HSV 2 positive?

[eva214]

I am entering a new relationship and recently went to get tested for all STD's---figured I was being responsible! I received my test results and my Dr. informs me that I tested positive for history of HSV2 with IgG levels of 1.17. Mind you, I have never had an outbreak or symptoms so this came as a bit of a shock. She recommended I get on Valtrex if I am interested in trying to reduce transmission and outbreaks to future partners. My questions are:

1. Do I definitely have genital herpes?
2. SHould I take the medication?
3. What are the chances of my partner performing oral sex and then contracting the disease orally? Obviously I dont know when or if I am having an outbreak so I am jsut concerned over when to abstain, best practices, etc.

Also, since I have never had an outbreak, what is the likelihood that I will ever in life?

My only "symptom" I can rack my brain for is discharge...sometimes I get more than normal but i always just chalked this up to being the week before my period or something liek that?!
    
Thanks for your help

[eva214]

Also, if you read my string almost two years ago I was int eh same boat---yes its me again...the test is now 1.17 almost 2 years later instead of a 1.1...I was retested 4 months after my initial 1.1 test and was told that it came back negative if this helps at all...ugh!

Thanks for listening to me...again.  Obviously something is going on because 2 doctors have said I am HSV positive with these levels...I would jsut liek anyone else's take, opinion on starting medication? etc.

[Mistakeguy789]

Hi Eva,

I like that name.  I always had a crush on a girl named Eva.  But anyway.

I Can't interpert your bloodtest results.  That is best left for grace.  Shes our wonderful lady that does that.  While in questions like this I tend to shy away because of lack of expertise but I am though curious.

Have your doctors tried the Rapid Bio kit test?  I looked through your posting history but didn't see mention of that.  

For now unless grace says otherwise I would hold off on meds.  When was your last sexual encounter?  Longer then 6 months?

[eva214]

my last sexual encounter was 2 months ago, which prompted the STD testing out of safety measures, no symptoms. My dr says it could not have been this sex partner as my blood test shows this was given at least 6 months ago.  This brings me back to the 2 year ago blood test of 1.1?!?!  so confused...do i just have a low positive, but still positive nonetheless?

[Mistakeguy789]

I would really be curious to see what testing Grace recommends if any.  Quite honestly I couldn't best help you with that.  

Though your doctor is basing the result numbers to be sign of how recent the infection is.  That isn't the case and really can't be the case.  Normally with someone that comes here with a low positive HSV-2 result it is suggested to get a western blot to confirm and that would typically get you the best answer.  

However, you have another monkey wrench in the plan and that is your last sexual encounter is less then 3 months ago.  Let's wait for grace or petal to get to your question.  I know they will set you in the right direction.

[gracefromHHP]

you need to wait and repeat your blood test in 2 months. I'd go with the herpes WB only at this point anytime  you get herpes testing .  a history of false positives is a reason to switch to the more definitive test.  

grace

[eva214]

im confused...what would prompt 2 false positive tests?  Is that number clearly positive by most health care professional standards?
Do I definitely have genital herpes?
SHould I take the medication?
What are the chances of my partner performing oral sex and then contracting the disease orally? Obviously I dont know when or if I am having an outbreak so I am jsut concerned over when to abstain, best practices, etc.

[gracefromHHP]

you also posted this on webmd. let's just keep follow up here :)

there are false positive issues. if you've been getting them in the past and now again, best to only use the WB.

no you don't definitely have hsv2, it's very low odds that you do.

I wouldn't begin treatment at this point.  do you use condoms with your partner or was this a one night stand sorta thing?

[eva214]

aahh..sorry I didnt realize you guys are that good and chek both!  can you tell ive reached my freaking out point?!?! haha

This relationship is new so only had sex once with a condom/oral without but I had taken the test BEFORE any contact with this partner so that is a wash.  My last encoutner before that was a one night stand type thing (2 months ago) and was part of the reason I thought to get tested.  i figure there has to be some sort of connection between my two tests though unless the two month ago partner is the cause of this.  Jsut seems odd I get close to the same reading 2 years after my first blood test.

[Mistakeguy789]

Hang in there Eva.  I know you are freaking out but you will get the answer.  I have a pretty darn good feeling it will be negative and this mess will blow over.

Grace if I may just for my own learning and not to sound out of line.  Would a Biokit not be useful in this case at all?  Or again would the poster still need to wait the full 2 months again?

[eva214]

thanks Mistakeguy789---your comments have been helping to calm the nerves!  :)

I honestly didnt realize these results were almost identical to 2 years ago...if I were indeed positive 2 years ago, would be number go up significantly over the past 2 years?

[gracefromHHP]

a biokit  can be used but you still have to wait until 4 months for it.

[eva214]

So to be safe, should I just do the western blot and call it a day?  How long should I wait before taking that test and any information on cost, how to get a hold of it, etc. would be great!

thanks for your help!

[gracefromHHP]

I'd go with the WB myself.

you need to wait until 4 months post encounter.

http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm  has all the info you and your provider need to order it.

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

Eva you are in great hands.  

Thanks grace.  I figured the timing would be the same and that WB being gold standard would be best but was curious as well.  You know me always learning.

[eva214]

This has put me in less of a panic so I appreciate the feed back and hope for the best!   One last question, why would my dr. say that this was an exposure that occured more than 6 months ago, while my dr. 2 years ago wanted me to get retested with basically the same reading?  Obviously 2 different Dr.'s so just wondering...it just concerns me that my dr. was adamant that this was due to a prior 6 month occurence?

[gracefromHHP]

some providers erroneously think that it takes that long for igg to show up :(

most providers aren't as up to date on herpes testing as they could be.

grace

[eva214]

ahhhh i see...thanks Grace---it is ridiculous how interpreting results can change from provider to provider-they cannot jsut go around misdiagnosing people and medicating them!  After doing some research I found that some people even say something like 3.5+ is positive for hsv2 while others are in my boat!  I really hope this becomes more clear in the future or providers make an effort to learn more before clearly diagnosing people with something like this.  in the meantime, I will thank YOU for your advice :)

I will plan to retest in October and keep you posted...thanks much!

[gracefromHHP]

not everything is as cut and dry as it could be. there are some issues with all tests. we focus on herpes testing here.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  is a poll/post we have here on the forum with more info in it too.

grace

[eva214]

eventually i will stop writing on this board!

I have yet to go back for additional testing but have an appt this week to ask for a mote definitive test in determining HSV 2 results since mine came back 1.1 in August and a year or 2 before that.  Initially I thought thsi was an issue with false positive but have not received confirmation through additional testing.

My question lies in the fact that while shaving around my pubic region yesterday i noticed a small, red circular dot in pubic hair  line around the vagina.  it doesnt hurt and I wouldnt have notice it if I didnt shave the hair off it honestly.  It is nearly gone from yesterday to today as well.  I was obviuosly freaking out because I read that herpes can appear in just one singular dot in that area, doesnt always hurt, etc.  it hasnt blistered, isnt tender--literally looks like a slight discoloration in a perfect circular.  I also believe that I have HSV1 and read that these types of outbreaks can often be missed and seen in the form of chapped lips.  Is this true?  I was experiencing a tingly feeling in my lips last week and my lips got extremely chapped (like peeling practically).  I am just wondering if these are symptoms that go hand in hand.


I know I jsut need to get tested again to be sure but I am wondering what your thoughts are or if I am way off base with some of this.

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

if you see something that concerns you, go and be seen tomorrow and have it looked at.

follow up with the herpes WB so you can get answers for once and for all!

[eva214]

thanks i have an appt. tomorrow.

are these true possible symptoms though--one singular dot that doesnt hurt and chapped lips?

[eva214]

I had a true blue outbreak 2 weeks ago and was finally able to get a culture.  Turns out it came back positive for hsv 1, genital region. this was at a planned parenthood so when i asked what type or if.it said anything about hsv 2, their response was "it says nothing about hsv 2 here".  Previous blood tests from years ago had shown 1.1 levrls of hsv 2, negative for 1.  Herpes select tests...is this possible?  I assume.culture is best bet but just wanted to make sure.

Additionally, they put me on zovirax, 400mg for suppressive therapy and to get rid of the initial outbreak...should i continue the year with this dosage?  Ive seen mixed reviews on suppressive therapy for genital hsv 1.  Also, if my partner has oral hsv 1, can i pass this to his genitals through regulat sex or is he immune elsrwhere?  Lastly, we obviously kissed, how is it that i received type 1 genitally and not orally first?  Perhaps you can have it in noth, i guess it just goes back to my previous question about localized transmission.  Appreciate your response and any feedback, recommendations, etc is welcome!

[Fleetwood20]

I think at this point you need to assume that the swab was not typed at all. I would think it doesn't say anything about type 1 or 2 for that matter. One thing you can do is return to them immediately and request that the sample be correctly typed for HSV1 and HSV2.

Given previous blood testing and the potential for this to be a recurrent outbreak, even though you didn't have one or identify a primary outbreak, then the assumption that this is HSV2 is the most probably just for now.

Hence if you are sexually active and wish to enhance protection for partners, then yes start the suppressive until you have a clearer perspective.

[eva214]

This makes no sense to me...isnt the culture test supposed to be the most accurate?  Everyone says you never know for sure until that is done.  I asked them for type specific before they even did it.  Plus, even if it wasnt type.1 genitally seems like an odd assumption.  Please help explain, this is ridiculous!