Possible False Positive

[Misty24]

I have had a positive herpes culture.  How reliable is a lesion culture?  I am wondering if it is possible that it is false positive?  I have been on Valtrex for a week now, and it hasn't helped at all.  Also my culture set at the lab for 5 days or so before testing because it was ordered wrong.  Could that affect the test?  Should I get a blood test?  

[gracefromHHP]

If this is always happening after sex then it's probably not herpes related. You'll need to follow up on it with your gyn and/or a dermatologist to try to figure out what is going on.

grace

[Misty24]

Yes I have talked to my partner.  I am also having some general redness and itchiness down yonder.... Does that sound like an OB or maybe a yeast infection? It seems almost like it always happens after sex and is that way for a few days..... Do OB's cause general redness like that?  And what are the chances that my partner would get it if it is an OB and we had sex?  

[gracefromHHP]

You should avoid sex at this point until you feel better down yonder just in case.

Have you talked to your partner about this?

grace

[Misty24]

I am afraid that I had sex with an active lesion.  I am not actually sure that it is a lesion, it might just be a sore spot from rough sex, because it showed up the day after sex and is sore, but not really painful.  Does that sound like a lesion?  Also if it is a lesion, what are the chances that it would be passed to my partner?

[gracefromHHP]

The only way a lesion culture is wrong is if it's clerical error. It happens but not often. In folks who have a + lesion culture but have a negative blood test later on they are still to assume that they have genital herpes and just one of the few who won't test accurately on the blood test.

As I said - return to your provider to see if anything other than just herpes is going on. Sounds like you might have something else also going on in addition to having genital herpes.

grace

[Misty24]

I dont really know why I am having denial, just that a lot of it doesnt make sense I guess.  I had sex one night and a spot the next day, which my dr says wouldnt be from that exposure, but it had to be, unless I was carrying it for a while with no symptoms that is I guess.  Plus I didnt respond to the valtrex, and my spots dont fit the most of the descritptions.  Do they usually just disapear within 1-2 days during a reoccurance?  I just still have so many questions, and it is a pretty hard thing to come to terms with.  I thought it was just a raw spot from rough sex, but to my surprise I tested positive and just wonder if there is even a chance that a culture could come back as a false positive.  I even quit taking the antiviral and didnt have any problems for months until now, and I have general itching and redness and a few spots that have came up but are completely gone in 1-2 days with no scabbing, or puss or anything.  I guess my symptoms dont have to be typical though.  I just want to be 100% positive that herpes is what I have, and I'm just not convinced for some reason.  I have also read a few posts on some sights that say that they had a false positive lesion culture becasue they tested neg on the blood test later.  But I have also read that the culture is also the gold standard of herpes tests and false positives are extremely rare, but not that they never happen.  So it is kind of confusing and gives me a gleamer of hope that my culture could have been wrong.  

I am in between insurances right now and looking for a new dr, I still have to have another follow up for another abnormal pap, but will get seen asap.  

[gracefromHHP]

I'm not sure why you have such denial about this misty?

Are you continuing to follow up with your provider to make sure that there isn't something in addition to herpes going on?

grace

[Misty24]

bump

[Misty24]

I have no tingling before a spot appears, only some general tching.  And the spots are gone in a day or two.  They dont crust over or burst, they are just gone.  Plus I am itching and redness for weeks before and after a spot a appears.  How long does it usually take the lesions to heal on reoccurances?  I think I read somewhere that during reoccurances spots are usually on one side and that also isnt the case with me.  The fact that I didnt respond to the Valtrex at all also makes me wonder.  Have you ever heard of anyone having a false positive lesion culture?  

[Misty24]

So no one has ever heard of a false positive culture?  It has never happened?  I just seem to have different symptoms.....

[gracefromHHP]

only a visual diagnosis needs confirmed with a blood test. You had a + lesion culture so you are infected. It's time to get out of denial sweetie.

The herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com is a terrific resource. bookmark it and keep going back to read it whenever you need info. You can even print it out at home and have a paper copy of it handy.

A male partner's risk over the course of a year is about 4% on average if all you do is avoid sex during obvious lesions.

grace

[curious1231980]

How long did it take for your herpes sores to form and burst? did you just have ulcers? How long did you have the bumps/pimples/blisters (whatever they're called) before they burst and became painful?

[curious1231980]

IgG blood tests are type specific and accurate after 3-4 months from your last exposure. If you're not sure and want to be positive about your status...ask for a type specific blood test. That's what i'm doing!

[Misty24]

I am still having some trouble believing that I have herpes... For a bunch for reasons really, which I just wont get into.  As I mentioned eariler, I have had a positive culture.  But my question is are they 100% accurate all the time...  Also, if it is herpes that I have and I had unprotected sex 2 times with someone, while I had no symptoms, and am not on antivirals, what are the chances of him catching it?  Also I have read a few places that a diagnosis should be confirmed with a blood test... Is this not true?  

Thanks for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

1gm 2x/day for 1 day.

[Misty24]

Well I seem to be having another ob.  Do people usually get them that fast after the initial ob has healed?  Also, I dont know how to take the Famvir while I am having an ob.  How much should I take during the ob?  

Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

Famvir is available as a generic too but depending on your copay depends on how much cheaper it is than acyclovir.  Can't beat $10 though!!!

grace

[Misty24]

He has not been tested, but plans on it soon (he just swithced jobs and does not have insurance right now).  I dont think that we are soig to stay together, which just makes this situtation that much harder, but I know I will be fine in the long run.  (Who needs boys anyway?  They are more trouble than they are worth!).

I do know my type (type 2), but kinda wanted a blood test just to confrim.  Darn wishful thinking anyway.

I have met my RX deductible this year, so famvir is only $10 a month, but will probably switch to the acyclovir next year.  Is acyclovir the only RX for gential herpes that has a generic?  Sorry, I have read so much about herpes lately, I cant even remember!  

Thanks again.

[gracefromHHP]

Famvir is similar to valtrex and works just as well.  Is your insurance making it affordable? If it's still too pricey - look into acyclovir instead. To me, if you have to take a medication 2x/day for suppressive therapy you might as well be taking the cheapest one!  

At this point a blood test probably isn't going to do a lot for you - you do know your type right?  Has your bf gotten tested yet?  I glanced thru the thread but couldn't see if he had been yet.

If your yeast infection has cleared up then you can resume sex.  

grace

[Misty24]

Hi girls.  Just have a few more questions for you!  First off, I had my doc appt today, and he switched me Famvir and I also was tested for all STD's, however they said that they wouldnt test my blood for herpes, that they usually only diagnose that with a culture.  Why would they do that?  I know I have herpes, but was hoping that I could maybe at least get a better idea of who it came from if I got the blood test, and I guess there is still a small part of me that wants to think that it was just a false positive.  I will get the results to the STD test next week sometime.  But anyway, I will get to the questions.....  

1.  I have no smyptoms, so is it ok to have sex now?  It has been a month now, and my partner has been very supportive, but is getting a little impatient, and so am I.  

2.  I havent heard or read much about Famvir, have either of you taken it before, or know someone who has?  If so, did it work well for them, etc.?

Thanks again for your help!  

[Misty24]

I think that I am going to stop taking Valtrex now, I have an appt with my doc on Friday, and was planning on switching to acycolvir anyway because it is so much cheaper.  If it is a side effect of Valtrex, is it likely that I would have the same side effect while on acycolvirsinc they are so much alike?  Also, I read somewhere that some other people have had the tingling in the genital area on Valtrex, I think it was here or on HHP.  All I know is that I can't stand it anymore!  I just want to feel normal downtown for a while you know?

[gracefromHHP]

I would be totally guessing as to what it's from. Continue to follow up with your provider and if you can't find anything else at all that could be causing it, try stopping valtrex for a few months and see what happens.

grace

[Misty24]

Do you think that the crawling skin sensation that I have been having could be a side  effect of Valtrex?

[gracefromHHP]

There's some info that having coinfection with hsv2 and high risk hpv makes it more likely to not clear on its own but it's really not something I"d personally be too overly concerned about.  Most folks have low risk hpv that clears on its own and even most high risk also clears on its own. Your gyn is following up on you as recommended I'm sure so even if you would be one of the unlucky few who has all the "right" conditions for it to be an issue - it's not likely to be. Does that make sense?

Hemorrhoids are common in EVERYONE. They have nothing to do with herpes. More so gravity ( it is not our friend ) and constipation and childbirth than anything.

The average number of ob's is 4-6. It's different for everyone.

grace