Many Thanks in advance for answering my query
you can get a type specific herpes igg blood test done but not at the gum clinics. You need to get it ordered from a private doctor.
You've been seen and examined several times now and no one thinks your symptoms are std related. Honestly it's probably not worth std testing from this encounter.
grace
Many Thanks gracefromHHP.
As mentioned above, I have not had any lesions/blisters in the past 13 weeks other than those mentioned (which the doctors ruled out as not herpes up on visual examinations). However, I have intermittently had pain on the side of my right thigh for the past 8 weeks which has become increasingly persistent in the last 2 days. The pain is shooting pain and appears to have spread down my right leg (although I do not feel it round the clock). Similar sharp pain in the groin as well occassionally. Is this anything like herpes? I have no visible blisters nor fever. Had some discomfort in my throat (having to clear throat frequently and little pain) early in the week.
I have also been experiencing slow clearing of urine in the last 8 weeks. The blood test and the scan for this problem have not found any issue with my urinary tract. So, wondering if this caused by an std as well?
Many thanks in advance.
PS: I was disappointed to learn from this site that PCR is meaningless when done on blood and Idont have active lesions. so, will have to continue searching for a clinic that offers IgG
not really anything I can add at this point. find a clinic that does the blood test and follow up there as well as continue to follow up with your provider as you have been doing.
grace
In a freak incident, my kid may have come into contact with drops of my urine in the toilet. He has the habit of touching his feet and putting his hands in his mouth. 4 days later, he has complained of mouth ulcers on either side. I am terrified that he may have contracted an std from me. Are the ulcers due to an std that he may contracted from this episode? Thanks in advance
PS: I am awaiting my test results for chlamydia etc., and waiting for 16 weeks to complete for my hsv test
no your child doesn't have a std that they got from coming in contact with your urine.
if he has mouth ulcers, take him to be seen.
grace
Here are my IgG test results done at 16 weeks and 2 days.
HERPES SIMPLEX ANTIBODIES
H.S.V. I (IgG) Negative 0.534 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
H.S.V. II (IgG) Negative 0.329 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
Do I need to re-test at 6 months AND 12 months considering the following:
-- That only 70-80% seroconvert at 4 months. Am I in the other 20-30% of people?
-- That there is a possibility of false negative from the IgG test
no reason for more testing. time to put this behind you.
congrats on being negative!
grace
Thanks Grace. That's very re-assuring. Please can you elaborate on why you say there is no need to re-test coz my questions still remain :
-- That only 70-80% seroconvert at 4 months. Am I in the other 20-30% of people?
-- That there is a possibility of false negative from the IgG test
Many Thaks in advance.
you can get false negatives but the risk of such is low at the 4 month mark which is why we recommend testing then.
it's just not worth a half year of your life waiting for test results when you can get them sooner. Terri Warren , HHH and Dr Hook all don't recommend repeat testing either if you are negative at the 4 month mark unless you have symptoms that are still bothersome that need further evaluation and at that point we recommend lesion cultures anyways.
I guess I did not wait for the exact 4 calendar month mark mark....I feel I tested a week too soon..
Exposure was on Apr 23rd and tested on Aug 16th...So, a week less if you consider calendar months...but completed 16 weeks and 2 days at the time of testing. Would that make any difference? I have always been confused about the mark. Is it 4 calendar months OR 16 weeks or 120 days?
Many Thanks for answering.
nope, no difference at all.
If I was in your shoes, I'd be dancing out in the streets with joy myself.
The awareness about herpes has made me paranoid and extra anxious.
As a parent, I want my kid to be as clean from viruses (however common) as possible
I am now worried that my 5 year old kid will contract this COMMON virus (type 1) at school. How likely is this to happen?
Congratz worry, did your gum clinic offer the test to you or did you have to ask? I had to go privately and pay £160 for my test...
statistically 1 out of every 3 kids has hsv1 orally before they step into kindergarten. It's very common. http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm has terrific info on hsv1 orally for more reading.
grace
Hi WarOnTheTerraces,
Thanks. I am however still worried that I may be sero converting slowly and may have to wait up to an year to confirm.
No. my gum clinic did not offer the test. I asked but they said they do not offer the test. I had to go private and shell out £200.
Hi Grace,
Thanks for your continued assistance in answering my queries.
I was speaking to a local support group and was startled to learn that a -ve blood test may not be all good news coz sometimes anti-bodies are never produced at all (even if the virus is present) which is why the blood tests are no good. They said that sometimes it can take upto an year to ser-convert and if one does not sero-convert after one year, they will never do so even if the virus is present in the body.
This made me feel depressed even more and was wondering if I will never know conclusively whether I am carrying HSV1/2 or not?
Hi Grace,
After posting my previous question to you, I did a search and came across the following answer from Dr.HHH which confirms my worst fear that some people never produce anti-bodies. Your views please?
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Herpes-Testing-Question/show/246178
The more I learn, the more I feel this is the worst virus one can get exposed to.
Reading the journal posted on your profile, it appears that the blood test can be -ve on some days and +ve on the other.
http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/2003/04000/Time_Course_of_Seroconversion_by_HerpeSelect_ELISA.7.aspx
This is just adding to the confusion
-- Firstly, it is possible that one may never produce anti-bodies
(Source:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Herpes-Testing-Question/show/246178)
-- The tests themselves are not reliable as one might get a +ve on somedays and -ve on the other (even well over 365 days)
(Source: http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/2003/04000/Time_Course_of_Seroconversion_by_HerpeSelect_ELISA.7.aspx)
Is there any hope at all for people like me without any symptoms? How can I put this behind with possibilities like above?
Oh good grief - the worst virus?? It's a mere skin condition for the many millions of folks who have it - many who never have a symptom
As to the worst viruses: How about rabies? It kills 55,000 people a year. Or Influenza? Try hundreds of thousands annually, up to millions in a pandemic year. And HIV? How about two million deaths annually. Can't say you'll find those stats about herpes...
I highly recommend the homepage of WHO for more information about any disease. Herpes is clearly not a deadly, or for that matter, serious virus.
At this point your posts are highly anxiety driven. As to Dr. H's post, it's the glass half full, or empty in your case:
"The giant majority of people who are negative at either of those times can be confident they do not have HSV-2. But almost all infected persons eventually develop positive tests, even if it takes 6 months or longer."
As Grace stated: "it's just not worth a half year of your life waiting for test results when you can get them sooner. Terri Warren , HHH and Dr Hook all don't recommend repeat testing either if you are negative at the 4 month mark unless you have symptoms that are still bothersome that need further evaluation and at that point we recommend lesion cultures anyways."
Lastly, even if you had HSV1 or HSV2, it surely is not the end of the world. I have genital herpes and lord knows if it's the worst thing that happens to me I will be VERY fortunate!
Hi Petal,
Thanks for your response. I call it the worst virus only coz there does not appear to be any conclusive test baed on which (nor a fixed time frame after which) people like me can put the exposure behind and move on with their lives coz
-- I may never produce anti-bodies OR
-- Test might be -ve on one day and +ve on the other
It's a very small percentage of folks who don't produce detectable antibodies. You've had a very low risk encounter to begin with . You've had negative blood tests. Odds are you would've had a very obvious ob if you were herpes negative and then contracted it - you've had no symptoms that sound worrisome for herpes. You've followed up on things with providers who have all thought you didn't have herpes.
please do not confuse your anxiety with real risk.
Hi Grace,
Sorry did not understand the following statement from your response. What do you mean by "ob"?
"Odds are you would've had a very obvious ob if you were herpes negative and then contracted it"
Also, why do you say mine was a low risk encounter?