Aa
confused with contradicting info
In 2009 I went to a clinic. I was told by the doctor based on a visual exam that it was not herpes. I went to a gyn and was told the same thing. I insisted on testing. The gyn said there was nothing to culture since it looked like a rash but did it anyway despite saying it would probably come back negative. It came back positive for herpes type 2. I was given Acyclovir. After a 5 day regimen I was ok. No outbreaks or other symptoms since then. Fast forward to 2011. I just went to the gyn because after seeing rash-like spots on my stomach, back, and upper arms I knew it could not be the shingles again [which I had in 2008] since that only affects one side of the body. I had some bumps down there and the gyn said it was not herpes based on a visual exam and believed the bumps were from shaving. Again I had to insist on testing and the doctor was reluctant until she read my file. Until she read that I had previously tested positive for herpes type 2 she was convinced I did not have herpes. She said she did not believe the culture would come back positive for herpes. It did. What confuses me is how visually I can keep getting told that it is not herpes. I am wondering if I could be having false positives. This same doctor told me that no blood test could be done for herpes. From what I have read this is not true. If this doctor does not believe there is a blood test for herpes and there is a blood test for herpes then I am not sure how reliable the rest of the information including my positive culture results might be or if my shingles or something else [even though my std panel came back all negative] could be affecting the results.
Regular partner yes. No testing yet since we're looking for a doctor. Neither of us have a GP. Even though I have no outbreak right now we are being abstinent.
shingles won't cause you to have a hsv2+ result. shingles rarely reoccurs and the lesion cultures do differentiate between hsv and hzv.
is it likely that you have hsv2 all over your body like this? no it is not. follow up with a dermatologist as needed for these rashes.
you've had + lesion cultures so you know you have hsv2 genitally. Now whether other causes are causing your rashes down yonder and the "trauma" of these other causes is causing hsv2 shedding to occur to be detected on your lesion cultures - we might never figure that out. in general we recommend that patients with hsv2 who have hsv2 negative partners, abstain from sex when anything is going on genitally because it can trigger shedding. If you perhaps have a genital eczema, you might have that issue on other body parts too ( or whatever is causing your other rashes ).
have you considered daily suppressive therapy for your herpes?
do you have a regular partner and if so, have they been tested for herpes to know their status?
grace
is it likely that you have hsv2 all over your body like this? no it is not. follow up with a dermatologist as needed for these rashes.
you've had + lesion cultures so you know you have hsv2 genitally. Now whether other causes are causing your rashes down yonder and the "trauma" of these other causes is causing hsv2 shedding to occur to be detected on your lesion cultures - we might never figure that out. in general we recommend that patients with hsv2 who have hsv2 negative partners, abstain from sex when anything is going on genitally because it can trigger shedding. If you perhaps have a genital eczema, you might have that issue on other body parts too ( or whatever is causing your other rashes ).
have you considered daily suppressive therapy for your herpes?
do you have a regular partner and if so, have they been tested for herpes to know their status?
grace
Wow. That sucks. If this was something like looking at it and that was all I would say yes you in fact need more answers. The culture test sadly is more likely to be false negative then false positives.
Keep asking us questions.
Keep asking us questions.
Nothing else was cultured. I practically had to beg for a genital culture to be done and if my chart had not shown a previous positive result perhaps the doctor would not have agreed to perform a culture.
I guess I always wonder about the accuracy of diagnoses since I have been misdiagnosed with cancer in the past. It took 3 opinions to sort that out.
I worry something like having had the shingles could be affecting the culture result and making it come out positive. Wishful thinking perhaps given what I have read thus far.
I guess I always wonder about the accuracy of diagnoses since I have been misdiagnosed with cancer in the past. It took 3 opinions to sort that out.
I worry something like having had the shingles could be affecting the culture result and making it come out positive. Wishful thinking perhaps given what I have read thus far.
What a doctor... She needs to update herself on the new CDC guidelines for Herpes Testing.
Culture testing and typing is rarely wrong. By rarely I mean only human error would it be wrong. Chances are she didn't perform the lab work on the culture and typing. Visually diagnosis is wrong 1/3 of the time even amongst the HSV experts. When a culture comes in to play we don't advise people second guess it. Given you have 2 positive hsv-2 cultures I am sure you have HSV-2.
HSV can show up anywhere in the genital region we call it the boxer shorts region. Not sure about the bumps on the belly and upper arm. Where they cultured as well on different swabs?
There is HSV blood testing. The most accurate is HSV type specific igg test.
Culture testing and typing is rarely wrong. By rarely I mean only human error would it be wrong. Chances are she didn't perform the lab work on the culture and typing. Visually diagnosis is wrong 1/3 of the time even amongst the HSV experts. When a culture comes in to play we don't advise people second guess it. Given you have 2 positive hsv-2 cultures I am sure you have HSV-2.
HSV can show up anywhere in the genital region we call it the boxer shorts region. Not sure about the bumps on the belly and upper arm. Where they cultured as well on different swabs?
There is HSV blood testing. The most accurate is HSV type specific igg test.
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.
