Long term questions

[seekinganwers]

at the end of 2011 I had unprotected sex and was worried about it after. I had some bumps appear on the shaft of my penis several years prior to that but they went away in a couple of days so I never worried about it. After the unprotected sex incident I decided to get tested in January of 2012 40 days after it. My test was an IGG test and came back positive 3.20. More reading told me I should have waited longer. At 5 months I got another IGG test and it came back negative 0.00. A few weeks later I had 4 or 5 bumps, just red bumps, appear on my penis. they were not clustered together and didn't scab over. I went to the doctor and he swabbed them and drew blood for an IGG, both were negative. He said it looked like some type or exuma, not herpes but did the test just in case and gave me some ointment to put on them. They were gone in less than a week.  Both tests were negative.
It is now January 2014. About a week ago I had 3 small red bumps appear at different locations on my penis. They became rough but did not ooze or really blister. They were gone completely within 3 days before I could get to the doctor. I had some of the ointment from last time still and put it on them.  I should also add I have been having trouble with my tounge and inside of my mouth being inflammed and bumps and ulcers on my tounge and the inside of my mouth just generally raw and irritated for about 6 weeks. This started about a month after I started taking Ambien a few nights a week. One of the side effects listed is mouth ulcers. I quit taking it about 6 weeks ago. I went go an online ordered IGG test from a local lab as soon as the bumps appeared. I fully expected to be negative but it was positive 1.61.  I went to the doctor 2 days ago and he did not think my mouth issue looked anything like Herpes but did another blood test and swab at my request. He also prescribed Kenalog oral ointment for my tounge and it has helped. So with that said could you please give some insight?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think you need a confirmatory test for the HSV 2 result.  It is in what we call the low positive range, so it could be a false positive.  Do you know your HSV 1 status?  Do you get cold sores?  If your HSV 1 is positive, then it is more likely that your HSV 2 index value is a false positive.  The test I would recommend is a herpes western blot.  You can order a test kit directly from the Univeristy of Washington lab (google Herpes western blot) or our clinic can help you with that.  Between the on and off bumps and the low positive HSV 2 test and the previous positive that was in the range that didn't need confirming, this is a situation that needs clarification.

TErri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think what you state about the attitude of doctors about herpes is quite accurate.  I think the reason this happens is because doctors see a whole range of problems that physically are far more debilitating than herpes, like cancers that take people's live and heart attacks that destroy families and diabetes that so impacts quality of life.  I totally get that.  On the other hand, for the individual patient with herpes concerns, their concerns are real and can be emotionally difficult.  So I'm not defending their attitudes, I'm just perhaps explaining them a little better.

Terri

[seekinganwers]

Thank you for your input. I am with you and think (and hope)  there is something other than HSV going on here. I really appreciate your insight. I have another doctors appointment Monday with a dermatologist and will discuss a western blot with him and may go ahead and get one. I have been told it is very hard to get doctors in my area to do them. Every doctor I have tried to talk to about my issues, with the exception of one, has been pretty much unwilling to talk about it. Their attitude is, there's nothing you can do about it and it won't kill you so were not even going to talk to you about it. While HSV is a non-curable and is not life threatening in a physical sense it is very sad that most doctors have that attitude because the mental stress that can be cause by it can be overwhelming to some people.  I have had many sleepless nights worrying about it myself. If I need help getting a western blot I will contact your clinic, thank you again.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Likely, there is a > indicator in front of the .90.  You can double check.  
I think, given the latest negative antibody test, that you are not infected and that something in your own body is triggering those low positives.  You can either accept that, or when the timing is appropriate, get a western blot if you are still worried.

Terri

[seekinganwers]

So as I said before I had gone to the doctor and he did a swab and another IGG test.  They called me late this afternoon and said both are negative, so I guess that is good news.

[seekinganwers]

They said my HSV 1was negative. I aske for a copy of one of they tests I had done. It shows negative for HSV 1 but I think it shows a value o 0.90. I have been told negative every time. I have had canker sores, bumps and inflammation in my mouth since I was a kid for as long as I can remember but never anything really bad or like what has happened recently. Even what I have experienced now is not painful just annoying. I have never had any cold sores on my lips or on the outside of my mouth

[seekinganwers]

and last thing, all was for HSV-2

[seekinganwers]

I forgot to post my levels from my second test in 2012, it was a 0.90. I don't know what the one from the doctors office said as far as the level, they just said it was negative.