Aa
Hoping for answers and clarity
Nurse warren and drs:
I have posted before and received a response from nurse warren. Though her response was thorough, I'm afraid my question was not:
1. On a sunday, I had unprotected sex with a new partner. The next day, it hurt to urinate. Since my mother has genital herpes, I looked very carefully throughout the day to check for symptoms. Nothing. On wed, my sister said it could be yeast, so I took one day monistat. Big mistake--i burned myself. Still checking--redness throughout, no sores, cuts, blisters. 5 days post exposure, got igg test: 2.3, 90% + with inhibition.
2. My mother contracted hsv 2 from my father when she got pregnant with me, but didn't know it. They ruptured her membrane 11 hrs before I was born and they drew blood while I was inside. Shortly after I was born (within days) I was hospitalized for apnea and not eating. I was in there for 3 months. While in there, my mother's rash returned and presented outward lesions. They crusted over, but then she had severe burning and hen examined, was told had trich. During all of this, I had blisters all over my mid- to lower-back and buttocks. They changed meds, formula, pampers, nothing helped. It would go away after a week or two, and return. This lasted until I was almost 2 yrs old. In later yrs, blood test revealed my mom had herpes. She hadn't been with anyone since my father and knew she got it from him.
Questions:
Does it sound like I contracted herpes from my mother? If so, wouldn't my number be higher than 2.3?
Is it possible I contracted hsv2 from that other encounter aand seroconverted after only 5 days? I don't have hsv1.
Lastly, would I shed as often as most if I contracted it at birth? I'm now 29. I have no other symptoms: no localized burning, redness, blisters, etc.
Am I as contagious as someone who contracted it through sexual conduct (if you think I even contracted it at birth).
I have posted before and received a response from nurse warren. Though her response was thorough, I'm afraid my question was not:
1. On a sunday, I had unprotected sex with a new partner. The next day, it hurt to urinate. Since my mother has genital herpes, I looked very carefully throughout the day to check for symptoms. Nothing. On wed, my sister said it could be yeast, so I took one day monistat. Big mistake--i burned myself. Still checking--redness throughout, no sores, cuts, blisters. 5 days post exposure, got igg test: 2.3, 90% + with inhibition.
2. My mother contracted hsv 2 from my father when she got pregnant with me, but didn't know it. They ruptured her membrane 11 hrs before I was born and they drew blood while I was inside. Shortly after I was born (within days) I was hospitalized for apnea and not eating. I was in there for 3 months. While in there, my mother's rash returned and presented outward lesions. They crusted over, but then she had severe burning and hen examined, was told had trich. During all of this, I had blisters all over my mid- to lower-back and buttocks. They changed meds, formula, pampers, nothing helped. It would go away after a week or two, and return. This lasted until I was almost 2 yrs old. In later yrs, blood test revealed my mom had herpes. She hadn't been with anyone since my father and knew she got it from him.
Questions:
Does it sound like I contracted herpes from my mother? If so, wouldn't my number be higher than 2.3?
Is it possible I contracted hsv2 from that other encounter aand seroconverted after only 5 days? I don't have hsv1.
Lastly, would I shed as often as most if I contracted it at birth? I'm now 29. I have no other symptoms: no localized burning, redness, blisters, etc.
Am I as contagious as someone who contracted it through sexual conduct (if you think I even contracted it at birth).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Were you able to get the western blot?
I think a study should be done to compare the inhibition assay to the western blot. My money is very clearly on the western blot for accuracy, but you just never know until you study it in a scientific, professional way.
Terri
I think a study should be done to compare the inhibition assay to the western blot. My money is very clearly on the western blot for accuracy, but you just never know until you study it in a scientific, professional way.
Terri
Thank you so much for allowing me to ask so many questions--a service far worth more than 20 dollars. I am going to follow your advise on the inhibition--it is just very hard when everyone says the inhibition is so great and the doctors are not too keen on the WB. You originally said in my post some time ago that it sounded like classic neonatal infection. After all that I have told you, does it sound like you still believe that is possible? One doctor (the jerk who diagnosed me) said it's impossible, but another doctor said given my history at birth and my mom's history, it sounds like a strong possibility.
I am driving myself insane trying to find a symptom. I suffer from hemorrhoids and the other day I noticed a very faint cut in the anterior midline by a hemorrhoid and I was sure it was an outbreak, but it still hasn't healed completely in 3 weeks so I am almost positive it isn't an outbreak. But I am just waiting for the ball to drop and I am going nuts. ANd sure, it doesn't matter how I got it, but it does to me--if I got it at birth and don't shed like others, I am not as contagious. If I got it sexually and just don't get outbreaks, I need to be on suppressive therapy to make sure I don't ever spread it if I am in a serious relationship and want to procreate. This was my last post until the WB results. Thank you for your time and thoughts
I am driving myself insane trying to find a symptom. I suffer from hemorrhoids and the other day I noticed a very faint cut in the anterior midline by a hemorrhoid and I was sure it was an outbreak, but it still hasn't healed completely in 3 weeks so I am almost positive it isn't an outbreak. But I am just waiting for the ball to drop and I am going nuts. ANd sure, it doesn't matter how I got it, but it does to me--if I got it at birth and don't shed like others, I am not as contagious. If I got it sexually and just don't get outbreaks, I need to be on suppressive therapy to make sure I don't ever spread it if I am in a serious relationship and want to procreate. This was my last post until the WB results. Thank you for your time and thoughts
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, this is confusing and interesting.
My advice would be to have the forehead lesion cultured for herpes right away when you get it the next time. Do it on the FIRST day, not later.
Also, I don't love the inhibition assay. I would recommend the western blot as a confirmatory test. You can have your provider order that through Quest labs; the code is 34534.
Let me know if you have other questions, OK? Or if you want to follow up on test results that you obtain.
Terri
My advice would be to have the forehead lesion cultured for herpes right away when you get it the next time. Do it on the FIRST day, not later.
Also, I don't love the inhibition assay. I would recommend the western blot as a confirmatory test. You can have your provider order that through Quest labs; the code is 34534.
Let me know if you have other questions, OK? Or if you want to follow up on test results that you obtain.
Terri
No I'm not able to see those records. My mother was very poor, and in the early 80s, medical care in city hospitals was quite poor. The doctors never knew why I was so sick or what caused the rash. I had pneumonia after my release, but they never figured out why I would stop breathing and not eat. They were quite sure I was going to die. And even after I pulled through, the blistered rash haunted me for 2 yrs. My doctors tried everything from changing my diet, etc. My mother found out via a herpeselect test a few yrs ago that she was positive (no sexual partners since my father left).
That was not my only sexual encounter, but I have been with less than 4 ppl. I know that doesn't mean much, but I spoke to them and they all say they tested negative (but they also didn't show me anything verifying this). The person I mentioned in my above post if the only one I am not in touch with. No symptoms, and again, I'm pretty conscious of it due to my moms diagnosis. I do get a very strange blistered rash on my forehead. It comes when I'm stressed and sick, but never scars. Doctors thought was exzema or sebborheic, but those meds never work. They tell me just to stay "unstressed.". Had this since I was young. Sorry I am not more informative.
That was not my only sexual encounter, but I have been with less than 4 ppl. I know that doesn't mean much, but I spoke to them and they all say they tested negative (but they also didn't show me anything verifying this). The person I mentioned in my above post if the only one I am not in touch with. No symptoms, and again, I'm pretty conscious of it due to my moms diagnosis. I do get a very strange blistered rash on my forehead. It comes when I'm stressed and sick, but never scars. Doctors thought was exzema or sebborheic, but those meds never work. They tell me just to stay "unstressed.". Had this since I was young. Sorry I am not more informative.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't think you contracted herpes from the sexual encounter that you describe. Is that your only lifetime sexual encounter?
Are you able to the actual medical records associated with your 3 months stay in the hospital? Did your mother say that you were in there for herpes? If you did acquire HSV 2 from your mother, I would expect your antibody test to be positive for your lifetime. The number could be anything from 1.1 to >5. 2.3 would not be unusual.
If you did contract this at birth, I'm not clear about your shedding - it would depend upon where in your body you had symptoms.
Terri
Are you able to the actual medical records associated with your 3 months stay in the hospital? Did your mother say that you were in there for herpes? If you did acquire HSV 2 from your mother, I would expect your antibody test to be positive for your lifetime. The number could be anything from 1.1 to >5. 2.3 would not be unusual.
If you did contract this at birth, I'm not clear about your shedding - it would depend upon where in your body you had symptoms.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
