Am I having an Outbreak? Very Worried and Confused...

At about 2 weeks, I had sore lymph nodes under my jaw.  I had absolutely no other symptoms... until a week later.  It started with a slight "icy-hot" sensation in one spot on my waistline, a few inches to the left of my naval.  I got very suspicious and went to get tested with a Herpes Igg test that day, 23 days after my encounter.  Test was negative, but I am not convinced.

Since that first burning sensation a week has passed, and the feeling of burning has spread across my waistline and down onto both thighs.  The feeling is not intense, in fact it is hardly noticeable at times and often it seems to completely dissipate.  However, a week later and I still seem to have it off and on.  I am going to Planned Parenthood in three days to receive a swab test.  I have heard that the swab test is accurate if there are open lesions, but I have had no lesions at all.  I do have 4 very small pimples; one at my waistline right where the initial burning was felt, one on the other side of my waist, one on my thigh, and one near the very tip of my penis.  I have often had pimples in this region, but it seems far to coincidental.  the pimples do not hurt at all, and are about the size of a pinprick.  

My main question is do you think the swab test will be accurate if there are no open lesions?  It has been a week since these symptoms started appearing, which seems longer than the usual prodrome period, and I am still waiting for lesions to appear.  

My other question is if in fact I am experiencing a long prodrome period or a very mild outbreak, will another blood test be accurate at the 5 week period, or should I just save my money and wait for six weeks?  Is it even worth it to go do the swab test?

I am hoping for at least some form of reply as I think this will help other worried people frantically googling symptoms and doing test after test get some helpful knowledge.

Thank you so much for your time.

[gracefromHHP]

no reason to go to PP for a swab test. you don't have anything to swab!!

herpes igg blood testing isn't accurate until at least 3 months post encounter.

was this unprotected sex you had ?

nothing about your symptoms sounds like herpes going on.

grace

[dizzle555]

Thanks so much for your advice regarding the testing.

I had protected vaginal but unprotected oral (I was the receiver).

So you believe the sore lymph nodes followed by burning boxer region are a coincidence, or not related to herpes?  I just read a lot about what those prodromal "itchies," "crawlies," and "burnies" feel like, and I must say it seems very similar.  Only difference is that it has lasted so long without breaking out into lesions, and seems to vary in intensity...

[SandyCay]

OK, sounds like you MAY have caught HSV1. It causes swollen lymph glands when you're first infected, along with a general swollen, hot feeling down there. Press the glands around your pelvic area, are they swollen/hurt? I didn't get blisters the first time I was infected. You may or may not get blisters at all. Ask the Dr. for an IGM test, not IGG.

[gracefromHHP]

no you don't want to seek out a herpes igm test. Herpes igm testing is very inaccurate and current CDC recommendations are that it not be used for the purpose of diagnosing herpes on adults.

as I said, this doesn't sound at all like genital herpes going on. many things can cause lymph nodes to swell and you wouldn't have swelling without obvious lesions.  follow up with your regular provider to try to figure out what is going on. it doesn't sound std related at all so PP isn't an appropriate choice for follow up.  

[dizzle555]

Thank you Sandy and Grace for your comments and advice.

It looks like unfortunately all I can really do is wait for the 3 month mark to do an accurate Igg test.  If I see any obvious lesions, I will have them swabbed immediately...

If this is an initial outbreak, hopefully I dodged the bullet on having a serious initial one.  I will do my best to not think about it until I can get accurately tested.

I am not afraid to get diagnosed, it's the not knowing that is literally driving me crazy.  I will not take up any more of your precious time and will definitely update at the 3 month mark.

Thanks again!

[gracefromHHP]

like I said, you tested negative prior to this so you would've had very obvious lesions of which you haven't.  

[dizzle555]

Well, as promised I have come back to report my results after 12 weeks post encounter.

I did the full panel including Herpes type 1 and 2 igg.  Everything came back negative.

However, I still have the same symptoms that I described in my original post.  There is tingling and sort of cramping and shooting pains (I am not doing a good job of describing it, but I think it feels exactly how people describe Herpes feeling, just no lesions) on and off every day, sometimes sever and sometimes mild.  

When I first posted, it seemed that 12 weeks was a conclusive amount of time.  But now I am reading that it is 16 weeks?  What are the chances that I have herpes but have tested negative at 12 weeks?  How common is it for someone to test negative at 12 weeks, but positive at 16?

Thanks so much!

[dizzle555]

I also often have itching in the area around the base of my penis.

[gracefromHHP]

I'm having an ob now - can send it to you if you want so that you can know how they feel ...he he he

as I've said previously - this doesn't sound like herpes going on.  are you continuing to follow up with your provider regularly for your symptoms?

[dizzle555]

LOL thanks so much for the offer, but my browser has excellent protection against viruses, so not sure it would work ;)

Unfortunately, I do not have insurance and have not been to the doctor (I know, stupid).  Not sure how much it would cost to go and see someone...

I am mostly wondering about the statistics (if there are any, can't find them myself) of people who test negative at 12 weeks but test positive at 16 weeks.

[gracefromHHP]

Obviously I need better virus protection!!!

call your local health department monday to see what your local low cost/no cost options are. usually the "doc in a box" type walk in clinics are cheaper too though they are limited for something like this.  

you are testing negative and nothing you've mentioned sounds like herpes. no way you would've missed any obvious lesions with the frequent inspections I'm sure you've been doing all this time either.

[changging]

Congrats on the negative test results on 3 months !!!! I do hope it goes same for me !!! I am only at 1 month and the anxiety is killing me !!