Herpes timing

[billbarry123]

I believe i was exposed to the herpes virus on 1/20/2112.  In the night in question i was extremely intoxicated and was sexually abused.  The following monday 1/23/2012 I went and got all the tests.  Thursday I received the results.  I was iGg positive hsv-2 at 3.41, and positive hsv-1 at 4.6.  The consultant/doctor who delivered me my results said the results were positive, but the virus was a preexisting infection because not enough time had passed.  Around tuesday 1/24/2012 i started feeling a tingling in my pubic and anal area.  The tingling continued to around friday/saturday slowly moving down my thighs.  Currently the tingling has subsided, but i have tenderness in the buttocks.  So far i haven't noticed and lesions.  Monday 1/30/2012 I went back and got tested for hsv-2 the results came back positive with a reading of 2.41. Without a doubt I haven't felt these symptoms ever in my life.  So my question is two fold, is it definately a preexisting condition, and are the results positively positive?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

A person would not achieve an index value of 3.41 in two days from infection.  However, this value, and the subsequent one, are both below 3.5 which is the cutoff we use for not needing a confirmatory test.  As for your symptoms - if your confirmatory test if positive, and we recommend a western blot for this purpose, then I would say you are just becoming aware of symptoms because of your diagnosis, but that they are not really new symptoms.  

My advice would to be acquire a herpes western blot antibody test.  If you have the ability to get a Quest lab test, the codes is 34534.

Again, if the western blot is positive, then you do not have new infection, you had infection prior to this encounter that you weren't aware of.  Eighty percent of people who have HSV 2 don't know it, so you are not alone if this is the case for you.

Let me know if I can help you interpret any other testing.

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Only the University of Washington does the western blot, in Seattle.  Not sure why it would go to CA first, but it might!  If I were you I would double check

Terri

[billbarry123]

Well i hope i did it correctly, they said if I tested IgG positive then the blood would  be sent san juan capistrano, ca to be processed.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Good!

Remember that the western blot does NOT come back with a number, and it is NOT an immunoblot, just to be sure you are getting the right test.

Terri

[billbarry123]

thanks for all the help.  I went to quest today, and got the igg with wb confirmation test.  Again thanks for all the help i really appreciate everything, positive or negative i feel a 1000 times better today than i did earlier this week

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

You can go online and order an IgG type specific antibody test, but you  have that already.  In order to get a western blot, you'll need a clinician order.  Perhaps your regular doctor could do that for you?  Did your previous lab test go to Quest?  They might still have it, they could add on to the order for the western blot, 34534.  If that doesn't work, you can become a patient of our clinic and we can get that ordered for you if you become our patients.

Terri

[billbarry123]

I would to prefer to find out asap, as i have never had any symptoms nor breakouts previously and have only had one partner since 2003.  As far as your question the sex wasn't consenual i was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  If i pick up the test at the local quest diagnostics can i get the test done there or do i need to take it somewhere.  I red through much of the forum over the last couple of days, and i realize you must of answered this question a 1000 times, but for me it is important to me to find out if this was a prior condition.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I definitely think your symptoms could be related to your change in living style, due to worry over having herpes, or likely having herpes.  

The western blot would almost certainly pick up virus within four months from infection.  You could wait four months to be tested by western blot.  But if you do, you won't know if you were infected a while ago or recently.  But if that doesn't matter, you could certainly wait to test.  I honestly think you had herpes going into this situation.  

I'm not sure what you mean by sexually abused.  can you clarify?

Terri

[billbarry123]

I have one more question.  As far as the symptoms i was experiencing are concerned do you think they could of been just feeling what i was reading? Since the experience i have not been sleeping good or eating much.  I think  i may have lost seven pounds.  Last night i slept well and food is going down much easier today.  Do you think the symptoms could of been associated with the stress, lack of sleep, and little appetite i was experiencing.

[billbarry123]

Thanks for the clarity.   After how many days would the western blot pick up the virus?  I'm very interested in getting this done.  i live in chicago could you point me in the right direction.