how many weeks after you had last had sex prior to symptoms started did you get your blood testing done?
I'll gladly take a look at your blood work if you call, get the results and post them here - e.g. hsv1 igg 5.8 and hsv2 igg 9.9 or whatever they are.
grace
It was 2 or 3 days after sex I showed symptoms and about 2 weeks after symptoms I had the tests done. My hsv-1 was 3.5 and hsv-2 was 5.8 I would think I would've had an hsv-2 outbreak cause the numbers were higher but I guess not
I also just read that genital hsv-1 first outbreaks only show up if you don't have hsv-1 at time of infection. If that's true and I only had sex that one time before the genital hsv-1 then how could I have hsv-2, let alone with higher numbers??
well you could actually have both hsv1 and hsv2 genitally. Not many folks have it but it can occur. Another option is your lesion culture was mistyped. I encourage you every single time you have symptoms, be seen within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms for a lesion culture and typing to try to figure this out better.
Your igg results actually most likely are showing that you had both hsv1 and hsv2 before this encounter. You can test + in as little as 2 weeks but your results are high enough that odds are you had both prior to this. It wouldn't be unusual to have been infected and never knew it and the staph infection triggered a recurrence or shedding that was detected on the lesion culture. The igg results don't get higher when you have an active lesion present.
also fyi - staph infections don't mean you aren't showering enough or anything like that. You can actually transmit them through sex - the skin on skin contact transmits the bacteria easily.
I've only had the lesion the first time, the other 2 times it was just a rash but I'm pretty sure the rash was due to the underwear I wore because it only showed up when I wore that specific pair. Other then that I haven't had any other physical symptoms. I've come to terms that I do in fact have herpes I just want to make sure I have both. Could a Staph infection alter my results in anyway?
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.
perhaps you were only given one page of results and there is another?
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.
sounds like a good idea since nothing is matching up!
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.
so was there really a culture that was + for herpes then?
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.
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 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?
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....
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...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...
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?
being seen again is the best thing to do.
I will for sure but do you have any idea what could be going on? Any other input?
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.
still be seen every time you have genital symptoms to try to figure out what is herpes and what isn't too.
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?