Can you have herpes for 18 yrs and test negative?

I've been  married for almost eighteen years and never had an STD test come back positive. I haven't been with anyone other than my husband and he says he has never cheated. He did have a sore on his penis about ten years ago that the doctor gave him a fungal cream for.  I've had what I thought were ingrown hairs over the years or a single pimple but never anything major, could this be a symptom?

I went to the GYN to for an annual check up and asked that she test me for everything. At the time of the test I had a small white sore inside my nose.  All the test were negative then I got a call from the office saying I was positive for herpes with early exposure. They asked me to wait till May 2nd to come back in and get another blood test to see which type it is.

My husband and I haven't had sex in almost two months and have only had sex five times in the past six months. I had a baby in 2006 and I am assuming they tested for this then right? So my question is could I have had this be dormant for years and not know? My husband hasn't been tested yet but I've read other stories where the other spouse is negative...is that possible? I've only been with him and I'm so confused with all the postings and the possibilites.

[grizzlybear111]

I would just like to add the doctor's office handled this very poorly. They had a nurse call me & tell me over the phone. She said "you have been exposed, we need you to come in and get another blood test"...I was like EXPOSED TO WHAT?? No explained that it could be false positive, she said that it was positive and contagious that it was just a matter of finding out which type it was. Shouldn't a doctor be available to answer questions? If it was positive for early exposure wouldn't that also be numbers equilvent to a false positive?

[gracefromHHP]

sounds like you had a + igm herpes test result  which isn't accurate at all in detecting herpes.  Current cdc herpes testing guidelines recommend that the herpes igm test no longer be used in adults to diagnose herpes.

grace

[grizzlybear111]

I'm trying not to panic but it's overwhelming. How do I relax not knowing. The nurse said it was positive and made it sound so definite that I needed to wait to have the test typed. She has ruined my weekend, put severe doubts in my head and probably in my husbands as well. He's been great so far but if he's negative I don't know how he'll feel.

[gracefromHHP]

if you two have been together for 18 years, you know herpes would be the least of the issues you have to worry about!  

If your igg was negative, nothing to worry about. call monday and ask for test results to post here - e.g. hsv1 igg 5.6 and hsv2 igg .45 or whatever they are.

[grizzlybear111]

Ok, that made me smile so I'm hoping it was meant to be a joke. ;) I will call Monday and go in and get copies of the test. I've been crying all weekend and I don't think I can stand this. You never really answered my question about it being possible to have and test negative in the past. Can you carry the virus or have it lay dormant and then just pop up after all that time?

[gracefromHHP]

yes it was a joke and I'm glad you got it :)   so many other issues in the last 18 years I'm sure that make this look like a walk in the park. Herpes you can control with a pill or two a day - not too many other things you can change that easy ;)

odds are you weren't tested for herpes in the past. It's not a part of routine work ups.  odds are hubby wasn't tested for herpes ever either.  the igm is a very flawed test and odds are they upset you needlessly.

[grizzlybear111]

I hope you're right. I am beyond upset. Honestly I've had a good 18yrs so this really seems like the biggest thing ever. The idea of someone cheating is never easy...I would hate for him to think it of me as well. I just hope that everything turns out well. I will definitely let you know what I find out. I don't even know what kind of test they did. She only said it showed early exposure & wasn't type specific. :/

If it wasn't that I have a degree in Medical Office Management I would have gone nuts already, I know tests are not always accurate and Doctor's & Labs make mistakes so I always try to research things myself. Thank god for this forum because it has given lot's of useful information. Alot of which I might have to fight over with the doctor.

[gracefromHHP]

it was definitely igm test then if it was described as early exposure and not type specific. Sounds like the clinic you go to needs to do quite a bit of herpes education so that they can better serve their patients :(   their current practices are setting them up for malpractice!

[grizzlybear111]

Grace,

Went to the doctor and I was indeed never tested for Herpes before. The only test given was Igm but that was the lab's mistake according to the doctor. She did insist that it meant I had been exposed but I didn't see the point in arguing about it. She then said all it meant was that further testing was needed.

She had the them draw more blood and is  reguesting Igg for both HSV 1 & HSV 2. She was also in agreement that there was no way to tell how long someone has been exposed if they have never been tested. She said if neither of us has been tested we could have aquired it before we were married. So I guess I will get back to you when I get some numbers from the new results. Thank you for your help! You have put my mind at ease because I was going so crazy this weekend. ;)

[gracefromHHP]

have you talked to hubby about him getting tested too so that while it's on your mind, you both know who has what?

and they drove you crazy needlessly!  Be sure when this is all over and done with you take the time to write a letter to the clinic about your experience and what stress it caused you. they won't change their practices if folks don't complain about the way they do things!  

[grizzlybear111]

Believe me...I made it clear how much distress they caused. It's not a clinic it's a private practice. I'm sure she'll discuss the delivery of the news with her staff. At this point I just want the results back and after I get mine I'm gonna push the hubby to get his as well. Just to know for sure who has what if anything.

My husband and I have discussed it in detail. It's scary because people kiss all the time and the last thing anyone is thinking of is catching Herpes. It has left us both mentally exhausted. I figured it would be standard to at least test during pregnancy but she said they didn't do it.