I would appreciate some help with herpes symptoms

[BobArnold]

Hello, thanks for your time in advance:

About a year ago I dated a woman who was positive for HSV-1 in her genitals. SHe had a very very painful and severe first breakout. I got tested for HSV 1 and 2 through both iGm iGg, and everything else - everything came back negative.

Last week, I noticed a ONE small reddish bump on the head of my penis by the urethra. Soon afterward, I started feeling a mild itching sensation in my urethra.  A day later I felt a bit of burning, very minor, when peeing/ ejaculating. I also noticed some dribbling clear liquid, possibly seminal fluid/  urine throughout the day. The symptoms did not abate for about 3 days so i went to PP to run some tests.

Today I got tested for chlamydia/ gonorrhea, HIV, Syphilis,  and HSV 1 and 2 both IGm and IGg tests. Because my symptoms are so mild (no pain, soreness on the single bump, mild itching very mild burning) I was relatively confident I do not have herpes after reading some posts here. However, the doctor at PP who has seen many cases of herpes said the bump did look herpetic and since a gland by my groin is inflamed (has been for a month), I probably have herpes and even if the tests come back negative I should trust her opinion. She put me on 400mg Acyclovir 2x daily.

1st, what do you make of all this?
2nd, what steps do I take, once the results are in, to be absolutely certain I am free from herpes/ have herpes?
------if the tests come back negative again, can i wait 3 months, test again through IGg and then be convinced i;m herpes free? What sort of numbers would indicate a sure positive/ negative?

[gracefromHHP]

odds are you don't have herpes since you are negative at 2 months. if you really need the peace of mind, wait another month or two and repeat them just to cover your bases.  totally up to you.

[BobArnold]

It's been almost two months now.

[gracefromHHP]

there are type specific igm tests for herpes however they still have the same false positive issues as the non-type specific ones which is why we still aren't recommending them.


how long has it been since you last had any genital sex since these new test results?

[BobArnold]

So I got my new results back:
Elisa
Herpes type 1 igg: .10
Herpes type 2 igg: .03
with > .90 positive

Amazingly, these retards ran an Igm also, despite my clear instructions not to.
Igm type 1: <.90
type 2: <.90

I know there's no type specific igm. They also REFUSE to run the western blot. The lack of knowledge in the medical profession and labs is astounding. I referred them to the pamphlets i found online through this and other sites.

So questions... is this definitive enough?
Does this mean my previous igm was a false positive (it would have converted into higher igg results otherwise right)?
Lastly, i still have no idea what my symptoms represent, i'm negative for everything, any idea what else i could check?

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusiion-over-other-IgM-Herpes-posts/show/248394  is a prior post by HHH that goes into details about why the igm herpes testing isn't worthwhile. I think you'll find it is helpful.  the cdc guidelines specifically now say that it's not worth using in adults too. the PP you went to just needs to change what test they order from their lab. most labs have different numbers for both tests and just igg type specific testing.  

its totally up to you and your partner if you have sex or not while waiting. It's something you both should be discussing in general. make sense?

[BobArnold]

thanks for your time again. I told my provider (planned parenthood), but she said that's he test their lab runs! To think I paid for it, ridiculous. Most didn't know what Igg/ igm was much less which specific test it was, I had to speak to 4 different people to get my results properly. /rant

If you would elaborate just a bit, it's critically important to me... I've been reading about the IgM false positives, and it seems that most of the reason it's considered "false" is because it does not detect hsv2 in isolation. Meaning i would still likely have hsv 1. If i did contract hsv, then is would have been 8 months ago most likely. My partners in the last 3 months are both negative - both give blood regularly.

last question for 3 months... can i have protected sex with a tested negative person over the next three months while i wait to retake the test?

[gracefromHHP]

the herpes igm test is a greatly flawed test. A + igm for herpes is really meaningless to be honest.  your provider needs to update their herpes testing knowledge!  Ask them to read the CDC std guidelines for herpes 2010 info. they can do it free online even :)


repeat your herpes igg testing again 3 months after the last time you had sex and go from there.  

[BobArnold]

Ok, so my result came back today: Negative for all other STDs

HSV IgN combination: positive with a 1.26 (where above a 1.17 is considered a positive "new infection".

HSV IgG type 1: Neg with less than 0.91
HSV IgG type 2: Neg with less than 0.91

I was told I have a "new herpes infection."

Please help me, I can't make heads or tails of this.

[BobArnold]

Thanks again Grace. I will wait three months and get the western blot 1igg. One question meanwhile for my own peace of mind... My postule (again, only one), looks nothing like any herpes pic ive seen online. not shiny, no fluid inside, is healing without crusting. Can I take this to mean anything at all?

[gracefromHHP]

at this point wait for your igg test results and go from there. if they are negative, repeat them 3 months after the last time you had sex prior to your symptoms.  statistically, if you've had 8 partners in the past year or so, 2 of them had hsv2 and 3-4 of them had hsv1.  lots of chances for you to pick up either virus if you didn't already have any of them.

[BobArnold]

Thanks for seeing this.
I've had seven partners since seeing her I already called them and recommended they get tested.
They did not culture the lesion, I know, its weird, I should have said something.
My prior partner developed herpes while with me, however, it was shortly after cheating on me. I definitively did not give it to her. Sadly we did not use protection.

[gracefromHHP]

have you had any partners since this gal? are you still with her?

did they do a lesion culture of your genital symptoms too?

did your prior partner have hsv1 genitally prior to you or develop it while with you?

grace