv2 infection less noticeable, your partner will need to seek out the testing too. make sure it's at least 3 months after he last had sex with someone else too.
Oh Grace. I'm glad u r on vacation and posting! My bf hasn't been tested for hsv2. He did get tested for other infections. He does have hsv1 if his fever blisters are a clue. Unfortunately, in the gay world HIV is what most ppl get tested for! We need to get more comprehensive. I'll be honest, I never really gave much thought to herpes before now....
At this point I'm pretty darn sure I will test positive. My glands continue to ache in my neck and underarms and I've started getting back, buttock, thigh and leg pains (mostly sharp pains but one made standing a challenge!). I've refilled my Rx for acyclovir the doc gave for fever blisters for the inevitable prodrome and/or outbreak and not taking any right now because Ive heard it will delay the igg test from giving an accurate result.
I think I'm going to go on a crusade to get doctors to understand that herpes only rarely means blisters/lesions. I talked with my physician about it, he had no idea.....
At this point I'm pretty darn sure I will test positive. My glands continue to ache in my neck and underarms and I've started getting back, buttock, thigh and leg pains (mostly sharp pains but one made standing a challenge!). I've refilled my Rx for acyclovir the doc gave for fever blisters for the inevitable prodrome and/or outbreak and not taking any right now because Ive heard it will delay the igg test from giving an accurate result.
I think I'm going to go on a crusade to get doctors to understand that herpes only rarely means blisters/lesions. I talked with my physician about it, he had no idea.....
I"m on vacation this week and doing a fine job of avoiding everything I needed to get done so I'm on more than usual :)
as long as the symptoms finally stay gone, I'd stop worrying about it. at this point you might never figure out what the culprit was. if you had caught a virus that was causing most of your symptoms, it's run its course about now - they usually do in about a month or so.
has your new guy had full std testing that included herpes testing too? the rates of hsv infection in general are very high in gay males so making sure partners are tested is always a good idea.
as long as the symptoms finally stay gone, I'd stop worrying about it. at this point you might never figure out what the culprit was. if you had caught a virus that was causing most of your symptoms, it's run its course about now - they usually do in about a month or so.
has your new guy had full std testing that included herpes testing too? the rates of hsv infection in general are very high in gay males so making sure partners are tested is always a good idea.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
since you had unprotected sex, you can test for syphilis anytime after 6 weeks post encounter and herpes, hiv and hepatitis after 3 months to properly cover your bases.
have you had your gardasil shots for hpv yet?