Possible misdiagnosis

[sandman414]

I was diagnosed with genital herpes following a tzanck test done at my std clinic. Symptoms were not typical (two blisters and several pimle-like bumps) however the doctor refused to do a follow up blood test stating that the visual symps and tzanck results were enough. My girlfriend, who is the only one ive been with, has never shown symtoms and tested negetive in a blood test. Is it possible that I was misdiagnosed? I have read that the tzanck test often gives false positives. The doc was gone for only 4-5 mins with a sample before returning to tell me I had herpes. In this time he had also gone to get me valtrex so I can only assume he spent around 2 mins studying it. Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

[auntiejessi]

Yes, its possible you had a false positive.

If you get another outbreak, then see a doctor who can do a viral culture, or wait a couple of months and get an IgG blood test done.

Aj

[gracefromHHP]

The tzanck smear isn't an accurate way to diagnose herpes. It also doesn't help you with type either :(  it's unfortunate your provider didn't bother to do a lesion culture and send it to the lab for you.

This could be hsv1 genitally. Even if your gf tested negative on the blood test, even the best blood tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.  This is partly why lesion cultures are so important when you can get them.  

Also just to clarify - your gf is the only person you've ever had sex with correct?
grace

[sandman414]

Thanks for the advice guys. Yea my gf is the only one ive been with. Shes going for another blood test on Monday to be sure. Im going to wait until december for mine to ensure antibodies are present.

I used my girlfriends intimate cleanser on my penis (dont know why!!) around 2 days before the outbreak which I have read can be harsh on the skin. I think it may have been a reaction but that could be wishful thinking! it also wouldnt explain the positive tzanck test.

My provider was a professor- very qualified and expensive to see but I have a feeling he may have been overconfident in his own expertise.

[auntiejessi]

This could also be a reaction to the cleanser.

Aj

[sandman414]

Any other thoughts on the cleanser? Could a skin reaction manifest itsself in such a way as to resemble herpes, even to an std expert? The unusual thing was that the first sign was two single spots on my foreskin following use of the intimate cleanser. When these did not resolve after a week I started to clean the 2 spots with nivea facial cleansing wipes because I thought they were simply spots.
It was after the use of these wipes that blisters started to appear and I am thinking there may have been a link. Do herpes blisters happen like this? Two spots and then nothing for a week?

[gracefromHHP]

At this point we are only guessing as to what is this. Should your symptoms reappear - go and be seen and insist that they culture and type them if they think they look like herpes.  If the provider you saw would've done proper testing of the lesions as well as gotten a baseline herpes igg blood test, you might've had answers by now :(

grace