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Confused about 1st HSV2 Outbreak on Chin
I was diagnosed with HSV2 with a blood count score of 4. I tested negative for HSV1. Doctor told me anything above .9 reveals a problem.
I never had any outbreaks during my 20 year marriage, so my doctor thought it was a highly probable I received it from the only woman I have been with post divorce. I had a large outbreak (looked like a big, awful zit) on my chin and lingering flu symptoms within 10 days of being with her. We had genital contact but no intercourse. Yes to oral sex.
Here is my confusion, everything I have read has said that the chin is a rare area of the body to have a first outbreak. I believe I may have received the infection due to a "nik" I gave myself shaving and then engaging in oral sex with her. I have not had any outbreaks for over a month. I do have one small pimple-like growth on my elbow that does not hurt or itch - it's been there for a week. I was thinking it might be heat related but also concerned it may be a minor outbreak.
My dilemma is that I have HSV2, but supposedly it isn't expected that I will have outbreaks in my groin area.
I asked my doctor where the virus would imbed itself in my nervous system and he said, "It won't travel to your groin." I have read that HSV2 settles in your lower spinal region.
Here are my questions:
1) How contagious am I compared to others who have outbreaks in the expected regions of the body?
2) Am I much less apt to have an outbreak or "shed" because of the location of the original infection?
3) Can I know where future outbreaks will be?
4) Is there high risk of transmitting the virus with unprotected sex in a monogamous relationship.
5) Will I shed less due to the location of the original infection?
6) What about oral sex -- giving and receiving?
When I have a disclosure conversation with a special woman and she asks, "So you have Genital Herpes, but you don't have it "down there," nor do you have it orally, what exactly do you have and what are the risks for me?" More than anything I want to be able to accurately disclose without causing confusion.
Thanks much for any clarification.
I never had any outbreaks during my 20 year marriage, so my doctor thought it was a highly probable I received it from the only woman I have been with post divorce. I had a large outbreak (looked like a big, awful zit) on my chin and lingering flu symptoms within 10 days of being with her. We had genital contact but no intercourse. Yes to oral sex.
Here is my confusion, everything I have read has said that the chin is a rare area of the body to have a first outbreak. I believe I may have received the infection due to a "nik" I gave myself shaving and then engaging in oral sex with her. I have not had any outbreaks for over a month. I do have one small pimple-like growth on my elbow that does not hurt or itch - it's been there for a week. I was thinking it might be heat related but also concerned it may be a minor outbreak.
My dilemma is that I have HSV2, but supposedly it isn't expected that I will have outbreaks in my groin area.
I asked my doctor where the virus would imbed itself in my nervous system and he said, "It won't travel to your groin." I have read that HSV2 settles in your lower spinal region.
Here are my questions:
1) How contagious am I compared to others who have outbreaks in the expected regions of the body?
2) Am I much less apt to have an outbreak or "shed" because of the location of the original infection?
3) Can I know where future outbreaks will be?
4) Is there high risk of transmitting the virus with unprotected sex in a monogamous relationship.
5) Will I shed less due to the location of the original infection?
6) What about oral sex -- giving and receiving?
When I have a disclosure conversation with a special woman and she asks, "So you have Genital Herpes, but you don't have it "down there," nor do you have it orally, what exactly do you have and what are the risks for me?" More than anything I want to be able to accurately disclose without causing confusion.
Thanks much for any clarification.
I'm still not sure, it remains much more likely you have a genital HSV2 infection. It is hard to work out though.
I would write again to your recent partner and inform her you have just been diagnosed with HSV and would appreciate if she could test and let you know which types she has in order to assist your own diagnosis.
I would write again to your recent partner and inform her you have just been diagnosed with HSV and would appreciate if she could test and let you know which types she has in order to assist your own diagnosis.
Actually the time is closer to two months from first encounter to doctor visit. Don't know if that helps. I see you have many outstanding reviews, are you a doctor? Thanks again for everything!
Thank you so much for your kindness. I deeply appreciate it. I believe my error was shaving a few minutes prior to our 1st encounter. I clearly remembered I nicked myself on my chin where I had the breakout, thus leaving me exposed with an abrasion. Nobodies fault but mine. I'm just very sensitive about accurate future disclosure. For 20 years I was monogamous, nothing. Then with this woman who refused to return my email when I confronted her about the possibility. If I were her I'd return the email immediately saying, "What are you talking about!" Six week's or so later I came down with horrible aches and a breakout like I've never had that took three weeks to heal. I guess there is no way know if I have oral HSV2. If I did, I have read reoccurrences and shedding are significantly less. Could I go years with my ex having unprotected sex with neither of us having a breakout? What are the chances? I guess it's possible. By the way my ex and I don't speak. She'd never co-operate.
It is very suspicious I grant you. However there are a number of factors to consider:
- herpes is far more likely to enter the lips where the skin is thinner with plenty of nerve endings compared to the chin
- herpes presents as multiple smaller lesions with little blister like bubbles upon infection
- 19 days is too short to develop the high level of IgG antibodies detected.
I think the chin issue could be independent of your HSV2 status, regardless of who gave it to you.
For further information, it may be beneficial to ask your ex wife to test.
- herpes is far more likely to enter the lips where the skin is thinner with plenty of nerve endings compared to the chin
- herpes presents as multiple smaller lesions with little blister like bubbles upon infection
- 19 days is too short to develop the high level of IgG antibodies detected.
I think the chin issue could be independent of your HSV2 status, regardless of who gave it to you.
For further information, it may be beneficial to ask your ex wife to test.
6.17 - 6.19 - I was with the same woman. Oral sex, no intercourse. So add another month and week.
Prior to that married to one woman 20 years, no other partners. She never had any symptoms / outbreaks. Neither had I until after being with this second woman.
From Web MD..."Even though you can still pass the infection, you may never notice symptoms from an HSV infection. On the other hand, you might notice symptoms within a few days to a couple of weeks after the initial contact. Or, you might not have an initial outbreak of symptoms until months or even years after becoming infected."
http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/guide/common-symptoms
Thanks again for your concern. I'm confused and trying to get to the bottom of this.
My doctor said he thought it was a new infection, but that I could never prove it. "However, it is highly, highly, highly circumstantial she gave it to you."
When was the time before 7.25.14 that you had sexual activity?
Otherwise, I count about 19 days from that date until 8.13.14.
In my view (which is far from expert) the odds of you testing that high in 19 days are improbable. It is far, far more likely that you have been infected with HSV2 for much longer.
Again in my view, you need to assume that this is a genital infection unless and until shown otherwise. A chin pimple just doesn't scream herpes. If the doctor had suspicions, a swab should have been taken.
Otherwise, I count about 19 days from that date until 8.13.14.
In my view (which is far from expert) the odds of you testing that high in 19 days are improbable. It is far, far more likely that you have been infected with HSV2 for much longer.
Again in my view, you need to assume that this is a genital infection unless and until shown otherwise. A chin pimple just doesn't scream herpes. If the doctor had suspicions, a swab should have been taken.
Our last time together was on 7.25.14. We engaged in oral sex, no intercourse, yes to genital to genital contact.
Approximately FIVE DAYS later, a large cyst / pimple on the middle of my chin emerged. I am 49 and had acne as a young adult - thought it was an unusual breakout. I hadn't had anything like this for a very long time.
Concurrently, flu symptoms arrived - low grade fever, achy joints, fatigue. I also had one tiny pimple-like breakout under my left eye as well as a much smaller cyst / pimple to the right of the large cyst. I did notice that it did not respond like a normal zit. When pressured. I could never extract the acne "seed" from any of the outbreaks, just liquid. It got ugly.
On 8.13.15, TWO WEEKS LATER, I went to see the doctor. The large breakout was pretty much dried out and the doctor didn't think much of it. However, for peace of mind, we both agreed to take a blood test. BLOOD WAS DRAWN THAT DAY.
I called in four days later and the doctor told me my Numbers for HSV1 were negative, but numbers for HSV2 were high and he believed it was a fresh infection. I went and received a copy of the test for second opinion purposes. The numbers for HSV1 on the test which were almost nil and HSV2 score was 4.0. He said anything over .9 signaled a possible problem. I have read that any score over 3.5 pretty much eliminates a false positive.
I did confront her about it via email and she ignored me (She lives out of state). I believe she knew and was hoping we'd get lucky.
I hope I've answered your questions. I would deeply appreciate your help.
Because of the location of the breakout I am wondering if I have HSV2 Oral? And if so, what does that mean for accurate disclosure? Is there any test that differentiates between HSV2 Genital and HSV2 Oral?
Approximately FIVE DAYS later, a large cyst / pimple on the middle of my chin emerged. I am 49 and had acne as a young adult - thought it was an unusual breakout. I hadn't had anything like this for a very long time.
Concurrently, flu symptoms arrived - low grade fever, achy joints, fatigue. I also had one tiny pimple-like breakout under my left eye as well as a much smaller cyst / pimple to the right of the large cyst. I did notice that it did not respond like a normal zit. When pressured. I could never extract the acne "seed" from any of the outbreaks, just liquid. It got ugly.
On 8.13.15, TWO WEEKS LATER, I went to see the doctor. The large breakout was pretty much dried out and the doctor didn't think much of it. However, for peace of mind, we both agreed to take a blood test. BLOOD WAS DRAWN THAT DAY.
I called in four days later and the doctor told me my Numbers for HSV1 were negative, but numbers for HSV2 were high and he believed it was a fresh infection. I went and received a copy of the test for second opinion purposes. The numbers for HSV1 on the test which were almost nil and HSV2 score was 4.0. He said anything over .9 signaled a possible problem. I have read that any score over 3.5 pretty much eliminates a false positive.
I did confront her about it via email and she ignored me (She lives out of state). I believe she knew and was hoping we'd get lucky.
I hope I've answered your questions. I would deeply appreciate your help.
Because of the location of the breakout I am wondering if I have HSV2 Oral? And if so, what does that mean for accurate disclosure? Is there any test that differentiates between HSV2 Genital and HSV2 Oral?
I think you should get more definititve about the diagnosis before going to far into those questions you raise.
I big simple pimple like thing is not likely to be a herpes lesion.
If I could pose a few questions, the answers are critical.
- How long ago in weeks did you have sex with this last partner?
- In relation to that when did the pimple on the chin emerge?
- When did you see the doctor?
- When was the blood drawn?
- Was the test an IgG Herpeselect, if not, what was it?
I big simple pimple like thing is not likely to be a herpes lesion.
If I could pose a few questions, the answers are critical.
- How long ago in weeks did you have sex with this last partner?
- In relation to that when did the pimple on the chin emerge?
- When did you see the doctor?
- When was the blood drawn?
- Was the test an IgG Herpeselect, if not, what was it?
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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.
