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Avatar universal

Possibilities? Thoughts?

So, around the end of December 2009, beginning 2010 had encounter with ex girlfriend.

About 10 days later, had red, inflamed patches located on foreskin and just below glans on one side.

It lasted about two days and went away - no sores, just redness, slight inflammation/irritation. Came back about 10 days later on opposite side, but around same location on penis. Again, just redness, inflamed skin. Perhaps two small papercut like things on top of raised red region, about 1 mm long.

Accompanied by leg pain, pain in buttocks, back pain.

Tested negative at 4.5 weeks on Feb 1, 2010. I realize this is well below window period of 12 weeks.

Is it correct to assume that if your initial episode is mild, that antibody production would not kick into full gear and thus the test at 4.5 weeks was purely a false negative?

Any help would be appreciated.

21 Responses
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Avatar universal
Sent it out. Wish I took pictures - it was a thing of beauty, neatly packed with ice and cotton balls.

To ALL PEOPLE : If you do Western Blot, they need SERUM, which means you have to have the blood "spun down" by your doctor's lab to separate it from the red stuff - don't forget this. If you send them plasma, just blood, they may not run the assay.

Cost me $60 to send overnight from east coast.

The overnight assay is running tonight in Washington, as I type -surreal !!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok so I have the viral transport kit from LabCorp for the swab, (just waiting to get something to swab), and the kit from UofW for Western Blot.

I am having blood sent on Monday July, 12 2010.

Should know like 14 days after.

So excited and scared. Ready for this to be over one way or another.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
a pcr blood test is of no use for adults. you can only use pcr on active lesions for adults. herpes is not a blood borne virus so it's a waste of time doing pcr on blood for you.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Grace,

This is the test I was thinking of getting from LabCorp for the PCR...

http://bit.ly/b10C9V

It says it can be performed on serum, however, I was thinking a swab from a lesion may be more accurate - your thoughts?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Ok you're right. So far they have only done one culture, which came back negative. However those are wrong 40 - 50 % of the time, so a PCR is in order.

I am also going to do Western Blot at the end of July.

Will keep you updated. Thanks.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
when you have symptoms, go and be seen within 48 hours of them. it still doesn't sound like herpes going on but perhaps getting a negative pcr swab would help convince you of that and rule it out for your providers.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I NEED HELP!

I have been experiencing nearly daily oral symptoms like itching, tingling, burning and cuts/ulcerations inside my mouth as well as small itchy red bumps and redness/soreness on my face and around my nose since January 2010.

However, as of the first week of May, nearly 18 weeks past exposure, my results for HSV 1+2 Herpeselect IgG tests are STILL coming back negative.

However, there is no plausible explanation for what could be causing recurrent, issues for this long with these types of symptoms.

Is it possible that I just have not produced antibodies?

Should I get one of these cuts/sores cultured?

I think it is oral HSV-2 since it happened shortly after I did that deed with a girl last week of December 2009.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok I was just hoping to get more than one opinion that's all.

Sorry I said fluff.

We need a cure for this ASAP!

What do you think about directly injecting Famvir into the sacral and trigeminal nerves to chase out the virus?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
mistakeguy already gave the answer to that specific question a few posts ago. perhaps you missed it?


a negatve at 9 weeks is a good reason to start thinking other causes hence the "fluff" response I gave you.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Thanks for the great suggestion!

Does anyone know how reliable results are at 9 weeks using the HerpeSelect HS2 IGG test?

It's this one here :

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/testmenu/jsp/showTestMenu.jsp?fn=3640.html&labCode=NEL

Anyone?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
if you had obvious symptoms , a pcr swab was the more appropriate testing to have had done.

At this point this could be herpes but odds are it isn't.  It's time to start pursuing other possibilities for your symptoms.

grace
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
Yup.  Used HerpeSelect.  Its the one that will test positive the soonest for HSV (12 weeks) where other test (including western blot) are accurate at 4 months and beyond.  

We all make mistakes.  But I can bet you will in the future double think that sex thing around.  Hence the name.  I made one so I named myself MistakeGuy.  MistakeGuru was taken I am sure.  

I figured I would throw this out to you as well.  This came from a guy on our forums named leapoffaith.  He took an 11 week test and it came back negative.  But he had some good symptoms that made him worry.  You can read his thread at:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/Stange-Symptoms-lost-and-confused/show/1143845?personal_page_id=946909&post_id=post_5469726

Another important thing to remember is not every encounter with an infected person leads to infection.  So there is a good chance you didn't catch anything.  Given your results at 9 week things are looking good for you.  

Okay I will make ONE excetion to getting diet coke.  But its a party.  You are celebrating a good negative test.  You will work off the extra caloeries in the running, jumping, Cartwheels, and game of guitar hero that we will be playing.  Otherwise we will be forced to play Wii Sport Resort.  Only if our mom (Grace) lets us.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey,

Love the name. It captures the feeling for so many, including myself.

Anyway, did you use that test I mentioned? I am wondering how reliable it is at large.

I'll definitely get back at 13 weeks.

I'll pass out diet then, to even out the calories.

Otherwise, I'll just pass out.
Helpful - 0
1174003 tn?1308160819
Whoa.  April 5 is my 13 weeks too.  

Its funny your 9 weeks test were like mine negative.  The good news is that its about 70% accurate typically in a 6-8 week window (from what Terri the MH Herpes expert).  Odds are in your favor you are going to be negative beyond the 12 week test.  

March 29 I will be in the doctor office for my 12 weeks.  Hope you don't mind my getting a laugh out of this.  Please follow up with us on your results. I am passing out Coke or Pepsi (sorry no diet we drink full lead here).
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So results were negative at nine weeks.

Does anyone know how reliable results are at 9 weeks using the HerpeSelect HS2 IGG test?

It's this one here : http://www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/testmenu/jsp/showTestMenu.jsp?fn=3640.html&labCode=NEL

I am gonna go back April 5, which will be 13 weeks, but just wanna know if I am fooling myself by thinking I don't have it.

Please help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

No she didn't suggest any alternatives, she just said it didn't look like Herpes, but she was using the worst-case scenario as the comparison.

I found it odd that she didn't suggest an alternative. I personally can't think of any - my hygiene has always been good and this never occurred before, so it really leaves little else to consider, unfortunately.

Results loom.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
did she mention what she did think it looked like and suggest any treatments?

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
p.s.

The Nurse Prac. did look at the affected area and kind of gave me a the token "don't worry about it," speech.

I figure she really doesn't know any better than I do - the only one who knows is the test!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Thank you for your responses.

As of today, March 4th, it reappeared on March 1st in much the same way - slight redness/inflammation along with pain in legs, butt, lower back. Muscle twitching in leg. Pain/pressure in anus.

I went today to get tested again, which would be 8.5 weeks past exposure. I'm hoping this will give me some indication of pos. or neg. I will go back at 13 weeks for a conclusive test.

Results come back March 12 - will let you know.

I must say, if it is herpes, it's not fun - even as a mild occurrance.

Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
This really doesn't sound like herpes going on. should it reoccur, be seen again for another exam.  Sounds more like a fungal infection than it does herpes.

If you really need peace of mind, repeat your igg blood testing at the 12-16 week mark.

grace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did the dr look at it while it was there? They would be able to tell if it is herpes, as a mild form or if it is something else that is causing that.
Helpful - 0
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