Aa
I'm extremely confused!
In feb I had protected vaginal sex/ unprotected oral sex, after a couple days I noticed 2 small bumps off to the side of my genitals. I assumed it was ingrown hairs, they only hurt to the touch, no itching, burning, or tingling. After a couple weeks I went to the dr cause it wasn't getting better but not worse either. She did a culture and took a type specific blood test. The culture came back positive for genital hsv-1 and a staph infection (I'm a clean person so I dont know how exactly I got staph or really even how to get it) my blood test came back positive for hsv-1 and 2 with very high numbers for both. My dr told me because the numbers were so high I likely just contracted it. I've done my research and everything I read tells me if your numbers are high you've had it for awhile. Also i know you can have the virus and not have outbreaks but why did I have an hsv-1 outbreak and not still to this day have an hsv-2 outbreak. I've had what i thought were 2 genital hsv-1 outbreaks since the first initial outbreak but its only a itchy rash and only happens when I wear certain underwear. I wouldn't think it was the genital hsv but its in the exact same spot every time. I'm confused about all of this, is my dr right or everybody else about the high numbers and can certain fabric cause an out break and should I get tested for hsv-2 again just to make sure I actually have it also.
for most folks, none of those things will trigger a recurrence.
when you want an ob, you won't get one....lol. Guess we have to all walk around hoping for one to keep them away?
when you want an ob, you won't get one....lol. Guess we have to all walk around hoping for one to keep them away?
I guess at this point that's all I can do. I never thought I'd ask this but do you have any suggestions to induce an outbreak? I only have them once a year and just had it a few weeks ago. I've heard caffiene, nicotine, poor diet and stress are all triggers but all those are daily things for me.
they are accurate the majority of the time. folks who have no reason not to trust their results, don't show up on the boards to ask about them. some folks will be in the gray area and unfortunately you are there. Being seen every time you have genital symptoms will help you get to the bottom of this.
Why do they even do blood tests? They're more confusing and obviously not accurate for anything, now i understand why its not apart of routine testing, its a serious pain. I should have never got one and just stuck with the culture results. How can I trust a test that tells me I don't have something I clearly do? How do I have "the talk" with a potential partner and even try to sound like I know what I'm talking about with results like this!?
even the best blood tests still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. Not too surprising that you aren't testing + for hsv1 on the blood tests.
the numeric results will vary from test to test.
the numeric results will vary from test to test.
I got my lab results back and still after a year my blood still shows negative for hsv-1, positive for hsv-2 igg 3.35 If i had an hsv-1 outbreak a year ago shouldn't it show up on my blood test? And why are my numbers for hsv-2 lower?
still be seen every time you have genital symptoms to try to figure out what is herpes and what isn't too.
I was able to see my dr yesterday and got it figured out. I went over my lab results with her and sure enough the nurse didn't print out the last page. My first culture did come back positive for hsv-1. The blood test for hsv-1 was negative cause well I guess I had just contracted it so no antibodies yet. I asked for another blood test to confirm since if i was positive in the culture I would definitely have antibodies in my blood now, she agreed that was a good idea so I'll be 100% sure of it all in a few days.
Well grace whatever was going on is now back. I took antivirals till (what assumed was an outbreak) was completely gone and 2 days later its back although in the same spot its definitely a bigger patch now. The symptoms are a tad different though too. It still itches and burn. No muscle aches but instead my urine is extremely dark (no burning or difficulty urinating). I also have a slight brownish discharge from my vagina. Something is obviously wrong and I'm not convinced anymore that its herpes. The bumps/blister aren't clustered together either, there is some space between them. From what I've learned herpe blisters cluster together to create lesions, this not the case. I'm definitely seeing my dr cause this is beginning to really freak me out! I guess my question is, does this sound like a vaginal staph infection or herpes??? And what are your thoughts on the antivirals helping but it coming back worse?
Hi thtgirl...Like yourself, when I would get tested for STD's, I assumed I was getting tested for "EVERYTHING"...Honestly, hun, I have no idea what "everything" actually includes right now... I thought herpes would be included, but I just don't know now.
What I do know is the testing I had completed this October did not include herpes. They did take blood though. Yesterday, the nurse at the clinic told me that, since I've had cold sores since I was a child, I obviously have the HSV1 virus and the results would not verify if HSV2 was present. She said that the HSV2 virus could only be 100% verified by an actual swab of the lesion, which was provided on Thursday.
I'm amazed too as to how little I know...I'm very ashamed about it since I'm 45 years old. I've been playing Russian Roulette with my life. I'm dumbfounded as to how many people in North America have herpes...1 in 5!! Unreal...
My sexual partner was over to see me last night and we talked about things. He said he's been with two women since he and his wife (of 10 years) split up 3 years ago. He said he's been tested for STD's, but what does that mean, now that we know 'testing" does not include the full range of STD's. He didn't realize that one could have STD's (especially herpes) and not be aware of it. He's being supportive for me and trying to reassure me that he's clean and I'm just suffering from friction-related issues.
I just put up a post with details of what's been happening with me since Dec 22nd when we first engaged in sex...Please read and tell me what you think. Take care and talk to you soon...
What I do know is the testing I had completed this October did not include herpes. They did take blood though. Yesterday, the nurse at the clinic told me that, since I've had cold sores since I was a child, I obviously have the HSV1 virus and the results would not verify if HSV2 was present. She said that the HSV2 virus could only be 100% verified by an actual swab of the lesion, which was provided on Thursday.
I'm amazed too as to how little I know...I'm very ashamed about it since I'm 45 years old. I've been playing Russian Roulette with my life. I'm dumbfounded as to how many people in North America have herpes...1 in 5!! Unreal...
My sexual partner was over to see me last night and we talked about things. He said he's been with two women since he and his wife (of 10 years) split up 3 years ago. He said he's been tested for STD's, but what does that mean, now that we know 'testing" does not include the full range of STD's. He didn't realize that one could have STD's (especially herpes) and not be aware of it. He's being supportive for me and trying to reassure me that he's clean and I'm just suffering from friction-related issues.
I just put up a post with details of what's been happening with me since Dec 22nd when we first engaged in sex...Please read and tell me what you think. Take care and talk to you soon...
Hi janice1966. Sry to hear your going through this. It can be hard to go through this when you feel like your alone, it was definitely Noyes something I could talk to my friends about. This site is amazing and full of accurate knowledge. I'm still learning about stds (esp herpes) myself. Its scary to think how many of us (myself included) are completely uneducated and misinformed about it all. Have you ever been tested for herpes before, and what test did they use? Up until a year ago I thought when you asked for an std check they checked for everything. Not true, you have to ask specifically to be tested for certain stds and that's when I learned herpes is checked with a blood test (or culture if lesions are present) And do you know if your partner has ever been tested?
Hi "thtgirl" and "gracefromHHP"...I just discovered this site since I've been frantically searching the internet for good forums regarding herpes. After reading your discussion, you both impress me with your depth of information and knowledge and I'm hoping to obtain and provide support and compare symptoms (with you "thtgirl"). Im a 45 year old, professional female and am scared beyond belief and need some support, since I have noone to talk to. I believe I've contracted genital herpes from a man I've been having unprotected sex with since Dec 22, 2011. We have had sex 4 times, the last day being Monday, Dec 26th. I was extremely sore, from what I thought was just friction. I haven't been sexually active since last spring and have had no symptoms of any std's. On Monday, Dec 26th I noticed an increased amount of discharge which is persisting. On the evening of Dec 28th I noticed, what I thought was a rip/tear at the bottom entrance of my vagina (at the opening of the Bartholln's gland (according to a diagram). The following morning, I immediately went to the clinic and was swabbed (yesterday...Dec 29) for several std's. It might take 2 weeks for the results to come back and I'm melting down. The nurse said I did have bacterial vaginosis but, since I didn't have any symptoms of it back in october, she said to leave it untreated. I asked for meds to treat it and started taking Metronidazole yesterday. This afternoon (Dec 30th) I felt tingling in the genital area and upon another self-exam, I discovered a small circular lesion between the clitoris and urethral orifice, so I went back to the clinic to see the nurse...I'm convinced it's herpes...she comforted me as best she could and told me not to jump to conclusions and wait for the results. She gave me a prescription for Valacyclovir in the event more sores were to develop over the weekend. She told me that it wouldn't "hurt" to take the meds, even if I didn't contract herpes. She instructed me to call the medical clinic and see a doctor immediately, which I will do at the beginning of the week. I'm sorry to barge in on your discussion. You both seem like very sensible and informed women and I'd appreciate your feedback and support if you'd be so kind to provide it to me. I've been up since 4am and it's almost midnight now, so I'm not very clear-headed. I just wanted to post here before I go to bed in hopes to hear from one or both of you in the morning. I hope you are doing better "thtgirl". I feel for you....
I wish I could have seen my dr this time to figure out if i had an actual outbreak. What ever it was the antivirals helped. I've heard people say that an outbreak is completely healed when the scabs crust and fall off. What scabs are they talking about? I never had/got scabs as it went away, the bumps/blisters would just flatten out and disappeare. Does it always scab when it heals?
thank you for clarifying that for me. I can't imagine how confused you are with all of this!
I'd go to be seen each time you have symptoms. they should be culturing for herpes to see if indeed these are a herpes issue or not.
not unusual for staph to come back in the same general area too. they should be ruling out MRSA if it reoccurs again.
I'd go to be seen each time you have symptoms. they should be culturing for herpes to see if indeed these are a herpes issue or not.
not unusual for staph to come back in the same general area too. they should be ruling out MRSA if it reoccurs again.
No! It was just a staph infection. Hsv didn't show up at all. Its kind of confusing though, cause I just had an outbreak (i assume) and it didn't look/feel anything like what I was told was my first outbreak (staph infection) but they were both in the exact same spot. The first time it didn't tingle, itch, no muscle aches, nothing. This time it itched, my body hurt and it was obvious blisters.
I wasn't able to see my dr but the nurse was nice enough to go over everything with me. The results are negative for hsv-1 and positive for hsv-2. I'm so angry! For the past 10 months I thought I had both genitaly! I haven't dated or anything cause the thought of telling someone I had both viruses really freaked me out! I know how some people view people with just one genital virus so thinking I had two was mortifying! Now I'm questioning if it actually hsv-2, what if i have hsv-1 and someone messed up again. I'm getting tested again for sure but I'll be going to another clinic.
She told me this was everything from my tests. Even the numbers don't match from what she told me and what's on the sheet. I'm going back in tomorrow morning to get some answers.
Ok now I'm stumped. I requested a copy of my lab work, that my doc told me read...
Culture + for hsv-1/Staph.
Blood work + hsv-1 igg 3.5/ hsv-2 igg 5.8.
I look at the paper and this is what I see
Culture. Staph
Blood work type specific. Hsv-2 igg 4.72 <0.90
Hsv-1 igg. <0.90
I don't see anything that says I have hsv-1. Of course I'm not a dr soooo could you interpret this for me.
Culture + for hsv-1/Staph.
Blood work + hsv-1 igg 3.5/ hsv-2 igg 5.8.
I look at the paper and this is what I see
Culture. Staph
Blood work type specific. Hsv-2 igg 4.72 <0.90
Hsv-1 igg. <0.90
I don't see anything that says I have hsv-1. Of course I'm not a dr soooo could you interpret this for me.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
