IGM Positive, IGG Negative, Boyfriend Negative

[piney00]

My doctor recently called to tell my the results of my blood work, I went in because I was having some burning and irritation, she didn't order any swabs or cultures but only did a blood test for HSV as she said she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary but the burning/hot sensation I was describing sounded like it could be an very mild initial outbreak.  I noticed some small red bumps but they could have been heat rash or razor burn and went away within a day or two - no blisters and were not itchy or painful.  My blood work came back  IgM positive for both HSV 1 and 2 - value 2.12 and IgG negative for both 1 and 2.  The weird part is I've had very infrequent cold sores since I was little and did happen to have one when I went in to get my blood work so no surprise about the HSV 1 part.  I was very distressed about the HSV 2 + IgM when she told me I most likely had herpes and requested I come back in for repeat blood work in 6 weeks.  In the meantime my boyfriend who I have been with for 4 months got tested and came back negative for both types.  Before we got together I hadn't been with anyone else for over a year.  I'm completely confused.  She said an IgM most likely indicates a recent infection but if he is negative, and he is the only person I've been with how could I have been recently infected?  Does this look like it could be a false positive?  My doctor said that is unlikely.

[gracefromHHP]

you need to stop thinking herpes about everything!

follow up with your provider for better answers.

[piney00]

I am now having weird nerve/tingling/pain in my lower back, buttocks and up and down my legs and it is going on for about 5 days.  Still no blisters or bumps. Also some irritation on the skin around my buttocks and pain in my lower abdomen. This is happening now starting 2-3 weeks after I got that feeling initially and went in for testing.

I understand that the igm is inaccurate but I also am having these potentially weird 'herpes' like symptoms.  I think I will go back to the doctor to get further testing done to try and explain these symptoms as I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable.  I definitely feel like something is off, just not sure what.

Would you recommend doing a repeat blood test as well at that time since I do have symptoms?  Should I do one now to confirm the HSV1 diagnosis?  I'm having trouble doubting my providers ignorance on this - mostly I'm just surprised they could be so off base.

Can I safely assume I was not infected by a previous partner since my igg was negative/igm positive at last testing? What are the chances of my boyfriend getting a false negative on his recent test?

[gracefromHHP]

you are negative and your partner of 4 months just tested negative, no reason for more testing.

should your genital symptoms reoccur, return to be seen and make sure they do a thorough exam as well as test you for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally too.

[piney00]

Thanks for the feedback, so I'm planning to go back to the same doctor to be tested again in 6 weeks time to see if my igg is positive.  If it is, can I assume I got the virus from a previous partner or would the more likely scenario be that my current partner had a false negative?  I'm just wondering why it would show up now after 2 yrs of not being with anyone.

She didn't test for anything else but did put me on one week of valtrex when I went in after my blood test.  I'm not having any abnormal symptoms at this time.

I have noticed that since this all started I have been having frequent cold sores after not having any for years - could there be any connection?  It's possible this could also be attributed to the stress of the diagnosis which has caused me a lot of anxiety, although I will say my partner has been wonderful through it all and we are taking the appropriate precautions so that if I am truly positive and he is truly negative I won't infect him.

[gracefromHHP]

the herpes igm test is a greatly flawed test and current CDC recommendations are that it not be used on adults for the purpose of diagnosing herpes. A + igm is meaningless for most folks and your provider should update their herpes testing knowledge by reading the 2010 herpes guidelines from the CDC.  

your partner is negative and your igg's are negative for herpes, very unlikely that you had a genital herpes ob going on.  did your provider do any other testing like for yeast or bacteria infections vaginally when you were seen?

you know you have hsv1 if you have a history of cold sores. Even though it wasn't reflected on your igg test, that's not too unusual. even the best tests still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.  http://www.ashastd.org/std-sti-works/Herpes/oral-herpes.html  has terrific info for you and your partner to read through to decide what precautions you want to take, if any, for him.

grace